“Okay, about the first,” he said, wrapping both arms around her again. “I’m the most careful firefighter you’ll ever meet.”
Jordan lifted her arms to his shoulders. “And the second? That whole runaway-groom bit?”
“My questions first. You quit your job. Got another lined up?”
“Not yet. Going to live on savings for a while, just until I can figure things out.”
“In New York?”
She hesitated a moment, and he nudged her closer. “Because if yes, I’ve heard good things about the NYFD.”
Jordan’s lips parted. “You’d consider…moving to New York?”
“I’d consider giving you and me a chance. If that means New York…” He shrugged. “Winston and Luna will adapt.”
Jordan pressed her lips to his chin. “What if I told you I’d be up for giving small-town life another shot?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, she could have sworn they were watery.
“I love you, City.”
Jordan let out a laughing sound of happiness. “I love you too. Although we might have to rethink the nickname.”
“Ask me the other one again,” he said. “The other question.”
Jordan frowned in confusion. “About your habit of ditching brides on their wedding day?”
“Used to. I used to do that.”
Jordan wiggled closer, the chill from the rain making her shiver. Or maybe that was the anticipation. “What about in the future?”
His smile was equal parts tender and mischievous. “Try me.”
Epilogue
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
“Where is he?” Jordan said, pacing back and forth in the tiny back room of Tucker’s Tavern, which had been commandeered for the bridal party. “Has anyone seen him?”
“Calm down, you’ll get sweaty,” Stacey said, lifting Jordan’s arm and unabashedly applying a swipe of deodorant. “I’ve already done this once.”
“And it’s only going to be once if you keep applying other people’s deodorant like a weirdo,” Isobel said, kissing Stacey.
Even in her own stress-ball state, Jordan felt a little thrill at the other women’s public display of affection. They’d officially come out as a couple a few months back.
Stacey’s family, as expected, hadn’t taken it well. But her mom and sisters were coming around. Jordan hoped that her dad just needed a bit more time.
In the meantime, it was a pleasure to see how happy they were.
Not nearly as happy as she was, though. Not today.
Her wedding day.
“Oh my God, did you see this?” Tawny said, pushing Stacey aside and shoving a cellphone in Jordan’s face. “This is what you could have been part of.”
Jordan peered at the cellphone, then rolled her eyes at Luke’s sister. “I can’t believe you’re following that crap.”
Although not as crappy as it could have been. To pretty much nobody’s surprise, Eva hadn’t worked out, either as a contestant or as a spin-off. Too diva, according to Simon.