Stop in the Name of Love (Completed)

Chapter 25

Jordan's taking me to the mall in the city after work. He wants to have dinner and go see a movie, he's also offered to buy me a dress for Friday.

"I don't really want to give them reason to think I'm a gold digger, I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll find one of my mom's dresses that could fit," I shut the register.

"And if they don't? No one has to know I bought it for you. I know how badly you want to make a good first impression, and I just want to help if I can. Besides how many of your mom's clothes have fit you right?"

I shrug, "A few things here and there."

"Can we maybe go to a store, I promise we won't get anything if you don't want to, but I want to let you at least have fun trying stuff on. I want to spoil you and treat you like the princess you are to me," He wraps his arms around my waist.

I gently push away, "Jordan..."

He sighs, "Is it the Dominic thing?" He pulls away, "Is it still getting to you?"

I bite my tongue. I haven't let Jordan touch me today, he hasn't held my hand or kissed me or put his arm around me. Everything is tense.

My dad was passed out when I got home, and I didn't stay up long enough for that to change. Jordan had tried to call me after I took a shower but I let it go to voicemail as I climbed into bed. I fell asleep staring at the shirt he gave me. I woke up a few times in the night, thinking I heard Dominic laughing. But no one was ever there.

Jordan has spent the whole day by my side, hyper aware of everything that happens. When he walked me to English class I was worried he would stay there the whole class.

"It's almost time to go," Jordan says with a smile, pointing at my apron, "Do you want me to go hang that for you?"

I push Dominic from my mind and take off the cloth. He takes it and walks towards the back door to hang it while I gather my stuff. I see his outstretched hand waiting for me, I take a deep breath and accept.

His fingers wrap around mine as I punch in my time card, "See you later, Mr. Marsh!" I call out as we leave.

"What do you want for dinner?" Jordan asks, a true smile showing as we walk to his car.

"I don't really know, I'm kind of feeling blah about food in general the past couple days. Whatever you decide is alright with me," I slide my hand away to climb in the car.

"Maybe Italian?" He climbs in next to me, "Do you have any homework left?"

"Math, but that's it," I sigh, "Italian sounds good."

He nods as he pulls away from the hardware store. He taps the wheel the entire way into the desert, "If you want to pull out the math, we can work on it now, get a head start."

I dig in my backpack for the worksheet and groan at all the numbers and fractions. Jordan and I talk about the problems, walking through them together. I balance my notebook on my knee as I write my answers. I understand this a little better than the last unit but it's still difficult. The only thing that can ruin a peaceful, desert drive is math.

"Can we talk about what happened yesterday?" Jordan asks as we turn onto the highway.

"Do we have to?" I put the paper down for a minute.

"I'd like to... I don't really know what happened, I don't know how to make it better. And I can't stand seeing you like this."

"Like what?"

He gives me a confused look, "You've barely said a word the past couple days. You shy away from any touch. You don't look like you've slept."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I look out the window, "There's something off about him. His sister told me he talks about us, about you being in his way. He got in my face and grabbed my arm. He sat me next to him and talked while he played with my hair and got close to me. His parents came home and he acted like nothing happened, I got paid and left. At school he cornered me, he wouldn't let me leave. I don't know what you think talking will do about it, it won't change anything."