Upside Down(25)

I chuckled and met his gaze. “I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you today,” I admitted, ignoring my thumping heart. “And I really love these Thai mango fries, and I’m certain I’ll need to have them again soon. And I think I’ve laughed more today than I have in a long time, and I’d really like to see you again.”

He swallowed hard and nodded. “I’d really like that too.”

I licked my lips and my hands itched to touch him, just a palm on his arm, or maybe squeeze his hand, but we weren’t there yet. I didn’t even know if he was comfortable with that…

“In case you didn’t know, you’re kind of great, Jordan,” I said before I lost my nerve. I stood up in a vain attempt to try and leave, but I turned around to face him. “And well, I’ll look forward to Monday. Unless you wanted to text me tomorrow sometime. Or later tonight when I get home. Or I could text you, which would probably be better.”

“Hey,” he said, smirking. “Nervous rambling is my thing.”

“Shut up, you make me nervous.”

He burst out laughing and it was a good time for me to make my leave. “See you Monday,” I said, walking away. And of course I only made it halfway across the park before I turned back around to get one last look. And he was smiling, biting on his bottom lip, and my heart banged against my ribs.

Waiting until Monday just might kill me.





Chapter Seven





Jordan





“I swooned. I fucking swooned.”

“I thought you were going to say it was a friends-only thing?” Merry asked. She was wearing a blue knee-length skirt, a yellow cardigan, white tights, and red shoes. The ensemble could be described as a dropped Rubik’s cube, but she managed to look adorable. She had her hair done in two braids, her dark fringe framed her face perfectly, and her bright red lipstick was warning enough for all to beware.

I handed her the berry iced tea and kept the lemon one for myself. “I did! I told him that meeting him with the boundary of friends-only would eliminate the chances of me having a major meltdown if I thought it was an actual date date.”

“But you ended up with his number, another date, and you swooned.”

“He said I was great and he’d had a great day, and he did that thing.”

“What thing?”

“You know, when they’re walking away and if they look over their shoulder?”

“Lemme guess. He looked over his shoulder?”

“He totally did. And throughout the day he kept looking at my lips, and he said he has so many more questions, and he was fun, and he’s smart. And he’s not an undercover cop or in the witness protection program. He’s some internet ninja who gets paid a shitload of money to be an internet ninja.”

Merry tilted her head and squinted at me. “What the hell is an internet ninja?”

“I don’t know. Big corporations pay him to hack into their business websites and tell them their weak spots.”

“How is that even a thing?”

I shrugged. “Fucked if I know, really. But I accused him of making it up and he promised me it was actually a thing.”

“So have you texted him yet?”

“No.” I tried not to look so horrified.

“How many times have you thought about texting him.”

“Shut up.”

“Jordan, I’m pretty sure if he gave you his number and told you to text him, he wants you to text him. And if he doesn’t give out personal information as a general rule, that would make you the exception.”

“What would I say to him?”

“That you had a good time yesterday,” she suggested. “I don’t know. Just be yourself. Remember, if he doesn’t like the real you, he’s not good enough.”

“You could totally get a job writing messages in fortune cookies.”

“Where do you think I got that from?” She sipped her iced tea. “And he’s probably at home checking his phone every five minutes and wondering why you haven’t texted him already. He’s probably driving himself crazy overanalysing everything he said yesterday that might explain why you haven’t texted him yet.”

“Are you trying to guilt me into it? Because I will remain strong. Oh my God, that is a new low, even for you.” I stared at her; then I blinked. “Fucking fuck. Now I’ve left it too late. What if he is wondering if he did something wrong, and what if he thinks I don’t like him?” I started to sweat, and it was a bit harder to breathe. “Good God, Merry, what have you done?”

“I didn’t do anything,” she replied. We had somehow walked into a clothes store without me realising it. She held up a floral blouse. “Do you like this?”

“Yes. My Nan had curtains just like it.”

She grumbled and put it back on the rack, choosing a yellow one instead. “What about this one?”

“You look like a banana Paddle Pop.”

“I like banana Paddle Pops.”

“Then buy it, but if random strangers walk up to you on the street to try and lick you, don’t complain to me about it.”

She put the yellow one back and opted for a dark red one. She read the label, then held it up against her chest. “The tag says it’s merlot.”