"You should reconsider. Jason is going to need you when he shifts. He'll come searching for you whether he likes it or not." Trevor says on the other side of the phone. "Fine, I'll be there tonight. I need to eat first. I'll see you there." I hung up the call and lay back in my car seat. This is really happening. Right, don't even think about how wrong all of this could go. I know Jason's wolf sees me as a mate, but I can't shake the possibility of him trying to eat me, and not in a good way. I mean, in this case, none of those options would be good.
I try to drown out my thoughts by blasting some music and take off to the nearest fast food location.
~~
It isn't long before I'm parking my car and greeting the two security guards at the door. I'm signed in by the same lady once I'm inside, and I ride the elevator up to Jason's floor. I look at the time on my phone, 11:50 PM, my phone reads. Ten minutes early, great. That means I won't walk in on him turning. I hesitate at the door. I take a deep breath and walk in.
The kitchen is empty, so I continue and find my way to the living room. That's also empty. I huff and call Trevor instead of running around this maze of a house. My call doesn't get to go through before I feel a tap on my shoulder. "What the fuck?!" I jump out of my skin before whipping my head around. I turn around to find Trevor smirking with his arms crossed. "Dick," I roll my eyes. He doesn't say anything or drop his smirk. He turns around and leads me through the house. I find myself staring at a familiar door. This is the same door I decided not to go into when Jason chased me around the house.
Trevor opens it and leads me down a staircase. "Continue further down. I have to lock the door." He doesn't wait for a response. I look down at the dark depths of this stairwell. There are no rails. Only a wall that I'm sure, if like the other interiors of these stairwells, will eventually stop as I get close to the bottom. There's a dull light at the very bottom. I'm able to make out the stairs as I go down.
The dim light becomes brighter once I reach the bottom. I make a right and see a very wide and open space that reminds me of a cellar. Fun. What I see next surprises me, but I supposed it's to be expected. Jason's feet and wrists are chained to iron bars that are attached to the wall. "Hey, you," I say. Jason is stripped to a pair of sweats. His veins are popping out of his hands and arms. They roll up to his neck. His teeth are clenched, and his breathing is ragged.
He slowly turns his head towards me in a menacing way. "Why are you here? You could get seriously hurt," he huffs out in heavy breaths. Trevor didn't tell him that I was coming? I brush it off and approach Jason. I put my bag in the corner of the staircase. "You need to relax," I tell him calmly as I continue to approach him. "How can I possibly be calm when my insides are burning?" He says it more as a statement than a question.
"Focus on me. That's what I'm here for," I'm within arms reach when he shuffles backward, closer to the wall. "I don't want to hurt you," His eyes plead. "Then don't. You're in control, Jason." He continues to shuffle backward. I hear Trevor come down the stairs. He sure took his time. I keep walking, and Jason continues to back up until his back is literally against the wall. I place my hand on his chest and look into his worry-filled eyes. I lay my other hand on his waist. Jason closes his eyes and turns his head away from me. "Jason," he doesn't respond. I sigh, remove my hand from his chest, and place it on his left cheek. I push his head towards me. He allows it to happen. The numbing pain from my cramps slowly subsides in his grasp.
"We don't know how my wolf will react when he smells you after transforming. It's taking everything in me to not do anything right now," he says as he slowly opens his eyes. I wrap my arms around Jason's neck and push his head down into my neck. He lets me. The chains scrape against the floor as he moves his hands to wrap around my waist. "My pheromones may be turning you on, but they're also used to calm you. I'm not feeling too sexually frustrated, so I hope this is helping. Just breathe in and out. Feel your muscles relax." It takes a few moments, but I finally feel Jason's rigid muscles start to soften compared to how they were before.
"How come he hasn't shifted yet? I did a bit of research, and the full moon is supposed to arise at sunset or near that time. We're way past that," I ask Trevor without looking at him. "The full moon's effect is greater around this time. You know the term 'the witching hour?' That's what this time of night is for us. That's when the moon's effect is at its strongest." Trevor's voice is far off. I can only assume he's staying back to not provoke Jason. Jason buries his face into my neck. I tense at the action. "Now, who is the one that needs to relax?" I feel a slight smile form on his lips.
