him feel all warm inside, and he didn’t care if he sounded like a “little bitch” as Millie would say. “And…” he prodded. He knew she was holding back.
“And what?” she asked.
“And, you looked perplexed. Like you have something on your mind besides the super-hot guy on the ladder.”
“I didn’t say ‘super.’”
“You were thinking it.”
“Got me.”
“So, what’s going on?” he asked again. If something was bothering her, he wanted to help. And if he had done something to trouble her, he wanted to know about it, so he could fix it.
“Have you ever let your mind wander to those dark places? Like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop?”
Jordan shrugged. “Who hasn’t?”
“Well, for a minute there, my bags were packed, and I had a one-way ticket on the crazy train. I had to reel myself in. I don’t want to go there. But it obviously sucked me in long enough for you to see it written all over my face.” She took in a deep breath and exhaled in a big whoosh.
“And the destination?” He had to ask, even though he was fairly certain how it ended.
She stared into his eyes for a second or two, again chewing on her bottom lip.
“It’s okay, Melody. You can tell me.”
“I was just thinking about us. About how everything is going so great.”
Jordan noticed the color in her face change. Her nose turned a dark shade of pink. Her cheeks flushed. A knot started to form in his gut, getting tighter and tighter with worry about what might come next.
“But… what if it wasn’t always so great? What if something happened? It wouldn’t just be me broken hearted this time; it would be Luna, too. I know it’s only been a short time, but I know she’s getting attached. And it scares me.”
Jordan wasn’t worried about the future. He knew he wasn’t going anywhere. He was Melody’s and Luna’s. They both had his heart, and it was only a matter of time before they were going to be a family. There was no doubt in his mind that he would propose, Melody would say yes, and they would live happily ever after.
Yet, what she said confused him. It wouldn’t just be her broken heart this time? That would imply she had a broken heart last time. Well, last time he was the one with a broken heart. She was the one with a new boyfriend. Something didn’t add up, but he didn’t want to live in the past anymore. He wanted to move on. He knew their future, and that was what he wanted to hold on to.
“If I could change the past, I would,” he told her. “I didn’t think my heart could take losing you again, but I don’t want to think about that anymore. I want to focus on the here and now and our future together. It’s time to stop looking back and concentrate on all the good in our lives. You, me, and Luna. We’re good. Together.”
He spotted tears in her eyes. “Don’t forget Mama Annie,” she said, wiping them away.
“She brought you back to me,” he said, getting choked up himself. “She’s unforgettable.”
Chapter 10
MELODY
“Mom, what are you doing?” Luna sat on Melody’s bed for the last half hour, pleading with her to stop changing her clothes. “The first fifty outfits looked great. Just go already. You’re being ridiculous.”
Deep down, Melody knew she was right. She had no idea why she was so nervous about meeting Millie. They had spoken on the phone a million times. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but she felt like they had been friends for years. Except this is the first time she’d be meeting her in person.
Melody wondered if Jordan was this nervous meeting Luna and Mama Annie. Well, that was a different set of circumstances. Jordan didn’t know he was going to be introduced to her mom. It just happened. Now, he was like part of the family. He blended right in.
Yet, when it came to meeting Jordan’s best friend, Melody was on the edge of a meltdown. She paced back and forth in her room. She had emptied most of her closet, trying on shirt after shirt, blouse after blouse, tossing each one on the floor when it didn’t appear just right. It was like Macy’s blew up in her room. Georgie was lying down somewhere underneath all the mess. If she didn’t get it together soon, she’d have to send out an Amber Alert to find her.
She