The man at the door

(Fiona’s POV)

Ding dong…

The doorbell rang again and I startled, turning to Jalen, who still held the key in his hand. His brows tightened before stealing a glance at me.

“Are you… expecting someone?” I whispered.

“No.” He answered firmly, but uneasy. “Stay here.” He added, slipping the keys back into his pocket and turned toward the stairs. I followed him halfway before stopping at the bend of the hallway, watching him descend until he reached the door.

The bell rang the third time—impatiently.

Jalen opened the door slowly, gesturing the stranger in, it was a man tall and dressed in ripped jeans. I could only see the back of the tall man at first, an oversized jacket hung around his waist, and heavy boots that seemed heavier than his whole body. He stepped forward and turned slightly—and that was when I saw his cute-looking face.

His sharp jaw clenched as he took in the beauty of the house, and his purple eyes were too wild for nicety. A tattoo peeked from his neck, creeping under the collar of his shirt like a dragon, or perhaps a snake if I was right. Be tucked a cigarette behind his ear. His smile was crooked, and mischievous, it felt a little dangerous.

“And you are?” Jalen’s voice dropped.

“Hmmm,” he smirked and started to chew an imaginary gum. “You can call me Jordan, but friends like to call me Dan, whichever you like.”

The name alone sounded like trouble, I could feel it in my stomach. But a sweet trouble because what is this razz cuteness? I thought to myself, still peeking from where I stood.

“I think you must have gotten the wrong house, you should probably call the person you came for,” Jalen suggested. His face twisted in intrigue.

Jordan chuckled, clasped Jalen’s shoulder with a rough slap, walking further into the parlor nonchalantly and crashed into the couch crossing his legs on the glass table with his boots still on like he owned the house.

“Long time, big brother-in-law,” he said. “Don't worry, I'm very sure of where I'm supposed to be and it's here! Marian ought to have broken the news to you.”

My breath caught. Marian? Big brother-in-law? I was confused. I was in my own world when Jordan finally saw me standing at the bend, and his grin widened.

“Well, well…” His eyes dragged down and up my body, slow and bold. “Who’s this beauty? Marian didn't mention you now had a damsel in the house.”

I tightened my fingers against the rail, and Jalen instantly stepped between us.

“She’s Fiona,” he said coldly. “A family friend.”

Jordan raised a brow and tipped his chin at me. “Hello, Fiona. You’re absolutely stunning.”

He said it with a little smirk, like he enjoyed testing boundaries. It was then that I saw the true beauty of his purple eyes as they flashed at me, and a sudden heat of discomfort surged up my neck.

Jalen’s jaw tightened, his face turned cold and unreadable as I've ever seen before. “Fiona, go upstairs. Wait for me in your room,” he ordered and I could sense a hint of jealousy in his voice. His tone left no room for negotiation.

Jordan chuckled under his breath as I nodded and walked away.

As I climbed the stairs, I looked back once.

Jalen’s entire posture screamed tension. Jordan leaned casually against the cushion, smirking like he had already found a weakness he wanted to poke just for fun.

⸻

(Jalen’s POV)

Jordan’s eyes on Fiona?

No.

Absolutely not. How dare he think he can act as he likes in my house? I thought as rage started to build inside me.

The moment she disappeared around the corner, I turned to him.

“What are you doing here, Jordan?”

“What?” he laughed. “Family can’t visit family? Relax bro.”

I didn’t blink. “Marian didn't tell me you'll be coming over, did she invite you?” I questioned.

“Nope,” he popped the ‘p’ loudly. “That’s the fun part. She has no clue I’m in town.”

Of course, she didn’t.

I groaned and he reached into his pocket to pull out a cigarette, lighting it right in front of me. A thin stream of smoke rose toward the ceiling. It took a lot of strength not to punch him in the face right now. But I restrained myself.

“You sure are poor at taking care of your guest brother, at least—offer me a glass of water, will you?” he asked, grinning at me.

