Most Likely (Most Likely #1) - Sarah Watson Page 0,86
that there was already a bottle of champagne on the table. “Oh, uh. This is really nice.”
“I wanted to do something special. Since we’re celebrating.”
“What are we celebrating?”
“I have some news about the park.”
She hadn’t been expecting that. “What?”
“I think you’re going to be very happy when I tell you.”
He tried to pour her a glass of champagne, but she shook her head. “I… uh… I’m not much of a drinker.” He set the bottle down. “What’s going on with the park?”
“A lot, actually,” he said. “The mayor’s questions ended up having a pretty direct impact.”
Jordan crossed her legs casually, trying not to look as eager as she felt. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” he said with a smile. “In fact, you’re getting your wish. The neighborhood won’t be losing a park.”
“Are you shitting me?” It exploded out of her mouth loud enough that a few heads in the quiet restaurant turned.
“No,” he said, laughing. “I’m not shitting you. The developer was freaked out enough by the mayor’s pressure that she was worried the whole deal might fall through. So she came forward with an incredible offer. It’s going to get announced officially tomorrow.”
Jordan was giddy with excitement. She thought about pouring herself some champagne. She wanted to clink her glass with his and toast the good news.
“Anyway,” he said, “she’s putting up a substantial amount of money for a new park.”
Jordan blinked. “I’m sorry. What? A new park?”
“There’s a parcel of unused land about half a mile from the old park. A big vacant lot.”
Jordan knew the spot he was talking about. It was overgrown with weeds and scattered with litter and abandoned couches. They used to cut through it all the time until Ava scraped her leg on the rusty springs of an old mattress and had to get a tetanus shot. “It’s a dump,” Jordan said.
“It won’t be after she drops money into it. The neighborhood gets a park and an office building. Everyone wins.”
“Not everyone,” Jordan said.
Scott leaned back and stared at her. “I’m confused. The neighborhood is getting a park. I thought you’d be excited.”
It was getting a park. Just not her park. “What about the jungle gym?” she said. “What about the seniors who’ve been waiting to carve their names?”
He shrugged dismissively. “Who cares?”
Jordan cared.
“Scott. There’s something I need to tell you.”
He apparently wasn’t too concerned about what it was, because he picked up his menu. “Sure. What?”
She took a deep breath. “Tomorrow is my birthday. Well, tonight, actually. At midnight.”
He looked up from the menu. “Happy birthday. I guess we really are celebrating.”
She exhaled. “Let me back up. I have a personal investment in the park. That’s why I wanted to interview the councilman. But you would never have even called me back if you knew who I was. So I lied. My name isn’t Jordan James. It’s Jordan Schafer.”
He set his menu down.
“I lied so you wouldn’t know my real age.”
“How old are you?”
“I just wanted you to take me seriously. And then you did. And I got to know you. And you got to know me.”
“Jordan.” His voice was nervous. “How old are you?”
“I’ll be eighteen at midnight.”
Scott pushed back from the table so fast that he knocked his champagne glass over. It splashed all over him and all over the table. “Shit!” He stood. Jordan did too. She grabbed her napkin and tried to dab his shirt. “No.” He turned away from her. “No. Don’t touch me.”
The hostess came rushing over with a clean towel and tried to mop up the spill.
“It’s fine,” Scott said. “I’ve got it. Please. It’s fine.”
“Scott.” Jordan’s voice caught.
The hostess backed away with the skill and grace of someone who had interrupted more than one awkward moment between couples in her time.
“Scott. I know you’re surprised. But I’m still the same person.”
“No.” His voice was only a whisper, but it was filled with panic. “You’re not.”
Jordan tried to offer him her napkin, but he wouldn’t take it.
“Do you have any idea what you could have done to me?” he said, dabbing his shirt more and more furiously. “My political career would have ended before it even started.”
“We didn’t do anything wrong. I’m an adult now. Or I will be in a few hours.”
Scott looked at her with hurt and confusion. “An adult? Jordan, you’re just a kid.”
He took enough cash out of his wallet to pay for the champagne and set it on the table. Then he grabbed his jacket and started walking away.