I softly moan at the feel of his breath on my neck. "It really is sensitive," he says as a comment to my reaction. I feel his chest heavily vibrate as he emits a low growl. The action forces a wet sensation in my lower regions. I squeeze my legs together and hold in a whimper. Jason retracts himself from my neck and looks me in the eyes. Jason is no longer in control as his eyes shine golden. "You're here," his wolf caresses my face. I subconsciously lean into his warm hand. This makes him smile. "I love that you're here, but why is he accompanying you?" His gaze locks on Trevor.
"He's here as a precaution. You and your other half aren't exactly stable right now." He looks back down at me with a frown. "You think that I'd hurt you?"
"I don't know what you'd do. That's the problem. You may not even recognize me when you've shifted."
"I will. Your scent is more than enough." He says with complete confidence. "You may be forced to shift in an environment that isn't as controlled. Even if you won't hurt me, you could still hurt others. You'd be devastated if you ever ended up hurting Saiya." This apparently grinds on his nerves because he grits his teeth, and his upper lip lifts in a snarl. "Why must you keep bringing that woman up?" I also frown. "Because she's not just some woman. Jason said that she also calms you. She means a lot to you, Jason." It's weird- referring to him as Jason yet also implying that he's not Jason- it messes with my head.
"She's not the one I want," he says adamantly. "Why not?" I say, irritated. Jason is about to respond before one of his legs drops to the ground. He hisses before collapsing to the ground. He releases me so I don't fall with him. "He's shifting, step away. Shifting can get ugly." Trevor's voice sounds more alert. I take a few steps back but can't force myself to distance myself further from him. Jason's grunts and groans fill the air as his bones noisily crack. I wince and cringe at the sound.
After a few gruesome seconds, fur erupts throughout his body, and in the blink of an eye, he's a giant ass wolf who has to be at least six feet. "Jesus," I whisper. My feet move by themselves as I walk towards the giant predator. His breathing is heavy but not in an angry way. He seems tired. The chains are bigger and perfectly fit around Jason's new form. I questioningly look at Trevor. "They're enchanted. They're made to contain shifters." Oh, well, that explains that.
I don't bother to ask Trevor when or how he acquired them, saving that question for a later time. I stare at Jason's wolf in awe. Now that I'm this close to him without fear blurring my vision, I can see his coat for what it is. His coat is a dark black that looks almost blue at certain angles. It's exactly the same as his human eyes. His eyes shine bright. "You're beautiful," I put my hand on his nose. He doesn't bother to sniff it. He nudges his snout against my arms and rubs my cheek. He sits down in the position you'd see the sphinx statue in.
We're now at eye level because of that adjustment. With no fear, I walk closer and pet his face. I don't know how long he lets me pet his body, but a huge smile captured my face. My heart throbs. He's too darn cute for his own good. While he looks at me with soft eyes, they turn hard whenever he looks at Trevor. While walking up to his face, he lifts his head, places it behind the left side of my body, and then softly nudges my body over his leg until I'm sitting in his chest. The warmth brings me comfort. I snuggle into his body, seeking more of it. "I'm going to get us some fast food," After Trevor asks what I want, he gives us one final glance before leaving. Jason huffs once he's gone.
"I've been thinking about it, and what if we give you a name. We never know what supernaturals are lying around, and I can't call you by your name when you're in this form. That would expose your identity." It's funny how alike his wolf's behavior is to him as he cocks a brow and gives me a questioning stare. "What about Ace? Short for Jason. Do you hear it?" Somehow, in some way, he gives me a deadpanned look. Laughter erupts from my chest. "It'll grow on you, trust." After wiping the tears from my eyes, I see Jason looking at me fondly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
'Calla is a very fitting name to describe you,' A rough voice says softly in my head. I jump and look around. What the hell? Only Jason calls me Calla. "Wait, you can talk?" Jason looks just as surprised as I do. 'You can hear me?' It takes me a while to shake off my surprise and respond. "Um, yes." All we can do is look at each other. Confusion runs through both of our eyes. "How are you feeling?" I ask him. 'This is the calmest I've felt in a shift. Actually, it's the calmest that I've ever felt.' My body relaxes into him again. "That's good," Nothing else is said. I await Trevor's return with my food.
~~
"Hey, um, is it normal for Jason to be able to talk to me telepathically?" I ask Trevor as I dig through my food bag to stuff some fries in my mouth. Trevor continues to sit far away and devours his burger before responding to my question. "Yes, a non-permanent mark is a mock trial. When wolves are fully mated, they are able to link their minds and communicate. Since Jason is a powerful wolf, his mark will take a little longer to vanish, but you've already had the mark for about three weeks now. It should be gone by the fourth week. I've never heard of a temporary mark lasting longer than a month unless it's reinforced. So, unless Jason bites you with the intention of mating, this heat of yours shouldn't last much longer."
