First Love (6 page)

*

Stiffness and pain greeted Drew when she finally woke. She carefully took inventory of her injuries and realized she wasn’t sure how she was going to take notes. She looked about for her digital voice recorder just as Mark came in bringing soup and hot tea. “You’re a lifesaver,” Drew said.

“Can you eat with your left hand?” Drew nodded. “Jordan called yesterday and wanted to know when you would be back. Seems she has a calculus quiz and wanted to study.”

“I’ll call her and then we can finish studying, okay?”

Mark agreed, picked up their bowls, and returned them to the kitchen.

Drew called Jordan, again avoiding any personal questions. Conversation was short, and she agreed to meet with her on Tuesday. Now she needed to concentrate on her own studies.

“So, you had a good rodeo?” Mark asked when he returned.

“I was sitting right at the edge before the finals, but I think I’ll be seven or eight for the year in bull riding, and I won all-around cowgirl. It was a good year.”

“I’d hate to see what you look like in a bad year.”

“About the same,” Drew said, then laughed.

*

Tuesday evening, Jordan was stunned to see an injured Drew. “Are you okay? Were you in an accident?” She tried to grab Drew’s arm to help her in, but Drew pulled away.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m fine. No, ma’am. I was just a little careless.” Drew took a circuitous route around Jordan.

Jordan watched as Drew slowly hobbled to the table, lowered herself into the chair, and put her backpack to one side. “Would you prefer to sit in the living room where you can put your foot up? Can I get you anything?” Jordan needed to do something, anything to help.

“No, ma’am, and no, ma’am, but thank you. Besides, now that I’m sitting down, I’d rather not try to get up right away. Let’s just study. Maybe we can quit early.”

Jordan couldn’t imagine what happened. Drew definitely looked uncomfortable. Her right arm was in a sling and her foot was in a walking boot. She pulled out her books and turned to the pages on the exam. She had so many questions, and now, even more, she wanted Drew to talk to her. Not study.

“I need to reschedule our studying this week,” Jordan said, “if it’s okay with you. It’s homecoming weekend, and my sorority has a lot of things planned. Could we meet Thursday and Sunday?”

“Homecoming?” Drew said. “Wow, I had completely forgotten. Wyoming is not a football powerhouse like Florida. Do you want to just skip studying?”

“No!” Drew was quickly becoming an important part of her week.

“Thursday is okay, but I can’t Sunday. Can we make it up later?”

Jordan was disappointed. It was more than missing the studying. She would miss Drew. “Of course. Thank you.” Why was Drew so exasperating and yet so interesting? “Okay, can we go through this formula one more time?”

*

A sorority sister’s brother was coming up for the weekend, and Jordan reluctantly agreed to go with him to the game. He was a political science student at University of Miami and just wanted to talk to her about politics. When he kissed her good night at the sorority house, she was silently pleased the evening was over and he was leaving in the morning. She was grateful she didn’t have to deal with a second date.

Ugh, I’ll never find someone.

*

On the Friday before Thanksgiving, Drew was frustrated. Jordan was struggling and pacing the room.

“I don’t understand how that works,” Jordan said. She ran her hands through her hair and then let it fall loose. She stopped and stared. The tip of her tongue appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Drew recognized this as a sign that Jordan was concentrating and struggling with an answer. “Do you want to stop tonight?”

“No, damn it! I’m not some stupid moron!”

Drew sat back in her chair, stunned by Jordan’s outburst. She had never heard her swear or seen her this upset.

“I know you’re not, Jordan. I just figured we had worked really hard and you may want to stop early.”

Jordan glared. “Don’t patronize me.”

“I’m not. Sometimes taking a break can help clear things up when you get back to them later.”

Jordan’s expression changed. “You’re going to be a fantastic doctor. You are compassionate and know how to calm an irrational female.”

Drew grinned and looked down at the books on the table.

Jordan sat back down, pulling her hair away from her face. “Do you know that is the first time you’ve called me Jordan?”

Drew wasn’t sure if she was being chastised or complimented. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

Jordan smiled. “Don’t apologize. I’ve tried to get you to call me Jordan, but you’re always so polite and…proper.” She sat back in her chair and became serious. “My turn to apologize. My brother hardly ever studied, and I worked hard for my grades. Our parents expected so much of us, and I don’t feel I lived up to those expectations. I wasn’t smart enough. I wasn’t pretty enough.” Tears threatened at the corner of Jordan’s eyes. “Never mind. Let’s stop for tonight.” She stood and turned away.

