Married This Year 4: Ticket To Ride

by Tracey Pedersen

  They left the table and she led the way to her car where it was parked in the side street. She already knew he’d work out where she lived when they returned, but stuff it, what difference did it make? They weren’t going to date, and she wasn’t having any more dates in the coffee shop, so he wouldn’t be able to tell anyone who mattered. As she turned the ignition in the car, she tried to ignore the giant smile plastered on his face.

  She’d just pulled into the supermarket carpark when her phone rang, and she pushed the button to put the call on speaker as she backed into her parking space. “What’s up, Mum?”

  “Oh, Jordan, it’s one disaster after another today. Are you able to come over, after all?”

  “What’s happened, Mum?” She turned off the car and wished she hadn’t opted to have this conversation in front of Luke.

  “The removalists didn’t show up. Tina is upset, since the cleaners will be coming in the morning. We need some help to move her things, dear.”

  “I can help you with the boxes, but who will move the furniture? Who’s going to move her fridge? We can’t possibly do it on our own.”

  “I don’t know. If only you had a boyfriend, this would all work out. He’d have friends he could bring, and we could stop worrying.” She ground her teeth together as her mother spoke.

  How does everything in life come back to me having a boyfriend?

  Luke touched her arm and said quietly, “I can help.”

  “Who’s that, dear? Are you with a man?” Her mother’s excited tone made Jordan shake her head at Luke.

  “No one, Mum.”

  He squeezed her arm and tried again. “Come on, Jordan, let me help. I’ll call my brothers and see if they can come, too. One of them has a trailer we can fit the furniture in if we make a few trips.”

  “You are with a man, dear. Hello? Hello? Who is that with Jordan?”

  “My name is Luke. I’m hanging up now, so I can call my brothers. Tell Tina we’ll be there within the hour.”

  “I will, and thank you.”

  He pushed the button to end the call as Jordan sat still with shock. “Tina lives close, right? I didn’t agree to a three hour drive each way, did I?”

  “You’re lucky she’s close. It would be quite a trek on your bicycle,” she growled at him. “Why did you have to agree to that? Now, we’ll be there all day and all night.” She started the car as he tapped a number into his phone. “She’ll think we’re together, too, just so you know. Get ready for an exhausting barrage of questions.”

  “I can handle her questions. You can’t leave old ladies to move their own things; what kind of a person are you, Jordan?” He frowned at her as he made the call and asked his brother if he could help. Within minutes, he’d organised three men and two trailers, and they were on their way.

  The drive wasn’t long, but it was long enough for Jordan to reflect how she’d ended up in the car with Luke on her way to help Tina move. She glanced at him a few times as he watched the scenery go by. When she had the urge to comment on how fast everything moved when you were in a car, instead of on a bike, she bit her tongue on the snippy remark.

  Arriving at Tina’s was as awful as she’d expected. Her mother came rushing out to the car to grab Luke’s hand and drag him into the house. She made him a cold drink, and within minutes, she was grilling him about where they’d met and what his intentions were. Jordan groaned as she heard Patricia welcoming him to the family.

  Oh, no. There’s one more man in the world who won’t be talking to me after enduring my mother.

  She heard Luke excuse himself, and the four men set about loading couches and the fridge into their trailers. They’d even brought moving trolleys, old blankets, and strapping with them, and several times Jordan caught herself marvelling at how quickly Luke had pulled them together.

  She carried Tina’s boxes out to the car and carefully stacked them in her boot and on her backseat. She was determined that there wouldn’t be any moving disasters today, and she crossed her fingers that the boys would manage to get everything moved in unscathed. She couldn’t take hearing about how the day was a disaster because of her for another eight years.

  When her car was full, she went to where they were strapping down the chairs to tell Luke that she was going to the other house. Her mother had already given them the address in between comments about how tall and handsome he was, and Jordan was keen to get away as quickly as she could.

