Page 166 of Last First Kiss

Juliet steps cautiously backward.

Cheryl raises an indignant eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“No more blind dates, Mom. I’m not interested.”

He half turns to face Juliet. “Sorry. I’m sure you’re a great person. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

Juliet blinks rapidly.

Jordan pivots back to Cheryl. “Stop trying to fix me up. You don’t know what’s best for me. Fuck, I don’t even know what I want.WhoI want. Who I am.”

Cheryl’s mouth opens. He cuts her off.

“I don’t care what your psychic said. Or anyone else. I just—” Jordan pauses, breaths coming tight and fast. “I need… space.”

Fuck, isn’t that what Jamie had said?

It aches all over again. Unwanted tears mist his eyes. He refuses to cry in front of his mom and a stranger and the entire company floor.

For a beat, Cheryl looks like she’s processing everything he’s just spit at her. Jordan already has some regrets. Then his mom’s face clears.

“As I was saying,” she says through a strained smile, “I wanted to introduce you two because Juliet isEric’snew personal assistant. Since you worked so closely with Kami, I had hoped you could give her some pointers.”

Oh, shit.

“Oh,” Jordan whispers.

Cheryl shifts her gaze. “Juliet, can you give us a moment? There are two amazing,respectful”—her eyes briefly cut back to Jordan—“event coordinators named Connor and Kim who can show you around. They look like the lost members of the Scooby Gang. You can’t miss them.”

Juliet nods, giving Jordan a last look before disappearing out the door.

Cheryl closes it after her. With a deep breath, she spins around to Jordan.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he chews out.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m your mom because I didn’task. I said tell me.”

Jordan stares at her. In this instance, she’s not Kami’s personal assistant or the office gossip. She’s that no-bullshit parent from his childhood. The same mom who made more than one of Jordan’s basketball coaches cry for saying the wrong thing about him. He knows not to cross this version of her.

But the longer she eyes him, the softer her expression turns.

“Talk to me, Jor-Bear.”

That’s all it takes, isn’t it? That silly childhood nickname.

The first fat tear slips down his cheek. He’s seven years old again, angry with his mom for being at a 24 Carter Gold Halloween event instead of taking him trick-or-treating. He is nine and furious that he has to explain to kids at school that Tevin is his dad, even though he’s not hisdad. Ten years old when he hears about what his grandparents did. A year later, the nightmares begin.

The walls Jordan built are for a reason. He turned fear into competitiveness. Into being the best. He’s been fucking phenomenal at never giving people any incentive to reject him. He kept his flaws hidden.

And then Jamie Peters came around.

Jamie made him comfortable with his imperfections. With not being number one. He eased Jordan’s guard down with gentle teasing and vulnerability and patience.

Jamie made him want something he’s never wanted before: a real love story.

For himself. No one else.