Page 35 of Beautiful Chaos

“Please don’t tell me you are one of those girls that eat like a bird around a man,” he scoffed. He placed the plate in front of me, then nodded for me to eat.

“Eat, please.”

I looked up at him where he stood tall. Standing so close with a puzzled expression, not for the reason he might think, but because, for the first time in ages, I’m not panicking. Considering I was in his home, he could potentially trap me and harm me, a fact of which I was very conscious.

But right then, all I felt like doing was having a meal and hanging out with him.

I should be intimidated at the very least.

“You wish,” I retorted, with a smile.

I slipped off my heels to get comfortable. I drew my foot up onto the seat, tucking my knee between the table and my chest as I reached over to grab a croissant from my plate. I broke it with my hands, biting into one half while holding the other half close by.

It was sweet and warm and absolutely delicious. I closed my eyes and let out a quiet moan in appreciation of the explosion that my taste buds were experiencing. Jasper, still standing beside me in a silent trance and staring, began to smile with his eyebrows raised.

“I hope you aren’t one of those guys who expects a woman to eat like a bird and sit like a lady,” I teased with my mouth full,and nodded to his seat reminding him he was hovering. He let out a belly laugh as he walked over to his chair, almost tipping it over when he missed the seat through his blurred vision as he continued to laugh. It was a beautiful sight.

His blue eyes somehow even more blue from the tears that refused to fall from laughing so hard, between gasping for air he said,

“You’re perfect aren’t you, Doll?” Shocked at his question, I couldn’t help but join in on his laughter.

Once we managed to pull ourselves together, he got up to grab some food and then sat down with me for breakfast. I tried some of everything, and it was all delicious—even the eggs were just right.

“That was delicious. I’ll have to skip lunch after a meal like that.” I said as I leaned back and patted my stomach like I’d seen Aster’s uncle Charlie do after Thanksgiving dinner during the holidays. Jasper did the same.

“I don’t usually eat breakfast,” he confessed, sipping his orange juice that I was certain was freshly squeezed.

“You did all this for me?” I asked, feeling embarrassed again. He had already done so much.

“Yes, but don’t get used to it, I’m not usually this nice,” he said, wearing a sarcastic smile. His kind gestures came so naturally that it would be hard to believe him not to be.

I rose and began rearranging items to take the leftover food to the kitchen when Jasper grabbed my wrist through my shirt, instantly leaving me breathless.

“What are you doing?” He asked, stopping me from lifting another finger.

“I’m going to clean this up,” I declared, looking up at him. He’s so tall, towering at least a foot above me. If he were any nearer, tilting my head back to see him would be uncomfortable. “No, leave it,” he urged. “I have someone coming to clean today.”

I didn’t want to leave such a mess, but I didn’t want to offend him, especially after letting me stay in his home.

Last night I acted like being home alone was fine with me but if I’m honest, after my nightmare I was terrified at the idea of going back to sleep and being home alone with nothing but my fears and memories.

I took a deep breath and smoothed over my clothes with my palms.

“Well, I guess I’ll go ahead and get out of your hair. I really appreciate your hospitality. Thanks for everything.” Then, I raised my hand in a small, awkward waist-height wave. Before I could turn to grab my bag from where I had left it, he was in front of me, stopping me.

I stepped back, creating some space between us out of habit. He noticed and moved back a step as well.

“Where are you going? You said your roommate would be gone for several days…” His voice carried a note of concern, turning the statement into more of a question.

“She will be back in two days. I’ll be fine on my own. I was a little shaken up last night because of my dream,” I started to babble. I didn’t know who I was trying to convince more, him or myself. I looked up to meet his gaze. He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows as if reading the doubt straight from my head.

“Doll, I think you’re a bit more bothered than you are putting on. You can stay here with me until she’s back. I’ll take you to get your things to make you comfortable.” His face brimmed with satisfaction.

The nickname I seemed to have adopted permanently rolls off his tongue.

He walked toward the elevator without waiting for me to accept his proposal. I stayed behind, stunned at his bold behavior. He noticed halfway through the living room and turned to face me.

“You coming?” He asked with his hand out for me to take. I hesitated a moment longer, but then I fell into place behind him, and I was surprised at myself for taking his hand, just as I had before breakfast.

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