“Jordan.” My voice dropped darkly, coldly. “You can’t smoke in here, and if you don't mind, drop your legs off the table.”

He exhaled deliberately—like he wanted to see if he could irritate me.

“Relax, brother. Just a puff or two. You married Marian, not my mother.” he added.

I stepped forward and plucked the cigarette from his hand.

“No smoking,” I repeated, dropping it into the glass bowl near the door. “This is my house and my rules.”

Jordan’s grin stretched wider.

“You’re tense. You always were.”

Then he leaned close, lowering his voice. “Is it because of the pretty girl? Fiona?”

I didn’t react. I knew he was only trying to get on my nerves, and I wasn't ready to give him the luxury of what he was looking for. Being a professor had helped me to manage different emotions. His—a piece of cake.

“That’s a yes,” he concluded loudly, laughing. “Cute.” At that point, I've had enough already.

I grabbed his duffel bag from the floor and walked down the hallway.

“Your room is this way. You’ll be here for one night. Two at most.”

“Relax, Jalen,” he said, swinging beside me. “You sound like you’re about to throw me out the window.”

“I’m considering it.”

He only laughed harder.

I opened the guest room door, and he stepped inside whistling. “Nice. Bigger than my last apartment.” he teased.

“Good.” I stepped back. “Stay out of trouble.”

“Define trouble,” he asked.

“Jordan.”

He put his hands up in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave… mostly.”

I shut the door before he finished his sentence or before he starts to poke at me about Fiona again.

And then I climbed the stairs—two at a time—toward the only room in the house that mattered more than I should ever admit.

⸻

(Fiona’s POV)

I sat on my bed, wiggling with the corner of my pillow, wondering what Jalen and Jordan were discussing. My stomach stirred hard. Jordan’s eyes still lingered in my mind… his smirk… the way he looked at me… stirred a cold shiver in my belly. Something about him just made my skin crawl.

But my thoughts were taken aback when my phone buzzed. I picked it up to see a shocking message from Paris.

“Fi… are you free to meet? Can we talk? There’s a park near your place—we could meet up over there.”

I stared at the screen, my heart was hitching. I wanted to scream so hard but the reality of not being in my house struck me. She finally texted? I argued with myself.

Before I could even type a reply, my door opened—Jalen stepped in and my heart softened immediately.

He paused at the doorframe, watching me in awe like he had just seen an angel.

“You’re smiling,” he murmured.

I realized I was. My cheeks flushed.

“Paris messaged me,” I said quietly. “She wants to meet. At the park.”

His eyes softened, but concern flickered beneath them as he sat beside me.

“Hmm, was there an issue with you two before?” he asked, and I nodded responsively before narrating all that had happened to him. He sighed and answered.

“I’m glad she reached out,” he said. “But Fiona… you need to be careful.”

“Careful? It's Paris Jalen,” I tilted my head.

His jaw tightened.

“About Jordan.”

I swallowed.

“Why?” I whispered.

Jalen’s expression darkened with the anger he tried to hide.

“He’s unpredictable,” he said. “You just need to be careful,” he added like he was giving a clear warning. My chest warmed at the protectiveness in his voice.

I nodded.

Then there was a sound downstairs—the front door opening. “That must be Marian,” I warned, and Jalen shot up to his feet.

“I have to go before she starts up another trouble” he whispered.

He stole a quick breathless kiss from my lips like he'd just met his long-lost childhood sweetheart, and pulled away, squeezing my hand lightly just enough to remind me I wasn’t alone—and then disappeared down the hallway.

My smile faded slowly as the door clicked shut.

Paris’s message still glowed on my screen so I typed a reply but hesitated before sending it.

So much had happened. So much had changed.

But maybe… maybe I needed her again, even if things were messy.

My thumb hovered for a long moment before hitting send.

Then I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, listening faintly to Jalen and Marian talking downstairs.