BEEP BEEP BEEP

God, I hate my alarm clock. I rolled over and smashed the snooze button, just wanting five more minutes of glorious sleep. Five minutes later the alarm went off again, and even though I could do with another couple of hours, I knew I had to get up. I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. Then I dragged myself to my wardrobe and picked out some work clothes to do, before dragging myself to the vanity to apply a light touch of makeup, before dragging myself to the kitchen for breakfast. As you can tell; today I was not in the mood, and everything was a damned drag. I carried out my usual routine and left the apartment with my travel mug of coffee in one hand, and a slice of toast in the other hand, with my bag slung over my shoulder.

After the two stops on the tube, I walked into the building I worked in, and took the elevator to my floor, meeting Ruby, one of the many secretaries. "Aves, I read that hunk that was at your party on Friday is your boyfriend now, why didn't you tell me?" Ruby said to me as soon as I walked up to her, not even a 'hi, how are you', just straight into gossip. It's been that exact way basically since I started here though, so I shouldn't expect anything different.

"We are not dating, don't believe what you read online, I repeat, we are not dating, you can spread that round the office floor, thank you," I grinned at her, before taking the files that she was handing to me.

"So, does that mean he's single? Can you give him my number please?" she asked, absolutely seriously.

"Well, I'm going for coffee with him tonight," she raised her eyebrows, "friends coffee, I repeat friend," I emphasised, "and he's picking me up, you can talk to him then."

"You say friends, I say lovers!" she said the last word way too loudly, causing us to get a few odd looks from other people around the office. "I won't tread on your toes, don't you worry," she winked at me, she actually winked at me.

"I promise, there is nothing going on."

"Alright, I believe you," she said with a large helping of sarcasm. I rolled my eyes at her and walked away.

Mondays are always hell, because everything that has piled up over the weekend I need to sort out and address. I had a couple of meetings, some with my colleagues and others with my clients, trying to make sure that there are no problems, and ironing out any if they occur. I started on a couple of contracts, set up a couple of trusts and began trying to settle a dispute between a couple who were getting a divorce and wanted advice regarding property.

By the time I finished I was absolutely zonked, and I really just wanted to go home and sleep, but I had made a commitment and I always honour them. I had texted Jordan the details previously and he was going to swing by and pick me up when I finished work, which was 6, in about fifteen minutes. I quickly finished off a couple of things, replied to the last few emails that I had and then packed all my stuff away.

When I went to the front desk, I saw Ruby, and almost every other girl in the office eyeing up Jordan, a load of girls, and guys, swarming round him and trying to take photos of him or with him, and Jordan just looking absolutely uncomfortable. When he met my eyes he smiled, and moved his head towards the door to indicate that he wanted to leave. I giggled slightly, laughing at his discomfort, and I shook my head and folded my arms, as he continued to deal with the crowd. He gave me a pleading look, and mouthed 'help', which made me giggle again. I nodded my head and called the elevator. He soon joined me, and we entered, with a whole load of giggling and flirting girls. It was so funny the way he dealt with them; he was so awkward. "Um, thank you, er, sorry, can you move your hand, um, okay," he mumbled, sending me a death glare whenever I laughed at him. Eventually we made it out of the elevator, and out of the building.

"That was hilarious," I couldn't control my laughter.

"You're so annoying," he grumbled at me, "absolutely no help whatsoever."

"What exactly could I do?" I was still laughing.

"I don't know, said I was your fiancé and to 'back off bitches', fuck knows."

"You wanted me to tell all the girls in my office, who know me, that you, Jordan Shaw, was my fiancé? Like that wouldn't spread around like wildfire and would be in the tabloids probably by this evening?"

"Whatever," he rolled his eyes, "let's go before the paparazzi find me."

We made our way into this cute chic coffee shop, and placed our orders, sitting at a table that was slightly out of the way of prying eyes and the paparazzi. I blew lightly on my coffee to cool it down, concentrating on my coffee, and not on Jordan's penetrating gaze, because I could feel his eyes on me. "So, you go fishing with my dad?" I broke the silence. I looked up to see him shuffling awkwardly in his chair.

"Um, Mark and I are close, yeah," he answered.

"And you drink tea and gossip with my mother?"

"Sophie is a sweetheart, we just talk about mum gossip and she asks me about fighting and you and-"

"Whoa," I interrupted him, "what does she ask you about me for?"

"Oh, um," he blushed lightly. I pressed him for an answered. "She just asks me when I'm getting back together with you and stuff." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"That woman! I swear," I hit my head on the table.

"She means well."

"Sure." That was sarcasm.

I took a sip of my coffee, which definitely had not cooled enough, because it literally burnt my tongue. "Fuck," I exclaimed.

"Want me to kiss it better?" Jordan asked with a smirk.

"Jordan!" I playfully hit his arm from across the table, and he chuckled.

"Don't you remember?"

"Of course I remember." The first time I ever kissed Jordan, I drank tea that was too hot, he basically used that exact same line, and it worked. I guess it was just perfect timing.

"That would make it a date then," he chuckled.

"Probably," I grinned at him.

"Jordan?" I asked, looking up at him, to see he was already looking at me. He hummed in response. "Remember the conversation about your, ahem, mum and dad and stuff?" His eyes went kind of dark, and he looked away, I had just reminded him of the fact that his mum cheated on his dad and drove his dad to drugs and alcohol, leaving him basically parentless because neither of them were around.

"Yeah," he grunted.

"And I said you needed to, um, work on your trust issues and stuff... have you, um, done that?"

He turned his head back to look at me. He took my hand, which was resting on the coffee cup, taking its warmth, and put my tiny hand in his huge one, covering it with his other hand. "I want you to honestly believe me when I say this, me not trusting you was so fucking stupid, and I will be sorry for the way I spoke to you until the day I die. I have had a long time to think about it, but I knew within a month of that conversation that you are someone I would trust with my life, my heart, and everything else." Fuck. My heart.

"I really appreciate that Jordan, and I'm glad you've sorted all that out, it definitely ticks a box."

"And what are the other boxes I have to tick?" he was back to his usual smirking self.

"It would be too easy if I told you," I grinned at him, "but you're on the right tracks."

He took his hands back and put them together as though he was praying, looked up and said, "thank God," which made me chuckle, and my heart swell slightly.

Once we had finished our coffee, Jordan walked me to where he had his car parked, which was near the office, and drove me home. We said our goodbyes, and he planted a soft kiss on my hand, which made my stomach do a couple of flips, and I went up to my apartment, where Tabs and Noah were waiting to hear absolutely everything.

As I lay in bed, before sleep came over me, I was just thinking about everything. If things continue to go this well with Jordan, especially now that all of our previous issues have been sorted, and he clearly cares for me, and maybe even likes me, maybe things will turn into something more. I really hope I hadn't jinxed it though. He was a real sweetheart, although only to me and a handful of other people, he was absolutely terrifying to everyone else; it had always been like that, all the way through school.

***

1526 words

06/01/2021