third time's a charm

"guilty as charged"

chapter eleven: guilty as charged

Thursday, December 14. 7:37 pm.

"It is insane that I've known you for less than a week." As we stood in Jamie's kitchen, thoroughly mixing the batter of the cupcakes that we were in the process of making, Jamie broke the silence. I looked over at him, and so did Graysie who was sitting on the counter, keeping us company and helping when she could. Jamie made eye contact with me, smiling from ear to ear, and I couldn't help but catch his contagious grin.

"That's what it feels like when you meet your soulmate." We both looked toward Graysie as she spoke, and I giggled quietly at her words.

"How would you know that, youngster?" I asked her, wanting to know the source of her wisdom.

"It's common knowledge... duh!" Graysie sent me a big smile and I glanced over at Jamie to find that he was looking at me.

"I seriously feel like I've known you for a really long time."

"What if you guys were married turtles in a past life! They live for millions of years." I couldn't help but laugh at Graysie as she spoke up for the second time, but I continued to look at Jamie. "And now you're reunited, and you can share a shell this time around!"

"Gray," Jamie gently lifted Graysie from her spot on the counter and set her down on the ground, "Can you run up to my room and grab my charger from beside my bed?" Graysie nodded eagerly and rushed out of the room.

"Your charger's in the living room." Once Graysie had left the room, I remembered that Jamie had gone upstairs to his room an hour earlier to grab his charger, before Graysie had been dropped off.

"She'll figure it out." Jamie shrugged and made his way over to me. He took the bowl I was holding from my hands and placed it on the counter. In one swift motion, he placed his hands on my waist and lifted me onto the countertop.

"Oh, you were trying to get rid of her... huh?" I laughed quietly as Jamie closed the space between us, and he couldn't keep a smile from his face as he nodded in response to my question.

"I just wanted one kiss... and I didn't want her to tell me I looked like a turtle when I kiss or something." I laughed loudly at Jamie's words and he joined in, but quieter, before shutting me up by placing his lips on mine. I kissed him back and placed my hand on his cheek as he placed his hand on my hip. He swiped his tongue across my lower lip, and my tongue made contact with his as we continued.

We pulled away for a breath and I looked up at him to see him looking down at me. We both laughed breathily and he placed his forehead against mine, breathing in deeply.

"Thanks for planning everything today." I bit my lip gently as I thought about the dinner we had, and how sweet he had been all evening. I silently wondered what I had done to deserve something so good. "It's been amazing... you're amazing."

"I'm mediocre at best, but... thank you. I've had a really good time tonight." I smiled at Jamie's words and I leaned forward to kiss his cheek gently. "I wish I could see you every day."

"I'm telling you... I'll get better at sneaking out for you." Jamie laughed quietly at my words, and I knew he appreciated them. "I wish I could see you every day, too."

"One day?" I nodded my head and he smiled. Suddenly the sound of feet hitting against the wood floors could be heard from down the hallway, and I knew who was coming.

"It's not there, Jams!" Graysie ran into the room and sighed dramatically. "I looked everywhere."

"Oh, you know what, kiddo? I ran upstairs and got it earlier... it's in the living room, by the TV." Graysie looked at Jamie with a glare and slowly turned around and left the room with her arms crossed. "Did you see that attitude?"