Chapter 15

Jason entered Michelle’s kitchen, setting the basket on the bench. He was certain that she would like the cupcakes. He could hear Michelle chatting with someone, the voices gradually growing louder as they approached. A second later, Michelle stepped into the room.

He locked eyes with her for half a second before she turned and bolted out of the room. He took a step to follow, but Olivia sidestepped to block the doorway. She lowered her sunglasses and held up her hand.

“Before you even think about chasing her, we need to talk, lover boy.”

‘Lover boy? Was this a new nickname?’ he wondered.

Olivia’s heels echoed off the tiled kitchen flooring as she stepped towards him. She reached out and grabbed Jason by his collar, throwing him against the wall. Up close, he noticed how much she resembled Michelle.

“Alright, little boy, I already heard what happened between you and my daughter. I hope you take responsibility for what you did!”

“You heard about it?!” Jason was embarrassed that Michelle had already passed it along to everyone. Although he was planning on confessing his feelings today, it didn’t change how embarrassing it was for everyone else to know about it.

Olivia reached her hand into her jacket pocket and shrugged.

“How could you do that to my precious daughter whilst she was injured?” she commented as she faked weeping.

“I’m so sorry. I know it was reckless of me, but I do intend to take responsibility.”

“Alright, but only because I know how strongly my daughter feels about you.” She offered a slight smile, and Jason thought he had finally been let off the hook. “Just be careful, if she becomes pregnant, then her career will be over.”

“P-pregnant…?” Jason stuttered. He had no idea how Olivia had jumped to that conclusion.

‘Did she really think that’s how babies were made? Maybe she was just as much of an airhead as Michelle.’

Jason placed his hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“You don’t have to worry. I promise you that the kiss won’t result in any pregnancies,” he responded, trying his best to sound confident without being condescending.

“A kiss…?” Olivia trailed off. Her face went blank. She turned her head. “I’m going to kill my daughter.”

“What did you think I did!”

Olivia continued to avoid eye contact with Jason. He knew exactly what conclusion she had jumped to.

He placed his hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“I’m going to kill your daughter,” he muttered.

She let out a heavy sigh. “Sorry, but I am going to hold you accountable regardless.”

She removed her hand from her pocket, holding a phone. She tapped the screen once.

“Alright, little boy, I heard what happened between you and my daughter. I hope you take responsibility for what you did!”

“I do intend to take responsibility.”

“Hey! You were recording! Also, that’s clearly doctored!” Jason complained.

“I have no idea what you mean,” she replied with a smile. “Well, anyway, if you don’t want this going public. You’d better confront my daughter and tell her how you really feel.”

Jason laughed.

“I was going to do that anyway.”

Olivia turned her back to him. “Oh, and a word of advice. You don’t have to be so stiff, lover boy. Tell her how you really feel.”

She waved as she left. Jason quickly grabbed the basket of cupcakes and knocked on Michelle’s door.

“Michelle, I’m coming in,” he called as he opened the door.

Michelle glanced up from a book that was upside down in her hands.

“Oh… Jason… when did you get here?” She turned her head away and pretended to whistle, even though she didn’t know how.

Jason opted not to call out her obvious attempts at avoiding him.

“I need to talk to you,” he replied, carefully setting the basket on her desk.

“Oh… well… I am so busy with reading and things…” She turned three pages in quick succession.

Jason suspected she would say something like that, which is why he came prepared.

“What a shame. I baked you something, but if you don’t have the time...”

“You have food?!” She directed her full attention to him. Her mouth was already drooling. “I mean, if food is related, I suppose I can spare some time.”

She wiped the drool from her mouth. Jason passed her one of the cupcakes.

“It’s so colourful and pretty!” she licked her lips. “I almost don’t want to eat it.”

“Well, I can always take it back.”

Michelle looked horrified, quickly taking a large bite to ensure Jason wouldn’t steal it from her.

“It’s so tasty,” she squealed.

“Since you can’t play for a bit, I thought I would spoil you with some sugar.”

Michelle paused, using her free hand to scratch her chin.

“So if I’m injured, you’ll bake more tasty food like this?” The look in her eye suggested she wasn’t joking.

“I promise you, if you ever hurt yourself again, I will cook for you every day.” Hearing this, Michelle instantly reached to get up. But unfortunately for her, Jason hadn’t finished. “I will make a lovely salad. Broccoli and cauliflower. Every… single… day.

Michelle's face drained of colour as she slumped back on her chair.

“I promise I will never get injured again.”

Jason reached forward and rustled her hair.

“Good,” he paused to take a deep breath. “Actually, while I am here, I wanted to discuss what happened the other day…” he trailed off. Now that he was saying it directly to her, it was a hundred times more difficult to muster the words.

Michelle’s face turned red. She frantically waved her hands about in a poor attempt to feign ignorance. “What other day? I don’t remember another day.”

Jason would normally have raised an eyebrow or made a snarky remark. But instead, he let out a heavy sigh and responded.

“I wanted to talk to you about the kiss.”

Michelle shifted her attention to the carpet below. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

Michelle wanted to avoid all talks about that kiss. It was such a happy moment for her. She didn’t want to hear the words from his mouth that the kiss meant nothing to him. She wanted to cling to the faintest of hope that perhaps Jason felt the same way about her as she did him.

“Well, I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t!” she shouted a little too quickly.

“I mean, I totally understand if you want to fire me.”

“I’d never do that!” she shouted way too loudly.

Jason thought about the best way to respond. But he also knew there was no benefit in prolonging the inevitable. Besides, he was sick of hiding his feelings. He knew he’d likely lose his job, but he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was his feelings right at this moment.

“Michelle, I don’t know how you feel, but I want to be perfectly honest about my feelings.”

Michelle nervously felt her heart rate begin to skyrocket.

Jason looked her straight in the eyes.

“Michelle. I love you.”

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

End of Chapter 15