𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 7

Chapter 7:

Conflict and Doubts

Renee: You up?

She stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

It was almost 1 a.m., and she was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her body felt restless, her mind even worse.

A minute passed. Then another.

She almost regretted sending it.

Then her phone buzzed.

Jordan: Yeah. What's up?

Renee exhaled.

She could just say never mind. Pretend she was fine. That she wasn't feeling the weight of whatever the fuck was happening between them.

Instead, she typed:

Renee: Can I come over?

Another pause. Then—

Jordan: Door's open.

Renee threw on a hoodie and grabbed her keys before she could talk herself out of it.

The drive was short, but her thoughts ran wild.

Ever since the night outside River & Oak, things had been... different.

They hadn't talked about what was said. Not really. They were still them, but something unspoken lingered between every touch, every glance.

It was starting to feel like something real.

And that scared the shit out of Renee.

Jordan's apartment was dimly lit when Renee walked in.

Jordan was sitting on the couch, legs stretched out, wearing a loose tank top and shorts. Her hair was damp, like she'd just showered.

She looked up as Renee shut the door behind her. "Couldn't sleep?"

Renee shook her head.

Jordan studied her for a second before nodding toward the couch. "Come here."

Renee didn't hesitate.

She sat beside her, close enough that their legs brushed.

Jordan set her phone down, stretching her arms over her head. "Wanna talk about it?"

Renee hesitated. "About what?"

Jordan gave her a look. "Don't play dumb."

Renee exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. It's just—"

She stopped herself.

Because saying it out loud made it real.

Jordan waited, but when Renee didn't finish, she just nodded slowly. "Alright."

That was it. No pushing.

Just... patience.

And for some reason, that made Renee's chest feel even tighter.

She turned toward Jordan, her fingers twitching slightly before she reached out.

Jordan let her.

Their fingers laced together, slow and unsure.

Renee swallowed hard. "I don't know what I'm doing."

Jordan let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Join the club."

Renee smirked, but it faded quickly. "I just—" She sighed. "I keep thinking that maybe we're fucking this up."

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Fucking what up?"

"This." Renee gestured vaguely between them. "Us. Whatever the fuck this is."

Jordan didn't answer right away.

Instead, she turned their hands over, running her thumb along the inside of Renee's wrist. The touch was light, absentminded, but it sent a shiver down Renee's spine.

Then Jordan exhaled. "Maybe we are."

Renee's stomach clenched.

Jordan met her gaze. "Or maybe we're just scared."

Renee bit her lip, looking away. "Maybe."

A long pause.

Then Jordan let go of her hand.

The absence was immediate.

Jordan leaned back against the couch, rubbing a hand over her face. "Look, I don't—fuck, I don't do relationships. That's not me."

Renee swallowed. "I know."

Jordan shook her head. "No, I don't think you do know. Because if you did, you wouldn't be sitting here looking like you're waiting for me to say something I can't fucking say."

Renee flinched.

Jordan sighed. "Shit. That came out wrong."

Renee stood up. "No, I get it."

Jordan frowned. "Renee—"

Renee shook her head. "I shouldn't have come."

Jordan reached for her wrist, stopping her before she could leave.

Renee tensed.

Jordan's grip was firm but careful. "Stay."

Renee hesitated.

Her heart was pounding.

She could feel the heat of Jordan's palm against her skin. The way her fingers curled, just barely holding on.

Renee exhaled. "Why?"

Jordan didn't answer right away.

Then, quietly, she said, "Because I don't want you to go."

Renee's breath caught.

Her body reacted before her mind could.

She stepped closer.

Jordan let her.

Their faces were inches apart now, breaths mingling in the dim light.

Renee lifted a hand, brushing her fingers along Jordan's jaw.

Jordan's eyelids fluttered, just slightly.

Renee swallowed. "Then stop pushing me away."

Jordan didn't respond.

She just closed the distance.

Their lips met, slow but heated.

Jordan's hands found Renee's waist, pulling her down, shifting her into her lap.

Renee straddled her without thinking, her fingers threading into Jordan's hair.

Jordan exhaled against her lips, her hands sliding under Renee's hoodie, palms skimming over warm skin.

Renee shivered.

It wasn't just the heat of the moment.

It was everything.

And that terrified her.

She pulled back suddenly, breath uneven.

Jordan frowned. "What—"

Renee shook her head, pushing off her. "I can't."

Jordan's expression darkened. "Renee—"

"I need to go."

Jordan stared at her, something raw in her eyes. "Why?"

Renee didn't have an answer.

So she left.