Go to Sleep My Love

Chapter 10

Nyxie's POV

        Jeff's fingers gently caressed my chin as he pulled away. I reluctantly parted my lips from his and took a sharp breath. My hands let go of his waist, which I hadn't even realized they were holding. They roamed the air for a moment, apparently not sure what to do now that they weren't latched onto Jeff's hoodie. During the moment of the kiss I had felt a euphoria, but now the high had subsided and the awkwardness returned as I remembered the three trigger words that had sent his lips searching for mine.

"Y-you said-" I stuttered. "You said that you loved me." My voice was barely a whisper.

"Yeah." He agreed.

"You meant it." I said with uncertainty.

"Yup." He replied.

"Okay." I nodded. My head bobbled up and down like I had forgotten how to stop nodding, and for the moment, I had. I was too distracted by the weight of Jeff's confession to remember simple things like how to cease nodding. "Where does this leave us?" I asked after I had forced my head to calm down.

"In love!" He growled with hostility in his voice. I leaped away, frightened by his response and the realization of his proximity.

Jeff's POV 

        Nyxie watched me with a fearful expression. The dread in her eyes was just as palpable as it was the night I first broke into her home, but this time the shock was doubled. I immediately regretted my approach and wished that I could take back my words. What I would do for the ability to rewind right now. Unfortunately, I'm not Max Caulfield and I must live with my mistakes.

"Dammit, I'm sorry." I groaned, running my fingers through my hair. I felt a weak touch on my shoulder and looked up.

"It was of passion, not rage." Nyxie mumbled. The corners of her mouth were turned down slightly and her cheeks were crimson with heat.

"Exactly." I breathed in relief. Nyxie rocked back and forth on her heels and fixated her stare at the floor. A muffled noise escaped her mouth. I looked at BEN expectantly, but he just shrugged his shoulders. "What did you say, Nyxie?" I asked.

"I said I love you too." She repeated, this time in an audible voice.

        Without warning, she clutched the back of my neck and pulled me forward. Her nose smashed against mine as our lips met for a kiss. All of the fears I'd held about not being good enough for her or of her not loving me back, vanished the second our lips interlocked. The kiss felt the way it should; the way it's described in the movies. Forgive the cliché, but the kiss felt like fireworks.

"Get a room." BEN grunted. The moment was ruined. Nyxie let go of my neck and shuffled away. An expression of pure mortification took over her face, which now resembled a tomato. 

"If you don't like it, leave." I told BEN assertively. BEN looked quite shocked at first, but then quickly transformed his mouth into a scowl.