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But he already had. The damage was done.
“Why would she? She never remembers. You’d think eighteen might be the one she at least shoots a text for, but no such luck.” I shrugged, fixing my eyes on whatever movie was playing. I didn’t actuallywantto stop looking at him, I never did. But I was nervous and observing how ridiculously handsome he was didn’t help.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier? It’s 8pm now, we could have celebrated or something,” he complained, rubbing his temples. “I feel like an ass.”
I smiled. “Why? It’s not like you’re my dad. You're just my mom’s boyfriend, who I happen to live with. You know, since she’s hardly home. So really, that makes me just your girlfriend’s annoying, pestering daughter.” Self-deprecating comments weren’t rare for me.
“Don’t say that,” he chided, giving me a stern look. I shrugged, unwilling to take it back. “Besides, you’re only annoying sometimes,” he joked, elbowing my arm playfully.
The simple touch gave me a jolt of electricity down to my fingertips. I could feel my blush creeping up my neck, warming my face, but played it off.
“Yeah yeah, whatever. I just wanted a cake, but the bakery I like isn't open on the weekends. I’ll have to wait until Monday.”
“What bakery?” he asked, raising a brow at me. One of those thick, sculpted eyebrows that defined his deep and delicate eyes.
“Sheryls. Her chocolate layered cake is unmatched,” I sighed, stealing a handful of his popcorn. It had already gone cold, but that meant the butter was absorbed inside of each piece and I sort of enjoyed that.
He nodded absently, pulling out his phone to check a chirping noise it had made. “I have to make a phone call, put on a movie you actually want to watch. I’ll be right back,” he said, jumping up from his seat and disappearing into the kitchen.
I watched him leave, careful not to linger on any one of his features for too long and miss another. I was so transfixed by him. His stature, his brown, almost green eyes, his dark hair and the stubble on his face that dawned his sharp jawline. Not to mention hisbody. The body I could swear was sculpted specifically to make women melt.
He was my mother’s boyfriend, but in my mind he was mine. She was never home, always away on business and he was always around. I used to find it strange that he was a billionaire business mogul and around the house more than my lawyer mother. I did not, however, complain about that fact. His company was my favorite thing in the world. With it, I didn’t need much else.
We bickered about my clothing choices, when my music was too loud and anytime I came home too late. Sometimes treated me a bit like a kid, and I wanted him to treat me like the woman that I was.
No, I wanted him to treat me likehiswoman. I was completely and unapologetically in love with Jasper Aroselyn. And I wanted him to know that.Soon.
“We’re watchingMe Before You, bring tissues!” I called out, flipping through my digital movie collection and putting on my favorite cry-your-heart-out film.
Just as the movie began, he came back into the living room, box of tissues and all. He was dressed like he always was on Saturday nights. Silky black pajama pants and no shirt, his tanned skin practically glowing in the fluorescent lights. Jasper was a perfect example of God playing favorites. If there was a God. I wasn’t religious.I’d worship him though, anytime he asked.
The leather couch was his addition to the house when he moved in. It was comfier than the ugly statement piece couch we’d had before. He handed me the box of tissues and I put it in the small gap between us. I had already decided I was going to kiss him on my birthday, but I hadn’t had the nerve to do it just yet.
“You know, watching the same movies or tv shows repeatedly constitutes an obsession,” he teased, tossing a piece of popcorn at me.
The only thing I’m obsessed with is you, I wanted to point out.
“What else am I supposed to do? Try a movie outside of my favorites?” I scoffed, the idea making me shiver. “What if I hate it? Then I just wasted two hours.”
He sighed, smiling and shaking his head. “We’ll make a movie buff out of you one day, Dix. One day.”
I smiled in return, unable to help it. “Sure we will.”
Over an hour into the movie, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” he said nonchalantly, lifting himself off of the couch and shuffling out of the room.
Who the hell is at the door at 10pm?I thought, but shrugged it off, caught up in the story on my screen. It was just getting better and better after all.
Jasper reappeared with a big white box and a silly smile on his face. “Happy Birthday.” He handed it to me and I gasped.
“No way!” I set it down on the coffee table so I didn’t drop it and jumped up to hug him. “How’d you get this!? They aren't open today!”
He got me exactly what I wished for. A layered chocolate cake from Sheryls. He laughed as I hugged him, and I let go before I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted to kiss him right there, but I couldn’t, not yet.
“I made a few calls, kid, it was no big deal.”
Ugh, kid.
