Page 22 of Stephan

My parents messaged me to tell me they’darrived home and were looking forward to seeing my brother and me.I was going to make sure I got to spend some time with Jade, evenif it was just driving her home.

The bell rang and Jade was the last out ofthe class. Her eyes widened when she saw me. “What are you doingwaiting here?”

Grabbing her hand, I brought it up to my lipsand kissed it. “Just coming to get my girl. Thursday afternoons Ihave a free period.”

“You didn’t have to wait for me. I could havegotten the bus if I couldn’t find one of my friends.”

“There’s no reason for you to get the bus. Ilike making sure you get home,”

Jade smiled at me. I knew I was slowingchanging her mind about being with me. “Thanks, but I can lookafter myself. I’ve been doing it now for nearly eighteenyears.”

“You have me now.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t rely on youalways. What happens when you’re done with me or we go to separateuniversities?”

I stopped. “What are you talking about? Iwill never be done with you. You’re mine. We will be going to thesame university.” I wanted to shake her until my words sank in. Howcould she think I would leave her?

Jade nibbled on her lip and I honed in on theaction and as always it made me rock hard.

“Stephan, I know your reputation. I don’twant you to make promises,” she said, turning away from my stareand continuing on to the car.

Frustration and unease seeped into me as Iopened my car. Jade got in and I followed getting into the driver’sside. “I can make you as many promises as I like because I’ll keepthem. I’ve been taking things slow for you," I said and started thecar, driving toward her house. “If I had my way you’d be living inmy house and I’d be fucking waking up to you every morning andgoing to sleep with you in my arms.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

“Why the hell not?”

“How many women have you had living with you?I couldn’t do it and be kicked out when you’ve had enough.” Tearsslid down her cheeks and I tried to reign myself in but I waspissed.

“I haven’t lived with any other women. I’mfriggin' nineteen. You are the only woman besides the cleaners andmy mother to ever be in my rooms. You will be the only one—ever—tobe in there.”

“I just can’t do this.”

I was angry, and Jade wouldn’t even look atme.

“I can’t get attached to you, you’ll break myheart. I haven’t been with anyone. I’m not experienced like you andI don’t have a mansion or even anything close. I have fifty dollarsto my name and it isn’t even mine, it’s yours, you snuck it into mybag. Sure, tomorrow I’ll have two hundred in my account thanks toCenterlink, but I bet it isn’t even a quarter of what’s in youraccount.”

“What on Earth brought all this on? You’reacting crazy.”

“I’m not. I’m being realistic and protectingmyself. We can have a relationship like we’ve been having, but I’mjust asking you to tone it down, and stop saying things that willhurt me later.”

The insane girl believed what she was saying.How the hell was I supposed to make her see I was serious? I pulledinto the pub and drove around to the back.

“Fucking hell, Jade, I don’t want to leaveyou now my but parents just got home and I said I would spend timewith them. I’m thinking I need to tell them I’ll see themlater.”

“No. Go home to your parents.”

Turning off the car, I ran my hand over myface. “I don’t know what you want from me. I’ve told you you’remine, and I’ll never let you go. I’ve told you I want more, and I’mtaking it slow for you. What more do you want?” I banged on mysteering wheel, anger and frustration flowing through me. I knew ifI stayed here we’d continue this argument, one of us would saysomething we regretted. “Look, go inside. I’m going home to cooloff and see my parents. I’ll see you in the morning. Promise meyou’ll stay here?” If she went out I’d crack.

“I promise.” She got out of the car and ranup the stairs.

I drove home taking a long detour. I neededto calm down before I saw my family.

*****

Jade

I went to my bedroom and cried. Stephan wasgetting to me, breaking down my guard, making me rethink that maybenot all men were arseholes. He was slowly convincing me I couldhave him even though he was way out of my league. I had nothing andtrash to his royalty.

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