Falling For Jackson Again ✓

24| NOT WHAT I EXPECTED

"And besides, cuddling is the best way to keep warm. Let's just relax, Mia. I'm feeling sleepy."

I sighed, giving into his request and decided to rest my head on his.

The car was silent, almost eerily so, and the only sound I could hear was the thudding of my own heartbeat. I was afraid that Jackson would detect my change in breathing, the rapid drumming of my heart echoing in the quiet space.

His scent enveloped me, flooding my senses until I couldn't resist inching closer to him.

He gladly pulled me in even tighter, and now we were practically inseparable.

"Jackson," I whispered, hoping he was still lost in slumber.

The silence that followed eased my nerves.

Taking advantage of the moment, I studied his face, a habit I couldn't seem to break.

My attention first fell upon his eyelashes—so delicate and beautiful that I couldn't help but envy them.

My fingers tentatively reached out, grazing the softness of his lashes.

Moving down, I noticed his nose, slightly pointed and utterly endearing. I traced its contours gingerly, praying it wouldn't stir him from his sleep.

Then there was his hair, dark and velvety. I often contemplated giving him a scalp massage since he was an avid reader and probably suffered from headaches, but the mere thought of such intimacy sent waves of nervousness coursing through me.

And finally, his lips.

Rosy and full.

I leaned in closer, entertaining the audacious idea of crossing a boundary.

Could I really kiss him? Perhaps just a fleeting touch of my lips against his would satiate my infatuation.

My forehead grew clammy, as did the rest of my body. My throat felt parched as I moistened my lips, edging closer to him.

My trembling hands clenched tightly, rattling like seismic tremors.

With closed eyes, I braced myself for the unthinkable.

Then, fate intervened.

The car came to an abrupt halt, causing my head to collide with his.

"Ouch!" He groaned.

My eyes flew open, ready to apologize, but I froze when I found his face inches from mine. His wide brown eyes met mine, both of us startled by the sudden proximity.

A cough from the driver shattered the moment. "We've reached your destination," he announced.

I bit my lip, fighting back a mixture of laughter and embarrassment. "Oh, thank you, sir," I managed to say.

"We should get going," Jackson suggested, edging away from our closeness. I nodded, quickly exiting the Uber, with him following suit.

Looking up, I realized we were in front of my house.

Damn. The light was still on. That meant Mom was home.

"Hey," Jackson began, but I couldn't stick around to hear him finish.

"Jackson, I really have to go. My mom's home, which means..."

"Your curfew, right?" He finished my sentence.

"Yeah," I whispered. "We'll talk later, okay?"

He nodded. "I'll call you."

I chuckled, rubbing my arms against the cool breeze. "I prefer texting, you know? It's more comfortable."

"I see," he replied, approaching me. "I prefer calling. It's more enjoyable."

"Why?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Because," he leaned in close to my ear, and I held my breath. "Because I get to hear your voice," he whispered softly.

"Uh... umm," I stammered, at a loss for words. "I should go," I said, stepping back, ready to leave.

But before I could move away, I felt a gentle peck on the sensitive skin of my neck, just below my earlobe. My heart skipped a beat as a warm shiver ran down my spine.

What the...

The air crackled with tension as he pulled away, a smug grin playing on his lips. His eyes sparkled mischievously as he spoke, his voice laced with amusement. "Don't be surprised," he teased, "You gave me a peck too."

I stood there, still reeling from the unexpectedness of it all. "But..." I stammered, trying to gather my thoughts, "It was on the cheek."

His response was nonchalant, almost dismissive. "Oh, okay," he said, before leaning in to place a gentle kiss on my right cheek.

My heart raced, threatening to burst out of my chest. Could this moment be any more surreal? I wondered, feeling a wave of panic wash over me.

"Better?" he asked, oblivious to the turmoil raging within me.

I struggled to find the right words, my mind spinning. "Are you feeling okay today?" I finally managed to ask, my voice tinged with concern. "You keep acting like..."

"Like what?" he interrupted, his brow furrowing in confusion. You're my boyfriend, and today was a date.

I shook my head, trying to compose myself. "Don't worry about it," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "You should get going."

But he was persistent, insisting on walking me home. Panic surged through me, and I raised my voice, almost shouting.

"No!" His reaction was instantaneous, his shoulders tensing at the sudden outburst. "I mean, it's just here," I quickly added, trying to backtrack. "You should go, it's getting late."

Reluctantly, he relented, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he turned to leave. As he walked away, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. But I knew I needed some time to process everything that had just happened.

"I need to think," I sighed, heading back to door. I slowly opened the door, hoping that she was sleeping but does anything comes my way.

Definitely not.

"Where have you been?" I stopped my tracks. My stomach tumbling with fear.  Mum sat in the living room, her face turned to a frown, she looked worried.

"Mum, I..."

"Oh, calm down honey," A voice spoke. I thought I was hearing things untill I hear footsteps coming out from the kitchen, holding a two cups. "Don't scare my angel,"

I almost cried. "Dad?"