Bad Rep (Bad Rep, #1)(30)

I didn't miss the exasperated sigh Jordan let out before making his way over.  “What is it Olivia?  Some of us have to work, you know,” he stated a little shortly.  I was surprised by his terseness but Olivia seemed oblivious to it.

“I want to have a party.  So we're having it at your place.  Tomorrow night.  K?”  She didn't ask, she told him.  Was this how their relationship worked?  She said it was so and he just agreed?

Jordan's mouth tightened and was clearly not pleased with her suggestion.  “I have to work tomorrow night, Liv,” he said, his words clipped.  Olivia waved away his objection.

“So?  I can take care of it.  I know Fred and Gio would help me,” she said, mentioning the Pi Sig brothers who shared the house with Jordan.

Jordan's shoulders stiffened.  Olivia batted her eyelashes at him.  “Please, Jordie. I promise to show my gratitude,” she teased, running her finger up his arm.  Oh yuck. And what was up with calling him 'Jordie?'  It made him sound like he belonged on the Jersey Shore or something.  I saw Jordan glance at me quickly.  He needed to stop doing that.  He was being way too obvious.

“Who would you invite?” he asked, looking back at Olivia.

She squealed again (how much could she do that in one night?).  “Just my girls and the Pi Sigs of course.  Only the best.  Come on, it'll be fun.”  Tabby and Milla had started pleading with him as well and he finally gave in.  Holding his hands up to stop them, he nodded.

“Fine, whatever.  I don't get off until midnight.  Just keep it cool, Liv.  Nothing like last time, alright,”  he said, shooting her a pointed look.

She dismissed his words, focusing on his acquittance.  “Oh, thank you, baby.  You're the best.” She turned to Tabby and Milla, immediately starting to make plans.  Jordan leaned on the bar and looked at me again.

“So, Mays.  Are you gonna come to my raging party?” he asked sarcastically.

I shrugged.  “Don't know.  It all depends on what I have going on.”  Jordan tipped his head toward me and dropped his voice.

“Oh, come on.  Don't leave me to deal with a house full of sloppy drunks by myself,” he pleaded teasingly.

I couldn't help but laugh.  “Please.  You deal with sloppy drunks almost every day.  By now you have to be a pro.”

“That's why I shouldn't have to suffer it alone on my off time.  Please come,” he said softly.  I looked over at Olivia and the girls but they were too wrapped up in their party planning to pay us any mind.

This felt sneaky and underhanded but I couldn't help myself.  When Jordan looked at me like that, it was frighteningly easy to throw my morals and resolve straight out the window.  I sighed heavily.  “Fine.  I'll come.  But only for a little while,” I conceded.  Jordan's mouth stretched into a dazzling grin.

“Excellent.  See, I knew you'd never let me down,” he said, tapping the back of my hand with his finger and I tried not to shiver at his touch.

“We'll see,” I muttered, trying not to look as pleased as I felt by his words.  Jordan smiled again and then had the audacity to wink at me.  His flirting knew no bounds.  But before I could say anything else, he moved away and went about his job.

I was only able to stomach another thirty minutes of watching Olivia and Jordan as they bantered back and forth.  I couldn't deny the connection they shared.  One that obviously came from a shared history.  Sure, there were times Jordan seemed annoyed by his girlfriend but she also made him laugh and he interacted with her on a level that was impossible to ignore.

It sucked.  I slammed back my beer and got to my feet.  Olivia looked up in surprise.  “You leaving, Mays?” she asked, giving me a smile that was so sweet it made my teeth ache.  Jordan's eyes flicked over to me and I immediately looked away.  Something stirred in my gut as I realized Milla was watching me.

“I've had a long day, I'm beat.  I'll see you guys tomorrow.  I'll be over to the house around lunch time, cool?” I said, grabbing my purse and digging for the keys.

“Sounds good.  We'll see you then.”  Olivia got to her feet and gave me a hug.  I patted her back awkwardly and threw out a final goodbye to Tabby and Milla before heading to the door.

“Maysie!  Hang on a sec!” I froze as Jordan jogged to catch up with me.  I painted a smile on my face and stood rigidly as I waited for him.

“Yeah?”  I asked, almost scared of what he would say.

“You forgot your debit card,” he said, handing out the thin piece of plastic between two fingers.  I laughed nervously.  God, I was such an idiot.  What did I think he was going to do?  Profess his undying love to me in front of his girlfriend and my sorority sisters?  I needed to get a grip.

“Thanks.  Guess I need that.” I laughed shortly and reached out to take it from him.  He put it in his palm and pressed it into mine.  He held my hand almost intimately.  The feel of his skin against mine was too much.  We stood like that, our hands together, for longer than was appropriate.  Realizing he had made no effort to move away, I snatched my hand back and gripped my card tightly in my fist.