Ease Into It Again

“Anna!” Jordan shouted my name over the music blaring from somewhere inside his house. “It’s so good to see you Babe!” He grabbed my hands, pulling me into his arms, giving me the tightest hug ever.

“Starting the party early, are you?”

Releasing me, he leaned inside, shouting, over his shoulder, “Jenna! If I told you once, I told you a million times, turn that infernal racket down!” Rolling his eyes, he turned back to me, a grin on his face. “Damn kids today, with their bums hanging out and the hippity hoppity noise.”
I laughed. No, I snorted.

“Hey! There’s my little Miss Piggy,” Jordan stretched out his arm, curling it around my waist as he led me into the kitchen. “So?” He raised a brow, “What do I owe this honour? Is it my birthday?”

“Ha, ha,” I playfully shoved him away. “I just wanted to see you.”

“See me?” He gasped. “But…but…” he shrugged, “I’ve got no reply for that,” he grinned. “Come on,” he motioned towards the living room, where the music seemed to be coming from.

As I followed him through the kitchen, I noticed a new picture on his wall and he had a toaster oven and a new grill sitting off to the side on the counter. I made a comment about the changes and he gave me a funny look. “Babe, I hate to tell you, but those aren’t new; I’ve had them a while now.”

“Oh,” I smiled apologetically. “Tell me,” I linked my arm through his as we turned the corner. “What’s with the music? Are you having a - awww!” Jenna was standing in the middle of the living room, her tiny hands clutching her Dora doll as she bounced up and down in time to the music.

“Yeah,” he smiled down at his daughter. “Jenna was afraid that I would embarrass her tonight,” he explained. “So she’s teaching me a few new dance moves.”

“Really?” Jordan, along with Nick, were the best dancers I knew.

He grinned, “Yeah, check this out, I think I mastered it.” He went to the middle of the living room, stood next to Jenna and started to bounce along with her. Jenna stopped, stared up at him, giggled and then continued to bounce.

I had a good time visiting with Jordan and Jenna - he even managed to convince me to bounce along with them for a little while. We were sitting on the couch together, watching Jenna play on the floor when he turned to me and told me he was really looking forward to the party. “And so is my date.”

“Date?” I raised a brow, “You have a date?”

“Yes,” he smiled. “She even let me buy her a dress for tonight, she’s going to be so pretty.”

“She let you buy her a dress?” I laughed, “Good lord, does she know just how bad your taste is?”

“Hey!”

Laughing, I slapped his knee, “Do I need to remind you of your Batman/Spiderman get up? And how you thought it was the best idea ever?”

“Well,” he moved close to me, his arm around the back of the couch. “Babe, you know, the girls thought it was pretty hot.”

“Yeah right,” I chuckled as I looked into his eyes. “You are so weird, do you know that?”

“Mmm,” he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear as he gazed down at me. “I should know, you are always telling me that I am.” I went to tell him he was when his fingers brushed gently against my cheek. “You know,” his arm dropped from the back of the couch to rest comfortably around my shoulders.

“I know lots of stuff,” I said softly.

“Hmmm,” he tilted his head until it rested against his arm. Stroking my cheek, he sighed my name.

“Jordy,” I lifted my hand to his, wrapping my fingers around his, pulling it away.

Coughing, he pulled away from me. “So?” He glanced around, “How is Josh doing?”

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. For some reason I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that Josh and I weren’t together anymore.

Looking back, I like to think that I was doing the smart thing, I didn’t want to get involved with Jordan like that. He deserved more than being a rebound relationship. Our friendship deserved more than that.

“He has Jesse for the summer,” I told him. “He’s very happy about that.”

“I bet,” Jordan called out to Jenna, she came running over to him, throwing her doll into his lap as she giggled. “Silly baby,” he pulled her into his lap, cuddling up with her. “I don’t want you to go home,” he whispered before turning back to me. “He’s a lucky guy.”

I nodded.

Jordan frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head, “Nothing,” he lied.

“Jor -”

I didn’t get a chance to say what I wanted, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Come,” was all he said as he started down the hallway with me trailing behind him like a lost little girl.