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

She’s out tonight. She left earlier and I haven’t seen her since.” The man sitting behind the desk in a black long-sleeve collared shirt shrugged in apology.

Linc narrowed his eyes. “Is there any chance you took a break and missed her?”

The middle-aged man shook his head. “Sorry. I’ve been here all night. Although I could use a break now,” he said with a laugh Linc couldn’t bring himself to return.

“Thanks.” Linc slapped his hand on the desk and headed back to the car.

He climbed in. “Let me think for a few minutes, please.”

Max nodded.

Where could Jordan have gone?

Her sister lived in Westchester County, where she had a job as a court clerk. Jordan might have taken a car there. He had Claire’s number in his phone in case of an emergency, and he looked up her name, hitting send on the number.

A quick conversation and Linc struck out there, too. He had to tap-dance his way around not being able to reach Jordan on the phone but convincing Claire her sister was fine.

Friends? Jordan’s social circle was small. She hadn’t kept in touch with high school friends. Most of her college people had moved out of state, and though she was friendly with some of the office staff, he didn’t think she’d confide in anyone there. Any other friends he didn’t know well enough to call.

He drummed his fingers on the seat beside him. That left her mother, he thought, with a loud groan. There was a fifty-fifty shot Jordan would go to the one woman who would only say, I told you so, if Jordan told her the truth. And if she had gone to her mom, there was no way Tamara would let him in.

He’d fucked up so badly, he’d become the man he’d never wanted to be, reacting like his father. He hadn’t thrown money at the situation, but he hadn’t stepped up like a man. The man he wanted to be.

Running a hand over his face, then through his hair, he knew he had no choice but to go home, keep calling and texting. And hope she eventually responded.

*     *     *

Jordan told the Uber she’d called to drive around but head toward the address she’d put into the app, her parents’ house in Queens. She needed time to pull herself together before she faced her mother.

All the I told you so’s were going to hurt, mostly because this was Linc they were talking about, and despite her fears, she’d so wanted to trust him. And his reaction had been like a punch in the gut. Or the heart. Basically both. She could have gone to her sister’s house, but a big part of her wanted her mother.

When she’d been pregnant the first time, she’d been young and too afraid to admit the truth to her mom. She’d lost the baby before finding the courage to tell her, and she’d kept it hidden. But she was ready to stand up for herself and her choices now. No matter the consequences.

Finally the car pulled up to her parents’ house, a small two-bedroom, two-bathroom house. She’d enjoyed growing up here, the warmth and the love. Despite her complaining about her mother’s feelings about Linc, her mom loved her and only wanted to protect her from being hurt.

Maybe Jordan should have listened.

She thanked the driver, opened the door, and stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut. For safety’s sake, she waited until she exited the car to turn off her phone, but she’d shut the sound and vibration, not wanting to talk to Linc. And she’d seen him start to text almost as soon as she finally left the venue.

Realizing she’d come here in a rock concert outfit and shoes with no change of clothes, she muttered a low curse, but she’d make do. She rushed up the path leading to the house and rang the bell. The curtain moved on the window beside the door. Thank goodness her parents liked to stay up late, she thought, as the door opened and her mother stood in the entryway.

Wearing a long caftan with a pretty pattern, her blonde hair pulled back in a bun, her mother glanced at her, her unlined face worried. Despite how hard she’d worked, Tamara had beautiful skin, and she had pride in her appearance. Once her father’s electrical business took off, she’d been able to quit her housekeeping job, and she turned her knitting hobby into a business, selling items on Etsy.

“Jordan, what’s wrong?” her mom asked.

With the burden of secrets on her shoulders, she met her mother’s gaze. “I’m pregnant with Linc’s baby,” she said as tears filled her eyes.

Which was okay. She was finally safe to let them fall because Linc wasn’t around to judge her. And her mother pulled Jordan into her arms.

A little while later, her mom had shooed Jordan’s father to the bedroom, made them both a cup of tea, and they sat facing each other across the table.

“Please don’t say I told you so.” Jordan poured some milk and added sugar, wrapping her hands around the warm mug.

Her mother let out a heartfelt sigh. “It’s too late to do any good anyway.”

Jordan nodded in agreement. She decided it was time to admit it all. “Mom, this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten pregnant.”

“What?”

Looking down at the light-colored tea, Jordan drew a deep breath and told her mother about what had happened with Collin. “And it was my fault. I had a migraine and skipped the pill, but this time, with Linc, we used protection.” It was old but there was no point in telling her mother that. “I guess I’m just one of those fertile people.” She let out a wry laugh.

Her mother reached out, and Jordan put her hand in her mom’s calloused one. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jordan swallowed hard. “I knew you thought I was dating above my means and you were so insistent, both with Linc and Collin, I couldn’t face your disappointment.” Tears pooled in