Trevor's words put my mind at peace. These cramps are no joke. "I thought Jason would be more feral in this form since I'm in heat. How come he's so calm?"
"Werewolves don't mate in their wolf form. Because this is a mandatory shift, he can't transform back into a human yet. He'll be able to eventually. His desire to mate will be temporarily subdued until he's in the form where he can fuck you senseless." I cringe at his vulgar words. Jason sets his head down to the right of my body. This allows me to touch his head and ears, so I do. "Trevor, are you going to be at the wedding? Or are you leaving after this is all over?"
He stops eating his fries for a moment to respond. "That depends if Jason will keep me. I have no intentions of getting a job and slaving away. I'll go back to my cabin if need be. Not to mention, being a shifter in a city is highly inconvenient."
'Of course, I'd have him at the wedding. He's the closest thing I have to family,' Jason says through the mind link. "Hey, that's not true. My family is your family now. They love you," I kiss the top of Jason's head and lean on him. 'They love you too,'
"I know,"
'Dylan was really torn after you told him what happened with your ex,' I don't respond. If I had a response, what would I say? Jason softly growls and starts to stand up. I stop leaning on him and stand. He starts to circle, and his ears start to twitch. "He's getting restless. Shifts on the full moon are supposed to be a way to make sure your wolf is at least let out once a month. He's supposed to be running in the woods right now. Not cramped in a basement." Trevor comments.
"So what do we do about it?"
"There's nothing we can do. He'll have to thug it out," And that's exactly what happened. Jason restlessly walked around the basement until sunrise. Sleep never came to me, and despite Trevor having closed his eyes, I knew it was the same for him.
"That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," I stretch my arms and fall onto the couch. Trevor continues down the hall to a separate room. "Speak for yourself," Jason sneers before rummaging through the fridge. "Did you go on a rampage, wreck the house, or hurt anybody?"
"No," Irritation is clear in his voice. "Okay, then," I get up from the couch and put a hand on his back. "Sit, I'll cook," He turns his neck to look at me. He glances at my hand and then back at my face. "I can't sit. I need to run. I need to do something." He slams the fridge door. "Well, if you need to run, then I know just the place to take you." He cocks an eyebrow as he impatiently waits for me to tell him where. "Mom and Dylan's place. Their backyard is huge, and there's a barn back there. They have acres. I'm sure Ace would be more cooperative if you guys stretched yourselves."
"I thought you said that my wolf and I were the same person. Giving us different names seems like the opposite of that,"
"I'm trying to get used to it so that I don't accidentally say your name while you're in your wolf form." Jason looks me up and down with a monotonous stare before leaning back on the counter and crossing his arms. "I suggest you leave. I'll drive myself,"
"Rude, I just offered you breakfast."
"And you're still in heat, meaning that all I can think about right now is tearing your clothes off, bending you over this counter, and fucking your brains out until my name is the only word you can say out of that pretty little mouth of yours." His voice becomes gruff and husky. His words physically make me stumble a bit despite not walking. A small blush creeps onto my face, and I have to compose myself before speaking, afraid my words will turn into whimpers and pleas as my body heats and my thighs clench.
"As much as I would love to ease your suffering by leaving, I've never seen you cook a single thing in your life, and you shouldn't be driving while you're pent up and irritated. Trust me, being hungry and horny sucks ass, so suck it up buttercup,"
"Doesn't the phrase go, pucker up buttercup?"
"Yes, but I like my version better,"
"Yeah, no. Trevor will drive me if safe driving is your concern,"
"Oh, the same guy that you've been glaring at all night?"
"That's because his filthy scent is on your body," he growls. "I was cuddled up to you half the night, and that's not enough?"
