The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter twenty three.

Jace dug into his pocket and retrieved a lighter and a packet of cigarettes. I had seen him smoke before and I could smell it on him, but he had never smoked in front of me while we were together. He took the cigarette out of the packet and placed it in his mouth, he took the lighter and lit the cigarette.

I looked at him. "That's a bad habit."

He reached for my hand again. "I know," he admitted, "but it looks cool."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, it does. But you should stop that."

He chuckled. "Why?"

We turned into our street and we were almost home. "Because it's bad for your health." I never thought I would date a guy who smoked, but even though he had this bad habit, it didn't bother me that he smoked. I loved him for who he was, but smoking was bad for his health and I wanted him to stop.

We approached his house and we stood outside it. "I know it's bad. Would you like me to stop?"

I was surprised by his question. I looked into his eyes and smiled. "Would you really do that for me?"

He nodded. "I would."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. It felt warm and fuzzy inside. I loved kissing him, his mouth in sync with mine and my smile, trying to hide itself but it couldn't. We let go, my hands still around his neck. "If it isn't too much trouble."

"It's not," he kissed me on the lips once more, "I'm not addicted to it anyway."

"Thank you," I told him, "that means a lot."

I hugged him before I had to leave. He still smelt like smoke and he still wore that cute piecing above his eyebrow and his hugs were always warm. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"On the bus." I grinned as I let go of the hug and began walking across the road to my house. I didn't look back until I reached my front door. Jace was still standing in his driveway and he dropped the cigarette butt onto the concrete and he stepped on it. I smiled and waved before entering my house and closing the door. I was happy that Jace gave up smoking for me and I was glad that he wasn't addicted to it.

My mom was surprisingly awake, sitting on the couch with a glass of red wine and a book in her lap. "Where have you been?" She asked, closing her book. "I went over to Jace's place and his sister said that you went out."

"I tried to call you," I explained, "but you didn't pick up."

Mom cleared her throat. "Right," she said, "my phone broke so I had to get it to the repair shop."

That explained a lot. "Oh, well, Jace's car broke down and we were stuck in the heavy rain until the tow truck came."

"And what did you do in that time?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. My mother knew me and she knew that I would not do anything that was irresponsible.

I shrugged. "We just talked."

She nodded. "Okay, I'm off to bed then. Goodnight." She finished her wine and packed everything away.

"Night." I said with a small smile, remembering the events that occurred tonight. Mom left the room and I was alone. I wanted to jump for joy because in my mind, that wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting Jace to laugh in my face, telling me that he couldn't live without sex and that we were over.

I took a risk and I was glad I did.

He understood me, he got me and he didn't run. This wasn't the Jace that everyone thought he was, it was whole different side to him and I was glad I saw it and he saw my side too. I had never expected for me, the person who had trust issues, to open up like I did. It felt amazing because he listened and he understood and he was there.