Page 32 of One Little Chance
Seconds later, my front door closed with a thud.
Jordan was racing toward a house on fire. Part of me wanted to throw on my shoes and follow him to make sure he stayed safe. Instead, I paced my house hoping he’d come straight back to me once it was all said and done.
He’d said I’d always gotten whatever I wanted from him. Well, what if what I wanted washim?
Chapter 15
APRIL 23RD, 2023
There was no way I could go to sleep that night, tossing and turning in the wee hours of the morning. No longer sick with a cold. Instead, I was sick over Jordan. Sick with worry about him at a house fire, sick at the abrupt end of our conversation.
I buried my head in my pillow. If I scoured the past few weeks for clues, he had to feel the same. He’d kissed me senseless. He’d stood in the rain with me, and I knew in my bones he didn’t want to leave my side that night either. He’d spent every Saturday with me. And I was the one he needed when he was at his lowest—myhand he held onto for dear life.
I tried to call him as the hours passed, but it kept going straight to voicemail. Either his phone had died, or he was still busy with the fire and had to ignore my calls. I waited until the sun was finally rising outside my window to try giving his mom a call, but she didn’t answer either.
I didn’t even know what project they were at or how to find it, but I kicked off my blankets and got out of bed. I couldn’t stay in my house.
There was no answer at his apartment door. His truck wasn’t in the parking lot.
I drove the gravel dirt road that led me to Jordan’s family home, but there were no cars parked out front.
My car crept through Downtown Sweet River this sleepy Sunday morning, the wind blowing my dark tresses in the wind.Was I pushing too hard?Sophie pounding her feet against the pavement, stretching farther with her end goal in line of sight? Reaching for Jordan whether he was ready for it or not?
Katie Hernandez was outside Coffees & Commas, flipping the sign over the door from Closed to Open when she spotted me and waved. The downtown streets were empty as I pointed my car toward home.
I parked my car in my driveway and hit the call button again—still no answer.Should I call his sisters for an update on the fire?They’d seemed so distant since I came back. My phone felt heavy in my hand. The sky was pink and tangerine in the morning light.
My phone vibrated in my hand. I swiped to answer before even reading who the caller was.
“Hello?”
“Sophie?” Orlando greeted me.
“Oh, hey.” My voice dropped.
“I know it’s early, but I’m actually getting ready to go with this girl I like to her church this morning, and I wanted your opinion on shirts. Button down or polo?” My phone beeped. I glanced at the screen where he’d sent a photo of each shirt.
I sniffled. “Button down. You always look nice in navy.”
It was quiet for a beat. “Soph, I’ve never heard anyone say a compliment like they were saying they’d just been dumped. Are you okay?”
“It’s early,”
“You’re still in bed?” He sounded far away like he’d set the phone down to change.
“No.” I glanced out my window. “I’m in my car.”
“Soph,” he chastised me through an echo.
“I’m worried for Jordan. He was over last night and had to run out the door really late because one of his builds caught fire—and I haven’t heard from him since.”
“I’m sure he’s okay. He wasn’t going to run into the fire or anything. He was probably talking and answering questions with the fireman and police and stuff, yeah?”
I nodded against the phone. “I know. My calls keep going to voicemail.”
“How many times have you called?”
“Several.” I sighed.