"You were also beside him for the other half,"
"Because you wouldn't stop walking around,"
"Why you were at his side doesn't matter. The fact that another wolf is in your proximity as you're in heat irritates the hell out of me,"
"Well, maybe this will teach you to think harder next time before biting the hell out of me," Jason rolls his eyes before flexing his hands and stretching his neck. It's clear to anybody that he's tense. Now that Jason is bringing up Trevor being around me in heat, I wonder if Trevor is also affected by my pheromones. He doesn't appear to be. Since Jason doesn't say anything else, I open the fridge and find…nothing. "You're joking," Jason looks me dead in my eyes. "Is anybody laughing?" A cranky wolf, perfect. I roll my eyes and get my keys from my bag. "Hurry up, we're going shopping," I command. I pat past-me on the back for getting all my work for the next two days done. I've had to cram and multitask more recently since I have other things I need to do. Tasks that seemed impossible soon become a necessity when it's your only choice.
Jason soon follows me out the door after slipping on a hoodie and hat. A man like him can't stroll around town without being noticed. While we stand in the elevator, I ask him if I can borrow his hoodie when he's done with it. "Why?" He questions. "Your scent eases the pain,"
"Fine, but you'll have to give me your shirt in return,"
"Deal," We don't look at each other and act as if trading clothes so that we can smell them for comfort is a normal thing. Maybe for couples, but not us.
We enter my car and pull out of the parking lot. "Put the windows down. Your scent is too overwhelming," I do as he says, but not without question. "Do you want my scent or not?" Jason stares out of the window and doesn't care to look at me when responding. "I'm teetering on the edge here. I need your scent, but I can't have too much of it. I can only describe it as something similar to overdosing. I feel like an addict." I can tell that prospect irritates him. I don't respond, but instead, turn on the radio.
"Turn that off, it's annoying," The only thing that's annoying right now is him. "Do I have to remind you whose car you're in?"
"Do I have to remind you whose idea this was?" His indifference and refusal to look at me remind me of the beginning of our relationship. My relationship with Jason is confusing at best and infuriating at worst. He's a man with different faces, and I can only wonder how many of them Saiya has seen. Despite his attitude, I leave the radio on, much to his dismay.
~~
My heels clack against the pavement, and the cart's wheels shake as Jason pushes it. We walk into the store and start shopping. Much to my surprise and indignation, Jason is picky and particular about what he eats. "Oh my god, it's literally the same thing!" I find myself accidentally raising my voice. I reel myself in and calm down. "That kind of bread has more flour," He continues to roll the cart. "It was the exact same product, package, and company. What do you mean by 'that kind of bread?' "
"I know what does and doesn't affect my body. That's why my body looks like this, and yours looks like that,"
"Excuse me? My body is phenomenal, thank you very much." Jason doesn't bother with a response and pulls into a short line. We don't wait long before the cashier is scanning our things. "Are you guys just now moving in with each other? My husband and I went through the same thing at first," she smiles reminiscently. She isn't old. Probably younger than my mom. "Please, I wouldn't last a second with her constant nagging if we lived together." Jason bags the groceries. "Me? I'm the problem here? Mister, this one is heavier, this one is shorter, this one is bigger when they're all the same fucking thing."
"I assess what I buy. I don't trust whatever I'm told,"
"Nor do you trust your eyes because anybody can clearly see that there's no difference," The cashier chuckles. "You two are adorable. What a beautiful couple. Your children would look so beautiful. What nice genetics you both have." Jason takes his card out to pay. "As if! I'd never subjugate myself to the torture of binding myself to him for life with children. That's all my sister,"
The cashier is clearly stunned by the new information she has acquired. "You're not his girlfriend?"
"No, I'm the future sister-in-law to this picky, conceited, opinionated, egotistical, ungrateful, capricious man," I exasperate and throw my hands in the air for effect. Jason rolls his eyes and places his card back into his wallet. "Dramatic," he scoffs. I stare at him in disbelief, and he takes off with the cart. "I'm sorry to have assumed. You two just seem so happy together,"
"Happy?" I turn my look of disbelief onto her. "Yes, he had a faint smile a few times while you two were walking up here. It was kind of hard to see because of his hat, but it's easy to tell that he's comfortable with you. It's such a rare thing that I couldn't help but think you two were together with the way you bicker. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable." Smile? Jason…smiled? I can count on one hand how many times I've seen Jason smile because of me, and all five fingers wouldn't lift.
