Page 190 of Last First Kiss

But, also, it’s not.

Thing is, there’s never been a timeline with them. They’ve never exactly followed everyone else’s guide on how to fall in love.

Why start now?

Jordanlikesthe scent of oak and amber on his pillows. Finding wrinkled T-shirts everywhere. Cooking for two. The collection of rom-coms piling up on his Netflix watchlist. Rolling over in the middle of the night into a warm, bare chest and waiting arms.

But helovesthat they take their time. With everything. The long stares and longer kisses and slow, passionate sex. There’s never a rush. Never has been.

So he can wait.

“You’re thinking really hard,” Jamie says, breaking Jordan from his daze.

“Hmm.”

Jamie leans over the bar. “I know that face.”

“Do you?”

“It’s yourI want to rip off all your clothes and get on my knees to—”

The music drops out. Fortunately, no one hears the rest of what Jamie says. They can’t. Not over the shrieking and “Oh my God!” and Tevin whooping in the background.

When Jordan turns to look, his breath catches. Jamie gasps behind him.

No, Jordan’s not the one on his knees.

Surajis.

He cradles Kami’s left hand, an opened velvet box between them. Tears spill down her cheeks. Mikah’s right there too, hugging Suraj’s neck.

It’s adorable. And completely unexpected.

Jordan can’t hear a word Suraj says over the Carters shouting and snapping photos and recording every moment. But he hears Kami’s breathless “Yes!”

The echo of his entire family yelling “Yes!”

Mikah screeching, “Mama and Baba are getting married!”

Sothat’swhat the champagne was for.

Nic sidles up to Jordan. “I told you I’m perceptive.”

He scoffs. “You saidBraylonwas proposing.”

“He is. In the future.”

Jordan elbows her, laughing. The uncles pass out the champagne flutes. The aunties squeal over the ring. Denz and Braylon take turns tossing a giggling Mikah in the air. It’s chaos and noise and everything Jordan expects from his family.

From his life.

It’s everything he loves.

A pair of familiar arms hug him from behind. Jamie’s nose brushes Jordan’s cheek before he says, “I want that.”

“Want what?”

Jamie points to Kami and Suraj. Foreheads touching. Staring into each other’s eyes. Holding on like gravity itself couldn’t yank them apart. So deeply in love, it hurts to look at.