Smile

• Chapter 21 •

Nuria POV

As I was getting into my car, I heard someone calling me. I immediately recognize Mesut's voice and I wait for him. He comes to me, check that the parking lot is empty and kisses me.

- You wanna come home with me tonight ? he asks.
- At... your home? I... I can't. I... I have to... do... something.

He gives me a questioning look.

- You have to do something? And what is it? The time you go to your apartment, it will be midnight. You don't want to be with me?

He looks really annoyed by my refusal, and I 'm afraid he's mad at me.

- No. I really want to be with you . But...

I don't know how to explain my problem. I'm afraid of his reaction. I'm afraid he leaves me if I tell him.

- Nothing, I finally say.
- So you come ?

I hesitate for a moment before accepting.

- Yes, I said, taking him in my arms. I come.
- We take my car. I'll bring you here tomorrow at training.
- Okay.

I follow him to his car. There is an awkward silence during the first minutes, but Mesut begins to speak and we discuss throughout the rest of the trip. He doesn't speak of my hesitation , and I'm relieved. When we get home, what happened in the parking lot seems far away. But when he opened the door and let me go, I start to panic. I try not to show him, but he gives me a reassuring look which make me think that I didn't suceed. He takes my hand and leads me to his room. He opened his cupboard and handed me one of his jerseys.

- You do not have pajamas. Take that.

I put on his jersey as he undresses. I can't stop looking until he goes under the covers.

- You come? He asked, patting the empty space beside him.

I join him, and he takes me in his arms. He kisses me, first on the forehead, on the cheek, and then on the lips. He kisses my lips again and again.

- Are you okay ? he asks.
- Yes. I 'm perfectly fine.

I smiled to try to convince him. He smile back, and kiss me again. The kiss become more intense. My hands are on Mesut's torso. I feel his abs under my fingers. One of his hands is on my shoulder. He slowly runs it down my arm. He stops for a moment on my hip before getting into my back under my jersey. He stroked my back a few moments, then he breaks the kiss.

- I love you.

A big smile appear on my lips as a warm wave run through m'y body. He loves me. Those words make me so happy.

- I love you too.

He kisses my forehead and holds me against him. He begins to caress my back, his hand still under my shirt. I put my head on his shoulder and fall asleep smiling.

Mesut POV

She falls asleep against me. I continue to caress her back thinking. I don't know if I should be happy or not. She tells me she loves me. My heart beats faster thinking about her words. But her attitude leaves me perplexed . She didn't want to spend the evening with me. It seems she was scared. It seems I scared her. I don't know what I did to scare her. And as shy as she is, she will never tell me. I think again and again about what happened, until I fell asleep after several hours.