  “I’ll see you at the other house. Thanks so much for this, you guys,” she smiled at them and silently thanked Luke again.

  “Wait,” he said, “I’m coming with you. I promised Tina I’d balance her television on my lap, and your car is the only one it will fit in. Give me one sec and I’ll be there.”

  She got into her car and started the ignition, pushing the button to turn the air-conditioning on. The day had heated up and sweat trickled down her back. She watched Luke carry the television toward the car. He was sweaty, too, and while most women would have been admiring his shirt stuck to his torso, Jordan prayed he didn’t drop the television.

  ***

  The television survived, and so did Jordan’s nerves. It was well after six o’clock before she could drag poor Luke out of her mother’s grasp. The other men had left hours ago, but he’d stayed to connect the washing machine and the television, so Tina could use them straight away. After yet another grilling about when he thought it was appropriate to start having children and an excruciating reminder to him that twins ran in their family, they drove slowly home. Their visit to the supermarket had long since been forgotten, and Jordan contemplated peanut butter on toast and an early night.

  “You’re quiet. You don’t have to think of a way to excuse yourself; I know you’ll never want to see me again after today.”

  “What are you talking about?” He seemed genuinely confused by her words.

  “My mother. I usually don’t see men again after they encounter her. How many times did she welcome you to the family, anyway?”

  He laughed, “At least three, but she was okay.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She glanced at him, but he didn’t seem like he was just being polite. His answer seemed genuine.

  “Wow. My mother has managed to run off four of my boyfriends with one visit. Each of them was at the serious stage, too. She didn’t horrify you, at all?”

  “Ahh… I think you’ve stumbled on the answer right there. I’m not boyfriend material for you, remember?” He said the words with a hard edge, as though he was still disgusted about the list.

  “Well, she wasn’t to know that. She said all the same things she usually says, but the others all ran a mile. I’m convinced it’s because men think that all women turn out like their mothers.”

  He chortled in the darkness, and she smiled to herself as she thought about those awful months that came each time she brought a guy home. He patted her knee and she jumped. “Jordan, you didn’t take the right guy home to meet Mum.”

  She kept driving, and as she neared her house, she realised she didn’t know where he lived. “Would you like me to drop you home?”

  “Nope. My bike is chained outside the café.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  He’s about to discover I live upstairs. Damn!

  She parked the car and they walked to his bike. She shuffled her feet as he unchained it, hoping he’d ride off before she had to let herself in. Luke surprised her, however, once he stood. “Are you busy tomorrow?”

  “I’m meeting someone for brunch.”

  “Want to grab dinner with me?”

  “Umm… maybe.”

  He waved one arm and held his bike against himself with the other. “Not a date, Scout’s honour. Dinner between friends, okay?”

  “Okay, friends I can do. Meet here? Or I can pick you up.” She grinned as he rolled his eyes in the dark. He turned the bike away and she watched him go.

  I’m totally going to
get away with it!

  He swung his leg over the bike and said, “Meet you here at five?”

  “Sounds good.” She took a step back as he rolled slowly down the street.

  “Oh, and Jordan?” he called over his shoulder.

  “Yes?”

  “You can go upstairs now.”

  ***

  Brunch with Matt Cook was easy. She’d met him at her local bank and had found herself accepting when he’d asked if she wanted to get coffee one day. She’d added him to her calendar, and today was the day. He made her laugh the whole time, with tales of all the meanest customers from the bank. With every story, she convinced herself even more that she was right to work for herself.

  Matt had plans for the afternoon, and he kissed her cheek and left with a promise to take her hiking next time they caught up. As she drove home, she didn’t give him a second thought—she was thinking of dinner with Luke.

  ***

  Dinner with Luke was easy. Once the romantic possibilities had been removed, he was great company. They laughed over a Greek meal, and when he suggested a movie, Jordan happily went with him. Before she knew it, he was ordering pizza and having it delivered to her apartment on Monday night as they each lay on her couches. Rex was excited to have a visitor and had perched himself squarely on Luke’s chest. Every time she’d glanced away from the television, her dog was gazing into Luke’s face.

