Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Jeremiah
H azel is sad, and I’m not astute enough to figure out why.
For weeks now, granted the right to observe her from up close since I’m her fake boyfriend, I’ve studied every nuance of her expressions.
I’ve seen her flustered and awkward when she’s unsure how to handle situations with our boss.
Confident and in control of her classroom and the sometimes unruly teenagers in it.
Soft and snuggly while playing with a lapful of foster puppies that are learning how to be social with each other and humans.
The emotions I’ve longed to see the most, the ones circling lust and arousal, are still just fantasies inside my head. Sadness, though? That’s an emotion I could do without seeing. Especially up close where the glossy shine in her eyes is from tears about to fall.
“Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I don’t know why it’s bad Ms. Genovese likes me or that the other teachers do. But I promise I’ll make them hate me again if it stops you from crying.”
And I will. I never gave a single flying fuck if Vanessa or any of the other faculty thought I was a stuck-up prick.
“That’s ridiculous. Why would you sabotage everything we’ve spent weeks working on?” A single fat tear rolls over the apple of her cheek before disappearing into the dimple I fantasize about licking far more often than is healthy.
The tear distracts me, so it takes a beat too long to realize what she’s said. It’s a reminder that these weeks of falling deeper into love with Hazel haven’t meant the same thing for her. She’s no more in love with me now than she was three weeks ago. My heart sinks.
“You owe me a week still.” I know it’s a shitty thing to bring up. Especially when she’s obviously ready to be done with me. I knew this plan to make her fall for me was a long shot, but I really didn’t expect her to be so sick of me she’d shove me away at the first opportunity.
“I’m aware of our arrangement, Jeremiah.
But I’m not sure what the point of it is, now.
Either you got what you wanted and people like you, or you don’t care if they like you and there’s no point in doing this anymore.
I just don’t understand what you want.” Defeat colors her words and tears at my composure.
“Give me one more date. Tonight. Then if you want to end our agreement early, I won’t stop you.”
If she chooses to end things, I don’t know how I’ll hold myself back. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
“Yeah, that’s fine. One more date. Tonight. Where do you want me to meet you? I think some of the coaches and PE teachers are planning to watch a hockey match at the Monarch Wing . Do you want to meet up there?”
The sports bar where pretty much everyone in Mariposa hangs out is the last place I want to be with Hazel if tonight is our last together. Even if it would mean being seen by half the town.
“No. No bars or group gatherings. Come to my house at seven. I’ll cook.” Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken turns picking up and dropping off, but neither of us has been inside the other’s home.
If tonight is my last chance to win Hazel’s affection, I want to do it at home where I don’t have to share her attention with anyone else. I want to be where I can show her how good of a partner I can be. A real partner. Not a bartered one as part of a bribe to get her to spend time with me.
“Um, okay. That’ll work. Want me to bring anything?” she asks.
“Just bring you. That’s all I need.”
And if there’s more truth in that statement than she hears, so be it.