by Gerri Hill
Okay, so Annie was getting pissed. Well, Jordan thought, that was better than feeling guilty and hurt.
“Maybe you should tell her that,” Jordan suggested.
Annie sighed. “I’m sorry. God, my hormones are all over the place,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I’m not normally a crier.” She smiled at Jordan. “You’re so good to me. Why is that?”
Jordan shrugged. “We’re friends.”
Jordan felt her breath catch as Annie leaned closer, brushing her lips against Jordan’s cheek. Jordan didn’t breathe again until Annie pulled away.
“Thank you for being here.”
“You’re welcome.”
Their eyes held for a long moment, then Annie smiled. “Did you get extra cheese on my enchiladas?”
“I got extra everything for you,” Jordan said.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Annie stood at the corner of the deck, watching Jordan and Brandon untie the Jet Ski. Jordan was in her typical bikini top and water shorts. Annie was used to seeing her like that now, but she found herself staring at her nonetheless. God, it was like she had a crush on her or something.
Of course, she already suspected that. Who knew her crazy hormones would lead her in this direction? As if sensing her watching, Jordan looked up. Annie matched her smile, feeling her pulse race just a little. At that, she wondered what the hell was wrong with her. But despite that thought, she didn’t take her eyes off Jordan as she stood in the water next to the pier.
“Hey, girl.”
Annie blinked several times, finally turning her attention to Suzanne. “Hey. Glad you came,” she said, moving closer for a quick hug.
Suzanne’s gaze followed Annie’s back to the bay. “What are you staring at? Brandon’s a little young for you, isn’t he?”
Annie hoped she wasn’t blushing. “Nothing. Just…lost in thought.”
Suzanne leaned on the railing much like Annie was doing. “So how’s it going with Jordan? You still like living here?”
“It’s good. She’s been great.”
“No quirks?”
Annie smiled. “You mean because she’s gay? No. I like her a lot. She’s been so good to me.”
“Because of Matt?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, because she’s his sister.”
Annie shook her head. “No, I don’t think that really has anything to do with it. We just clicked, right off the bat. You know, you meet someone out of the blue and you hit it off. It’s been like that with us,” she said. “We fell into a friendship and it’s been…well, easy.” Annie paused, afraid she was saying too much. “Jordan’s been here for me through all this,” she said. “And she hasn’t blinked. Nothing seems to throw her off.”
“I should have been here for you more,” Suzanne said.
Annie waved her apology away. “No, that’s not what I was implying. You and Aaron are friends with Derrick. I wouldn’t want to put you in the middle of that,” she said. “Derrick flipped out, like you said he would. And my mother is still out of the picture. She barely speaks to me.” She shrugged. “And every day, Jordan is there. She’s…steady. She makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. No matter what, she’s always…steady.” Annie looked back to the bay, watching as Jordan and Brandon made their way back up to the house.
“So where’s Britney?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Oh, Jessica took her. They’re inside watching TV.” Suzanne smiled at her. “Well, you look good, Annie. You look happy.”
Annie smiled too. “Thanks. I feel good. And I am happy.”
“You’re not wearing one of the new blouses we picked out,” Suzanne noted.
Annie looked at the oversized tank she had on over her bikini top. “I know. I’m going to tell everyone today. I can’t hide it much longer,” she said, touching her belly.
“Are you getting more excited?”
“Actually, I kinda am,” she admitted. “I might as well. It’s not like it’s going away,” she said with a laugh.
Jordan and Brandon came up on the deck, and Brandon pointed at her. “Are you ready to take a spin?”
Annie shook her head. “No way. Not after last year. You almost drowned me.”
Brandon laughed. “I rescued you right away.”
“Take Molly,” she suggested. Molly had been sitting at the other end of the deck reading a book. She looked up when she heard her name mentioned.
“You want to?” Brandon offered.
“I’ve never been on one before,” Molly said.
“I promise I’ll go slow,” Brandon said.
Annie laughed. “Don’t trust him,” she said. She turned to Jordan. “Suzanne brought Britney, her daughter. Maybe you could take her out later.”
“Of course,” Jordan said. “I’m going to check on Staci and see how the margarita machine is coming along. Suzanne, would you like one?”
“Sure. But I’ll come inside. I probably need to rescue Jessica.”
“Apple cider?” Jordan asked her.
“Just a bottle of water, thanks.”
Jordan nodded and touched Annie’s arm briefly as she passed by. Such a simple touch, yet Annie felt it all the way down to her toes.
She turned her gaze back to the bay, barely registering Brandon and Molly as they sped away from shore. Her thoughts were solely on Jordan—Jordan and these crazy feelings she was having. Crazy, yes. She was pregnant with Matt’s baby and she had a crush on his lesbian sister.
Just having a crush on someone—anyone—was unusual for her. But Jordan? A woman?
Crazy.
* * *
Jordan hadn’t been too keen on the margarita machine, considering Molly and Steven were still in high school and Jessica hadn’t even reached her twentieth birthday yet. But Annie had talked her into it. Two of Brandon’s buddies were coming later, and Staci had brought her boyfriend. Still, she would limit it to only one batch. Maybe she was being paranoid, but she didn’t want anyone to overdo it.
