Jourdan Mathews has a secret, and she knows she needs to take this one to the grave.
* * *
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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Wednesday morning, we wake up late, both of us having been extremely drained from the activities the night before. When I woke up finally, I was crushed under Ryder's strong body, me asleep on my back as he'd rolled over me on his stomach. It was warm and comforting, especially as I remember everything, he'd confessed to me, and waking up with him made the rest of the day extremely pleasant. We spent the day easily, talking and laughing with my family.
Then we saw Andee and Justin for our annual hike with her family. They both interrogated us about what had happened and how my parents seemed to be handling this situation between us. Ryder had reassured them instantly, telling them there had been nothing to stress about. I still hadn't asked him about his conversation with my father, brother, and uncle. Partially because I had a feeling, I already knew what they'd talked about.
Dinner that night involves us all piling into two cars and going downtown to my father's favorite bistro in Denver. There, Ryder, and I indulged in the bottomless margaritas with Spencer, the three of us a bit more then tipsy by the time we got home, just in time to welcome my grandparents who'd taken an Uber from DIA.
After greeting them and helping them settle into the guest bedroom Ryder had vacated to bunk up with me, we'd both passed out on top of the covers of my bed, too drunk to get undressed or do much else. Though we'd certainly fumbled around a bit, both giggling hysterically when Ryder had fallen off the bed trying to take his sweatshirt off.
Thanksgiving Day started with Ryder between my legs, licking up everything he could get until I was shivering uncontrollably.
"As far as Thanksgiving meals go," he teased me when I was finished, sitting up and grinning down at me. "That's the best I've ever had."
"Ryder." I grumbled, though unable to keep myself from laughing with him as he'd leaned over me and kissed me until we were very close to saying 'fuck it' and spending all morning in bed.
We did get up though, reluctantly, knowing we'd agreed to help cook the night before. Once we were up, my dad and uncle recruited Ryder out back, insisting he help them with the turkey, and reminding him they'd all agreed to a pick-up basketball game while the turkey was being roasted.
I'd helped my mom, aunt, and Marissa with the rest of the meal then, including helping my aunt add the finishing touches to the five different pies she had been preparing yesterday and this morning. Soon enough, a feast grand enough to feed a village was laid out in the kitchen, which was fitting considering the guest list coming to our Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Everyone broke off to get dressed then, Ryder returning from the backyard with the rest of the men who were going on and on about how he really is an excellent athlete. I'd chosen a soft, maroon dress for dinner. The material is velvety, with a few buttons in the front and a skirt that flares outward, coming to rest at about mid-thigh on me. Ryder dawns a pair of black slacks and a light blue dress shirt that makes his eyes seem even more icy than usual.
