Page 51 of Stray

“I just want to look the part for him!”

“Ozzy, this ain’t the part he’s looking for you to fill. He likes you the way you are! These clothes ain’t you. Now, let’s see, it’s outside, so it’ll be cool.” She mutters, and I still wonder what he has planned for us. “You start doing your normal makeup. I’ll find your clothes.”

* * *

Standing in front of the mirror once again, I smile brightly at my reflection. My hair is down and in loose waves. I have done my eyeliner, mascara, and sharp eyebrows, then completed the look with a dark plum lip stain. The outfit Theo put together is perfect - a mini sweater dress that’s off the shoulder with thick black and grey stripes and my black tattered skinny jeans with skull fishnet stockings underneath. I paired it with my classic black Docs, and it’s perfect.

“Much better,” Theo grins, and I have to agree with her as we head out of my room, passing a napping Morris and outside to where Jackson should be waiting. I feel like myself in this. I just hope her earlier words are true and Jackson really does like me this way.

“Wow,” I hear him murmur as he looks me up and down from where he is loading something in his truck. I give him a shy smile as I walk over.

“Hi,” I say softly. He lets out a nervous laugh as he continues to stare me up and down.

“Hey beautiful,” he whispers, and wow, that’s a lot of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. “You ready to go?” I give him a nod before waving at Theo and climbing into the truck, allowing Jackson to hold the door open and close it for me.

Our ride is quiet for the first ten or so minutes before I let out a breath, unable to take the silence anymore.

“Where are we going?” I ask, needing to know because the anxiety is killing me.

“Parking lot.” He says simply, and I frown.

“Our date is in a parking lot?” He gives me a half-shrug.

“You don’t like crowds, and you don’t like the woods. A parking lot has neither.” I’m about to tell him that is the dumbest idea for a date ever when we pull into the lot. It’s an old drive-thru movie theatre that obviously doesn’t play movies anymore. Jackson parks and hops out of his side, and I hear him opening up the back of his truck. I get out to see the sun starting to set behind him.

“Jackson, help me out here. What are you—” I stop when I see he’s turning on large, soft, glowing string lights around the bed of his truck, and inside is a literal bed with tons of pillows, blankets, and a picnic basket. He taps his phone several times, and soft, slow music starts to play. “Oh my god,” I choke out.

“Okay,” he breathes before hopping down off the truck bed. “So I’ll admit, ninety percent of this is Indy’s doing. So we got a charcuterie board, which is just a fancy word y’all use for a party platter; I got bottles of sparkling grape juice because you don’t drink, and for dessert, I got us supplies to make s’mores, including a small portable campfire.” He shows me a steel tin with a decal of a flame on it, and I’m going to cry.

I lean forward, pressing my lips to his, catching him off guard. Jackson groans against my mouth while wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me up onto the tailgate. I wrap my legs around his waist, drawing him closer.

“Mmm…” He pulls back and chuckles. “Baby, as much as I’m enjoying this, I didn’t bring you out here for that. I really wanted to have a nice date with you. Let you relax and do—” He stops talking as his eyes stare at my neck. His eyes meet mine, silently asking permission that I grant. His fingers run so delicately over my chain, pulling out the pendant and holding it in his hand.

“You’re wearing it around your neck.” His voice is full of surprise but also excitement, maybe? I give him a small nod.

“Only for short periods right now. I’m still getting used to it,” I watch him heave himself up onto the tailgate before pulling me towards the bed.

“I’m about to spend all night with my tongue wrapped around yours if we don’t get this date started.” I give him a small laugh. Would that be such a bad thing?

* * *

The date is perfect. The food was delicious, and the drinks were a sweet gesture. Snuggling up in the dimly lit bed of the truck next to Jackson is so relaxing.

“Why a parking lot?” I ask, breaking the comfortable silence. I have been leaning against his chest, listening to his heartbeat for fifteen minutes now. This is my favorite spot, my favorite position, which is weird because it never was before. Even before my attack, I wasn’t known for my cuddling.

“I told you,” he murmurs as his fingers play with the strands of my hair. “No people and no tree line.”

“You aren’t worried about the cops coming by and saying something?” I feel his chest shake as he chuckles.

“Small town baby, nobody worries about that shit. Besides, Leon, who owns The Spur, owns this property, and I told him I would be on it. If you would rather go-”

“No!” I bolt up to stare him in the eyes. “No,” I say softer. “This is actually the best date I’ve ever been on. I’m just… I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”

“Tink,” he pulls my face toward his, and I feel my heart quickening. “Baby, there isn’t a fucking thing I wouldn’t do for you. Ask it, and it’s yours,”

“Why?” I manage out over the lump growing in my throat. “I’m noth–”

“Stop that,” he snaps, though his tone stays soft. “Ozzy, I would burn this fucking world to the ground for you, so don’t you dare say something hurtful about yourself.”

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