Page 101 of Pucking Rebound
“Can I see?”
“Not until it’s finished.” Tilting his head to the side, he looks at me and drops his attention to his sketchbook as if immersed in his art.
Every one of Jordy’s paintings oozes skill and emotion. For a big strong guy, the lines he paints are elegant and gentle. The colors he mixes, just right, every brush stroke he paints against the canvas is delicate yet bold, textured but soft and bursting with energy. Deliberate.
In my opinion, he’s a natural artist. Untrained, he’s gifted.
“How was Christmas dinner?” I ask.
Did you speak to Sienna, play footsie under the table, make plans to see her while she’s home, are you still in love with her, did seeing her again stir up any old feelings?
I have so many questions.
I’ve been desperate to text him all day. I hate how much I care. And I hate that Sienna got to spend the day with him and not me.
Jealousy is not a feeling I’m familiar with, but it’s been crawling under my skin, reminding me just how much I wish I had been the one by his side today.
“Sitting through a lecture on tax laws would have been more entertaining,” he drawls, and I stop myself from chuckling. He adds, “I’ll answer what you haven’t asked though, because I can see that little worry line between your brows getting deeper.”
I give it a quick rub, annoyed that he often lives inside my head. “It’s not.”
“You’re a shitty liar.” He looks straight at me. “Sienna is moving back to Canada. She lost her job in LA.” He talks fast. “She never went into too much detail, but I sensed something was off with her explanation. My mom and hers dropped lots of obvious comments about us getting back together.” He sighs. “They did a shitty job of playing matchmakers. It’s not happening. Not ever. I felt nothing for her today.”
That makes me feel a hell of a lot better and I relax further into the mattress.
“Is it weird that I don’t feel anything for Graham anymore?” It’s been over a week since I left him, and if he didn’t call me insistently, I wouldn’t even think about him. It’s like he’s fallen out of my head. Although I would have much preferred pushing him off a cliff into a deep ravine.
“I think it’s fully justified. The weight of his betrayal is heavier than the love you once had for him. Closure for you came when you decided not to press charges. It allowed you to let go and move on. The mind is brilliant sometimes.” His genuine smile makes me smile back. “Without being too big headed, I’m the real reason that helped you forget him. My dick is fucking magic, baby.”
He was right when he said he would fuck Graham out of my system. Mentally, Jordy has made himself at home, filled his nightstand with his personal belongings, and doesn’t have an exit plan.
I’m more than happy about it. He can stay for as long as he wants.
“It’s all down to you,” I confirm.
“I knew it.” He cheekily winks at me, then adds, “Thinking about calling you tonight helped to get me through the awkward day with my ex.”
“Well, I hate to tell you this, but I had a lovely day.”
“I’m so jealous, and you said you had pizza?” he asks, sounding shocked.
I’m stuffed. “Lots of it, onion rings, and fries.” I rub my stomach, then let out a loud yawn. I really could do with an early night. My life has been hectic lately.
“Are you tired, Teacup?”
“Very.”
My eyes heavy, I yawn again, my low-pitched, breathy exhale drawing his attention.
“You should go to sleep.”
“I sleep better when you’re next to me.” Something I told him the first night we slept together. He says it’s the same for him too.
It’s as if his presence makes me feel whole and vice versa.
Like home.
“I’m here now. I’ll stay on the call until you fall asleep, baby.”
