*****
Kevin stopped talking when the waiter placed a plate of chili-cheese fries in front of him and a burger in front of Jasmin. This hotel was too extravagant for their taste so they’d both ordered off the kiddies menu.
They’d chosen a booth seat. On one side they were exposed to an amazing view of the mountains and on the other, the back of the high, black leather seat kept them closed off from the rest of the world. The low lighting and soft music in the background made it feel slightly intimate and he wasn’t entirely sure if he was comfortable being with her in this type of setting. Then again, this was going to be a long trip and he might as well get used to being with her in any kind of setting.
“So because this is probably going to take longer than we planned, I thought of a few options,” he said once the waiter left the table. “I could give you all the money I have and then once my allowance comes in, I’ll give you that too…or we could have some kind of a loan agreement.”
Her eyes glazed over with complete disinterest. “Kevin, if you bring up money one more time, I’m gonna slap you.”
“I have to contribute something.”
She stopped eating and placed her elbows on the table. This topic really seemed to be irritating her. He’d figured that she was well off, and after the few conversations they’d had, he could tell that money was of no importance to her. But it still didn’t feel right to take so much and give nothing in return.
“Look,” she began, “if I had to do this trip by myself, I would have paid for all the fuel, my accommodation, and food. So if you really feel that bad about it, we can continue sharing a room. That way, you’re saving but I’m not out of pocket. Now can you can stop harping over this nonsense?”
“It still doesn’t sound fair to me.”
“Ugh! And you say I’m annoying. Fine. You pay for all the food and refreshments.Allof it. I don’t want you to go into thisblind, so I’m warning you that I have a Skittle fetish. Do we have a deal?”
That was more than manageable. “Deal.”
“Good.” She reached over the table and took one of his fries. It was something she did without thinking.
“You’re picking off my plate again, Jazz.”
She immediately tensed. “Sorry. Socially inept, remember?”
Damn, he’d done a number on her today. She broke eye contact and he could actually see her withdrawing.
With a shrug, she tried to explain herself. “I eat alone most of the time…but when I used to go out for lunch with my cousins and Rachel, we always used to share…pizza or whatever. It’s just a habit…I’m sorry…I won’t do that—”
“Fuck, enough with the sob stories.” He scooted to the middle of the booth and took his fries with him. “You’re killing me today.”
He placed one hand on her inner thigh and her long hair brushed against his fingers as the other wrapped around her waist. Tightening his grip a little, he pulled her right beside him. He heard a tiny gasp and he didn’t know if it was because of shock or because a guy had never touched her that way before. It could be both.
Just to test it a little further, he gently caressed her thigh as he removed his hand. Her reaction was subtle. He probably would have missed it if he wasn’t looking out for it. Her breath caught and her lips parted just a bit. It was strange. She touched him so brazenly and yet she became nervous when that behavior was reciprocated. Either way, it proved one thing. This girl hadn’t been touched before. It was something he needed to be mindful of if they were going to be sharing a room…and, by the looks of it, everything else.
“I don’t mind sharing,” he said. “Just ask me first.”
She looked up at him and smiled, a real smile this time. “Can I have some of your chili-cheese fries?”
He smiled back. He couldn’t help it. “Yeah.”
She reached out and took another one. The movement was tentative, like she hadn’t been doing it on her own for the last few days.
“If I ask…then it’s okay?” she asked, taking another fry.
“Yeah.”
The somber, awkward aftermath of tension dissipated and she was in a better mood now. Funny how it took so little to make her happy.
“So…can I tell you that your dimples are really cute?”
His smile widened and he nudged her with his shoulder. “Don’t push it.”
His eyes sort of got fixed on her for a few minutes, but she was too busy eating his food to notice. He took note of every detail; her smooth honey-kissed skin, her pitch black hair. After their very nasty argument this afternoon, he was starting to see someone he hadn’t seen in the last four days, someone who was simultaneously stronger and more fragile than he’d expected. It was like he was looking at her for the first time.
Her eyes weren’t a simple brown. They were a fusion of hazel and green and gold, a color so unique, there was no word for it. The only way he could think to describe it was to name it after its owner. Jasmin. She had Jasmin eyes.