  It was hilarious to watch.

  March

  “This party is amazing, Shelly. Your yard looks beautiful, like the fairies have moved in.”

  Shelly grinned as her cousin complimented her on the party. “It was all my friend Jordan’s doing. She spent all day decorating while I had to work. She’s done a beautiful job.”

  “She has.” George looked around the crowd. “Is she as beautiful as you are? If so, I’d like to meet her.”

  Shelly laughed. “She’s beautiful and single, George. I’ll be sure to introduce you later.”

  “Thanks—I’d like that.” He drifted off when he saw Boyd across the room, and Shelly looked for Jordan so she could prepare her for meeting her cousin. She waved as she saw her serving finger food to a guest. Jordan put the plate on a table and joined Shelly near the door, and they turned to look at the guests together. “Thanks so much for doing this for me, Jordan. You’re the best friend ever.”

  “It’s no trouble. That is why I work for myself, after all. It gives me that little bit of freedom when I need it.”

  “I have someone for you to meet later. My cousin, George, is single and eligible. He has a job, a car, and he’s taller than you.” She paused as a look of disgust settled on her features. “Well, you can decide for yourself if he has a nice ass—I don’t even want to think about it. Anyway, I’ll introduce you later.”

  She squealed as she saw Emily and Andrea arrive together, and the four women were quickly chattering away and catching up. Even though they’d last had dinner two nights ago, there was always something to talk about when they were together. Shelly and Andrea quickly took to the dance floor as Jordan continued serving food and making sure everyone had a drink.

  The party had the usual formalities, and Jordan smiled as speeches were made and the bride and groom were toasted. The happy couple cut the cake, and Jordan rushed in to help serve it to the guests. She cleaned up the remains and helped Shelly put a chunk of the cake in the freezer, and then she went around with a garbage bag, cleaning up the paper plates and plastic cutlery that now littered every flat surface. She was about to start clearing away the dirty glasses when Shelly pulled her aside and insisted she follow her into the kitchen.

  A handsome man turned from speaking to Boyd, and his eyes lit up when they fell on her. “George, this is my best friend, Jordan Parker. Jordan, meet George, my cousin.” They shook hands and made small talk before George excused himself to go to the bathroom.

  He made her promise to stand right where she was until he returned, and Jordan resisted the urge to watch him walk away. She didn’t want to be checking out men’s bums before she agreed to go on dates with them; after a few minutes with George, she could tell that they would get along if they decided to spend more time together.

  He soon returned with a drink for them both, and they settled in to get to know each other. He asked for her number and she watched as he tapped it into his phone. Then she joined the party and her friends on the dance floor.

  “George isn’t dancing with you?”

  “I guess not. I came out here before he could ask, I suppose.”

  “Did you give him your number? Did he ask you out?”

  “Not exactly. He’s away for the next few weeks with work, so we’re going to catch up when he’s home. He has my number in his phone.”

  Shelly squealed with delight, and Jordan could hear it over the music the DJ was playing—the DJ she’d been studiously ignoring since the moment he’d arrived to set up his gear earlier this afternoon.

  Fish had made no secret that he was pleased to see her when she’d opened the door to Shelly’s home. She’d helped him carry his equipment inside, and then he’d requested her assistance to set it up. She’d excused herself as soon as she could, but he’d made sure he suggested she hang around afterward, so they could “reconnect.” She’d had to remind him that neither of them remembered the last time together and she wasn’t interested. He’d had the hide to suggest that she just needed a couple of drinks and she’d change her mind!

  Andrea danced past her on the dance floor, and she quickly looked away from the man playing the music. She wasn’t interested, but gee, he was gorgeous. What she wouldn’t give for even a small memory of that night.

