Just One Night by Carly Phillips (fiction book recommendations txt) 📕

you, but I need to get back inside.” Jordan turned toward Aurora, but Angelica tapped her shoulder and Jordan spun back around. “Yes?”

“Since we’re both here, I thought I’d give you some advice. You know, woman to woman?” Angelica said, fake kindness oozing from her voice as she twirled a long strand of her black hair around a finger.

Oh, this ought to be good, Jordan thought. “Aurora, why don’t you go ahead, and I’ll meet you back inside.”

“That’s okay. I’ll wait.” She stepped up to Jordan’s side.

Angelica looked at her but didn’t spare her a thought, her gaze zeroing in on Jordan. “You’re not his type. You know that, right?”

“Whose type?” Jordan opted for playing dumb. Let this bitch spell it out for her.

“Linc. Everyone knows you want him. It’s been obvious since you were a kid and your mother was cleaning his house. I looked into the party room and saw his hand on your shoulder, touching your hair. When no one was looking, of course.”

Jordan kept her face blank and let Angelica spew her venom.

Her face had contorted into an ugly expression, revealing who she really was inside. “But let’s face it. If he’s sleeping with you, it’s temporary. You don’t belong in his life. You can’t fit in like I can. And as soon as he realizes that, he’ll come back to me.”

Jordan’s cheeks burned, but she otherwise refused to let Angelica see she’d hit a nerve. “Are you really sure? Because according to Linc, he was never with you in any way that mattered.” Turning, she looked at Aurora. “Let’s go.”

Aurora shook her head. “One minute.” She walked over to Angelica, who’d begun to reapply her lipstick. “I haven’t known my brother long, but I know he’s a good man. And he would never be with someone who has a soul as ugly as you do.” She glanced at Jordan. “Now I’m ready.”

Together they walked out of the ladies’ room. Jordan’s insides were trembling. She didn’t like confrontation, but she wouldn’t let anyone treat her like shit. Even if the things Angelica said were the same words her mother had tried to teach her. Words she was being force-fed from all sides, it seemed. Even from herself.

“You didn’t have to stand up for me, but I appreciate that you did,” Jordan said.

“I grew up in foster care. I learned how to stand up for myself and the few people I cared about.” Aurora met her gaze. “You know she’s wrong. You and Linc are perfect for each other.”

Jordan grasped her hand. “I know you care and I am so grateful. I care about you, too. As far as Angelica, she might have been hateful when she said it, but she wasn’t far off base. These people look at me and see the maid’s daughter.”

“But Linc doesn’t see that! And if you don’t fit in with them, then I don’t either,” Aurora said, her tone adamant.

Jordan smiled at the young woman who was special in her own right. “Yes, you do belong. You’re part of their family and don’t you ever forget it.” She squeezed Aurora’s hand tight and released her grasp. “Come on. Let’s get back before people wonder what happened to us.”

They returned to the party to find Willow holding the baby, who needed to be fed. Aurora hurried to her daughter, and Jordan sat back down beside Linc, feeling numb after the confrontation she hadn’t asked for or wanted.

In what day and age did people talk about class as if where you came from mattered? She didn’t understand it, and she resented everyone in this room who tried to make her feel less than. Her parents had worked hard to give her a good life, and Jordan wasn’t the least bit ashamed of their jobs or who they were. In their hearts, they were better people than anyone who’d looked down on her today.

“Are you okay? You look pale.” Linc caressed her cheek, and she did her best not to lean into his touch the way she wanted to.

She nodded. “I haven’t been feeling great the last couple of days. I think I’m just tired.”

Concern etched his handsome features. “Why don’t you take some time off. A few days until you’re one hundred percent.”

“Thank you but I’m sure I’m fine.”

“Well, if you wake up and you don’t feel great, stay home.”

She nodded.

Aurora returned after feeding the baby and walked over to Jordan and Linc’s side of the table. “Did Jordan tell you about the bitch in the bathroom?”

Jordan flinched. She should have told Aurora not to say anything, but it hadn’t even occurred to her.

Linc’s eyes narrowed. “What is she talking about? What happened?”

Aurora, who was holding Leah against her shoulder and patting the baby’s back, looked from Linc to Jordan, understanding filling her gaze. “Oops! I need to go sit down. It’s easier to burp her when I’m sitting,” she rattled, then turned and walked back to her chair.

“Jordan?”

“It was no big deal. Just a run-in with Angelica. Nothing I can’t handle.” She’d thought that was true, but then why was she trembling inside? Why was a lump forming in her throat? And why was she nauseous again?

“Dammit. What did she say to you?” He looked furious, his eyes turning a deep blue, color highlighting his cheekbones.

She forced in a breath of air. “Listen, there are things women say to each other when they’re…” She trailed off. There wasn’t anything she could come up with to placate him. “It doesn’t matter. I handled it.”

His body vibrated with anger. “But you shouldn’t have to handle her at all.”

“I’m wiped out. I’m going to call a car to take me home. You stay with your family for the end of the party. Okay?” Her fingers shook as she picked up her purse and searched for her phone.

He put a hand on her trembling one. “I can leave. It’s practically over anyway. At least those horrific games are.”

That made her laugh. “I don’t want to take