River City Connections — 2026-01-19 (Patreon)

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CIRCLING BACK by Jordan Warner

Carter came over as planned around 10 a.m. and we dove right into the notes we made from all the calls we made in the car.

We sort of forgot that Michael was even working with us until he texted. “Okay, you guys, can you slow down a little! LOL! My inbox is bulging!”

Then he followed up quickly. “Great work! Seriously. And thanks for getting Cindi’s car.”

We took that as a sign we were in a good place to stop for lunch. Carter suggested we go out—his treat. He said he’d pick the spot, too. We pulled up to Jim's Place Grille.

“Well, this is special,” I said.

“Yeah… I wanted it to be.”

My heart was literally fluttering as we made it through being seated and getting iced tea to the table. By then I knew it was happening.

Not because he said anything. Because Carter got quiet.

Not awkward quiet—Carter doesn’t really do awkward—but intentional quiet.

He looked up at me, and his expression was serious, but in a gentle way. “Jordan.”

“Yes?”

He exhaled a short laugh and shook his head like he couldn’t believe he was about to say this out loud. “So… I’ve been thinking.”

“Oh.” My voice came out small. “Thinking?”

“Yeah.” He leaned forward slightly. “And I know we’ve been joking about ‘the inevitable’ and all that.”

I lifted my eyebrows. “We have.”

“But I don’t want it to just be a joke,” he said. “I don’t want it to be something we keep circling, like it’s funny.”

My stomach did that little rollercoaster drop.

I kept my tone light because it was the only way I could stay upright. “So what are you saying?”

He paused—just long enough to choose the words like they mattered. “You know I like you.”

I stared at him. Just stared. Because—wow. Because finally. Because out loud. And because Carter Ellis does not do half-truths. If he’s saying it, it’s real.

“I like you too,” I managed.

He smiled. “I want to do this right. Not as a road trip thing. Not as a ‘we were bored and stranded in Oklahoma’ thing.”

I was speechless.

“I want to date you,” he said. “Like… intentionally. Not casually.”

“Okay.” My voice cracked a little. “I can do that.”

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He nodded, relieved, like that answer loosened something in him.

Then he added, “And… I’m not interested in dating anyone else. I don’t want to keep it open. I don’t want to be ambiguous.”

That landed like a warm weight in my chest.

I glanced down at my iced tea, because if I looked at him for one more second I might start doing something ridiculous. Like… crying. Or climbing over the table.

“Are you asking me to be exclusive?” I said, still looking down, still trying to sound normal.

“I am,” he said.

I looked back up.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Because I should warn you. If you do this, you will probably have to endure… me.”

He smiled. “I’ve been enduring you for a while now.”

“Fair enough.” I laughed and shook my head.

“I’ve prayed the prayer… you know…”

“The prayer?” I asked.

“Yeah… If this isn’t God’s will for me, take away the desire… Give me the desires You want for me… That prayer.”

My heart and stomach changed places. “I’ve prayed the same thing since New Year’s Eve.”

“So here we are…” he said. “I’m at peace with this.”

“So what are we calling it?” I asked.

He looked genuinely amused by that question.

“What do you want to call it?”

I shrugged, trying to think of something.

“I don’t know,” I said. “The cool kids probably have a name for it.”

“Do they?”

“Probably something like… ‘locking it down,’” I said, fully deadpan.

He grinned. “Not that…”

“No?”

“No.”

He reached onto the table and touched my hand with his. Not holding it. Just anchoring it.

“I’m not trying to just lock something down. I don’t want the convenience of something just nominally locked down.”

My heartbeat picked up again. “Okay… that’s pretty amazing. I like that idea.”

“I’m trying to choose you,” he said. “And I’m asking if you’ll choose me back.”

I stared at him again, and this time my eyes burned. “Oh… Carter.”

His thumb brushed over my knuckles once. The smallest movement.

“Yeah,” he said. “So… do you want to be my girlfriend?”

I blinked. Then I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.

“Yes…” I don’t know how, but I smiled even wider. “Yes, I do.”

His shoulders dropped like he’d been carrying something and finally set it down. Then he smiled.

And then he leaned toward me—not far, just enough—his voice falling quieter. “Good. Because I wanted to kiss you last night.”

I felt my whole face heat. I’m not sure if I was still smiling or what, but I could see myself looking up into his eyes at my door the night before, all but begging him for a goodnight kiss.

“I didn’t, because I wanted to make sure you felt the same way first.” He said it like he’d thought about that for hours before we got to my door. “But I wanted to.”

I leaned forward an inch. “I felt the same way. I wish you had told me last night.”

His eyes flicked to my mouth, then back to my eyes.

“I’m telling you now,” he said.

And then he didn’t say anything else.

He just held my gaze for a beat—like he was giving me time to pull back if I wanted to.

I didn’t.

My heart was pounding so loud I swear the people at the next table could hear it.

Carter slid his hand a little farther over mine, not gripping—just steady, like an anchor.

Then he leaned closer. Not fast. Not like a surprise.

Slow. Careful.

Like he was asking without using words.

I leaned in too, giving my answer.

And then, finally, Carter kissed me.

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UPDATING EVERYTHING by Cindi Curtis

It’s Monday and wow! I have my car. And I close on my house Thursday. And ALL of that with Jordan and Carter!

I’ve been working today. None of my time has gone into laundry, as you can see. Now, before you judge me, I just dumped it all out. I dropped my car keys, and the magic of irony—or something—took over. I’m not actually a slob!

Skip that. I found the keys.

Very soon, I’m going to have a proper laundry room in my—did you notice I said I’m closing Thursday?—new house!

About Jordan and Carter. Wow!

I wish I could say I saw things with Jordan and Carter coming. I don’t know… Michael said he wasn’t surprised. But she called me about an hour ago to tell me they were officially dating.

And then there’s this…

After I got off the call with Jordan, I called Michael. We chatted about Jordan and Carter for a little while.

“You know,” I said, “we should get matching sweatshirts—not Oklahoma, but something. What do you think?”

He paused, then he said, “How about this instead. Tomorrow, you come over here and work. After your Tuesday touch-base meeting, we cut the cameras, ditch work, and go get matching wedding rings instead? And we spend the afternoon setting the date and finding a place for a wedding? Too much?”

I paused for like 1/1000 of a second—you know…just for dramatic affect—and replied. “Not too much. Just enough.”

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