BAD REP(88)

I needed to know if she had talked to Jordan.  I was downright desperate to find out his reaction to seeing I had left.  Had he gone to the party with Olivia?  Ugh!  Should I just have Riley pass him a note in study hall asking him to check a box if he liked me?

So instead I played it safe. “How was the rest of the show?” I asked as casually as I was able.  Riley gave me a smirk and then snorted out a laugh.  What was so funny?

“Why don't you go ask Jordan,” she said shaking her head as though she were talking to a very small child.  What was with the condescending bullshit first thing in the morning?

“Huh?” I asked in confusion.  Riley shook her head again and went into her room, closing the door behind her.  Okay, enough with the cryptic messages.  It was way too early and I was entirely too sleep deprived.  I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth.  I looked exhausted, dark circles ringing my eyes.  I needed coffee, stat.

I trudged out to the living room and froze.  Jordan was sitting on the couch, his arms hanging limply between his knees, a hard look on his face.  I took a deep breath.  “Uh, what are you doing here?” I asked, though I couldn't help but feel the first twinges of hope mixing with the anxiety and anger in my belly.  Jordan looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face.  He didn't get to his feet, he stayed seated, tension radiating from him.

“Chasing after you...again,” he replied coldly.  Oh, whatever.  He could chase himself right out the door.  I didn't need this.  I blew out a breath and waited for more of an explanation.  Hell if I would ask him for one.

Jordan grunted in exasperation.  “Riley let me in when she got home a few minutes ago. I've been waiting outside since about four this morning.”  What?  That was the most moronic thing I had ever heard.

“Why didn't you just knock on the door like any sane person would do?” I asked him sharply.

“Because I had to make sure I didn't come in here and scream my f*cking head off, alright!” he raised his voice and then struggled to get himself under control.  Oh shit, he was pissed.  But that just made me even more irritated.  I shoved my hands into the pockets of my robe and leveled my own frosty glare in his direction.

“Well, no one asked you to come here,” I pointed out.  Jordan rubbed his buzzed head in frustration.

“What the f*ck, Mays?  Is this how it's going to be every time you get a tiny bit mad?  You're going to run and hide like a twelve year old and wait for me to come and plead forgiveness for some crime that you've invented in that messed up head of yours?”  He bit out.

What the hell?  There was no need for any of that.  “Fuck you, Jordan!  If you're just going to come into my home and lob insults at me, you can turn around and leave.” I felt my face heat up and my blood pressure rise.  The skin tightened around his eyes and he took a deep breath.

“Okay, I admit, that was uncalled for.  But can we talk about this like rational adults, please?”

“Talk about what?” I asked snottily, refusing to back down an inch.  Jordan's eyes snapped to mine as the veins on his neck bulged.  He got to his feet and stalked toward me.  I backed up until I was against the wall.  He put his hands on either side of my head and leaned in close, our faces mere inches apart.  I felt dizzy at his proximity.  And I wanted to kiss him.

“Can you stop with the shitty attitude for two seconds?  Or do I need to hogtie you to the bed to get you to listen to me?” he whispered, leaning in dangerously closer.  My heart began to race and I felt my traitorous body begin to respond to him, just like it always did.  He was even more gorgeous when he was angry.  He oozed alpha male and it made me want to tangle myself around him like an octopus and never let go.

“Why should I listen to anything you have to say?  I wasn't the one that invited my ex to a show where my current girlfriend was also in attendance.  And I wasn't the one who played a love song in front of a room full of people that I had written for said ex-girlfriend.”  I hated how jealous I sounded.  But I couldn't stop the words pouring out in one long stream.

Jordan's brow knit together.  “So that's it?  You're just going to make your ridiculous assumptions without even talking to me first?” he asked, his eyes boring into mine.  I held perfectly still.