Chapter 85: 85 | We Said the Words
The alarm blared at 6:30 AM. A harsh digital screech that cut through Chloe’s dreamless sleep like a knife.
She groaned. Buried her face deeper into Jordan’s chest.
The noise continued. Relentless and mechanical.
"Mmm." Chloe shifted. Her leg still tangled with his. "Turn it off."
Jordan didn’t move. His breathing remained deep and even.
Still asleep somehow. Despite the auditory assault happening inches from his head.
Chloe lifted her head. Squinted at the nightstand where Jordan’s phone vibrated and screamed.
Too far to reach without moving. Without leaving the warm cocoon of Jordan’s arms and her blankets.
Fucking hell.
Chloe pushed up on her elbows. Her chest pressed against Jordan’s as she stretched across him.
Her fingers grasped for the phone. Just out of reach.
She climbed higher. Her hips sliding over his stomach. Her knees bracketing his ribs.
Jordan made a low sound in his sleep. His hands twitched but didn’t wake.
Chloe finally grabbed the phone. Swiped the alarm off.
Blessed silence crashed down.
She remained straddling Jordan’s stomach. Her breath coming a bit faster from the effort.
His eyes cracked open. Hazel and unfocused.
"Come on." Chloe patted his chest. "You gotta get up."
Jordan blinked slowly. Processing her words like they were spoken in a foreign language.
Then his arms moved. Sliding around her waist. Pulling her down against him.
"No." His voice came out rough. Sleep-thick. "Five more minutes."
Chloe’s breath caught. Jordan looked exhausted.
And cute. Really fucking cute with his hair messed up from sleep. His expression soft and unguarded.
"Okay." The word slipped out before Chloe could stop it. "Five more minutes."
Because he looked tired. Because he felt warm beneath her. Because she wanted five more minutes too.
Jordan’s eyes slid closed again. His grip on her loosened slightly but didn’t release.
Chloe lowered herself back down. Her chest against his. Her face tucking into the curve of his neck.
She pressed a lazy kiss there. To the spot where his pulse beat slow and steady.
Jordan hummed. A pleased sound.
Chloe kissed him again. His jaw this time. The rough stubble scratching her lips.
Then his cheek. His temple. The corner of his mouth.
Jordan’s breathing evened out again. Back to the deep rhythm of sleep.
Chloe smiled against his skin. Let her own eyes fall closed.
Just five more minutes.
Her body relaxed completely. Sinking into him like he was her personal mattress.
The warmth. The steady rise and fall of his chest. The scent of cedar and clean laundry.
Chloe drifted.
"HERE COMES THE HURRICANE BITCH!"
Chloe jolted awake. Her heart slamming against her ribs.
Megan Thee Stallion blasted from her phone on the dresser. The bass vibrating through the floorboards.
"Fuck." Chloe pushed up. Her hands braced on Jordan’s chest.
Jordan groaned beneath her. His face scrunching in annoyance.
Chloe grabbed her phone. Killed the alarm.
8:10 AM.
She stared at the numbers. Her brain sluggish.
She didn’t have class until eleven. Communications 201. Plenty of time.
But Jordan.
Chloe looked down at him. At his face still half-buried in her pillow.
She had no idea what his schedule looked like today.
"Jordan." Chloe sat up properly. Still straddling his stomach. "What time do you have class?"
He mumbled something incoherent. His arm thrown over his eyes.
Chloe bounced once. Not hard. Just enough to jostle him.
"Jordan."
"Mmph." He peeked out from under his arm. Glaring at her with sleepy annoyance. "What."
God he was grumpy. His eyebrows drawn together. His mouth pressed into a flat line.
Adorable.
"Class." Chloe poked his chest. "When do you have class?"
"I don’t know." Jordan closed his eyes again. "Later."
"That’s not an answer."
"It’s the only answer you’re getting."
Chloe grabbed his phone from the nightstand. Held it in front of his face.
The screen lit up. 8:12 AM.
Jordan’s eyes snapped fully open. His body going rigid beneath hers.
"Fuck." He sat up so fast Chloe nearly toppled backward. His hands caught her waist. Steadying her. "Fuck fuck fuck."
"What?"
"Kyle." Jordan’s voice came out strangled. "I was supposed to meet Kyle at the gym at six thirty."
Chloe bit back a laugh. "You missed it."
"Yeah no shit." Jordan scrubbed his hands over his face. "And I have Econ at nine."
Chloe checked the time again. "You have forty-eight minutes."
"I need to shower. Change. Get my backpack." Jordan lifted Chloe off him. Set her on the bed beside him. "I gotta go."
He swung his legs over the side of the mattress. Stood up. Nearly tripped over his own feet in his rush.
Chloe watched him stumble. Her lips twitching.
Jordan noticed. His glare intensifying. "Don’t."
"I’m not saying anything." Chloe held up her hands. Innocent.
"You’re thinking it."
"Maybe."
Jordan grabbed his phone. Shoved it in his pocket. Looked around for his shoes.
Chloe slid off the bed. Stretched her arms over her head.
"I don’t have class until eleven." She said it casually. Walking toward her bathroom. "Gonna shower. Get ready. Take my time."
Jordan froze. His eyes tracking her movement.
Chloe reached the bathroom door. Turned to face him. Let her hand rest on the doorframe.
"You coming?" She tilted her head. Bit her bottom lip.
Knowing he couldn’t. Knowing he was already late.
Enjoying the way his jaw clenched. The way his eyes darkened.
"You’re evil." Jordan’s voice came out rough.
"Mmhmm." Chloe smiled. Slow and wicked. "Rain check?"
"You’re killing me."
"Good."
Chloe turned. Walked into the bathroom. Made sure to add a little extra sway to her hips.
The door stayed open behind her.
Jordan appeared in the doorway. His expression torn between frustration and amusement.
"C’mere." He beckoned her.
Chloe walked back to him. Stopped just inside his reach.
Jordan pulled her close. One hand cupping her face. The other on her waist.
He kissed her. Hard and fast. All tongue and teeth and desperation.
Chloe melted into it. Her hands fisting in his shirt.
When he pulled back they were both breathing hard.
"I gotta go." Jordan pressed his forehead to hers.
"I know."
"See you later?"
"Yeah." Chloe smiled. "Go before you’re really late, boyfriend."
The word hung in the air between them. Testing. Uncertain.
Jordan’s eyes searched hers. Something warm and soft blooming in his expression.
"Okay, girlfriend." He kissed her again. Softer this time. "Later."
Heat spread through Chloe’s chest. Down into her stomach. Lower.
The simple acknowledgment. The easy acceptance of the label.
Her heart did something stupid and fluttery.
Jordan stepped back. His hand lingering on her waist for a moment before letting go.
"Don’t be late." Chloe leaned against the doorframe.
"I won’t."
"Text me when you survive Econ."
"Will do."
Jordan walked to her door. Grabbed his shoes from where he’d kicked them off last night.
Chloe watched him go. The sight of his back in that white undershirt doing things to her brain.
He glanced back once. Caught her staring.
Grinned.
Then he was gone. The door clicking shut behind him.
Chloe stood alone in her bathroom. Her heart still doing that annoying flutter thing.
Boyfriend.
Girlfriend.
