Chapter 20
Theodore Knight
I vividly remember meeting Jazmine Allen for the first time in freshman year.
On that day, I knew she would be the death of me so right now shouldn’t be a surprise. I want to take care of her in every way, especially after finding out she barely eats. I also want to bend her over the kitchen bench for not taking care of herself.
I’m not even exaggerating when I say I found three ingredients in Jazmine’s cupboard. Coffee beans, almond milk and caramel flavouring. The fact that Jazmine had to think about the last time she went grocery shopping is worrying.
Originally, I came over to see how she was doing, but I also wanted to change the day we did our research project this week. I have a game tomorrow night, so our usual Sunday session is out of the question.
Now, though. I will be dragging her pretty little ass into my car and taking her out for breakfast. Jazmine has been trying to force any reactions she has to me away but it’s clear I’m not the only one who feels the pull between us.
She is stubborn though, to the point where it is harmful. Jaz puts on an independent and I don’t need help from anyone front every day but I won’t be falling for it.
Jazmine returns to the kitchen in black skinny jeans, which hug her ass, highlighting every delectable curve. My tongue runs along my lips, as I move my gaze up to her face.
A scarlet flush forming on her cheeks and neck. Jaz tucks strands of loose hair behind her ears. Another nervous tick I’ve noticed.
“Where are we going?”
“What is your favourite breakfast food?”
Jazmine’s eyebrows scrunch, crinkles forming on her forehead. “Pancakes?”
“Why do you seem unsure?”
She bites her bottom lip, her attention falling to the floor. “I don’t usually eat breakfast, but in my hometown, I always order pancakes,”
“You-” I tilt my head back, trying to stifle an angry groan .
“What?”
“Princess, you can’t just skip meals.”
“I don’t do it on purpose,” Her voice jumps higher, probably in an attempt to justify her action.
“Let’s go. I am buying you the biggest plate of pancakes and you are going to eat every bite,”
Jazmine rolls her eyes. My tone is bordering on controlling, but at this rate I’m going to be following her around like a puppy to make sure she eats.
“Don’t be a brat,”
“Why?” She bats her eyelashes, a pout curving on her lips. “Is there a punishment if I’m not a good girl?”
I cough, choking on air. My eyes are coated with lust as they come into contact with hers. Is Jazmine flirting with me? It’s hard to tell because her usual method is to insult me.
I’m unable to look away from her mouth. Jaz dips her tongue out, licking her bottom lip. I suppress my groan and every desire to touch her.
I’m so fucked.
***
Jazmine and I agreed on Strong Beans as it was the closest to her apartment. I’m not letting her starve any longer. The irrational part of me wants to jump the queue so we get our food quicker.
How do you know if you're going insane?
Or better yet: how do you know if a girl has embedded herself underneath your skin without you even realising?
Jazmine picks a two-person table, located near the large windows that allow you to see Lakewood’s picturesque campus.
Fall is my favourite season—the fallen leaves are a combination of brown and orange, scattered across the pathways all over the university. The river is in my direct eye line as is the outline of Arizona’s mountain ranges.
I beat Jazmine to her chair, pulling it out and guiding her to sit. She squints her eyes and turns her head to the opposite chair. I already know what she is thinking.
“Don’t you dare Princess,”
Jazmine folds her arms across her chest. I have to force my eyes to remain on her face, one wandering gaze would bring me to focus on her breasts. Her sleeved, white cropped top is not helping.
“Fine,” Jaz reluctantly takes a seat in the chair I pulled out. “This isn’t a date. You don’t need to act like a gentleman,”
“This is definitely a date,” I tease, although part of me is serious.
“It is not. We aren’t speaking of this again,” Jazmine says with finality.
She grabs a menu from the table and skims the page, I do the same. Strong Beans has the best breakfast options. As an athlete I need food that will sustain my energy.
Football training was earlier this morning, so I’m starving. I decided on my usual order: the big breakfast. It consists of bacon, eggs and hash browns. The meal is made for football players, I don’t think a normal human could eat what is served.
“I’m going to have pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. As for a drink, I’ll have my usual.”
“Okay. I’ll go order it,”
Jazmine stands up to follow me. “I’m coming too, I have to pay.”
I laugh, my head involuntarily shakes. “You’re not paying. I told you I was buying you breakfast,”
“But-”
“No. You’re going to sit down and let me do something nice for you,”
Jazmine rolls her eyes but listens, relaxing back into her chair.
“Good girl,”
Jaz’s spine straightens and a pink hue scatters across her cheeks. Turning on my heels, I head to the counter. I knew Jazmine Allen would have a praise kink. Laughing to myself, I wait in line.
The cafe is buzzing with nearly every table filled by customers. It is by far, the best cafe on campus and that isn’t just because Jaz works here. Although, ever since I found out she worked here, I seem to spend every waking hour searching for Jaz at Strong Beans. Finally, I reach the front and order our meals and drinks.
“Who are you texting?” I ask, taking my seat at our table.
Jazmine looks up. “Oh, just checking on Jay and Willow.” She shakes her head. “They’re both so stubborn, I knew something like this would happen one day.”
