I tilt my head, studying his profile, searching for any hint that his admiration extends beyond her work—any sign that he might be attracted to her. But his expression remains impassive, giving nothing away. If anything, he simply looks exhausted.
Last week, when he mentioned hiring a new bartender—’a young, beautiful blonde,’ as he described her—I couldn’t help the faint sting of jealousy that crept through my chest. I know he’s single, free to admire whoever he pleases, yet hearing those exact words slip from his lips pricked me more than I thought it would.
Jason seems to have a knack for finding women beautiful, and I can’t tell whether it’s simply an appreciation of their beauty or if there’s a hint of a ladies’ man lurking beneath the surface. Either way, I’ve got to stop reading so much into everything. He’s not mine.
I take a sip of my beer, savouring its cold, bitter taste, when Jason plucks the book from my other hand and sets it on the coffee table. “Now that I have your full attention,” he says, “how was your evening with Jake?”
“It was as interesting as always. Tonight’s focus was on cicadas, and I must say, your son has a real gift for impersonating just about any insect on the planet. I was both impressed and amused by his version of their sounds.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “Oh, dear. My son—human child by day, insect boy at night. I wish I was there to have seen it.”
“I’ll record it for you next time.” I chuckle.
“Please do!” He beams, flashing a playful smile. “What other interesting things happened while I was gone?”
Unintentionally, a small laugh escapes me, and I quickly press a hand to my mouth.
“Sorry… don’t mind me,” I murmur.
He frowns curiously. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s nothing.” I shake my head. “It was just something Jake said earlier this evening.”
“Alright, now you absolutely have to share,” he urges.
“Umm… well… It’s kind of embarrassing actually.”
“Try me.”
“Okay, well since you asked,” I reply, my tone carrying a hint of warning. “Jake mentioned that you told him I was funny and beautiful, and that whenever you said that to his mum, you’d kiss her afterwards. So naturally, he assumed you kiss every woman you call beautiful.”
I pause, watching for his reaction, but he just raises an eyebrow and brings his beer towards his mouth without saying a word. So, I press on. “Then he warned me to prepare myself because he thinks you’ll try to kiss me too.”
Jason chokes on his beer, followed by a series of coughs, as he bangs his fist against his chest. “Fuck, sorry, went down the wrong hole,” he says, clearing his throat. “Did he really say that?”
I nod, and he shakes his head in disbelief.
“Wow, I’m sorry. Jake’s understanding of adult behaviour mostly comes from what he hears me say or sees me do. I’ll be sure to be careful around him next time,” he says.
“It’s okay. I gently explained to him that it’s different when two people are married and when they’re just friends. Once I clarified, he seemed to understand the concept better.”
For a brief moment, we sit in silence, simply gazing at one another, our minds wandering elsewhere. There’s no tension, no unease, only a calm, gentle stillness that feels unexpectedly comforting. I realise that the more time I spend with Jason, the more natural and at ease I feel in his presence.
He tosses back the rest of his beer and sets it down on the coffee table. “Shall we continue our game?” he asks, swiftly changing the subject.
I gulp down the rest of my drink, placing the empty bottle next to his, then lean back on the couch, bracing myself for his next question. “Ready when you are.”
“My next question for you is… Have you ever had your heart stolen?”
“Wow, okay,” I say with a soft laugh, “that’s pretty deep.”
“What can I say? I’m a pretty deep person.” He winks playfully.
I shake my head, letting out a small chuckle. “Sadly, no, not yet” I admit, releasing a heavy sigh. “I’ve only ever been in two relationships my whole life, both short-term, and neither developed to anything serious. I guess I’m still waiting for the right person to come along. What about you?”
The moment the question slips out, Jason’s entire demeanour changes. His eyes lower to his lap as he decides how much he’s ready to give away.
He lifts his gaze, offering a smile that falters just short of his eyes. “Yes, I’ve had my heart stolen before, and I’m sure you can guess by whom.” He exhales sharply before continuing. “Elena and I met when the restaurant first opened. She and her mother were my first customers, and the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew I right away, I wanted to get to know her more.
