Page 77 of The Incredible Ordinary

We grin at each other.

“There’s not that much to do here, to be honest. Just have to make sure they sort out their inevitable arguments with words and not fists, then feed them pizza and ice cream after. Your most difficult task will be to keep me entertained for the next three hours.”

“Because otherwise you’ll start throwing tantrums?”

“You never know.”

My smile stretches wider.

“I guess we’ll see if I’m up to the task, then.”

We’re sittingon the front steps of Jordan’s house later that evening. It’s cold enough that I’m freezing my ass off, but I don’t say anything, and he doesn’t make a move to leave. Theo and Rory took Dog for his evening walk.

I still don’t understand the whole thing with Rory and Dog. He clearly loves Dog. He was practically rolling around in the hallway with him the moment we stepped into the house. Dog went crazy, licking Rory’s face and jumping around like in one of those tearjerker videos where a soldier comes home to their pet after eight months of deployment.

Now he, Theo, and Dog are in the park, and have been for the last hour and a half, which doesn’t exactly scream “I don’t want a dog.”

“How’s Dog?” I ask. “For real. I almost feel like I didn’t give you any choice but to take him.”

“I’m perfectly capable of saying no.” Jordan gives me a small smile. His eyes go to the spot on the street where Theo, Rory, and Dog disappeared around the corner a while ago. “I think he’ll like living with us. He clearly likes having people around, and there’s always somebody here. When I’m at work and Theo is at school, he’ll hang out with Dad in his workshop. Otherwise he’s been glued to Theo’s side. All the treats he’s been sneaking him help.” He gives me a dry look, and we both smile before Jordan sobers. “He keeps waiting at the door every now and then. For Rory.”

I clutch the back of my neck and blow out a breath before I shake my head. “Every time I think we’re getting somewhere, he throws me a curveball and locks up again.”

I can feel Jordan’s gaze on the side of my face.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if I had some really profound words of wisdom right about now?” he says after a bit.

I snort out a laugh. “So cool.”

“Alas, I have absolutely nothing for you. How disappointed are you in me right now?”

I drop my head back and grin at the sky. “So disappointed.”

My life is messier than ever before, but it doesn’t feel it. It’s almost as if the mess is a worthwhile tradeoff.

You’re a disaster, but here, have some Jordan in your life.

I’ll take that deal. No hesitation.

I’ve never been one to appreciate calm. Anything but that. Calm leaves too much room for thinking. I’ve built my life around chasing excitement for that very reason.

I look at Jordan. The rays of the setting sun that have managed to filter through the rows of houses all around us land straight on him, painting him golden.

Something simmers in my belly. A realization on low boil, bubbles popping and jumping around.

I blink.

My heart starts beating faster.

Faster still.

He turns to look at me and smiles, and the feeling multiplies into a waterfall of simmering golden bubbles that fill my insides.

Not lust.

A crush.

Lust was there already. I’ve acknowledged it. Easy to handle and easy to ignore.