Drew gave her space. She suspected Jordan was feeling embarrassed at the emotional display in front of a relative stranger. Drew knew that she would. She offered her a tissue from the box on the table, but Jordan refused to turn around. Drew moved in front of her. Jordan’s insecurity bothered her. She had seen the toll it had taken on some of her classmates. Bright girls but insecure for a variety of reasons. She gently touched Jordan’s shoulder and found her arms suddenly filled with the soft fullness of Jordan’s body. Drew had to remind herself this was not any female. This was Jordan Thompson. A straight Jordan Thompson. She must make sure her behavior wasn’t misinterpreted.

“Jordan, you’re bright, determined, and you have an incredible desire to succeed. And you will. I’m sure your parents are very proud of you. I am.” Drew wanted Jordan to understand how gifted she was. She cared about Jordan. Drew let go of her and quickly shifted the conversation. Holding Jordan felt too good. She needed to get on more neutral ground. “I know you’re leaving town Monday evening. Do you still want to study Sunday?”

*

Jordan wiped the tears and nodded. She couldn’t speak. She could only look at Drew and wonder why she suddenly felt cold. Drew’s arms around her had been strong, gentle, and welcoming at the same time. It was so different from her homecoming date. Drew felt good. Jordan stopped.
No, she was just being a friend. That’s why it felt so good.
She tried to focus on her classes and school. “Are you staying here during the Thanksgiving break?”

“Yes, ma’am. We still have assignments next week. I’ll go back home at the end of the semester. My brother may come for a visit.”

“Do you only have one brother?” Jordan asked, wondering if Drew would answer.

“I have an older brother in Atlanta, a younger one who’s attending Colorado State, and an older sister who got married three years ago.”

Jordan was amazed at the sudden abundance of personal information.

“We’ll all be home for Christmas.”

Does that include Drew’s boyfriend?

“Gotta go,” Drew said as she stood to leave. “See you Sunday.” At the last minute, she added, “Jordan.”

Jordan felt the smile growing across her face. She wanted to giggle and didn’t know why. “See you Sunday.” She followed Drew to the door and watched her walk out to the car. She really liked Drew.

*

Drew still had four more weeks before Christmas break. She and Mark were counting the days until the end of the term.

“I’m not a very religious person. David is.” He looked at his notes and put them into his backpack. “But I thank God, or whomever, that we ended up living together.” Mark hugged her. “Now, if my watch is correct, you’re going to be late for tutoring Jordan if you don’t hurry.”

“Damn.” Drew looked at her watch. “I’m usually better at keeping track of time.” She drove Mark back to their apartment before heading to Jordan’s.

Jordan was in a good mood and kept talking about how well her classes were going. Drew didn’t mind the distraction tonight. Jordan’s mood was infectious. And when she smiled, she was gorgeous. Drew was having to focus tonight.

“You’re catching on.” Drew could see how pleased Jordan was.

“I can’t believe how quickly we went through the material.”

Jordan seemed to be hesitating. She was looking everywhere but at Drew. “Is there something bothering you? Did we miss something?”

“No,” Jordan said. She licked the corner of her mouth and cast a quick glance at Drew. “I…I was…I just realized I won’t see you until after I get back.” Jordan carefully stacked her textbooks on the table and then neatly aligned her pencils.

She definitely seemed nervous, Drew thought, but couldn’t figure out why or what to say.

“I don’t know if you’re hungry, but my mom is always concerned that my brother and I aren’t eating enough when we’re away from home. So she sent pie and turkey, even though we’ll both be home in a few days. I’ve got plenty if you would like some. Please say yes. Otherwise, this will just sit here until after I get back.” Jordan was talking at a rapid clip.

Drew was hungry and appreciated Jordan’s attempts at being pleasant, even if she was nervous. “Thank you, Jordan, I’m starved.” She liked the way Jordan smiled when she said her name. “We were at the lab until I came here.” Drew moved the books in front of her. “You wouldn’t happen to have milk, would you?”

Jordan laughed and pulled the milk out of the refrigerator. “I never imagined you as a milk drinker.” The nervousness was gone.