"It's fine. Have a nice day," The nice lady waves goodbye and focuses on her next customer. Jason has already finished putting the groceries in the car when I get to him. "Way to take your time,"
"Stuff it," I'm about to enter the car when I see a cute outfit staring at me from a window. "Hold up, Madden. I have to do a little clothes shopping right quick," I typically don't like shopping, but I'm going to need an entirely new wardrobe if I want to keep up my look as Keith's girlfriend. "You're joking,"
"Is anybody laughing?" Suddenly, our roles have reversed from this morning. Jason slams the door and walks towards the store. "Don't slam my fucking door, Madden,"
"What's with the last name?"
"I've decided to call you Madden whenever you're being a huge dick," I snatch my keys out of his hand and walk ahead of him. It doesn't last long since I'd have to resort to a full jog to beat his long strides. I know exactly where to go once we enter the store. Jason sticks with pushing the cart. I throw a few pairs of leather pants and jackets into the cart, as well as some stilettos. I buy V-cut shirts and running shoes. I also stack up on jewelry and tights. "You plan on clubbing soon?" Jason questions. "Yes, actually. Speaking of clubbing, have you planned your bachelor party? You know, the party that comes before the wedding, which is supposed to be happening in a few months."
Jason tails me down the aisles. "I'm not having one," I stop in my tracks. Jason wasn't pushing the cart fast, so it didn't bump into me. "What do you mean you're not having one? It's…you can't…what?" I can't find the words. I'm not a party animal myself, but who skips out on a bachelor/bachelorette party? Jason lightly chuckles. "I don't know the guys like that, and I can't let loose. We both know why alcohol doesn't do much. Besides, it's an excuse for partners to cheat with no repercussions. Just thinking about Saiya getting teased by another man makes my blood boil."
I roll my eyes and keep shopping. "Alright, mister cavemen. But just so you know, a bachelor party can bring you closer to the guys. I scale the line of clothes and pull out a cute crop top that has a long sleeve on one arm and a spaghetti strap on the other. I turn around and press it to my body, non-verbally asking for his opinion. "Cute," he says, so I throw it into the cart. Jason comes around to the front of the cart and organizes the clothes that I've tossed in. "Don't forget the in-laws. You've got a big group to pick from. I'm assuming Trevor is going to be your best man since he's helped us through all of this." Jason's grunts, signifying that I'm correct.
I suddenly feel a wave of anxiety roll over me. It forces me to stop. I swivel my head to look at Jason. His chest is rising and falling heavily. "Are you okay?" I ask him. It takes him a moment to gather himself. He gulps and shakes his head. '"I will be. I forgot how big your family is." I put my hand on his shoulder. The wave of anxiety suddenly dissipates. Did I do that? "Why do you think I stopped talking to them?" I grin. His newly tensed muscles relax themselves. I start to remove my hand before Jason clasps it. "Wait, just leave it there a little longer,"
"If it makes you feel better, it'll be my first time meeting them too. We can go through the experience together."
"Do they even know that you exist?" I ponder on it for a while. "I don't know. I'm in little to none of our family photos, and I don't know if anybody ever mentioned me. It doesn't bother me though." I walk to the cashier after taking one final glance around the store. Everything fit into three bags, so Jason and I decided to leave the cart.
"How are you not bothered by the fact that you don't know most of your family? Do you even talk to your dad?"
"It may seem strange to you since you've always wondered about your family, but I'm not much of a social person, and it's not like I'm missing out on anything. I never shared a bond with my family, even when I was living with them. So, distancing myself wasn't hard. As far as my dad goes, he was in prison for a small amount of time for assault and didn't want anybody to visit him. After I paid his bail, I didn't see him for a few months. According to him, he was getting his life together and didn't want me to think less of him than I already did. Since then, we have seen each other every other month. Aside from that, we don't talk much."
As we turn the corner to the side of the parking lot we came from, we bump into a very familiar face. "Soren? Jason? What are you two doing out here…together?" Saiya and a group of girls stand in front of us. It was a classic case of a friend group of all blondes with one brunette. "Hey, babe," The two walk up to each other and exchange a quick kiss. Jason holds her for a while before letting go. "Are these your friends?" Jason asks. As if snapped out of a trance, Saiya jumps. "Oh, right. This is Jesse, Madilyn, Cami, and Ashley," Ashley was the brunette. Jesse was a dirty blonde, Madilyn was a platinum blonde, and Cami was a gold blonde. They all wave. Madilyn perks up. "Jason? Oh my gosh. We finally get to meet you in person. We've heard so much!"
