A/N: Chapters 32-54 are on Patreon along with other exclusive scenes if you want to check those out!
Jasmine's POV:
He's wearing a fitted green shirt that clings to his broad shoulders and sculpted chest, accentuating every muscle beneath the fabric. His arms are massive, veins subtly snaking down the length of his forearms, and his biceps bulge as if they were sculpted by a master artist. A gold chain rests casually around his neck, catching the light as he moves. His black dress pants fit him perfectly, tailored to show off his toned thighs and trim waist. As he shifts, I can't help but notice the undeniable outline of his bulge through the material, a subtle, yet bold statement of his masculinity. His black dress shoes gleam under the dim lights, polished to perfection. I catch the slight flex in his forearms as he opens the door for me, the muscles in his arms rippling with ease. Oh my god—he's opening the door for me. I've never had a man open a door for me before. This feels... unreal. He's the kind of man you see in movies.
We walk next to each other, his pace perfectly in sync with mine, making sure not to leave me behind. A true gentleman, I think to myself, amazed that men like him actually exist. We walk down the hall, through the elevator, and into the parking garage. He's speaking the whole time, but I can barely concentrate. I'm completely intoxicated by the scent of him. He smells so good, something magnetic that pulls me in even more.
When we reach his car, I'm surprised by how nice it is. I'm not really a car person, but it's shiny so I know he takes care of it. He opens the passenger door for me, and I can't help but feel a flutter in my chest. The fact that he's doing all of this—it's too much. It's too perfect. He closes the door once I'm in, walks around, and slides into the driver's seat.
"Are you going to open every door for me?" I ask, feeling a mix of surprise and curiosity.
His lips twitch into a smirk, and he glances at me. "I have three rules when I go on a date: she never touches the door, never touches the check, and I don't finish until she does."
What the hell? Is this for real? I can't help but think, How is this man still single?
"Okay, so what restaurant are we going to?" I ask, trying to refocus.
"We'll go to my favorite spot. It's perfect for comfort food." He grins, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"As a foodie, I love trying new restaurants," I admit, already excited about the prospect of what's to come.
"Well, then, this can definitely be a weekly thing," he says, his tone casual but serious. "We'll have a date night once a week, try new places, or try new things at our favorite spots."
"Deal," I agree, feeling my heart skip a beat. This man is way too good to be true. He has to be hiding something. No, stop, Jasmine. Don't ruin this. You finally have something good.
How do I get through this perfect date without sabotaging it?
When we pull into the parking lot, I notice the restaurant's name—Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen—and I'm momentarily confused. I've never heard of it.
"You better not open the door," he says, his voice a mix of amusement and authority, making me raise an eyebrow.
He's serious. He actually doesn't want me to touch the door. I feel spoiled. Like royalty. Is this what princess treatment feels like? I can't believe this is happening. As we walk inside, the vibe feels more like Applebee's or Chili's. I was expecting something fancier, considering he told me to dress my best. I try not to let the confusion show on my face. I've never been on a date before, and I really can't complain about where he's taking me. I have a friend in a stable relationship who complains all the time that her boyfriend never takes her out. They stay in every night. The fact that we're not even dating, and he's still taking me out—I'm grateful. I just feel a little... overdressed.
Sitting across from him at the table, the nerves hit me. I'm not going to be able to hide my facial expressions.
"You're probably thinking we're both overdressed for this place, aren't you?" he asks, his voice light but perceptive.
Do I lie? I don't want to come off as rude or hurt his feelings.
His lips quirk as if he already knows the answer. "Your face is telling me everything I need to know."
Great. This is going to be a long night.
"I just thought we'd be going somewhere fancier cause of how we're dressed. I'm not against it, I'm happy to be here with you and honestly we can go anywhere and I'd love it."
"And you're confused as to why we came here?" he asks.
"Yes, I am," I reply, a little embarrassed.
"Do you want the full version or the playful version?" he asks, leaning in slightly.
"The full version," I answer quickly, curious now.
He sighs and leans back in his chair, his voice growing a little more serious. "I was raised by two mothers. My dad abandoned me after birth, and that's when my mom met my second mom. This was back before gay people could even get married. So after they broke up, after sixteen years of being together, there couldn't really be a fight for custody or shared custody. I stopped seeing my second mom altogether. We talk from time to time, but I'm not sure if she's just tolerating me for my mom, or if it's too awkward between us. I know my mom can be a bit... vengeful, so I'm pretty sure she doesn't make it easy for her to communicate with me. Anyway, this place, Cheddar's, is the last place we all went to as a family. So, once a month, I come here. I dress up and either try something new or go for my favorite dish. Thought I'd invite you to join me tonight."
My stomach tightens. Holy shit, I'm an asshole.
"You're not an asshole, by the way," he adds with a soft laugh, catching the look on my face. "I can tell when you're upset by how your face reacts. So I just wanted to reassure you, you're not an asshole."
He can read me like an open book. This is going to be a long night.
"Thank you for the reassurance," I say, trying to hold back the embarrassed flush creeping up my neck.
"Of course," he replies, offering me a warm smile.
Just then, a woman approaches our table, and I can't help but notice how absolutely stunning she is. She has long, dark wavy hair that cascades down her back like a waterfall of silk, glistening under the soft restaurant lights. Her skin is sun-kissed and flawless, glowing with a warmth that only comes from someone who spends their days outdoors. Her eyes are a rich, deep brown—so intense, they seem to capture the light and reflect it in a way that makes it impossible to look away. She's about my height, maybe just a bit shorter, and the way she carries herself—confident, yet graceful—makes her seem unreal.
She's dressed head-to-toe in black, her outfit perfectly tailored, hugging her figure in all the right places, effortlessly chic. Her presence commands attention, but it's not the kind of attention that feels forced. It's like she knows she's beautiful, but doesn't need to announce it. She just is. And it's hard not to notice her every move as she walks toward us. I see a name tag, she must be the server.
"Hey, my name's Maria, and I'll be your server tonight. Oh my gosh..." she says but immediately stops after seeing Marc.
When she sees Marc, her face lights up, her lips parting into an almost surprised smile. And then, in an instant, her hands reach out for him, her eyes sparkling with recognition. There's a warmth in her gaze as she leans in to give him a hug.
"Marc! Oh my God, I've missed you!" she says, her voice laced with genuine excitement, her laughter a melodic sound that makes her even more captivating.
As she pulls back from the hug, her eyes briefly flick to me, assessing me in a way that feels almost... possessive? But then, just as quickly, she redirects her full attention back to Marc, as though I'm nothing more than a fleeting afterthought.
"It's been a while, Maria! Missed you too!" he says, laughing as he hugs her back.
Maria briefly glances at me, then shifts her attention right back to Marc. "So, who's your little friend, Marc?" she asks.
Did she just call me little friend? Who is this bitch?
YOU ARE READING
Friends
RomanceMarc'Qwuan Reid is a 23 year hopeless romantic with a crush on his roommate, a woman named Jasmine. Their friendship was perfect until she took her first steps into getting over her ex. Now they notice new things about each other that puts their fri...
