Jourdan Mathews has a secret, and she knows she needs to take this one to the grave.
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Her life was never complicated: a college student with a close family, good friends, and a plan for her future as a doctor. Had that night had never happened...
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Jourdan's father and uncle are two of the friendliest guys I've ever met. Part of me wondered if there were still some intense conversations to come because the way Andee and Justin had been talking before it was like I was being sent into the lion's den. Granted, there had been the honorary round of questioning when I'd stepped outside with Spencer before, but once they seemed to approve, they'd talked easily with me.
Now they'd taken me to the basement, to what Mr. Mathews referred to as his 'man cave', a room towards the back of a hallway complete with large, leather lounge chairs, a bookcase full of different trophies and other awards, a huge flat screen tv, several different old fashion framed movie posters, and an impressive collection of whiskey that he gave me an extensive tour of.
Poor Matt was not allowed to come with us, being left to hold his own with Derek's kids and Jourdan, who was watching a movie with them. I'd reassured him he wouldn't be missing much, but we both knew I was being generous.
"So, Ryder," Derek begins, reclining in one armchair, glass of scotch in one hand and a cigar in the other. "Now we need to get down to the real business of tonight."
"Go easy on him." Spencer chuckles, sitting next to me on the leather couch across from him as Jourdan's dad sits in the armchair next to his. I knew this was coming, and if anything, I appreciated where they were coming from. I'd do the same thing the second my younger sister Rory brought a guy home, even if they were trying to operate under the same guise of 'we're just good friends'.
I think this conversation that's about to happen is a given though, like Justin and Andee had warned. Jourdan's strong and looking around the room at the group of men watching me carefully I think I see where she gets it from. But they know, just like I do, that since Miles died, she deserved to be cared for and treated right. Not just anyone could step in now, not when she's already been through so much.
"He's right," Mr. Mathews agrees, sipping his own scotch slowly, before continuing. "I'm not gonna lie, I like you boy, but I need to know the situation happening between you and my daughter."
"Their friends." Spencer chimes in before I have a chance to answer.
"Bullshit." Scoffs Derek, both he and Mr. Mathews laughing loudly before staring full on at me, waiting for my response. In a certain way they were right, we're not just friends. The past three weeks had made that very clear to me, if not both of us, but we still hadn't really talked about labels. For some reason, the idea of losing her at this point was more terrifying than not committing to her.
The truth is that I didn't want to push her before she is ready. I want her to come to me and ask me for more than just a casual relationship.
"Honestly," I start, deciding to finally man-up for once in my life. "I really like your daughter sir. I just don't want to put pressure on anything before she has the chance to get comfortable again."
