Jasmine's POV
Bella had invited me to come watch the game today, but I refused. I've had enough of Xavier and I don't think I can handle more.
I'm just thankful that he won't be around tonight since he might want to party if they win. Speaking of winning, they are most likely to. They always.
Bella's text only proves my point. They won. I head to the library to get some books. What better night to study at home than today.
"Jas…are you okay?"
His words ring in my head again. It has been since that day.
He doesn't call me 'Jas'.
Fuck, he hardly calls my name.
The sincerity in those eyes was so unsettling that I had to leave the apartment immediately. I ended up spending that day at the library but something was off when I returned.
There were blood stains on the floor. My best guess was that he was injured, besides I've seen him bruised before. But he could have cleaned up. Ever since then, I haven't seen him, and I'm glad I won't be seeing him tonight.
I make sure to spend some extra time outside until it's really dark before I head to the apartment, and when I open the door… I'm shocked to see him in the living room, the TV light beaming on his face.
Should he not be celebrating?
I shut the apartment door and without talking to him, I head to my own door, rummaging through my bag to get the key, but I don't find it.
Fuck fuck fuck. This can't be happening.
I must have left it at the library, and it's too late to step out. I'm sure Bella's dorm would have closed by now.
Why the fuck is he in the living room and not in his room as always? Why is he even here?
"If you keep glaring at me that way, it won't make me disappear" He points out, chuckling.
What should I do? I can't be stuck with this maniac here.
"What's wrong? Now you love my company?"
I roll my eyes at his words before answering, hoping against all hopes that he has a spare key.
"I left my room key at the library"
"Tough luck" he snorts. I shut my eyes tightly, taking all the calming breath I can, before asking him,
"Do you have a spare?"
"Why should I?" He turns to face me, smirking. "The moment I rented the room out, I gave out a bunch of keys, or did you receive a single one?" He raise his brow, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
Of course I received the full bunch, the rest are inside the room.
"Can we break the door?" The words leave my mouth before I can think about it.
He rises to his feet and approaches me, walking past to stand in front of the door before softly tapping on it, deepening my confusion.
"This right here is a sturdy door and it can't be broken. Also, I won't even let you break it, the noise will disturb the neighbors"
My head hangs low.
How did I get myself into this?
"Don't cry" he muses and I immediately shoot him a dirty look, "You can use my room. I'll sleep in the living room" His tone softens.
"No." I know I don't have a choice, but I rather sleep outside than sleep on the bed that he's brought so many strangers to.
He smiles at my rejection, raising both his hands in surrender before walking back to the couch.
I stand in front of my door for another twenty minutes as if magically expecting it to take pity on me and open. When my feet start to hurt, I sink into the couch farther from him.
I can feel him smiling, but I pretend to be engrossed in one of the books I picked up in the library.
"You are not comfortable" he starts, "You should shower. I have some clothes I haven't worn, I'll get you a new shirt" he states, not waiting for me to respond, he enters his room.
Some minutes later, he emerges with a shirt still in its pack, a new towel, a big duvet and a blanket.
"I was the one running around the field today but you stink." That's all it took for me to grab the towel and shirt from him and dash into the bathroom.
I end up spending more than an hour there. His shirt is big and long enough to cover my ass. Although it stops mid-thigh, it's better than nothing. I take a deep breath before walking out of the bathroom.
My heart warms at the sight before me. He shifted the couch to create a huge space in the middle, and he already set the duvet with a pillow for me and the blanket folded beside it.
I stop myself from almost smiling before muttering, "Thank you"
"Of course I know I'm the best roommate. I'll reduce the volume of the TV for you but I need to finish this series tonight, that's why I missed the party" He explains, adjusting in the couch facing the TV.
Makes sense. I nod once before laying down carefully, covering myself immediately with the blanket. After turning around for thirty minutes without sleeping, I give up and just stare at the ceiling.
Should I have slept in his room? Hell no.
Why can't I sleep? Is it because I feel he is watching me? Or is it the change of environment?
"Join me, Jas"
As if in a trance, I stand up and sit beside him on the couch, using the blanket to cover my bare legs. There's something warm about him today that makes me want to have a conversation with him.
Maybe it's how nice he is tonight or how vulnerable my situation is.
"I'm quite surprised that you ditched your teammates for a TV series" I muse, eyeing what he is watching. Expecting it to be something related to sports, I'm surprised it's not.
"It's just for today." He doesn't tear his eyes away from the screen.
"And it's not even about rugby" I add, hugging myself. His shirt is thick, but it has nothing against tonight's cold.
He finally looks at me as if studying me.
"You must think I don't have a life outside rugby" I almost laugh at his words but I can tell he's being serious.
"You can scoot closer. I have enough warmth for the both of us…or are you scared?" There's something in his voice today that makes me want to block every single sanity in me.
"What are you? A giant blanket" I tease, tearing my eyes from his dangerously beautiful ones but I can tell he's still looking. Heat settles on my cheek, I'm sure it's the cold.
"You don't trust me, do you?" He scoffs, returning his gaze to his show.
I know that I have an option of drawing the blanket on my legs up to cover me fully, but I shock myself by leaning in until my head is on his shoulder. I'm not thinking tonight, because….
My thoughts trail off the moment his hand wraps around me, bringing us closer, and I can swear I almost moan at the warmth. He wasn't lying about that. I'm sure the blanket wouldn't provide this much comfort.
We sit in silence, just the sound of the TV fading in the background while I slip into sleep, praying he doesn't hear how loud my heart is beating. His calm breath soothes my being.
When my eyes almost give in, his phone on his lap vibrates, a text message flashing on the screen.
CHLOE: Our parents have confirmed the engagement dinner.
My body goes rigid.
Engagement?
Before I can stop myself, I jerk away from him.