Trouble(58)
Jordan’s head snaps up at the sound of wood scraping wood. “Where are you going?”
“I, uh…” I glance in the direction of the exit.
His eyes follow mine, then flicker back. “Don’t go.” He blows out a breath, pressing at his temples with his fingers. “I’m sorry, I’m not handling this right … I just—” He shakes his head, leaning close to me. “Jesus, Mia, I just can’t handle the thought of anyone hurting you – not like that – not at all.”
His words make it hard to breath. They matter to me more than I care to admit right now.
When his eyes rest on my face, they soften. “What can I do … to help you?”
And those squeeze my heart.
“Nothing.” I swallow past the huge lump in my throat. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t buy it. I can see it in your eyes that you’re far from fine.” A storm rolls in over his features. “Tell me where he lives.”
“W-what? Why?”
“Why do you think?”
I tense. “Jordan, I didn’t tell you so you’d go beat him up.” Why did I tell him? “I told you because…” I shake my head. “I don’t want you to beat Forbes up.”
He frowns. “That’s his name – Forbes?”
I realize this is the first time I’ve spoken his name in almost a week. And I wonder if Jordan knowing his name is a mistake on my part.
I say nothing.
He breaks my gaze and rests his elbows on the table, putting his head in his hands again. Tension is pouring off him in waves.
Tilting his head back slightly, his eyes lift to mine. There’s a vulnerability in them that surprises me. “I need to do something, Mia.”
“Why?” My words are quiet.
“Because … I just do.” His are soft.
“You are doing something. You’re being my friend. That counts for a lot.”
“I need to do more.”
“No.” I shake my head, edging off my seat. “I don’t need more. I shouldn’t have told you. It was a mistake.”
The skin around his eyes tightens. “You’re wrong. The only mistake was not telling me sooner.” He reaches over and grabs my hand, keeping me from leaving.
I try to ignore the way his touch makes me feel. The ache in my chest of longing for something I never knew I wanted until now.
“I wish you’d told me before now,” he adds quietly.
He rubs his thumb gently over the back of my hand. It’s an unconscious move on his part but means so much to me.
Men don’t touch me gently. Not like this. Not ever.
And he’s done it twice in the matter of minutes.
“Have you told anyone else, aside from me, what he did to you?”
My eyes widen in horror at the thought. I’m still in shock that I told him and trying to figure out what that means, let alone tell anyone else.
“I’ll take that as a no.” He shakes his head sadly. “You need to report this to the police. He can’t get away with what he did to you.”
“What? No.” Panic squeezes my stomach like a vice.
“Mia…”
“No!” My voice is harsher than I knew I had in me. I rear back, taking my hand with me.
Whatever Jordan sees on my face has him placating, “Okay. No police.” He lays his palms on the table between us. “Just do one thing for me…?” When I don’t respond, he continues. “Don’t keep anything else locked up inside you. You need someone to talk to, someone to trust – that person is me. I won’t ever judge you. I will never hurt you. And I won’t let you down. I might have done some shit things in my past, I might have treated people badly … people who didn’t deserve it, but I won’t do that to you – ever. I promise.”
His words are impassioned, his face earnest. “You have me at my word. I won’t break it.” His mouth lifts into a gentle smile.
I want to believe him. I do.
But it’s just not in me to be able to trust. The ability is not something I’m gifted with.
I don’t know what to say. So I do what I do best, and avoid. Smiling, I nod and ask, “So, what now?”
Jordan’s dark eyes are curious on my face. For a moment, I wonder if he’s going to push it further.
He doesn’t.
“Now…” he says, rising from his seat, “we drink more tequila.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jordan
I never thought I would want to be close to a woman as I do Mia.
But I do. I’m just not entirely sure why.
And even though I am close to her, possibly closer than anyone has ever had the privilege to be, I want more.