He grabbed my legs and pulled, sliding me underneath him. He playfully pinched my sides, tickling me as my laughter chimed through the loft.
“Okay! Okay. Boyfriend it is,” I giggled again.
Jared sighed in contentment at my words. “Everything I’ve ever wanted is right here in my arms.”
I couldn’t imagine why he looked at me that way. Six billion people in the world, and a man so perfect he was also half divine had chosen me. That fact alone was more than I deserved, but for him to say something so beautiful with that look in his eyes, I couldn’t help myself.
“I love you, Jared.” It didn’t seem like enough, but once the words tumbled from my mouth, his smile turned into pure elation, as if I’d given him the one thing he’d wanted his entire life. Before I could think to say anything else, his lips were on mine.
He kissed me differently this time; it was gentle, almost cautious. I wrapped both of my arms around his neck as he continued to work his warm lips softly against mine. He put so much emotion in these small, slow, tender kisses that I found myself fighting tears. He kissed me like a happy ending.
And then he stopped.
In one smooth movement, he moved me to my proper place in the bed. He crawled over me carefully, lying directly behind me, tracing my body with his. I took a deep breath and let out a satisfied humming sound that compelled Jared to pull me closer.
Just before I drifted off to sleep, I said the first prayer I’d uttered since I was girl. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve such a wonderful gift, and I wasn’t sure if it was insolent, but I thanked God for fallen angels.
Chapter Ten
Fate
Over the next few days, we settled into a comfortable routine. Jared took me to school, returned to sit with me at lunch, and then waited outside my last class. At night, I studied while he worked out, and I became quite accustomed to falling asleep in his arms. Each time he dressed my wound a sense of dread came over me; the healing cut meant that our nights together were numbered.
The girls at our regular lunch table became quite taken with Jared, while the boys tried their best to ignore him. The lines were clearly drawn. Lisa even invited Jared to a tentative girls’ night out, to which Jared only replied with a raised eyebrow, causing those who were paying attention to laugh.
I noticed Ryan being careful to speak only to me, making a point to ignore anything Jared contributed to the conversation. By Thursday, the tension at the table had elevated.
“Are you coming to study group tonight or not?” Ryan asked, clearly in a bad mood.
“I’m not sure what the plans are tonight.”
Jared looked at me and began to speak, but Ryan cut him off. “What? You need permission?” he snapped.
I glared at him. “It’s called being courteous. You should try it.”
Jared lightly touched my knee to keep me calm. It wasn’t working; Ryan couldn’t be more proficient at getting under my skin.
“Just because I’m not happy about how weird you’ve been, doesn’t mean I’m being a jerk,” he said, his eyes narrowing.
“You said it, not me.”
“You’ve moved in with this guy,” he motioned to Jared, “you don’t talk to your friends anymore, you’re skipping out on study group…I’m doing what friends do, Nina. I’m making sure you’re okay.”
“She called me last night,” Beth said defensively. Ryan ignored her.
I could feel the heat radiating from my face. “You’re not being a friend. You’re being aggressively nosy.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Are you coming to study group or not?”
“I’m coming,” I growled.
Ryan’s demeanor immediately changed. “So, you wanna grab something to eat after?”
I felt Jared’s hand tense around my knee.
“Not funny, Ryan,” Kim scolded.
Ryan continued to look at me expectantly. Everyone at the table watched for my—and Jared’s—reaction.
“Jared is picking me up afterward. We have dinner plans,” I said, glaring at him.
“I thought you said you didn’t know what your plans were,” Ryan goaded.
I leaned forward in my chair, taking in a sufficient breath to unleash my temper across the table.
Jared finally spoke, “We have dinner plans every night, Ryan. You’re welcome to join us.” I shot Jared a surprised look and noticed that his face was free of any sarcasm.
Ryan’s eyebrows furrowed, taken off guard by Jared’s sincere invitation. “I think I’ll pass.”
I smiled smugly at him, turning my attention to Jared. “Are you ready?”
“I am,” he said, leaning over to kiss my forehead.
Lisa and Carrie swooned.
At the door of my classroom, Jared set my bag on the floor beside me, pulling up the handle.
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a quick peck.
“I assume you’ll be hanging around here until study group.”
“You assume correctly,” I nodded.
“Call me when you’re finishing up, I’ll pick you up at the Rock.”