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...
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The car ride back to Boulder is quiet, all of us a little more hungover than I think we cared to be. But, nonetheless, we'd had fun last night. Even though my head is echoing like the inside of a bass drum, and I've got the largest pair of sunglasses on I could find because the sunlight makes me want to vomit, I'm still smiling.
I feel warm and peaceful again. The knowledge that I am Ryder's, and he is mine making everything feel right with the world. And it's not just because he's my guy.
It's because he's also my best friend.
My cheerleader.
The only person who loves Harry Potter the same way I do. Not that that is the only thing that matters but it counts for something.
And . . . well, he loves me just as much as I love him. Maybe even a bit more.
Andee and Bex both wouldn't shut up about him the second we got off the phone last night. Bex especially wouldn't stop gushing to me about how happy she was for me and how she really meant it and how she's working on herself now—so I shouldn't worry about her saying some other stupid shit. I told her it was fine, and I meant it, if anything, if Ryder and I hadn't had this break, we never would've found out just how much we want to be in each other's lives.
When we get back to our apartment, everyone breaks off to their rooms to nap before the New Year's Eve party that Justin is throwing tonight and hasn't shut up about since Christmas ended.
Ryder and I had been texting consistently since our phone call last night, him checking in with me once we got back to Bex's friend's apartment for the night. Me waking up to a good morning text this morning. Him telling me his shoulder's feeling okay and he was able to move it a bit today without it being too stiff.
Now that we're back in Boulder I let him know too before falling asleep, dozing off for a good couple hours before Andee is shaking me awake, saying we overslept and need to get ready now.
"Come on, Jourdan!" she shrieks, giving me, another shove and I open my eyes again, feeling a bit grumpy.
"I'm going, I'm going." I insist, almost finding her standing above me like a disapproving mother with her hands on her hips comical.
"Now," she repeats. "Get up, right now."
With that I'd risen, reluctantly sipping on the Rockstar Lemonade energy drink she'd forced into my hands. I wasn't a huge fan of energy drinks, but she told me we all needed the boost.
True enough, by the time I emerge into the living room almost an hour and a half later, fully showered, hair done, and dressed, Bex is sitting on the couch looking like she's about to nod off.
"Ladies!" Andee cheers, close behind me. "Are we ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Bex grumbles, standing and straightening out the crop top she'd chosen to wear tonight. Andee has dawned a silvery dress, that shimmers as she moves about the living room. And I chose to wear a new silky, baby blue dress that I'd gotten for Christmas. It's snug, yet still comfy, the top pushing my breasts up a bit excessively, the hem coming to rest on my upper thighs.
