Vague as usual. "What do you mean?"
His gaze locks with mine. "I talked to Candace. And then I talked to my dad. I told them both I knew what was going on and that they needed to stop, or I'd tell my mother."
My mouth drops open and I squeak. Then immediately slap my hand over my mouth to keep anymore unwanted sounds from escaping. "Are you serious?" I ask, my voice muffled.
"Yeah. I don't know if it helped anything, but I realized you and Lauren were right. I can't just stand by and let my father get away with his selfishness."
I drop my hand from my face. "Do you think the conversation helped?"
He shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. My father kicked me out of his office. Candace told me I can't stop her from seeing my father because they're in love. I did what I could."
I sigh. "At least you tried. That's all that matters. You're a good person, Jordan. Despite what you think, you can change. You have changed. You're nothing like your fath-"
Now it's his turn to rest his hand over my mouth, silencing me. "Trust me. I'm exactly like my father. I also told him if he didn't let me go to the college I wanted, I would tell my mother he cheated on her with the sister of my ex-girlfriend."
My eyes go wide. He still hasn't removed his hand from my mouth and we watch each other. I'm sure he's prepared for me to spit on him or whatever, but I don't think less of him for doing what he did.
More like he just stooped to his father's level and dealt with him in a way the man understands. How else can Jordan make his point?
"It was a low move, but I don't give a shit. It got me what I want." His gaze is imploring as he continues to watch me. "Does that bother you, Amanda?"
I slowly shake my head.
"Do you think less of me?"
Another shake of the head.
"I've missed you," he whispers, his hand loosening around the front of my face.
He notices my barely-there nod.
"I've fallen in love with you." He says those words and then drops his hand, taking a step back. Like he needs the distance. "Being away from you was hard, but I needed to do it. I had to work on myself before I could be worthy of you, Amanda. I know you don't think that's true, but I do. And I need you to respect that."
I'm still stuck on those first words he just said to me.
I've fallen in love with you.
My heart feels like it's ready to soar straight out of my chest, I'm so giddy.
"I respect it," I whisper. "I respect you, Jordy."
He makes a face. Whoops, I think I just blew his mind. "Did you just call me Jordy?"
I giggle. "Do you mind me calling you that?"
"Uh, maybe? Maybe not?" I'm thinking he doesn't know how to answer. "If I let you call me that, will you forgive me?"
"Always." Oh, I probably shouldn't have said that, but …
Who cares.
"Or have I run out of chances?" His expression turns somber. "I understand if I have. I get it. I don't deserve another one."
It's my turn to rest my hand over his mouth to shut him up. "Stop," I murmur, giving his face a gentle squeeze. "You have to stop running away from me every time things get difficult, Jordan. I can't keep doing this." He nods. "If something bad happens, come to me. I won't turn you away. We can work on your problems-and my problems-together." I drop my hand from his face before I whisper, "I've fallen in love with you, too."
He smiles, and his entire face lights up. I remember thinking how I've never seen him so happy than at the end of his last game, but that's not true.
Right now, stuck in this dark alcove with me at school during sixth period, just after he admitted he loved me and I just admitted that I love him. This is the happiest I've ever seen Jordan Tuttle in my life.
This.
Right now.
I don't want to ever forget this moment.
We're in the back of a limo, just Amanda and me. She somehow convinced me to take her to winter formal and considering it's our last one before we graduate and I get to bring the girl I'm in love with as my date, I figured I could tolerate one stupid formal school dance.
Turns out I don't regret going to this dance at all. When I went to pick Amanda up at her house and she greeted me at the door wearing a short, form-fitting dark blue velvet dress, I wondered how I was going to be able to make it through the night without grabbing her and doing something vulgar. She smelled so good, and her hair and makeup and that dress … Jesus.
I was done for and we hadn't even left her house yet.
The dance was fun, loud and crowded and full of bad music. I sat out the fast dancing and watched Amanda bounce around on the dance floor with her friends. More often than not, I was checking the hem of her dress, waiting for it to fly too high and give me a covert shot of her panties.