𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃, jeremiah fisher

twenty-two. the summer rain

I HAVE BEEN smiling like an idiot since a few days ago when Jeremiah asked me out.

Never in my wildest fucking dreams would I have thought this day would come, and now that it's here, I'm freaking out. I don't know what to expect, and I don't want to get my hopes up even though Vanessa and Steven are both convinced he's going to ask me to be his girlfriend.

The idea brings another stupid smile to my face because the thought of being Jeremiah Fisher's girlfriend after being in love with him for so many years is almost too good to be true.

Almost.

But I've seen the way he looks at me. I've seen how it's nearly impossible for him not to touch me when we're together. I've seen the way he can't quite keep his eyes off me for longer than a minute.

I guess I could blame that on mere lust, but the twinkle in his eyes and the soft curve of his lips when I enter his line of view says otherwise. Maybe I really am being delusional, but I'd rather be that than convince myself I'm not worth someone else's love.

I've done that for too many years, and I'm sick and tired of always telling myself no one will ever love me the way I want to be loved. I'm done doing that. So I'm allowing myself to finally let go of all the insecurities and just live in this moment.

My phone starts to ring just as I start drying my hair with a towel after washing it. I pick up my phone and bite back a smile when I see Jeremiah's contact on the screen.

"Hey," I breathe into the speaker after picking up his call.

There's no answer on the other end.

Furrowing my eyebrows, I speak again, "Hello?"

Still no answer.

"Jere? Are you there?"

There's a light hum on the other line. I narrow my eyes.

"Jeremiah Fisher, if you don't answer me, I'm hanging up."

His deep chuckle reverberates into my ear and throughout my body. I can practically hear the grin in his voice.

"Don't hang up."

I let out a breath in mock annoyance. "Why weren't you answering me?"

"Because I like listening to the sound of your voice."

I blink. I clear my throat.

"Oh."

I just know he's smirking right now.

"What are you doing?" He changes the topic.

I flop down onto my bed. "I just took a shower. Now I'm lying in bed."

He lets out a noise from the back of his throat. "Naked?"

I gape at him even though he can't see me. My cheeks flush, and for once, I'm grateful he's not right in front of me.

"Of course not, you idiot!"

He hums. "Good. If you said yes, I would have had to sneak out to come over."

If possible, my already brown skin turns bright red.

I scoff. "You're insufferable."

"Insufferably hot."

"Insufferably obnoxious."

He snorts. "You're only saying that because you don't want to admit that you want me in your bed right now."

"I absolutely do not."

"Oh, but you absolutely do."

I let out a low groan. "Whatever. You must not be as busy as you said seeing as you have time to tease me."