The Deal

Chapter 25 - Bloom

{if you've got a girlfriend I'm jealous of her, but if you're single that's honestly worse, 'cos you're so gorgeous it actually hurts

Gorgeous - Taylor Swift}

Chapter 25 - Bloom

I sat down with an 'ooof', feeling suddenly so tired that all I could think of doing was laying down in the middle of my front yard and waiting for the earth to swallow me and make use of my nutrients. 

But I couldn't, because even though Warren had upped and left, Damon was still here, standing just a few feet away and looking down at me slumped on my doorstep.

"So," he said, one corner of his mouth tilting up into a smile. "You love me?"

"Wha-?!" I sputtered, looking up at him like he'd just puked out a cabbage patch doll. I ignored the constricting feeling in my chest. "Are you delusional? No way!"

Damon laughed, a throaty chuckle that made my stomach knot uncomfortably. His crystal-like eyes had lost their hardness, as if his good humour had melted away any tension left from before. His smile, of course, was as blinding as ever. 

The fact that I couldn't look at him for longer than a few measly seconds was ridiculous. Annoyed, I forced myself to maintain eye contact, to the point of coming off as slightly manic as I stared him down. He stopped laughing, long enough to match my unblinking gaze with his own doleful one.

"I'll try not to let that bruise my ego," he quipped, smirking. I rolled my eyes.

"I wish you would," I shot back, irrationally irritated by his relaxed demeanour. "Might do it some good."

He smiled, but this time it didn't quite reach his eyes. He looked serious, but stayed quiet. 

After a minute of painful reflection - on my part at least - I let out a tired sigh and struggled to my feet.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I could really go a block of chocolate and a month-long power nap on the couch." I brushed myself down, turning to head inside only to pause once I'd reached my front door. I looked back over my shoulder at Damon, who was watching me with an unreadable expression.

"Um," I said, feeling awkward under his unwavering gaze and trying not to show it. I couldn't think of something normal to say. "Did you want to, um, maybe come in for a cup of tea or something?"

Damon raised an eyebrow, a smile flitting over his mouth.

"'A cup of tea'?" he repeated, running a hand over his hair as he struggled to keep a straight face. "You don't happen to have anything a little stronger, do you? Like some rasberry cordial, or maybe chocolate milk?"

He was laughing at me, and even though I knew he was only teasing I felt my hackles rise up.

"Well, I'm sorry that I don't know what beverage is acceptable for this kind of situation. Seeing two men try and rip each others throats out isn't exactly a normal day for me," I turned on my heel, stomping my foot like a four year old as I ransacked my bag for my house key. "If you want to drink yourself into oblivion, there's a pub just round the corner. Go nuts."

As I unlocked the front door, biting the inside of my cheek to stop myself from spitting out more nonsense, I glanced back at the blonde-haired boy who was still standing in the middle of my lawn. I inhaled deeply, holding my breath for a moment before letting it out. 

"Did you want to come in or not?"

I could sense Damon hesitate behind me, and when I finally graced him with another glance it was to see him shaking his head.