Page 163 of The Incredible Ordinary

“The guest room’s occupied,” he says softly. “Wren and Sutton are here.”

“I guess I can always sleep on the couch.”

He shakes his head. “That wouldn’t be very wise. The couch is really uncomfortable. Lumpy.”

“Then I’m all out of ideas.”

He nods thoughtfully. “I have a bed.”

I widen my eyes. “And you’d give it up for me? You really are a good host.”

His lips twitch, and a snort of laughter escapes.

I press my lips against his. The kiss is familiar. I know his taste and his smell. I’m an expert on the way his mouth feels on mine. Iknowhim. Everything. There’s a foundation here. The solid building blocks of a friendship so sturdy that it can carry everything else we are to each other with ease.

I never thought I wanted this, but it turns out I was wrong, and once that last layer of pretense has been peeled away, only honesty remains, taking tentative steps out beyond the strategic ignorance we’ve both been hiding behind.

I’m here, right where I want to be.

It’s terrifying admitting it, because admitting it means also accepting that I’m willingly opening myself up to the possibility of getting hurt. I don’t know how to not be afraid of that.

But I want to take that risk.

I want everything good that comes with Jordan to outweigh the fear.

Following Jordan up the stairs feels symbolic. Like the start of something new. My fingers are linked with his, and I walk after him.

It’s dark, and I stumble.

I almost go down on my knee, but manage to catch myself and ram into the banister instead.

I curse out loud, and Jordan lets out a snort.

“Shh,” he whispers.

Too late.

We both whip our heads around when Theo’s door opens. He appears in the doorway, rubbing his eyes and squinting at us.

“Dad?” he says, voice hoarse with sleep.

“Did we wake you up?” Jordan asks in a low voice. “I’m sorry. It’s still early. Go back to bed, kiddo.”

Theo blinks.

“Yeah.” His eyes move to me. “Hey, Milán. Are you here to pick up Rory?”

“Not right away. In the morning. There’s plenty of time,” I say.

“Oh.” He stands there for a bit, then glances back into his room before he looks at us. “Where is he, then?”

I glance at Jordan and go to the doorway. The mattress on the floor has a mess of sheets on it but no Rory.

“Bathroom?” I say to neither of them in particular.

Jordan comes down the few steps and goes to the door on his left. He pulls it open and looks in, then glances at me and shakes his head.

There are a lot of explanations for where Rory could be. There are more bathrooms in this house, for starters. Maybe he’s getting a glass of water in the kitchen. The fact that he’s not right here doesn’t mean anything at all.