Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(124)

So, I nodded.  “Yeah, it was beautiful.”  Cole patted me on the back.

“It sure was,” he agreed and moved on to Vivian.

Jordan came up to the other side of the bar.  There were at least a dozen people separating us.  He gave Lyla a hug as she handed him a beer.  He was quickly surrounded by his co-workers congratulating him on the upcoming Rejects tour and telling him how great the show was.  Moore came out from the back and locked the front door, turning the little get together into a full blown party.   The kitchen crew were trying to make a beer bong out of a colander and plastic tubing.  Jaz and Evian were climbing up on the bar to dance to a bad cover of Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time.

Moore and Jordan were talking off to the side.  The manager had clasped Jordan's shoulder and I could see Jordan smiling.  God how I had missed that smile.

I was coerced into playing a rowdy game of beer pong with Rozzi, Tito and Cal.  I ended up knocking over more cups of beer than actually drinking.  Dina tried to talk me into going out back and sharing a joint with her but I passed.

Then the night started coming to a close.  Not once did Jordan approach me.  After unloading his heart in that mind blowing song, he stayed as far away from me as he could.  I watched him way more than I wanted to.  He had spent the rest of the night talking to his friends as well as laughing with Riley and Damien.  I had no idea he had become so friendly with my best friend.  She had never mentioned it.  But I could see that they had become good friends.  And that made me jealous.  Because he and I had nothing.  Not even a friendship to show for all of it.

Around two in the morning, Moore kicked everyone out.  There were more than a few grumbles but everyone filed out good-naturedly, some more drunk than others.  Gracie and Vivian were wasted and Cole offered to see them back to campus.  Riley was heading over to Damien's place so she handed me her car keys and said she'd see me in the morning.

“Be smart, Mays.  For once,” she told me shortly, her eyes darting to Jordan, who was helping Cole get Vivian in the car.  I nodded and she smiled encouragingly before heading off with her boyfriend.

Garrett was trying to get Gracie to the band's van.  She kept falling down, laughing and I could see he was getting annoyed.  I hurried over and helped him get her up.  “There you are, Maysie!” she squealed, kissing me loudly on the cheek.

“Yep, here I am,” I said, trying to haul her up to her feet.

“Jordan loves you, Maysie!  No one has ever written me a song before.  You are soooo lucky!” she slurred.  My face flamed with embarrassment and I quickly looked over at Jordan, but he was still struggling to get Vivian situated.  She was making things pretty difficult because she kept grabbing Cole around the neck and trying to pull him into the back seat with her.

Gracie rolled her head onto Garrett's shoulder.  “Will you write me a song, Grady?  Pretty please?” Gracie hiccupped and I grimaced.  Garrett finally gave up and lifted Gracie in his arms, carrying her to the van.

“It's Garrett, sweetheart.  As for the song, we'll have to see if you puke in my car first.” Gracie giggled as he got her in the back of the vehicle.  He threw me a quick smile before attending to my friend.

Finally, everyone was situated and ready to go.  “You coming, Jordan?” Mitch yelled from the back.  Jordan hadn't looked at me once.  Hell, he acted as though I wasn't even there.  So I was surprised when he shook his head.

“Nah.  Maysie'll give me a ride.”  I will?  Cole leaned out of the open window.

“Is that cool with you, Maysie?” he asked.

My eyes darted to Jordan, but his back was still to me.  “Uh, yeah.  That's fine.  I'll see he gets home,”  I said.

Cole winked at me again.  “Be good you two,” he called as he drove away.

We stood silently in Barton's parking lot, watching the lights flicker out as Moore closed up.  Jordan started walking toward Riley's car.  “Well, let's get going,”  he said indifferently.

What the hell?

I had to jog to catch up with him.  He waited patiently while I unlocked the doors and he got into the passenger seat.  I went around to the other side and got in.  “You okay to drive?” he asked, still not freaking looking at me.

“Yeah, I'm fine,” I shot back.

“Good.  I'm staying at Garrett's,” he responded shortly.

I flushed with the beginnings of my anger.  What was he playing at? I hated that I couldn't read him.  Not like I used to be able to.   He stared resolutely out of the windshield.  I put the keys in the ignition and turned the car on.  I was about to put the car into reverse when his voice stopped me.

“Did you like the song?” he asked, his voice sounding sort of funny.  I breathed in through my nose.

“It was beautiful, Jordan.  I loved it,” I told him truthfully.  Some of the tension seemed to melt away from his body.

“I'm glad,” he murmured.  I stared at his profile, willing him to say something else.  When it was obvious he wasn't going to, I figured I'd give starting a conversation a shot.