In dark blue jeans and a black shirt with her hair loose, Elana stood in the back looking at Jordan that sat on the stage with the interview. She admires the way he speaks and addresses his audience. He has many fans going crazy about the next book.
"Jordan, where did you get the idea of the Haunted hospital series?" The host asks him. Elana can feel herself turning jealous by how the host is approaching him.
"It just came up in my head," he answers and looks at Elana then back at the host.
"When do you think the series will end?" she asks and throws her dark hair over the other shoulder. He can pick up that she has flirty behavior, but it's nothing new to him. Many women would jump the rope for him, yet none of them hits the right places.
"I'm considering that after the release of Haunted hospital, Danny's dream, I'll write the last book of giving some characters a good ending and some bad that readers might find disturbing. For now, the secret is mine," he nods and smiles impressed at himself. Knowing Elana, she will probably try to convince him that he should write what he wants and not what she wants, but he'll write what the readers want. So many ideas filled his mind last night when he sat down and try to think. The little seed she planted in his mind about getting personal with his characters is blossoming into something beautiful.
"Then what will you do after it's done?"
"Start a new series," Jordan reply and fold his hand in his lap.
The show felt like it would never end. When it did, Elana was beyond relief. Standing there waiting isn't as nice as it seems to be for everyone else. The crowd is there, your partner is on the stage and here you are in the back. Elana knows that Jordan doesn't want her as his shadow, he just wants to protect her identity and keep the media off their relationship.
"You are amazing," Elana says to Jordan and walk with him to his car. He looks at her. She finally decided to speak to him. She looks down awkwardly and folds her arms in front of her chest.
"No, they just love my work," he replies and opens the door for her. She gets in and looks at his face. He smiles dearly at her and closes her door. Elana bites her lip and waits for him to get in next to her. He climbs in the car and sits back. The only sound filling the car is him giving a heavy sighed.
"Exhausted?" she asks. He looks at her and shakes his head slowly. "You don't look happy at this moment."
"I'm just trying to think of what I can do and say to get in your good sides," he says and sits forward. "I'm afraid that whatever I do, won't be enough."
"Just be yourself Jordan," she mutters and sits back looking down at her lap. Her hands are shaky and her head is starting to feel a little drunk. Is it the addiction she's developing for him that makes her lightheaded or the small amount of fresh air in the car?
"Right," he nods and looks at her hands. He looks at her face again and starts the vehicle's engine. "What do you like? Restaurant or takeaways?"
"Restaurants aren't my scene," she whispers and looks at him. There's a lot about this man she wants to know, but so much is stopping her. What if she falls in love and he ends up doing to her what Ralph did?
After ordering through the driveway at McDonald's, they went to a park and stopped under a tree. Jordan took the brown paper bags and open them giving her food to her and her milkshake. The packed is still warm and the smell around them tickles their tummies.
"Thank you," she smiles softly at him and take it. He nods satisfied and takes his food out of the bag and puts it on his lap.
"The interview felt like forever," Jordan says and starts to eat. Elana takes her burger out and takes a big bite accidentally messing sauce into her box. "Is it good?"
"Hmmm-mmm," she nods and starts to chew. He smiles to himself admires the way her mouth moves when she eats. "That host has a crush on you."
"No, she hasn't," he chuckles awkwardly. She glared at him in disbelief. "Elana, I don't care about her. She's nothing compared to...to what I want."
"And what do you want?" she asks and raises an eyebrow. He knows exactly what to answer her, but can't find the right words without scaring her away.
"Just to sit here and talk with you for the rest of my life," he replies and looks in front of him. She takes a while to just stare at him. Suddenly she found the truth about this man. If he had intentions, he would've gone for a woman that shows him interest such as the lady that interviewed him, but he didn't. He's going for the woman that shows him no interest at all. Maybe he's right. Maybe he doesn't have intentions with her at all.
"Jordan, I don't know what you're trying to achieve, but my faith in true love has been broken many years ago. I know you'll probably say this is just friendship, but we both know it's more," she says and inhales all the fresh air she can get. He looks at her and nods his head slowly. "My biggest fear is being taken advantage of. Of all my fears, that's my biggest fear. As crazy as it sounds, Jordan, I have a phobia. I have a phobia bigger than hemophobia. You. You are my phobia."
Jordan rests his cheek against his hand and looks out the window. Elana looks down and puts her burger back into its box.
"You seem like a nice guy," she says and reaches her hand out to touch his, but can't get that far to do it. "It's not your fault that I have a different perspective towards men than what I use to have all those years ago. The timing is off, Jordan. I need more time."
"How long?" he asks and looks at her. "How long do you need?"
"It's not that easy..."
"How long?" he asks again. She shrugs her shoulders and looks down. "Elana, I can sit and wait for you even if it's until the day we die, but if you sit around and take too long, it might just become too late. You end up having regrets and wishing you took a chance already."
She nods her head slowly and looks at him. He can see she's broken, but after a certain time, you have to rise above your circumstances.
"It feels like I was only allowed to touch you when we were at the river," he says and looks into her beautiful blue eyes. "When I sat next to you sharing a blanket, that was the only time you were that close to me. If I knew that I'd have to wait to do it again, I would've held you longer. I don't have a blanket now, but if I may, I want to protect you with what I have. I will protect you anyway, whether you like that or not."
"Jordan," she gives a heavy sighed and look out of the window. "You're right, but please understand. I just...I'm used to being on my own and it would take a lot more than a few songs we know, a weekend together and a bed we share to change my perspective. You're different, but you're a man. Good men are out there, but it's not my time to make that call.".
She looks at him. Jordan nods his head slowly and sits back staring ahead of him. She looks down and giggles awkwardly.
"You have a way of making me bite my lip, hold my breath, and covering my arms," she giggles with tears in her eyes. He looks at her and smiles. "You have a big affection on me. An affection I'm crazy about, but that's the furthest it can go. Let's just be friends, okay? That's all in the world that I need now. Our boys are growing up and they need stability."
"I know," he smiles and gives a heavy sighed. "Let's finish eating. I'd like to show you something."
After they had their meal, they left again. Elana has no idea where they're going but sat back patiently. He didn't drive that long at all before they arrived at his house. She gives him an odd look. He climbs out and goes around to open the door for her.
"Relax," he says to her and walk with her into his house. She follows him through his house looking around amazed. He's very neat for a man. "Before I officially became a writer, I was an artist."
"Really?" she asks surprised and follows him to a room somewhere in the house. He goes in and shows her. She pulls her breath in and holds unto it. "Wow."
"I still paint, but just once in a blue moon," he says and opens one of the little paint holders to smell it. She walks to his and brings her face closer to smell the paint. She pulls her nose up and pushes her face back. "Strong smell?"
"Yes," she giggles and touches the wet paint softly just to have a little bit on her finger. She put her thumb on her finger and rub it together. "I like the oiliness at the top of the paint."
"No, I hate it," he chuckles and closes the paint. He grabs a piece of material and shows it to her hand. She smiles softly and gives her hand to him. He put his hand on the back of her hand starting to rub off the tip of her fingers. "May I take you on a proper date some other time?"
"Yes, you may," she blushes and looks down. He chuckles to himself and looks down at her fingers.