“God, I’m getting old,” she murmured.
“Still worried about them drinking too much?”
Jordan turned, finding Annie watching her. She smiled at her. “Yeah. I need to relax, I know.”
“They’re all responsible. They’ll be fine. Besides, Staci is going to make up a pitcher of nonalcoholic margaritas for those under twenty-one.”
Jordan nodded. “Good. So did Brandon really leave a box of Fat Larry T-shirts out by the door?”
“He said since we were closing the store early, he wanted to leave something as a prize. He put out the ones with the old design on them,” Annie said. “He did ask me first. I hope it’s okay.”
“You’re the manager,” Jordan reminded her.
Annie bumped her shoulder with her own. “Yeah, but you’re the boss.”
Jordan touched the hem of Annie’s tank top and tugged on it. “You look nice,” she said. That was an understatement. Annie looked beautiful.
Annie’s eyes held hers. “Thank you.” Annie took her hand and squeezed it. “You look nice too,” she said quietly, her gaze drifting downward.
Jordan’s breath caught and she dared not speak. Annie smiled and dropped her hand, then left without another word. What the hell was going on with them? The touching? The looks between them? Now flirting?
Jordan’s hand was trembling. She set her beer bottle down, escaping out to the deck. Molly was reading, sitting off by herself. Jordan didn’t interrupt her. She headed down the deck steps, needing some time alone. Brandon had taken Jessica out on the Jet Ski so she walked to the end of the pier and plopped down on the wooden bench.
So, okay, she liked Annie. As a friend. Nothing more. Well, maybe there was a tiny bit of attraction there, but nothing she couldn’t handle. But what she couldn’t handle was Annie flirting with her. Did Annie even know what she was doing? Of course not. Annie was just being Annie. She was affectionate. She liked to touch. She liked to hug. She liked to
kiss Jordan on the cheek.
Jordan leaned back against the pier, staring out across the water. Yeah, and she liked all of those things now too.
“She’s pregnant with Matt’s baby,” she reminded herself. She couldn’t possibly be attracted to her. That would just be…crazy.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Annie was nervous as she looked around at everyone. But she couldn’t put it off any longer. Was it something to say over dinner though? She looked over at Jordan and found her watching. Jordan gave her a reassuring nod, chasing some of her nervousness away. She put down her half-eaten fajita and stood up.
“I have some news,” she said. Everyone stopped eating and looked at her. She decided the best thing to do was blurt it out. So she did just that. “I’m…I’m going to have a baby.”
It was a shocked silence that greeted her statement.
“You mean…like adopt?” Staci asked.
Annie touched her belly. “No…like I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah, wow,” Jessica said. “I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”
Annie looked over at Jordan, who sported an amused expression. “I’m not dating anyone,” she said.
“Oh, my God,” Staci said. “Sperm bank?”
At that, Jordan laughed, and Annie nearly rolled her eyes. “No.”
“Well, then, what’s going on?” Jessica asked.
Annie blew out her breath. “Look, let’s just get it all out in the open, okay.” She again looked at Jordan. “Matt. Matt is the father.”
Again, silence. And again, Staci was the one to break it.
“You mean our Matt?”
Annie nodded. “Yes. Our Matt.”
Staci’s eyes widened. “You were dating Matt?”
“No. We were not dating.”
“Oh, cool, Annie,” Jessica said. “You were fuck buddies? I would have never guessed that was your style.”
Annie stared at her, shocked. She felt a blush on her face and knew she’d turned beet red. “No…we were not…buddies of any sort.” God, whose idea was it to tell them? She shook her head. “Look, the whys and hows of it don’t matter,” she said. “I wanted you to know because I can’t hide it much longer.”
She lifted up the end of her tank, showing off the baby bump that her maternity shorts could not conceal.
“Well, I thought you’d gained weight,” Staci said bluntly.
Annie turned slowly, looking at Jordan with raised eyebrows as she let her tank top cover her again. Jordan smiled at her and said what she always said.
“You’re not fat.”
“Uh-huh.” Annie motioned to the table. “So enjoy the rest of your meal and please don’t gossip about me.”
“Nothing to gossip about,” Brandon said. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
She sat down again and Suzanne nudged her. “That wasn’t so bad.”
“Am I getting fat?” she whispered.
“No. She was being petty. You know she always had a crush on Matt.”
“I know.” She picked up her fajita again. Even Staci’s comment didn’t curb her appetite.
* * *
Annie put the last of the leftovers in the fridge and wiped down the counter. Suzanne had stayed late and helped them clean up but she, too, had taken her leave. It was quiet in the house, and she found Jordan sitting out on the deck in the dark, sipping from her wineglass. She was about to flip on the porch light, then decided not to.
“So you survived?” she asked as she sat down beside her.
“Glad it’s over with,” Jordan said. “They seemed to have fun though.”
“Yes, they did.”
“Did you?”
“It was okay. But things like this remind you that even though you work together, it doesn’t always mean that you’re friends,” she said.
