Jasper's Claim | Book One

Eighteen

Photo of Jax and Demi >>
Song: The heart wants what it wants by Selena Gomez

One could probably hear a pin drop in the ensuing silence.

He stared at her while she fidgeted awkwardly.

'When?' He asked.

'Couple months ago.'

He nodded slowly.

'It was before we started dating Will.' She rushed out, walking tentatively towards him.

He gave a short mirthless laugh and nodded again.

'I'd been asking you out for months before we started dating.'

She squeezed her eyes shut. 'I'm so sorry.'

'Is he the one who dropped you off at your hotel in New York the other night?'

She nodded slowly, eyes still shut.

She hated that she was hurting him.

'Colleague huh?'

She opened her eyes and sighed 'I didn't want to hurt you. I'm sorry...'

He held his hand up. 'It's fine.'

Clasping her hands together under her chin, she peered at him.

'I mean, I guess I kinda knew this was coming. I just was hoping I was reading you wrong.'

Demi sighed. 'Will...'

'I'm not upset.'

'You're not?' she asked, unbelievably.

'You've been shutting me out Demi,' he raised his voice, looking at her incredulously, 'are you really surprised that I picked up on that?, I mean, I basically strong-armed you into letting me in just now.'

'Will, no!' she strode forward to sit beside him, 'you're always welcome here, you always have been and always will be.

I've just...I guess I was caught up in trying NOT to hurt you that I didn't realize that's exactly what I was doing.'

She looked away, 'I just didn't know how to tell you.'

He sighed. 'I get it.'

'Will...'

'Hey,' he turned to face her, 'I get it Demi, trust me,...I've, sort-of, been in your shoes.'

'Oh...w-what happened to her then?'

'She...died.'

She gasped softly, 'I'm sorry Will.'

He flashed her a lopsided, albeit reluctant, smile. 'It was a long time ago.'

She nodded.

He watched her stricken expression for a few moments, and then took both her hands in his. 'If there's anything I've learned, it's that the heart wants what it wants. So if you think this is the right man for you, you should go for it...him, and don't apologize.'

She nodded, tears swimming in her eyes.

He smiled ruefully at her, 'but, he'd better be the one, because I'm giving up something special...someone special by stepping back.'

She nodded as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

'Alright, enough of this love.' He pulled her in for a hug. 'I'm hungry, have you eaten dinner?'

'No,' she sniffled, wiping her cheeks, 'I was just going to have a snack and fall into bed.'

'Wanna go out for dinner?'