“Have they always been like that?”
Jazmine nods her head. She explains their relationship—or rivalry, I should say. “Jayden wasn’t the biggest fan of Willow continuing ice hockey after she turned fourteen.”
I tilt my head, puzzled at her comment. “Why?”
“We have a mixed local team in my hometown, but most of the girls quit around thirteen and fourteen because the boys become…well they become boys but with more testosterone.”
I bark out a laugh. “So, basically Willow told him to fuck off. And he didn’t like that,”
“Yep,”
It has just dawned on me that I know barely anything about the girl in front of me. Jazmine is closed off, keeping everyone at an arm's length. The brick wall she has erected around her heart and mind never seems to break. Yet, I want to take a sledgehammer and smash every brick to pieces if it means I can know everything that makes Jazmine Allen tick.
“Did you play?” I ask.
“Ice hockey?” I nod. “Yeah, I did until I was ten, I got hit pretty badly and had a concussion. The thought of going back onto the ice after that scared the shit out of me,”
“Oh. Is that why you want to work at Cooper and Byrd?”
Jazmine’s eyes are zoned in on mine, surprise fills her features. “You remembered that, huh?”
I’ll remember anything you tell me Princess.
“Yeah,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. “That day is ingrained in my brain, ”
Jazmine averts her gaze. “I never apologised for lashing out at you that day,”
“You don’t—”
She holds her palm out to stop me. “No. I do need to. I was in a terrible head space, not only on that day, but for most of my freshman year. I guilt trapped myself into thinking I was a failure because in my senior year of high school I studied most of the subjects you cover in freshman year.
“I thought it would give me a head start, but I burnt out and became a mess.” Jazmine pauses. “That’s another reason Jay and Willow fight a lot. I never told Willow about my struggles that year, so we partied straight after freshman year ended. Which, if you’ve been running off caffeine, energy drinks and no sleep isn’t good. I was hospitalised for a week—”
My eyes widened. “What the fuck Princess?”
“Yeah, I know. I’m fine now. But Jayden blamed Willow. I told her it wasn’t her fault, but she always took it to heart,”
“Jesus Christ,” I shake my head, not knowing what to say. “I felt so bad after I earned the internship. You looked terrible and it seemed like it was my fault,”
“It wasn’t.” Jazmine took a deep breath, but before she could speak a waitress interrupted. She places our drinks in front of us and minutes later brings out our food.
“What were you saying?” I ask.
“I see a psychologist. She has helped me work through some things,” I smile. “But, enough about me. Let’s eat while you tell me about your life, ”
“There isn’t much to say,” I reply before eating a slice of my toast.
“Not much to say, aren’t you a future NFL prodigy? Since your father played,”
The mention of my father makes me choke on the remaining bite of food in my throat. “How do you know that?”
Jazmine's shoulders raise, tension filling her muscles. The blush on her face has fallen down her neck, while she places her hands against her cheeks in order to hide it.
“I may or may not have googled you during freshman year,”
I smirk, that makes me feel slightly better. “I’m flattered Princess,”
Jazmine glares. “It was for research purposes only. I needed to know who my competition was,”
A chuckle escapes my chest. This girl. “Yeah, well.” I shrug, unable to think. “We don’t have the best relationship at the moment.”
Short and sweet, hopefully Jaz won’t ask too many questions. It is probably hypocritical of me, but I don’t want to unpack my childhood trauma in a campus cafe.
“Oh, sorry. We don’t have to talk about it then,” Jazmine eats another pancake, taking sips out of her drink in between bites. She lets out a quiet moan. “This is so good,”
“Princess,” I whisper harshly. “This is a family friendly space,”
Jazmine rolls her eyes. It seems to be her favourite thing to do around me. “What about football? When is your next game?” she asks.
Who is this? And what has she done with Jazmine? She has never acted like this before. I was worried after our last meeting for the research project, thinking my comment was out of line and made her uncomfortable. But her reaction seemed like the opposite. The tension was palpable, only dissolved by Jazmine’s phone ringing.
Maybe my charms are wearing her down. Now, that’s the dream.
I clear my throat, realising Jazmine is waiting for an answer. “We have a home game tomorrow, do you want to come?” I can’t believe it is the middle of the season already. The games are becoming more intense and scouts are increasing in numbers.
Jazmine tilts her head and resumes her usual thinking face-pinched eyebrows and squinted eyes. Jazmine has never seen me play before and the idea of having her in the stands makes me want to win even more. It would be better if she wore my jersey too, but I won’t push my luck.
“I’ll think about it,” Jazmine says, drinking the last mouthful of her coffee. “Athena is going so maybe I’ll tag along,”
“I will beg if that’s what you want Princess,”
Jazmine’s eyes snap back to mine, darkening as they flick down to my mouth and back to my eyes. I can feel my cock harden under the intense gaze while I lick my lips at the thought of being on my knees for Jazmine Allen. That would be a dream come true .
I try to calm myself down with deep breaths as we are in a coffee shop surrounded by other people.
“Theodore Knight on his knees?” She says, phrasing it as a question. “I’d love to see that one day,”
Oh, Princess. You have no clue what you just started.