“True.”
Annie leaned closer. “You’re being awful quiet. Is everything okay?”
Jordan turned toward her, but it was too dark to read her eyes.
“Fine. I just wanted some peace.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
Jordan reached out and wrapped her fingers around Annie’s arm. “Not from you, Annie.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Stay.”
Annie felt Jordan’s fingers slip away from her, and she had to resist reaching out and taking her hand. Instead, she folded her hands together and rested them on her stomach. She let the quiet wash over her, listening to the sound of the water as it lapped against the retaining wall. The breeze rustled her hair, but before she could tame it, Jordan gently moved it from her face and tucked it behind her ear.
Annie turned, again wishing she could see Jordan’s eyes. She swallowed, imagining what she might find there. She looked back over the dark bay, enjoying the closeness she felt with Jordan, even in their silence.
They sat there for the longest time, the only sound to break the quiet the occasional bark of a dog and the constant waves hitting the pier. She was relaxed and mellow and felt her eyelids getting heavy.
“I think I’m going to bed,” she said finally.
Jordan turned. “I’ll be in soon.”
Annie stood, then leaned over, kissing Jordan lightly on the cheek. “Thank you. It was a nice day.”
Jordan smiled. “It was a nicer evening.”
Annie smiled too, squeezing Jordan’s shoulder as she left.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It was a rare rainy evening and instead of their normal routine of sitting on the deck after dinner, they were inside. Annie was on the sofa, legs curled under her, reading a book. Jordan was in the recliner, aimlessly flipping through TV channels, not finding anything to hold her attention. When her phone rang, she was thankful for the distraction. However, she was surprised by the caller.
“It’s Peter,” she said.
Annie raised her eyebrows.
“My boss,” she clarified before answering. “Hello, Peter.”
“Ah, Jordan. I was afraid you weren’t going to answer. You’ve been a bit of a stranger this summer.”
She went out to the deck, standing under the porch to keep from getting wet from the light rain that was still falling. “I assumed Antonio was handling things,” she said. “He hasn’t called for help.”
“Yes, he’s handling things. He just doesn’t do them your way,” he said. “I expected you back by now.”
“I told you it would probably be September. Is there a problem?”
“Tokyo.”
“Tokyo? I thought that deal was wrapped up,” she said.
“All but the fine print. But Mr. Hashimoto refuses to deal with Antonio.”
Jordan smiled. Mr. Hashimoto was brutal in negotiations, but she’d managed to soften him up. It had taken six months, but he’d finally agreed to her terms. She could imagine him and Antonio butting heads.
“And you want me to run interference?”
“I need you back here, Jordan. We can’t let this deal fall through. He’s threatening to pull out.”
“I can’t come back now, Peter,” she said. She looked through the window, finding Annie watching her. “Perhaps I can handle it from here.”
“No,” he said. “I need you here in the office. Can you at least come back for a few days? Help Antonio through this? Mr. Hashimoto respects you. You were on the team that put this deal together.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “When?”
“Now.”
She knew she didn’t really have a choice. “Okay.”
“Thanks, Jordan. I knew I could count on you. I was so sure of it, I’ve already booked your flight. Check your email.”
“Does that mean I’m leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes. Don’t sleep in.”
She slipped the phone into her shorts pocket. She didn’t want to leave, not even for a few days. What the hell was she going to do when September got here?
Th
e rain had turned into nothing more than a fine mist, and she walked out in it, leaning on the railing. No, she didn’t want to leave. She would miss it here. She would miss…Annie. Hell, she would even miss Fat Larry.
She looked out over the bay, the light on the pier surrounded by fog. God, what was wrong with her? It was only for a few days. Then she’d come back, she’d tie things up, she’d hire someone to take over the store…then she’d be gone for good. She closed her eyes to that thought. Not for good. Not this time. She wouldn’t disappear this time. She wouldn’t do that to her parents again.
She turned when she heard the door open. Annie was watching her. She moved closer, close enough for their shoulders to touch as they leaned on the railing together.
“You’re leaving?” The question was asked quietly, almost as if she didn’t want to hear the answer.
“Yes.”
Annie turned to face her. “Will you come back?” This time, the question was little more than a whisper.
Jordan turned too, leaving them face-to-face. She nodded. “Yes. I’m only going for a couple of days.”
The relief in Annie’s eyes was palpable. “I’m not…ready for you to leave yet, Jordan.”
Jordan nodded. “No, I’m not ready to leave either.”
“Is there a problem or something?”
“Yeah, a client in Tokyo. He doesn’t want to work with my assistant. It’s just wrapping up a deal that I worked on in the spring,” she said.
“Oh.”
“It should only take a couple of days,” she said again.
Annie nodded, but Jordan still saw doubt in her eyes. Without thinking, she pulled Annie closer. Annie didn’t hesitate and her arms snaked around Jordan’s waist. As soon as Annie was pressed against her, Jordan knew it was a mistake. They had hugged before, of course. But never quite with the intimacy of this hug. She wondered if Annie could feel the energy between them.