Page 25 of Full Court Love

When my phone pings, I’m smiling before I even read the message because simply seeing his name makes me giddy.

I want to see you.

Flirting is not typically my thing, but Jordan brings it out of me.

Come find me.

This should be fun. His little dots appear.

Do I get any hints?

I think for a moment, then type and hit send.

Just one: best vibes in town.

He should be able to guess it. If he doesn’t, maybe he doesn’t know me as well as I thought. My phone pings again.

Come on, Townes. That’s way too easy.

See you soon;)

I can’t help but blush at the nickname. Other people have called me that before, but coming from Jordan, it feels more intimate. The thought of seeing him in just a couple minutes gives me butterflies–which is asinine because we saw each other yesterday.

Like less than twenty-four hours ago.

But I can't sit still right now.

All because of him.

I keep trying to read the next line in one of my all-time favorite books,Little Women,but I can’t focus. My eyes dart to the door every time the bell jingles. After I almost certainly have pulled a muscle craning my neck toward the entrance, he’s finally here.

Jordan fills up the space of this cozy place with his giant frame and glowing smile. A smile that’s trained only on me. Thank God I’m sitting because I’d definitely be in danger of going weak in the knees.

Ugh, Jo March would be so disappointed in me right now. But I can’t help it–she didn’t have a gentle, kind, washboard-abs adorning, dark and dreamy eyes-sporting, basketball-playing man trying to break down all her walls.

I do.

It’s torture.

The best kind of torture.

As he steps toward my table and takes a seat, I notice all the glances we’re getting. Until today, our time together has been private or very casual–walking across campus, chatting, him dropping off food. This looks very much like two people on a pseudo-date.

Is it?

If it is, I was never made aware.

I also forgot that we’re this school’s celebrities. In small Nebraska towns, sports reign supreme. Because of this undeniable truth, we are now providing entertainment and gossip fodder for this shop, which in a matter of minutes will spread to the entire booming metropolis of Maverick City, Nebraska.

Basically, the cat is out of the bag.

Yet Jordan is perfectly unbothered. He gives me a charming smile.

“Hi, Townes. You are very predictable.”

Smirking, he reaches for a piece of my blueberry muffin, but I slap his hand away. With catlike reflexes, he grabs my hand in his and squeezes it.

“Aww, were you that excited to see me?”