The car rideto the Leelanau Peninsula started off awkward and tense as we navigated the worst of the storm in Robbie’s truck, but somewhere past Cadillac, Jordan started to relax more. The whole time, he made sure I stayed alert, watched for accidents on the highway, and fed me snacks, not to mention he played my favorite Taylor Swift songs. It was … unexpected.
This week is turning out completely different than I thought. Robbie and Olivia were supposed to join us for a week of snowboarding and fun at the cabin, but instead, Olivia’s plane was delayed from Minnesota. With how much snow was coming down in Grand Marquee, Robbie suggested that Jordan and I go ahead without them and try to make the best of it. I expected Jordan to bail almost immediately, but he quietly helped pack up the truck and has been mostly silent throughout the ride.
Ever since my birthday a few weeks ago, our friendship has been getting better, back on track. At least that’s what I thought.Although I can’t stop thinking about that night when I kissed him. The night he rejected me.
I shake the memory away and reach for my water bottle in the center, but before I can wrap my hand around it blindly, Jordan springs into action and hands it to me, our fingers brushing with the movement. I take my eyes off the road for a second to glance at him and my heart skips a beat just like all the other times I’m near him.
Am I always going to be destined to love Jordan, only for him to never feel the same way about me?
“Thank you,” I say, and hand the bottle back. He quickly takes it, almost like he’s been watching my every move, anticipating what I’ll do next.
“Thanks for driving,” he says quietly. “Never been a huge fan of driving in the snow. I’d much rather navigate.”
I flash him a big smile and decide to tease him a little, lightening up the mood. “You just want to be a passenger princess.”
Jordan makes a little indignant sound in the back of his throat and says, “What is a passengerprincess?”
My laugh gets him to turn his body towards me, giving me his full attention. “You know,” I say, shaking my head and laughing again, “it’s when the front seat passenger gets to be pampered, enjoying snacks, being in control of the music, and not doing the hard work of driving.”
Jordan smiles and I can’t help but bite my lip, enjoying the fact he’s letting some of his walls down and showing me his playful side again.
“You know, I think you would make a perfect passenger princess,” he says, gaze locked on my profile.
“Yeah?” I ask, blushing a little.
“You just have that vibe about you.”
I hum, “Maybe when we get back to the city, you can drive me around every now and then.”
“Maybe,” he says, still looking at me.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give to be Jordan’s passenger princess.
“Any last supplies you think we’ll need for the week? We’re about to pass the last grocery store for a bit.”
“I’m all set. Robbie packed for four people, so I think we’ll make it,” he replies.
“True. I hope Olivia made it okay. I want them to have a good time even if they couldn’t come.”
“I’m sure they will,” he says reassuringly, and taps his fingers on the center console, his body still partly turned towards me.
“So,” I say lamely, and drum my fingers on the steering wheel and blow out a breath.
“Yeah?” Jordan prods, like he’s looking for something, anything, to make conversation with me as well.
“What do you want to do this week?”
He half shrugs and I can’t help but look over at him. He looks so damn cute in a cable-knit cream sweater and dark blue jeans that look a little tight over his strong, muscular thighs. His face looks cleanly shaved, and his brown eyes take on a chocolate hue in the light of day.
I feel a tightness in my chest and remember to breathe as I maneuver the truck through the small unplowed roads of the peninsula.
The cabin looks as good as ever when we pull into the driveway. My parents were here a month ago and they decorated the wraparound porch with wreaths and left the holiday lights up. The garage door is blocked by half a foot of snow, so I park to the side of it and turn the engine off.
“I’ll go through the garage side door and open it. We should have some shovels in there, if you don’t mind helping,” I say, batting my eyelashes.
“Of course, I’ve been pampered enough on the ride,” Jordan says with a smile, and puts his gloves on.
After thirty minutes of shoveling, the driveway doesn’t look much different than when we started, which only shows how much snow keeps coming down. But at least the garage is unobstructed so we can pull the car in and start unloading.
