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18
Austin
Somewhere in between Steve Carrell’s character on The Office making inappropriate jokes to his coworkers and a third slice of pizza, I must’ve dozed off. I would’ve expected Jade to wake me up, thus embarrassing me and telling me she was going to leave, but that never happened.
I don’t know what exactly happened, but my eyes crack open, and I scan the ceiling of my apartment, feeling Jade in my arms. Glancing down at her, I see we’re awkwardly half sitting/half lying down on the couch. She’s scrunched between the sofa cushion and lying against me, with a hand over my chest.
I run my fingers over her arm, unsure of what to do. There were multiple times last night I wanted to kiss her. And unless I was completely misreading the situation, I think she was feeling the same thing. When she was playing the guitar, when I was learning more about her and the things that have shaped her, even when I was showing her around the apartment. She didn’t seem uncomfortable. On the contrary, she looked like she was enjoying being herself around me.
A loud yawn sounds behind me, and I crank my neck around to see Shawn walking out in his boxers.
He cringes. “Oh. She’s still here? I got in last night and saw both of you passed out with The Office playing. I figured she would’ve left already.”
I lift my brows, unsure how to respond. “I guess not.”
Jade stirs, and I glare at Shawn, silently telling him to leave. He nods and hurries toward the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
“Oh my God,” Jade whispers, sitting up. “Crap. I’m so sorry, Austin. I must’ve fallen asleep.”
“It’s okay,” I try to calm her. “I fell asleep, too.”
“This is so embarrassing.”
Sitting up, I hold her arm. Her eyes meet mine, and the same feeling from last night reappears. “Jade, there’s nothing to be embarrassed over. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have fallen asleep.”
She smiles. “It’s fine. You know …” She averts her eyes, and I’m not sure what her next words are going to be—if she’s going to treat this like a mistake or act like I’m some guy who works at the record studio. “I don’t remember the last time anyone’s treated me like you have.”
I grin. “Well, I mean, you are a superstar. I’m sure I’ll figure it out eventually. I still need to learn which Skittles colors you prefer separated.”
A small giggle falls out of her, then her green eyes meet mine. She catches me off guard, lifting her hand and holding my cheek. “No. That’s what I mean. Not like a superstar. Not treating me like I’m one of the Kings or Jade Barkley. Kristen … You treat me like I’m Kristen.”
I nervously cringe. “Is that good?”
She leans closer. “It’s better than good,” she whispers. “I’m just a girl to you. I like that.”
I draw closer. Her gaze moves from my eyes to my lips and back. I swallow the nerves, running my hand up her arm, cupping her face. Her nose brushes against mine, and I feel her breath across my lips.
Then we both hear a flush.
She jerks her head back a touch, and I close my eyes, feeling humiliated and annoyed. The bathroom door clicks open, and Jade looks over my shoulder.
“Sorry,” Shawn says, and I can hear the awkward tone lace his voice.
“Yeah,” I whisper, “you and me both.”
The comment makes Jade giggle. Looking over at him, her eyes widen. “Hey. You’re the security guy.”
“That’s me,” Shawn replies.
Jade sits up, adjusting her shirt. “I should probably get going,” she says, getting to her feet.
Shawn heads back into his bedroom, closing the door. Jade pulls out her phone, and I stand up next to her. “I can take you.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I’ll just call a car service.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
She stares at me for a moment, seeming to think it over. “Okay.”