  “Hey, Jordan, why didn’t you bring that guy, Richard, to the party?” Andrea cut into her train of thought and, as always, didn’t mess around with pleasantries.

  “I asked him, but he said he was busy.”

  “Damn. He sounded like he might have been worth a bit more of your time. I have someone at work I want you to meet.”

  “Richard could still be worth it, and we’re having dinner next week. You can give my number to your workmate, if you’d like.”

  Andrea grinned at her and danced away as she nodded her approval. The dance floor had become crowded, and Jordan turned to find George stepping up behind her. She smiled and they danced a few songs together.

  The rest of the night passed in a blur, and it was a happy Jordan who drove herself home and snuggled in bed with Rex in the early hours of the morning.

  ***

  A week later, she sat in a hotel lobby in the city with Andrea’s friend from work. Pierre turned out to be smooth, and Jordan wasn’t certain they would be a good match, but she stuck it out, anyway. When he told her he had a dog, her heart sank as she realised he ticked all the boxes on the list.

  How long do I have to wait for a man who is everything I want and who I actually like as more than a friend?

  They were sharing a plate of tapas and talking about their work when she noticed he was eating faster. She was doing all the talking while he was shovelling food into his mouth. She didn’t miss his surreptitious glances at his watch, either. Something was going on. Jordan stopped talking to force him to stop eating and speak, and her eyes wandered over his shoulder as a woman sat up at the bar.

  “Ally? Ally Hastings, is that you?” she couldn’t help but ask of the woman, who seemed so familiar.

  “Yes, that’s me. Well, my maiden name.” She looked confused. “I’m sorry, I—”

  “Sorry.” She slid off her stool and patted Pierre on the shoulder as a look of panic appeared on his face. “I’m Jordan Parker from Miss Bishop’s biology class.”

  “Oh, Jordan, I didn’t recognise you. You look amazing!”

  “Thanks! You, too. What are you doing here?”

  “Oh, it’s lame, but I have a blind date.” She glanced at her watch, “I’m twenty minutes early, so I have a little time to chat.”

  A light went off in Jordan’s
head, and she had the sneaking suspicion that Pierre’s food-shovelling and Ally’s unexpected arrival were somehow linked. “How funny. That’s why I was here, too.” Only one way to find out. “Pierre, turn around. This is my old friend from school.” She smirked as he turned, and she noted the sweat that had recently appeared on his forehead. “Ally, Pierre. Pierre, this is Ally.”

  If it wasn’t so terribly typical of most of her dating efforts, it would have been comical. Ally realised at just the right moment that her date’s name was Pierre, too. The only one who didn’t look confused was Pierre. Sweat was pouring off him as he looked from one woman to the other and meekly held out his hand.

  Jordan couldn’t let him suffer for too long, especially since she felt no spark between them. “Relax, Pierre, I’m onto you. Ally, I have to go, but I’d love to catch up some other time. Can I get your number?” Her friend stared at the man, her lips compressing, as she gave Jordan her phone number. “Thanks, lovie.” She leaned in to whisper in Ally’s ear, “Give him a chance. He’s a lovely guy, just not for me.”

  She waved as she headed across the bar and out into the hotel reception. Another woman blocked her exit as she waved to get the maître d’s attention, and Jordan cackled as she heard her say, “Excuse me, sir, I’m here for a date and I’m early. Would you mind keeping an eye out for Mr Pierre DuPont when he arrives? I’m going to take a seat at the bar.”

  Poor Pierre—he was in for a rough night.

  ***

  “It’s completely my fault.”

  “What do you mean? How do you blame yourself for a situation like this?”

  “This is exactly what I did in January with the guys from Tinder. I lined them up one by one, an hour of my precious time allocated to each. That’s exactly what Pierre did, except he got caught out. This is karma—nothing more and nothing less. I can hardly be annoyed about it, now that the shoe is on the other foot.”