Chapter 8

Someone had put the rest of the world on mute. I don’t know how long we stared at each out as people moved around us in the blurred crowd.  Slowly. So very slowly, he tilted my head down just enough to place a soft tender kiss to my forehead. He lingered there as a full body shudder went through him. My Hands came up to grip the edges of his shirt.

Nothing smelled good right now. Nothing expect for him. His deep masculine scent was so comforting. I wanted to turn it into a blanket and go to sleep inside. Don’t be a weirdo Olive.

I swallowed once. Twice. Still his mouth lingered on my forehead. My face in his hands. I think I broke him.

“Jareth? Where did you go?” A woman’s voice called out, breaking the spell. He pulled back and looked into the crowd. Then turned back to me and pulled out his phone.

“Quick, what’s you number. I need to get back before they miss me, but we I promise I will talk to you about this as soon as possible.”

I take his phone and add my name and number to it. Then give it back to him. The woman calls again and see her across the large lobby. She was an older version of Melody. If meeting my baby daddy with vomit on my chest was bad, meeting my potential mother-in-law this way would be way worse.

Jareth seemed to understand this, bless him.

“I promise I will text you later.” He pressed his forehead to my one more time, before peeling back off into the crowd. I ran back into the bathroom to vomit again.

He had my number now at least. He didn’t use it until I was almost asleep that night.

[Hey, It’s Jareth. You up?]

I text him back.

[No. But I could be.]

I rub my eyes as the chat bubbles come up again. Then disappeared. And then again. And then disappeared. After the millionth time I added.

[Want to just call me?]

I picked up on the second ring.

“Hi” I hope that sounded better on his end. It was shaky and weak on my end.

“Hey,” his voice sounded tired. “I feel like I have a lot to apologize for…”

“I should have stayed and talked to you like an adult. But I was drunk and upset.”

“I was drunk too. I should have been more focused on you and not… Look Olive I have family issues. I didn’t plan on making you another one of those.”

“I wasn’t planning on telling you about the, you know.” Ouch that sounded hrsh. Quick, course correct. “I mean I was! It was the very next thing to do after confirming what was going on, but I didn’t have your number and couldn’t find it and then Melody literally shut me out.”

“Does she know?” His voice came through colder somehow on that question.

“Yes. She called me a gold digger and slammed a door in my face.” His sigh was so deep and exasperated I felt it through the phone.

“For what its worth, I don’t think you are a gold digger.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you know what you are going to do?”

“I want to keep it. You don’t have to be involved if you don’t want to be.”

“I want to. I mean this isn’t something I planned, but I want to be there for you. Regardless of what happens between us.”

“What did you want to happen between us?” I chew my lip. I know what I wanted. But that was a more traditional path to happiness and bliss. That fantasy was no longer a real option. If it ever was.

“I’d still like to date you. If you will let me. If you forgive me.”

Yes! Fuck yes I want to date you! You big bad wolf you stole all the goodies out of my basket and I would let you do it again!

“I guess that would be okay.” I force my voice to be calm.

“Good.” His voice seems relieved.

“I don’t live in the city, so when would you want to—”

“Tomorrow!” I smile at how loud his voice got. “I mean before I drive back. Can I take you to brunch? Or maybe just a walk. Anything you want.”

“I’ll text you my address and let you know when I get up. It’s a date.”

“A date.”

There is a ling pause where I am grinning stupidly to myself and I imagine him doing the same.

“Good night Olive.”

“Good night Jareth.”