“What do you imagine? Or do I want to know?” Drew liked the way Jordan tilted her head and her tongue tipped out of the corner of her mouth. It was almost sexy. Drew stopped.
That’s not very appropriate.
She shoved the thought back down as quickly as it came up.

“Coffee. Black and strong. Like in the movies.”

Drew grinned. “Well, ma’am,” Drew imitated her best Western movie drawl, “we don’t drink much coffee unless it has at least two shots of whiskey. Only way to stay warm in our bedroll.”

Jordan stared at Drew. Her eyes grew wide.

Drew laughed. “Sorry, I don’t spit tobacco or always sleep with a gun under my bedroll. At least not when I’m sleeping alone.” She enjoyed the look of surprise on Jordan’s face. “Sorry. You’re so easy to tease. Most nights, I sleep in a bed. I also carry a cell phone when working out on the ranch in case someone is injured or help is needed with the animals. Most, but not all, of our ranch has cell phone access.”

“Okay. I haven’t been to Wyoming, but I have been to Colorado and Arizona. Does that count?”

“They’re not Wyoming,” Drew conceded, finishing the pie. “Colorado is close enough. Are you flying to Ohio tomorrow?”

Jordan hesitated. She looked like she was trying to figure out how to answer.
Can’t be that hard to decide if you’re flying home or not.

“No, I’m flying to Virginia and meeting my family there.” Jordan stood and waited. Drew wondered if she was supposed to say something.
Guess not.
She put the dish and glass in the sink.

“Have a wonderful holiday then, and I’ll see you in a week. And thanks for the food,
ma’am
.” Jordan laughed and ran to open the door. She walked in front of Drew with her foot catching on Drew’s walking cast. Drew lost her balance and fell into the front door, hitting her chin. Blood poured from the cut. Jordan grabbed a cloth from the kitchen and offered it to Drew. “I’m sorry. Let me drive you to the health center. You must think I’m dangerous.”

Drew held the cloth to her chin and stared at Jordan, stunned by the injury. Finally, she spoke. “Yes, ma’am, you’re very dangerous.”

Drew’s smirk didn’t seem to reassure Jordan. Jordan was nervously picking at her blouse. Drew struggled to get up but couldn’t get enough traction from her walking boot. When she was finally able to pull herself up with her left arm, she put her hand on Jordan’s arm. “Really, I’m fine. I just have one more thing to remember you by.”

Jordan was near tears now. Drew felt bad about the teasing. “Jordan, I’m going to be okay.” She lifted Jordan’s chin so that she could see into those troubled eyes. “If you’ll just get something to put on the cut.” Drew was in pain, but Jordan was the one needing comfort. Her voice softened. “I’m going to be okay.”

Jordan retrieved some gauze and offered it. “Please let me drive you. You shouldn’t be driving.”

“The cut was to the chin. It hasn’t impaired my vision, my reasoning, or my fine motor skills. Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”

“I’m so sorry. It was an accident. I didn’t mean it. Honest.”

“I’m fine. Really.”

Jordan carefully opened the door this time and walked Drew out to her car. Guilt and sadness hung over Jordan like a physical cloud. Drew wasn’t sure what to do.

“Don’t apologize. I know you didn’t do it intentionally, at least I hope not. I’ll be fine. Have a great Thanksgiving.” Drew wanted to reassure Jordan but felt like her efforts fell flat. There was little more she could do. Jordan needed to believe in herself.

Suddenly, Jordan’s arms were around Drew’s neck. “I am so sorry.”

Drew rubbed Jordan’s back with her free hand. “I know, Jordan. I know. I’ll see you next week.” She reluctantly let go. “I better get this cut taken care of and you better rinse your top off. You’ve got blood on your shoulder.”

Jordan remained standing where Drew left her. Drew watched in her rearview mirror as Jordan finally walked back in. She wanted to turn back but didn’t know what she would do.

*

By the time Drew arrived at her apartment, the cloth was soaked in blood. Mark stopped in the middle of fixing dinner. “What happened?” He shook his head then grabbed his keys. “Mmhmm. Come on. You may need stitches. What exactly are you and Jordan studying?” Mark didn’t wait for an answer. He turned off the stove and steered her out of the apartment.