Gerri Hill - Pelican's Landing

What was Annie thinking this morning? Jordan had crawled out of bed at seven, and Annie hadn’t even budged. She’d showered and dressed, finding Annie still curled on her side, sound asleep. She decided not to wake her. She didn’t bother with coffee or breakfast. She picked up both on her way to Fat Larry’s.

And now here she was, nervously awaiting Annie’s arrival. Would it be awkward to see her in the light of day? Would Annie be sorry they’d slept together? Would she want to talk? Discuss it?

With a shake of her head, Jordan went back into the office. Whatever Annie wanted, whatever she needed, Jordan would have to go with it. And if Annie thought it was a huge mistake, then they would just have to live with it.

If that turned out to be the case, it would certainly make leaving that much easier. Hell, if that was the case, she might head out earlier than September. No sense hanging around if there was going to be tension between them.

Her head was spinning with so many unanswered questions, so many scenarios running through her mind. She had to stop or she would drive herself crazy until Annie got there. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait any longer. The outer door opened and she glanced up, finding Annie staring back at her. She was relieved by the smile Annie gave her. She returned it, her fears slipping away.

“You’re late,” she said as Annie walked into the office.

“Yeah…about that,” Annie said. “I hope my boss will cut me some slack. I kinda had a rather…well, a rather eventful night.”

“Oh, yeah?” Jordan felt her face turn red.

Annie laughed. “You’re so cute when you blush.”

Jordan blushed even more. “So…do we need to talk?”

Annie tilted her head. “No. I’m good.” She arched an eyebrow. “You?”

Jordan flashed a grin, her relief obvious. “Oh, yeah. I’m good.”

Annie’s slow smile caused Jordan to stop breathing entirely.

“Yes…you are definitely… good .”

* * *

Annie folded up a T-shirt, placing it neatly back in its bin. She found herself singing along to a Lady Gaga song. She smiled when she realized what she was doing. While Jordan allowed most of Matt’s old classics to play, she’d added some songs “from this century” to the mix.

She glanced up as the bell chimed and she smiled at the two customers who had walked in. For a Sunday, they had been busy, and Molly had volunteered to work the afternoon as well as the morning. Normally, she and Jordan handled the Sunday duties by themselves, with one of the others working a short ten-to-two shift. When two o’clock came and the store had been crowded, Molly offered to stay, saying she had no plans for the afternoon. Annie thought Molly had really grown over the summer. She was much more interactive with the customers now and showed none of the shyness that she’d first exhibited. She hoped that carried over to her senior year of high school.

She sighed. School. Yes, her last year of college would be starting soon too. To say the summer had flown by was an understatement. It seemed like only yesterday that they were having Matt’s funeral, that she’d first met Jordan. And it seemed like only weeks ago—not months—that she’d found out she was pregnant. Yet, in three short weeks, she’d be starting classes again.

And in three short weeks, Jordan would be making plans to leave, to go back to Chicago. Annie felt a tightness in her chest that was nearly painful. Jordan was going to leave soon.

She wasn’t ready for Jordan to leave. Not now. Not now that they were…lovers.

She closed her eyes for a second. Lovers . Yes, they were definitely lovers. Images from last night flashed through her mind in record speed, causing her heart to race. What she’d had in the past with Derrick, with Matt, couldn’t even begin to compare to the intimacy of what she’d shared with Jordan last night. Making love took on an entirely new meaning with Jordan.

“Hey.”

She turned, finding Jordan watching her. She cleared her throat. “Hey.”

Jordan walked closer and Annie felt the heat between them. She thought perhaps Jordan could read her mind, for when their eyes met, she saw a shimmer of desire in Jordan’s.

“My mother called. She’s making lasagna. She wanted to know if we wanted to stop by the house on our way home.”

Annie nodded, even though what she really wanted to do was to head straight home and have a repeat of last night. “Sure.” Then she smiled. “You know I’ll never pass up a meal,” she said as she patted her stomach.

Jordan laughed. “Okay, I’ll let her know.” Her gaze drifted across the store. “Why are we so busy today?”

“School starts soon. A lot of people are taking their last vacations of the summer,” she said. “And you should not be complaining about being busy.”

“I know.” She paused. “I can’t stop thinking about last night.”

Annie reached out and squeezed Jordan’s hand quickly before releasing it. “Me either.”

Jordan’s eyes darkened. “I vote we decline the dinner invitation.”

Annie felt the now-familiar flutter of butterflies in her stomach. “Good. Gets my vote too.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jordan leaned on her elbow, watching Annie sleep. Once again, the lamp had been forgotten and the bedroom was still bathed in a soft glow. Her hand was resting against Annie’s belly…against the baby. She kept still, hoping to feel the baby move, even though it was probably too early. Annie said her doctor told her it would be another few weeks before she felt movement. That thought made her sad. In a few weeks she would be leaving, heading back to her life in Chicago. She knew it would be hard to leave, but now that they were lovers, it would be doubly so.

Annie stirred and Jordan watched as her eyes fluttered open, then closed again. A smile on Annie’s lips told her she was awake.

“I guess we fell asleep,” Annie mumbled. She turned her head, her eyes opening again. “Or I did.”

“Me too.”

Annie rolled over, facing her. Under the covers, her hand moved to Jordan’s breasts, stroking one lightly.

“What are you thinking about?”

Jordan met her gaze. “Nothing, really,” she lied. “I was hoping to feel the baby move.”

Annie took Jordan’s hand and pressed it against her belly. “The doctor said that since it’s my first baby, I probably wouldn’t feel it until about twenty weeks or more. I’m at seventeen now.”

Jordan sank lower under the covers and pulled Annie flush against her. “So…what do you want? Boy or girl?”

Annie smiled. “I don’t know. I think a little boy would be fun. I’m not really into dress-up. Suzanne and Macy both have girls. Macy has two. All the bows and crap they make them wear…I can’t see me doing that.”

Jordan laughed quietly. “So jeans and a Fat Larry T-shirt on the little man and you’re good to go?”

“Wouldn’t that be cute?”

“Yeah, that would be adorable.” Her smile faltered somewhat. She wondered if she’d be around to see it.

“What?”

Jordan raised her eyebrows.

Annie pulled her hand from under the covers and cupped Jordan’s face, her fingers playing gently against her skin. “Do we need to talk?”

Jordan sighed. “I’ll be leaving soon.”

Annie’s hand stilled. “I don’t like to think about you leaving.”

“The time…well, it kinda got away from me. I was supposed to hire someone to run the store when I leave. And you’ll be starting school again pretty soon.”

“I’m going to still work part-time,” Annie said. “And if Brandon could take some more hours, I think we can manage it.”

“I know the winters aren’t that busy, but maybe Molly would work Saturdays.” She rolled over onto her back and folded one arm behind her head. “I’m not ready to leave, Annie.”