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I stared at him in mild shock. Words I never thought would come out of his mouth. They’d just find a place for me. As if it were that easy. But maybe it was. Maybe they’d restructure so that I had a spot, doing what I loved. I wouldn’t be at the head of a company, but I wouldn’t be lost in the dregs either.
“It almost sounds too good to be true.”
“Family first,” Jensen said, offering his hand again.
I took it. “What’s Wright is right, huh?”
Jensen laughed at my reiteration of the company motto. “Exactly. You should think about it.”
I had thought about it. And every time, it felt impossible. Leaving everything behind to move to a new country with family that I barely knew and a place I had no idea whether or not I’d ever learn to love.
Then a certain redhead popped into my vision, and that freedom settled over me again. That sense that I had a choice, and I could do anything. Even move to Lubbock…
13
Annie
After Jordan left, I must have fallen back asleep because I woke again with a start when someone banged on my door.
“Annie, Sutton’s here,” Jennifer called.
I stretched and yawned again. “All right. I’ll get up.”
Jennifer huffed. I could hear her disdain through the door. “You’re still asleep? It’s nearly eleven.”
“And?”
I was going to have to change my schedule up once I started school, but why would Jennifer want to force me out of my happy place on one of my last days of freedom? I rolled off the bed and found a pair of shorts and a tank. I wrenched the door open to find Jennifer smirking at me.
Her gaze drifted to my destroyed bedroom. “Late night?”
“I can neither confirm nor deny.”
Then I shouldered past her and into the living room. Sutton was seated in a chair with a cup of coffee in her hand, staring out the back window into our tiny backyard.
“Morning,” Sutton said.
“Hey.” I stifled a yawn and went to pour myself a cup of coffee. I flopped down on the couch across from her. “What’s up? Where’s Jason?”
“He’s with his grandparents,” she told me.
“Cool. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
She looked at me finally, a small smile tugging on her lips. “As if you don’t know.”
I laughed and shrugged. “I mean, I know, but how do you already know? Did Jennifer tell you?”
Jennifer sank into another seat and shook her head. “I wouldn’t break your confidence like that.”
Sutton rolled her eyes. “She should have told me, but for one, I already guessed at the pool party when you were all up in Jordan’s business. And two, I saw him come back to his hotel, doing a very convincing walk of shame. After his mom and brother tried to tell us he’d gone out for coffee. Of course, he came back without coffee.”
“Whoops,” I said with a mischievous grin.
“Why am I not even surprised that you had a one-night stand with my cousin?”
“Because she’s Annie,” Jennifer said.
“Hey!” I muttered, flinging a pillow in her direction.
“Precisely,” Sutton said.
“Just because neither of you are getting any doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t!”
Jennifer’s cheeks heated a bright red. Sutton just flinched slightly. Maybe that hit a little too close to home.
“I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine,” Sutton said at once. “But did it have to be my cousin?”
Of course, it didn’t have to be her cousin. But it was. It was a hundred percent Jordan. A slow smile touched my lips. One I couldn’t even seem to control. We’d had a perfect night and, beyond that, a perfect morning. I’d wanted everything that happened. I’d shocked myself into admitting that I wanted more.
I couldn’t have more though. Obviously, he was going back home today, and I was starting medical school. I’d have no time for anything. Let alone a guy who lived in a different country.
I sighed, letting the smile disappear. It was fun while it lasted.
“Wait,” Sutton said. “Do you actually like him?”
“What? No,” I said at once.
Jennifer arched an eyebrow.
I set my mug down and shrugged. “Okay, maybe a little. We were really good together, but it was just one night. We both knew that. A one-night stand to send him home to Vancouver. It’s not like I’ll ever see him again.”
Sutton looked alarmed.
“What?” I asked in confusion. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Did you two talk last night when you were together or just…” She left the end of the question implied.
“We talked some,” I said defensively. “Why? What am I missing? He’s going back to Vancouver, right?”
“Yes,” she said quickly. “But how could you think you’d never see him again when his brother and mom are moving here in a month?”
I nearly sprayed the coffee from my mouth. “They’re doing what?”
“I don’t know how you missed that,” Jennifer said. “They announced it at the pool party.”
