Page 56 of Afterglow
“Good. I’ll let you go, but I wanted to let you know I’ll be at your last game of the regular season.”
Fuck me.
“Okay, that’s great.” My head snaps up when Jazmine’s door creaks open. “I’ll talk to you later, Dad.”
I end the call, not wanting to waste a moment. My lungs fill with oxygen as I try to calm myself. After today, there will be no room for Jazmine to second guess what my intentions are. She edges closer to the kitchen bench, where a white plate sits with an omelette in the centre.
“Hey, Princess,” I offer a soft smile. “I made food come sit down.”
Chapter 26
Jazmine Allen
Theo is here.
After everything that happened—namely me yelling at him, he is still here.
I nod, walking over to the bar stool. Theo watches me the entire time. I look down at the meal: an omelette. A half sob, half laugh falls from my throat. My icy heart melts into a puddle and there is no stopping it.
Taking the fork, I stuff the food into me. I don’t remember eating this morning, although I can’tremember much after yelling at Theo on the football field.
My insecurities rise to the surface. I should apologise. I've been terrible to Theodore all because I couldn't understand or acknowledge my true feelings.
“I’m sorry,” I say between bites.
“Why are you sorry?” Theo says, confused.
“I just—” Theo stops me.
“No, it was my fault for not telling you about the move of my training sessions. We found out Sunday after the game and I was going to tell you but—” He looks away from me. “Then, everything that happened, happened. And it slipped my mind,”
“Are you okay?" he added quickly. "The last time I was with you during a panic attack it wasn’t that bad,”
My gaze falls, focusing on the last part of the omelette on my plate. “Yeah, this is my worst one since…” I pause to think. “Since freshman year. I’ve just been so stressed and when it seemed like you forgot about the project, I just—”
“Snapped,” Theo whispers, finishing off my sentence.
I nod. Theo moves so he is standing in front of me.
“Princess, look at me.” His tone is soft, but the demand is evident. I tilt my head up. “Seeing you like that was heartbreaking,” I try to look away from him, but Theo grabs my chin, holding it so I can’t escape his gaze. “Let me finish, okay?”
Theo swallows, the lump in his throat obvious. “Nothing happened at the party with Kierra. I want to be with you.” His confession causes me to forget how tobreathe. “I’m always thinking of you even when I don’t want to, I promised myself I would never feel this way again after—” Theo shakes his head, not finishing his sentence.
“I only want you, Jazmine.” My vision blurs, tears descending my cheeks. Theo saying my first name is a rarity; he is serious.
“Don’t cry, Princess.” He swipes a tear away. “Tell me this is what you want too,” It comes out as a plea.
“Yeah, Theo. I want this too.” I say while trying to stop my tears.
I've been trying to approach my feelings for Theo with logical but that isn't how the heart works. Ever since I've first met Theo, I knew there was something pulling me towards him. Yet, the hurt I've been through has stopped me from even trying to see if a relationship wouldn't leave me battered and bruised.
Now, I know: Everything about Theodore Knight strikes me as golden with the desire to help others no matter the situation.
I flick my eyes to his mouth but this time I don’t hesitate to ask. “Kiss me, Theo.”
Theo drops his head lower, his breath dancing across my skin. I’m about to beg when he closes the gap. This kiss is consuming, every charged moment between us leading to this point. Theo's lips move against mine as our breath mingles.
Butterflies swarm in my stomach as Theo moves me closer, one hand resting against my neck, the other onmy waist. Our bodies fit together perfectly, like we are the final piece to each other's puzzle.
