Seducing Jordan: A Second Chances Novella by Andrea Dalling

Author:Andrea Dalling [Dalling, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Artesian Well Publishing
Published: 2014-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The kayak glided through the lake, silent. Jordan, in front, watched for hawks and herons. On shore, the leaves of the dogwoods already showed a red blush.

The sun approached the apex of the cloudless sky. The breeze touched his skin, cooling him. He drew the oar through the water, pulling hard, driving them forward. The physical exertion helped block his thoughts.

He pictured himself at Princeton, at a gay club, trying to meet someone who wasn’t desperate for company and acceptance. He knew he was good looking, fodder for predators. And he wouldn’t have Rick watching out for him anymore.

This shouldn’t be so hard. He’d been in love with Rick on some level for as long as he’d known him. He’d realized in tenth grade that it wasn’t just friendship. He was used to this dull ache, wanting something he could never have. Except now, maybe he could have it after all.

What if he transferred to Penn State? They had a good architecture program, and it would save his uncle a butt-load of money. Would it really matter, in the long run, if he didn’t get an Ivy League education? Would it matter more if he gave up Rick without a fight?

Rick was nowhere near ready to relinquish his illusion that he could have a wife and kids and a perfect suburban life. Rick, the most popular kid in high school, was not going to begin his college career by coming out as a queer. Jordan’s tug on him was physical and emotional, but the intellectual part of him would be harder to reach. Rick could rationalize his way out of anything.

He’d always been like that, mentally manipulating inconvenient facts. He could talk his way out of detention, talk the coach into believing he hadn’t really been late for practice. He was so persuasive that he came to believe his own bullshit. Jordan was the only one who saw through it.

He wasn’t about to transfer based on a hope. It could be months—years even—before Rick accepted the truth about his sexuality. He couldn’t hang around pining after him. He needed to live his own life. Being away from Rick—forming an identity without him—would be good for him. They would see each other on breaks, maintain that bond of friendship, and if Rick came around, he would be there.

Or not. Maybe he would meet someone else, a man who filled his heart with something other than the pain of unrequited love. He didn’t want to give Rick up. But he might not have a choice.

The stretch ached in his arms and abdomen from pulling the oars. He was ready to go back to shore, and he knew Rick was, too. But Rick would never admit being tired. He’d wait for Jordan to say something first, or else he’d do something stupid, like—

“Tree stump!” Jordan yelled. “Turn left.” He paddled hard with his oar on the right side of the kayak, but they kept heading straight for the stump.

“Right side!” Jordan called.

“You said left.

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