𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 3

Chapter 3:

Breaking the Ice

Renee woke up to a text.

Jordan: You alive?

She squinted at the screen, the early morning light making her eyes sting.

Renee: Barely.

Jordan: Good. Thought you died or something.

Renee rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

It had been a few days since the last time they hooked up. That wasn't unusual. They didn't talk much between their late-night visits—just enough to set things up. But this was different. This wasn't Jordan asking if she wanted to come over. It was just... conversation.

Renee hesitated before typing back.

Renee: You'd be so heartbroken if I did.

Jordan: Devastated. Might even shed a tear.

Renee laughed softly, shaking her head.

Jordan: What're you up to?

That was new too. Renee glanced at the clock. Too early for anything interesting.

Renee: Laying in bed. Thinking about breakfast.

Jordan: Same. But too lazy to make anything.

Renee: Tragic.

Jordan: Come save me.

Renee hesitated. This wasn't their usual. They fucked. They left. That was it.

But before she could overthink it, her fingers moved.

Renee: What do I get out of it?

Jordan: My company.

Renee: You drive a hard bargain.

Jordan: I do. So? You in or what?

She stared at the message for a second before sighing.

Renee: Give me twenty.

Jordan: Clock's ticking, babe.

Jordan's apartment smelled like coffee when Renee walked in.

Jordan was in the kitchen, standing in front of the stove, flipping something in a pan. She glanced up when Renee shut the door.

"You actually came," Jordan said, smirking. "Guess I really am irresistible."

Renee snorted. "I came for the food."

Jordan grinned. "Sure you did."

Renee set her phone down on the counter and leaned against it, watching Jordan cook. It was... weird. Domestic. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

Jordan caught her staring. "What?"

"Nothing," Renee said, shaking her head. "Didn't know you could cook."

"I can do a lot of things." Jordan slid eggs onto a plate, setting it in front of Renee. "Some better than others."

Renee smirked. "That so?"

Jordan winked before sitting down across from her. "You tell me."

They ate in comfortable silence.

This was different. They weren't drunk. They weren't pulling each other's clothes off. They were just... here.

It should've felt awkward. It didn't.

Renee hadn't expected them to start texting all the time.

But after that morning, it just happened.

Sometimes it was bullshit.

Jordan: You ever think about how ducks are kinda terrifying?

Renee: The fuck?

Jordan: They got like... spiky tongues. And weird little teeth.

Renee: Why do you know that?

Jordan: Internet.

Jordan: Also I saw one fight a pigeon once. That shit was brutal.

Other times, it was more normal.

Jordan: What's your favorite movie?

Renee: That's a loaded question.

Jordan: Just answer it.

Renee: I dunno. Something classic. Maybe Jurassic Park.

Jordan: Solid choice. I respect it.

And then there were the nights when the flirting crept in.

Jordan: What're you wearing?

Renee: Lmao, chill.

Jordan: That's not an answer.

Renee: Sweatpants.

Jordan: Hot.

Jordan: Come over.

Renee: It's 1 AM.

Jordan: So?

Renee: Give me ten.

One night, the texts changed.

Jordan: What's the worst thing you've ever done?

Renee stared at the message for a long time.

It was late. Way past midnight. They'd been going back and forth for hours, the usual playful banter. But this? This was different.

Renee: Damn. We're getting deep now?

Jordan: Just answer.

Renee hesitated. Then, slowly, she typed.

Renee: I lied to someone I really cared about. It fucked things up.

Jordan: That's vague as hell.

Renee: Yeah, well. Not a fan of digging up the past.

Jordan: Fair.

Renee almost left it at that. Almost.

But something about the way Jordan had asked made her pause.

Renee: What about you?

Jordan took longer to reply this time.

Jordan: I fucked someone over. Badly. Never fixed it.

Renee frowned.

Renee: Why not?

Jordan: Was easier to run.

Renee didn't know what to say to that.

She should've let it go. Should've changed the subject.

Instead, her fingers moved before she could stop them.

Renee: Do you regret it?

A full minute passed.

Jordan: Yeah.

Something in Renee's chest tightened.

She didn't ask for details. Jordan didn't offer.

But something had shifted between them.

And neither of them wanted to admit it.

They avoided serious topics after that.

But things weren't the same.

Jordan started texting her first more often. Not just for hookups. Just to talk.

Renee started telling her things she wouldn't normally tell someone she barely knew.

It wasn't just sex anymore.

Neither of them acknowledged that.

One night, Jordan sent a text.

Jordan: You busy?

Renee: Not really. Why?

Jordan: Just come over.

Renee: No ulterior motive?

Jordan: None at all.

That was a fucking lie.

But Renee went anyway.

When she got there, Jordan was on the couch, barefoot, in sweatpants and a hoodie.

"Hey," Jordan said.

"Hey." Renee sat down beside her.

Jordan passed her a beer.

They sat there, watching TV, not saying much.

At some point, Jordan shifted closer. Their shoulders touched.

Neither of them moved away.

Eventually, Renee's head dropped onto Jordan's shoulder.

Jordan didn't say anything. Just reached for the remote, turning the volume down.

The silence stretched between them, warm, unspoken.

For the first time, they weren't just fucking.

They were something else.

And that scared the shit out of both of them.