Bad Rep
Page 20

 A. Meredith Walters

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“Jordan!” Jaz squealed from beside me, pushing me out of the way as she launched herself at him. Jordan laughed and patted her back.
“I'm all sweaty.” he apologized, catching my eye over Jaz's shoulder. I gave him a small smile. Jaz wriggled closer.
“I love your sweat,” she purred and I rolled my eyes.
Jordan pulled away with an uncomfortable laugh. He looked at me again. “So, Maysie. What did you think?” he asked, grabbing the cold beer that Lyla handed him. I acted as though I were really thinking about his question.
“Not bad,” I stated but I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. Jordan's answering grin lit up my insides.
“Not bad?” he clarified. I nodded and then I did something that surprised me. I winked at him. And he loved it. I could see instantly the affect it had on him. Jordan swallowed and his eyes heated up. He opened his mouth to say something else when a guy came up behind him and put him in a head lock.
“Jordan, my man! You guys rock! When are you going to play at the house again?” I recognized the steroid looking jock as one of the brothers in Pi Sig.
Leaving Jordan to his conversation, I went back to my section and started cleaning my tables. The band came back from their break and played a few more covers and two more original songs. Jordan didn't sing again, much to my disappointment. But they were still great. They finally finished their set around 12:30. By that point, I had joined Jaz and Damien again down at the bar. I was on my third shot of tequila and Jaz was pounding beers like crazy. Damien was the only one still sober.
I watched the guys tear down their equipment and my stomach clenched as Jordan picked up the heavy drums of his kit. I could see his muscles rippling under his Barton's t-shirt. Damn, I had it bad. Girlfriend or not, all I could think about was having him down between my legs. I imagined clutching his hair as he did things with that mouth that should be illegal.
“You alright, Mays? You look a little flushed,” Damien asked, shooting me a look. I cleared my throat and crossed my legs, trying to tamp down the throb that had started.
“Fine, just feeling my ass at the moment,” I slurred. Crap, I was going to have to get a ride home. Riley would be pissed at me for leaving her car here. But there was no way I could drive.
Jordan had finished loading up the band's gear and came down to the bar. The kitchen crew had come out and joined us and now Jaz was in the middle of a serious game of Flip Cup with Pocco and Fed. Jordan slung his arm around my shoulders and I struggled to ignore the instant physical response I had to his touch. “We're having an impromptu party back at my house. You guys wanna come?” he asked the group. There was a collective “hell yeah” from everyone.
Jordan leaned in close to me and put his lips to my ear. “What about you, Maysie? Are you game?” His breath tickled my skin and I knew without a doubt that if I ended up at his house, my earlier resolve to stay away from him would be flushed down the toilet. Because I was way too attracted to him for my own good. And he was way too taken.
I pulled away from him and reached up to remove his arm from my shoulder. “I think I'll pass. I have to get up early in the morning. Second job,” I explained, looking up at him. Jordan frowned.
“Come on, Maysie. Just come by for a little while. I'll make sure you're all tucked in tight early enough for you to go to work in the morning.” His voice was like liquid caramel. And I knew what I wanted to do with him. I wanted no holds barred, throw-me-against-a-wall-and-pound- me-within-an-inch-of-my-life-SEX.
But that wasn't going to happen. So, despite the aching desire to give into those delicious base urges, I shook my head. “No can do. I really have to get home.” I turned away from him before I could register the disappointment on his face. I tugged on Damien's sleeve. “Hey, can I get a ride? There's no way I'm driving.” Damien grinned.
“Sure thing. Let me go get my stuff.”
Jordan made a noise from behind me. I turned around to look at him and he was frowning. “What?” I asked, confused.
“I could give you a ride home,” he offered, looking insulted that I hadn't asked him first. He just didn't get the hint that I was trying to put serious distance between us.
“That's okay. You've got your party to get to,” I said flippantly, getting to my feet. Jordan still looked bothered.
“Maysie. Don't be like this,” he whispered so quietly that I wasn't sure I heard him correctly.
I was saved from having to respond by Damien's reappearance. “Ready?” he asked. I nodded and picked up my purse. I chanced one more look at Jordan as we headed toward the door but he had already turned away from me and I felt hollow as I left.
Chapter Six
The weeks started to fly by. I couldn't remember the last time I was so busy. Between Bibi's, Barton's and summer school I barely had time to breathe. But I was excited about how much money I had been able to save up. I had already sent $1,000 to my parents.
My mom had called when they had received the check in the mail. She made it clear that she and my father were still disappointed by my choices but she was glad I seemed to be on the right track. I hated talking to my parents. Nothing I did was ever good enough. Sometimes I really wondered why I bothered seeking their approval in the first place.
Summer school finally finished up at the beginning of August. I was stoked when I received my grades and saw that I had gotten a solid 'B' in both classes. I had just finished a victory dance around my living room when the doorbell rang.