"What's with the stalker outfit?" Ashley comments on Jason's all-black outfit. "Um, I don't know, maybe because he's super famous?" Jesse says like it's common sense. "I know that, but this would bring more attention than it would advert." Ashley defends her comment. "If you're Soren, that means you're the sister. Wow, you two really don't look related at all." Cami points out. The interaction is a bit overwhelming, and I itch to leave. Jason glances at me before adverting his gaze back to Saiya. "We have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow," Jason tries to quickly cut this interaction short, but Saiya isn't having it. "Wait, where are you guys going?"
"We have to go home and cook something," Jason says. "Home?" Saiya chuckles, but nothing is sweet about it. "My place," Saiya's eyes bulge a bit. "Oh, I didn't know that you two were that close," She squeezes her bag. A few people try to pass by, so Saiya and her group of friends move to the other side of the sidewalk. "Is something wrong?" Jason asks with genuine concern. "Seriously? Of course, something is wrong. You're taking her sister back to your place for breakfast." Jesse says. Realization dawns on Jason's face. It's quite amusing to see him dig his own grave.
"Wait, it's not like tha-" Jason cuts himself off, looks to his left, and yanks me toward his body. The sudden action makes me lose balance and slam into him. The only thing keeping me off the ground is Jason's hand wrapped around my waist, allowing me to retain some of my balance. "What the hell?" I put my hand on his chest to try and push him away.
"Shut up," he quickly says. He scans the area on alert. "You could give me a warning next time, asshole," he heavily sighs before looking at me. "If I told you to come closer, would you?"
"Probably not without a fight," I say earnestly. "Exactly, so don't tempt me to push you in the way,"
"In the way of what?" My question is answered as a man comes sprinting around the corner. Money falls out of his bag, and he's high-tailing it. He would've slammed into me. "Come back here, you coward!" The sound of a grown man's voice echoes. Jason doesn't immediately let go of me, warranting a bad reaction from Saiya and her friends. "You can let go of her now," Cami says. Jason takes his eyes away from his surroundings and slightly glares at Cami before looking at me. He gives me a look, and I nod my head to tell him that I'm fine. Only then does he release me. "Well, I guess I owe you a thank you instead of a fuck you." I dust myself off. "That would be a first," Jason says with an attitude, so I flip him off.
"How did you know that was going to happen?" Saiya asks. "I heard the commotion," Jason says honestly without giving too much away. "I don't know whether to be astounded or skeptical," Ashley says. "What are you guys doing?" Jason asks, looking at the big bags the girls carry. Saiya nervously glances at me. "Bridesmaid shopping," Ah, that's why. "Don't look so guilty. I'm not offended," I say to ease her consciousness, but it backfires. She scoffs. "Of course not. For you to be offended, you'd have to care, and for you to care, you'd actually need to acquire feelings. Silly me," she glowers at the pavement. I cock a brow and look at Jason. "What did I do?" I whisper low enough for only him to hear me.
Jason deadpans me. I guess we both dug our graves. "I don't know why you want to please her so badly, Saiya. Let it go. She ain't shit anyway," Madilyn says to Saiya but looks at me. "You don't even know me,"
"I know how many times you've made Saiya cry. I know you make such a strong and incredible woman feel so small-"
"Stop it," Saiya cuts her off. "No, she doesn't get off scot-free while she makes you feel like shit. And you, you're acting all buddy-buddy with someone who emotionally hurts your fiance!" She says towards Jason.
"Madi!" Saiya shouts. That shuts her up. "Soren…Soren isn't like that. I'm sorry that you feel angry towards her, but I'm not going to take yours, or anybody else's feelings into consideration before forming my own opinion." Jason defends me. For some reason, my heart swells and my body starts to heat. "Can we just drop the entire subject? It was nice seeing you both," Saiya leaves without looking back. Cami and Ashley look concerned for Saiya while Jesse and Madilyn glare at us as they pass by.
I sigh and walk to my car. "Home, really?" I make fun of his past words. "Not offended?" He shoots back. "Touché. We suck at this," I can't help but laugh. It's awful of me, I know. "How does everybody you know hate you?" Jason asks with a bit of a smirk himself. "She's your fiancé; you're not supposed to be amused."
"I'm not. I'm amused by you," he doesn't care to elaborate. "Well, you don't hate me, do you?" Jason stops when we're at the car. "Not even close. Is that even a question? Don't be silly," He opens the trunk and puts the bags away. I can't help the smile that overtakes my face.