Secret Rulebook of Cheating

Rule #34: It Starts With a Cup of Coffee

'Nikki!' I hadn't even rounded the corner when I heard my name being called from behind. 'Wait!'

I spun around to see Jason jogging a little to catch up with me. It took him a few seconds. He stopped in front of me and he wasn't even panting. Yeah, he had always been in a good shape. My stomach was all fluttery - I had no control over it – and the feeling grew as Jason took his time. Come on! Spill it already!

'I know this is a long shot,' he finally did, 'and you're probably busy and even if you weren't I'm probably the last person you'd want to do this with and I would completely understand if you say no, I would, because well after... everything... you have every right to and... I just... I can't let you go before I ask this...'

He was blabbering, his eyes glancing in every direction. I could tell he wasn't quite sure what to do with his hands either. The nervousness looked cute on him. It reminded me of the few, very few other moments I had seen him similar to this. But this time, I wasn't going to mess with him, yell at him or nip the conversation in the bud. Because, admitting it or not, I wanted to hear this.

'You want to grab a cup of coffee? Like now?' Jason finished.

I managed to tame the treacherous smile that wanted to stretch my lips. 'What about your study plan?'

'It can wait.'

I took my time with the answer, just for a more dramatic effect, no other reason. Of course I would say-

'I think I can fit you in my schedule,' I tried to sound not too excited although I was giving him a coy smile.

We sat at a coffee shop, which was just across the campus. It was a cosy little place with small rectangle tables, white cloths with a decorative bucket with flowers on top and, as I already knew since it was my favourite coffee shop in the area – delicious coffee. We exchanged a few words about it on the way as I suggested it and once we settled down across from each other at a table beside the window, which looked at the university, we talked about my time since I had moved here.

I had been living in California for a few months now. I thought it was a good idea to get settled before the beginning of the school year. I had found a one-bedroom, not very far from the campus, which I had managed to equip with everything I was going to need for my assignments. As a whole, things were shaping up really well.

Jason listened attentively and by the time I was done he was visibly more relaxed but not quite himself yet. And by that I mean his ego hadn't joined us at the table yet. I could tell there was something on his mind.

'So yeah, I'm pretty excited for the first semester to start,' I finished.

'I can tell,' Jason commented, grinning but it lasted only a second, enough for me to narrow my eyes at him.

He was playing with a packet of sugar in the saucer under his cup. I sipped from my coffee, and we went silent for a moment.

'So,' he opened his mouth first, leaving the sugar packet be, and looked up to meet my eyes. 'I can't help but notice that you're not wearing a wedding ring.'

There it was.

I smiled to myself. I was going to lie if I said I didn't like him making that observation. And I was going to regret it if I didn't tease him about it.

'So Jason Cool doesn't hit on married women. Who knew he actually had boundaries?' I joked and he only smiled uneasily. Boy, he really was nervous about my answer. I delayed it on purpose, savouring the moment.