Page 57 of Old Fashioned
I kept my face neutral, though my neck was hot, and no one suspected a thing as I continued on to my office without checking to see if she followed. The coaches were already on their way out, and the boys shuffled out behind them, their energy palpable with so much riding on tomorrow night’s game.
I sat in my chair, and when Sydney entered the office, I told her to close the door behind her without looking up.
When she did, and we were alone, I dropped my clipboard, stood, and rushed to her.
She was in my arms in the next breath, giggling and whispering for me to get off her as I kissed up and down her neck, over her chin and jaw, her cheeks, before I claimed her lips and silenced her protests.
“Are you mad?” she whispered, but she was still smiling.
“Crazy about you, that’s for sure.”
I continued my assault of kisses, but she pressed one hand into my chest and shoved, putting space between us.
“Do you actually have something you need to see me about, or did you just interrupt work to make out?”
“Isbotha reasonable answer?”
She rolled her eyes, but her smile was light and playful.
I gestured for her to sit, and then I leaned my ass on the edge of my desk, folding my hands in my lap as I looked down at her. The longer the silence passed between us, the more my heart raced in my chest.
“What?” she asked when I didn’t say anything. Then, her smile slipped. “Oh, God. Did something bad happen?”
“No, no,” I assured her, shaking my head, but the words were still lodged in my throat. I was equal parts excited and terrified over what I wanted to ask her. “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving next week?”
Sydney blinked, brows folding together in confusion. “Um… well, I have Paige. But, we’re not going anywhere, just staying home, doing a little dinner with the two of us.”
“Come to Thanksgiving at my house, instead.” I paused. “Mymom’shouse.”
Sydney’s eyes shot wide, her skin paling, lips parting in shock.
“Hear me out,” I said before she could answer. “Mom loves having a big Thanksgiving, and everyone will be in town since the wedding is the Saturday after. Paige will have me and my brothers to watch football with, and you could meet everyone before…” I swallowed. “Noah knows I have a plus one to the wedding, but I haven’t told him who it is yet. And I just thought…”
Sydney’s expression morphed slowly into a soft smile. “Jordan, I’d love to join you and your family for the holiday.”
“Really?” I let out a long, relieved breath.
She nodded. “Yes. But… can we just…”
She paused, standing and moving until she was between my legs, and my hands moved to her hips instinctively while her own pressed into my chest.
“For now… can we just tell everyone we’re friends?”
My shoulders sagged.
“Not for much longer,” she said quickly. “I just… I want to talk to Paige first, and with playoffs in full swing right now, and the holiday, and the wedding… it’s just a lot.” She swallowed. “I also think I need to tell Randy. He needs to hear it from me.”
“You don’t owe him anything.”
“I know, but… it might save some drama in the long run.” She shook her head. “I’m scared, for many reasons, and I know it’s asking a lot of you, I know this was my part of the deal, but… I’m asking, anyway. I need a little more time. Okay?”
The next breath that came through my nose was short and hot, but I nodded, though my chest was tight. “Okay,” I agreed. “But, if I’m being honest, I don’t think my family will buy it.”
She smirked at that, lacing her arms around my neck and pressing a kiss to my chin. “I don’t think so, either. But, I appreciate you letting me do this the way I need to. I’ll talk to Paige as soon as we make it through this busy time, okay? And then…”
“And then you’ll be mine.”
Her brown eyes searched mine, and she shook her head, pressing up on her toes to kiss me long and slow before she whispered, “I already am.”s
