Bloody Mary // J. Hale

Gentleman

The school day passed in a blur. Jenna was exhausted—her friends had seized every opportunity to bombard her with questions. She did her best to keep her composure, offering whatever answers she could, but she had never been one to enjoy the spotlight. Yet today, she was undeniably at the centre of it.

Thankfully, Jasper had been there to whisk her away during breaks. Those stolen moments with him were the only times she felt like she could truly breathe.

But as the final bell neared, a different kind of tension crept in. Her mom, Abby, had been messaging her all day—asking what kind of food Jasper liked, reminding her about dinner, making sure everything was perfect. He was going to meet her family. And there was no way for her to escape it.

"How can you be so calm when you just got roped into having dinner with my family?" Jenna asked as they wandered through the flower shop.

Jasper led her past rows of neatly arranged bouquets, his sharp gaze scanning the selection with quiet focus. Every so often, he would pick one up, turn it over in his hands, frown slightly, and put it back.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he replied casually, setting down a bundle of roses.

Jenna trailed after him as he walked deeper into the shop, weaving through shelves of potted plants and displays of delicate arrangements. The further in they went, the stronger the mingling floral scents became. She wrinkled her nose, rubbing it absently.

"You do realize they're going to interrogate you, right?" she pressed, watching him carefully.

Jasper didn't seem fazed. In fact, he chuckled, his lips curling into an easy smile. "I want to get to know you better, and that includes your family. If anything, I'm more excited than nervous."

Jenna huffed, crossing her arms. "You say that now, but just wait until Abby starts pulling out baby pictures. And Charlotte? She's going to ask you about your 'intentions.'" She made air quotes around the last word, rolling her eyes.

Jasper smirked. "I'll survive."

She frowned, unconvinced.

He turned his attention back to the flowers, his gaze sweeping over the selection before plucking a single pink carnation from its bucket. Holding it up between his fingers, he examined it with quiet interest.

"Pink carnations symbolize motherly love and gratitude," he mused. "Do you think they'd like these?" He turned to her, offering the flower.

Jenna hesitated before taking it, bringing it to her nose for a light sniff. The scent was soft, subtle. "They're really pretty," she admitted. "And not too overwhelming."

"I agree." Jasper's voice was warm. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his fingertips barely grazing her skin. A shiver ran down her spine, but she didn't pull away.

"Their fragrance isn't too strong, so it won't be overpowering indoors," he added thoughtfully, his gaze flicking back to the arrangements around them.

Jenna hesitated before steering the conversation back to the growing concern nagging at her. "But what about dinner? Didn't you say your diet is... pretty restricted?" She cast a wary glance around the shop, as if afraid someone might overhear.

Jasper sighed, his amusement dimming slightly. "I'll make it work," he reassured her. "I don't want to make a bad impression, and if that means figuring out a way around it, I will."

Jenna bit her lip, still unconvinced. "You say that now, but my moms are determined to make sure you're well-fed. They've been texting me all day, asking what you like."