For the next two hours, she catches me up on everything happening in her world, pushing all thoughts of Dean to the back of our minds. We settle in to watch a movie afterwards, indulging in the snacks Jason brought home for me when he went out to get groceries last night.
Once the movie ends, Sofia decides to head home to start a uni assignment due next week. As I watch her drive away, I immediately feel the weight lift off my shoulders, now that she knows everything. With Dean finally out of my life, I can finally begin to rebuild, to move forward, and to reclaim the peace I’ve been denied.And the best part—I’ll be doing it with Sofia and Jason right by my side.
CHAPTER 25
Jason
I stumble through the front door, juggling a paper bag containing Mila’s favourite meal in one hand and a soaked umbrella in the other. After shaking off my boots and setting the umbrella aside next to the door, I follow the soft hum of the TV into the living room, already knowing I’ll find her curled up on the couch with a blanket.
When I step into the room, she’s leaning against the armrest of the sofa, her eyes fixed on her phone as the TV plays softly in the background. The instant she notices me, she sets her phone down and greets me with a warm, yet tired smile.
“Hey, beautiful girl.”
She giggles softy, and the sound instantly soothes my chest. “Hey, you. What you got there?” she asks, tilting her chin towards the paper bag in my hand.
“Oh, this thing?” I point to the bag, acting clueless.
She nods eagerly.
“Well, I heard my new housemate absolutely loves my Hawkins’ fire grill wagyu ribeye steak and steamed veggies. So, I had my chef make an extra plate just for her. And, of course, I couldn’t resist adding a macadamia crunch gelato, because I’m just that extra nice.”
She gasps, her face lighting up with pure excitement. “Are you serious?!” she squeals.
Seeing her this happy, even if it’s just over food, brings an instant smile to my face.
It’s these little moments, when I catch a glimpse of the Mila I remember, that give me hope and reassure me that she’ll be okay.
Rounding the couch, I sink into the seat beside her and drop the paper bag on her lap.
She immediately opens it, inhaling the savoury fragrance seeping out of the container, her eyes fluttering shut in pure bliss.
“Have I ever told you I love you, Jase?” she says absently, and I immediately freeze, my breath catching in my throat as her words reverberate through me.
I let out a hesitant laugh, unsure of how else to respond. While I know she didn’t mean anything by it and was probably too preoccupied to realise what she’d just said, it doesn’t stop my heart from racing at the sound of those words.
Clearing my throat, I quickly change the subject. “How about you eat up while I go take a shower. And then once I’m done, we can watch a movie.”
“Okay,” she murmurs, shoving a forkful of broccoli in her mouth.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m showered, dressed, and walking back into the living room to join Mila for a quiet night in. My gaze falls on her as she sits on the couch, legs crossed, with a bowl of gelato and two spoons resting on her lap.
As I settle beside her, she wordlessly hands me one of the spoons.
Smiling, I take the utensil before reaching for the remote on the coffee table. Just as I’m about to flick through the movies, she gently grabs my wrist, stopping me.
“Umm… Jason?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Can we maybe... just talk for a little while?” she asks softly. “It feels like forever since we sat down and really talked—like we used to.”
I smile at her gently, thinking to myself there’s nothing more I’d rather do right now than sit with her and talk. Heck, we could sit in silence, and I’d still be happy. “If that’s what you want, then yeah, we can do that.”
She scoops up a generous bite of ice cream and pops it into her mouth, her tongue darting out to catch the remnants clinging to her bottom lip.
I swallow hard, forcing myself to look away from the way she licks her lips, then silently berating myself for letting my thoughts wander when she’s still so vulnerable.
“How is it?” I ask her.
