Chapter 80 | Cedar, Clean Laundry, and Him

The cold hit Alexis the second she stepped outside. January air in Koreatown bit through her white off-shoulder top like she wore nothing at all.

Her shoulders tensed. Her arms crossed tight over her chest.

Jordan walked beside her. Silent. His hands shoved in his pockets.

Alexis glanced at him sideways. He looked comfortable in just his jeans and undershirt. Meanwhile she was actively dying from hypothermia in designer clothes.

"I can handle myself." Her voice came out sharper than intended. "You don’t need to watch over me."

"I know."

"Then why are you following me?"

"Needed some fresh air." Jordan kept his eyes forward. "This gave me a good excuse."

Ugh.

Alexis’s heels clicked against the pavement. Each step sent little shocks of cold up through the thin soles. Her ankles wobbled slightly. The alcohol had settled warm in her stomach but her coordination suffered for it.

The street stretched ahead of them. Neon signs glowed pink and gold against darkened storefronts. A few people walked past them heading toward other karaoke bars and restaurants still open at this hour.

Jordan stayed quiet. Just walked.

No performative chivalry. No awkward attempts at conversation. Just presence.

It bothered her more than if he’d started talking.

Her car came into view. The black Mercedes sedan sat under a streetlight exactly where she’d parked it two hours ago.

"Well." Alexis pulled her keys from her clutch. "Thanks for the escort."

She pressed the unlock button. The car chirped.

"Nuh uh."

Alexis froze. Turned. "What?"

"You’re not driving."

"Excuse me?"

"You went out to drink. You’re drunk. I’m not letting you drive."

Heat flared in Alexis’s chest. The audacity. The absolute nerve. "What the fuck? You can’t decide that for me."

Jordan shook his head. Crossed his arms. "Nope. No driving."

"I’m barely tipsy."

"You had three shots. I watched you."

"So?"

"So you’re getting an Uber."

Alexis’s hands clenched into fists. Her nails bit into her palms. This boy. This stupid boy who used to be pathetic and somehow wasn’t anymore. He stood there blocking her path to her own car with his arms crossed and his face completely serious.

"Fuck you." The words burst out before she could stop them. "You’re just a pay—"

She stopped herself. Bit down hard on her tongue.

Pay pig. That’s what she was about to say. The term she used for boys like Leo who threw money at her hoping for scraps of attention.

But Jordan wasn’t Leo.

Jordan had never tried to buy her anything. Had never sent her gifts or offered to take her shopping. Had never done any of the things the other boys did.

She looked down at her shoes. At the concrete sidewalk.

"I need to get home."

"Then I’ll call you an Uber."

"Ew." She looked up. Met his eyes. "You would make me ride in a Corolla?"

"An Uber Black then." His mouth twitched. Almost smiled. "The princess deserves that."

"Don’t call me that."

"Would spoiled brat work better?"

Alexis glared. Hard. The kind of look that made freshmen scatter in hallways and boys delete her number after one text.

Jordan just stood there. Completely unbothered.

Her anger hit a wall it couldn’t crack.

She tried a different approach. Softened her expression. Let her lower lip push out slightly. The pout that usually got her father to hand over his credit card without question.

"Come on. I’m fine. I can drive."

"No."

"Jordan."

"Alexis."

He wasn’t budging. She could see it in his stance. In the way he’d planted his feet.

This boy who’d spent three thousand dollars on a Prada bag for another girl. Who’d been kicked out of economics lecture last semester for falling asleep three times. Who everyone called pathetic and desperate.

That boy was gone.

Whoever stood in front of her now had a spine made of something unbreakable.

"Ugh." Alexis threw her hands up. "Fine. Call the stupid Uber."

"There’s a corner store over there." Jordan gestured down the block. "We can wait where it’s lit up."

He started walking. Didn’t check if she followed.

Alexis stayed frozen for three seconds. Debated getting in her car anyway. Driving off and leaving him standing there looking stupid.

But her feet moved on their own. Following him down the sidewalk toward the corner store with its bright fluorescent windows.

The cold got worse as they walked. Wind picked up. Cut through her top like knives.

She shivered. Hard. Her teeth wanted to chatter but she clenched her jaw.

Jordan pulled out his phone. Tapped at the screen. Probably ordering the Uber.

They stopped at the corner near the store entrance. Light spilled out across the pavement. Inside an old Korean woman sat behind the counter watching a drama on a small TV.

Alexis wrapped her arms tighter around herself. Rubbed her hands up and down her bare arms.

Still freezing.

Something touched her shoulder.

She jerked. Spun.

Jordan stood there holding his black henley. Extended it toward her. "Here."

Alexis stared at the shirt. At his hand. At his face.

He wore only a white undershirt now. The kind that hugged close to his body and showed off his shoulders and the faint outline of his abs.

"I’m fine."

"You’re shivering."

"The cold builds character."

"Take the shirt Alexis."

"No."

"Yes."

"I said no."

Jordan sighed. Started pulling the henley back toward himself. "Fine. I’ll put it back on."

"Wait."

He paused. Looked at her.

Alexis grabbed the shirt. Fast. Before she could change her mind.

The fabric felt warm. Still holding his body heat.

She slipped her arms through the sleeves. Pulled it over her head.

The henley swallowed her. The shoulders hung loose. The sleeves covered her hands completely. The hem fell to mid-thigh.

But it was so warm. And it smelled good. Cedar and clean laundry and something else. Something distinctly him that she couldn’t name but her brain catalogued anyway.

"Thanks." The word came out quiet. Almost a mumble.

"What was that?"

Alexis looked up. Met his eyes. Glared. "I said thank you. I’m glad you don’t stink."

"High praise."

"Take it or leave it."

Jordan just sighed. Pulled out his phone again. Checked the screen.

Alexis hugged the henley closer. The warmth seeped into her skin. Made her bones stop aching.

She glanced at him sideways. At the way his undershirt stretched across his chest. At his arms.

When did those happen? When did Jordan McKnight get arms?

The thought annoyed her. She looked away. Stared at the corner store window instead.

Inside the old woman laughed at something on her drama. The sound carried through the glass. Muffled but genuine.

"Uber’s eight minutes out." Jordan’s voice broke the silence.

"Okay."

More silence.

Cars passed on the street. A couple walked by holding hands. Someone shouted something in Korean from an apartment window above them.

Alexis shifted her weight. Her heels hurt. She should’ve worn flats.

But flats didn’t match the outfit. And the outfit was important. Looking good was important.

Even if looking good meant frozen shoulders and blistered feet.

"So." The word came out before she could stop it. "Are you and Chloe a you know thing?"