My Mafia man II

Chapter 3

"smell delicious" Jasper said walking into the messy kitchen; "thank you" I replied shyly, embarrassed with the mess that I was surrounded with; I quickly scrapped all the veggies scrap then I proceeded to wash the dishes that was waiting for me in the sink. I looked behind over my shoulder checking on Jasper, he was in his deep thought holding a clear glass, half filled with dark liquid; "you okay?" I asked him continuing with the dishes; "how's James?" he asked me, "you mean with Cass's situation or with Liam's?" Jasper raised his eyebrow agreeing with my question and replied "both"; I crossed my hands over my chest and approached him; I poured myself a dark liquid that was left in the kitchen bench; Johnnie walker black label was written on the label of the bottle; I took a sip of it and attempted to open up with him; "he is broken Jasper, Cass's betrayal was enough to change him but Liam's departure has made him more vulnerable; I don't think he will be able to build any good relations from now on" I mumbled investigating the colour of the drink that I was drinking; "how is he with you? Any different with you?" he asked very concerned, I immediately shook my head and replied "no, we are still same, in fact closer; those situations have brought us closer but...." I stopped, staring at the half-filled glass of mine; "but what Rose?" Jasper asked me again with his wide eyes; his eyebrows were narrowed which automatically made his forehead crinkle and now I get it where James got those from; "I am scared Jasper, I have to think twice before I open my mouth around him; I don't know how we were before Jasper, James has left a picture in my mind that our relationship was perfect, sarcastic, playful, you name it everything was there but I don't feel anything; please don't get me wrong Jasper, I love him, I love James but I am scare to take any steps around him because god knows how it will offend him" I said looking at Jasper; Jasper nodded his head in his response; he poured himself a second round of drink and took a sip; "I need to fly back home Jasper, for my placement, to finish off my degree, to get the job of my dream but I am scared to let him know" I said almost whispering as jasper stared at me with a blank expression just then we hear James's SUV pulling over and my timer for vegetarian lasagne beeped. Jasper and I quickly exchanged a look, a look we both couldn't understand, I turned around and opened the oven door, taking out the lasagne that were burnt at the edges; "I am home" I could hear James in the background as I cut out the burnt bits and pieces.

"hey dad" James said looking at Jasper and hugged me from behind; "smell so good" he commented and rested his chin on my shoulder, "hungry?" I asked him as I nervously looked at Jasper, hoping that he will not mention anything to James about my placement. "little bit" James replied burying his face in my neck and just then we hear Jasper "shall we have a round of drink before dinner?" Jasper looked at James as I fixed my gaze at him, giving him a pleading look. Jasper grabbed the bottle which we were drinking with two short glasses and headed to the backyard veranda as I stood there frozen, gulping in horror; "I will be back" James mumbled giving me a peck on my cheek and headed towards where Jasper was.

I nervously set up the table, with all my mind and soul towards the veranda; Jasper was talking to James with serious expression and James is staring somewhere very far away. "dinner is ready" I quickly messaged Sophie and filled half of the pitcher with ice and rest with water; I began to neatly cut out the lasagne attempting to square it in perfect portion sizes and then I hear footsteps; it was James; he looked at me with this sad face and came closer to me; my heart began to thump and I looked behind him to Jasper; trying to read the situation. "let's go out" James confessed with his both hands in his trousers pocket, I looked at him and I was unable to read him; I wonder what's going on his mind; "but dinner's ready" I mumbled nervously looking at him, I began to pray with all my heart hoping that Jasper hasn't mentioned anything about my placement. "Lasagne, my favourite" Sophie yelped pulling out a chair which distracted us from our very own moment; "let's go" James mumbled grabbing my hand, "aren't you guys eating?" Sophie asked as James pulled me upstairs to our room; "not hungry" I replied to her nervously.

After stepping inside of our bedroom James left me and headed to the bathroom; I could hear him opening the tap; I proceeded to get dress; I don't know what Jasper has told him; I don't know what he is thinking, but him being this quiet is testing all my patience, my throat has dried up, my hands are shaking and for the first time in this 12 months I find myself being scared to James, I don't remember if I ever got scared with James and the lifestyle that he is living in but today every part of my body felt a chill, a chill which made my hand sweaty, which made my knees weak. I sat at the edges of our bed and thought about all the worst things that could happen.

"ready?" he asked me not giving me much with his expression and I nodded, giving him a weak smile. "you look beautiful" he complimented and the tight knot I felt in my tummy released little bit. I looked at him to get even a slightest hint of how tonight's event has turned out, but I failed. James grabbed my sweaty hands with his, he quickly brought it closer to his face, I guess he could feel how sweaty it is; "what's wrong?" he asked me examining my both hands and I shook my head in response.

James is driving his SUV not saying much as I nervously sat there fidgeting my fingers; I could feel James staring at my hands here and there which he only responded by sighing. I don't know how to react, what am I supposed to say so I let the silence take over us. After driving for a while James finally pulled over at restaurant; the restaurant looked quiet from outside, but I was wrong; every table was taken. A soothing piano music filled the room. "Mr. Costa, this way please" a middle aged man guided us inside of the restaurant, we crossed all of the sitting area and bypass the man who was playing a piano and suddenly the waiter raised up the curtain leading us to the stairs; the staircase was only lighted up dimly and I feel James protective side taking over; he placed his one hand around my waist and the other held my hand, guiding me towards the waiter who stopped after couple of steps. I see a balcony set up with a table and two chairs; the table had few candles lighten up; I looked up and stared at the beautiful night sky, mesmerised with the twinkling stars.

James pulled out a chair for me and I sat on it forgetting about the nervousness that I felt few moments ago. A bottle of Nero d'avolo, he ordered to the waiter who left right after. James pulled a chair and sat next to me instead of sitting across, where the chair was placed originally; he grabbed my hand and kissed each of my knuckles and looked at me lovingly and I swear if he had asked my life at this very moment I would do it happily; this side of him made me blush instantly and I turned around my head to the other side trying to maintain my breath. I could feel my heart racing and a thousand of butterflies fluttered in my tummy, "look at me Rose" James ordered and with a flustered face I made an eye contact with him. The bottle of wine that James ordered before has arrived by now; the waiter poured in each glass as James eyes never left my face, I began to get more nervous, I don't know if I should be happy or be more scared. I wonder if Jasper has mentioned anything about placement or not. "would you like to order some food, senor?" the waiter asked looking at James, "antipasto" James replied not leaving his eyes from my face; "Si" the waiter replied and left us alone again. This nervousness was messing up my each system and James's acting this way wasn't helping me either. I gulped down the wine which was in front of me, "are you scared of me?" James asked finally which caught me off guard; I looked at him and opened my mouth to reply "n-no" I stuttered which he immediately reacted by closing his both eyes. James let go of my hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, it took me by surprise. "you know I love you right?" I hear him mumble, not looking at me, his eyes were still closed, and his hands were still pinching the bridge of his nose, he looked defeated, as if he has lost a war. "I know, and I love you with all my heart" I replied trying to cheer him up; James slowly opened his eyes and looked at me; he studied my face for a while without saying a word and asked again "then why are you afraid of me?" I was taken back with his question, I looked around trying to find an answer, I left a long sigh and looked at this man who was in front of me, "I don't know James" I replied not wanting to hurt him; "you know I will never hurt you baby" he mumbled with eyes filled with tears and just then the waiter came with a platter; I quietly looked at the platter and to the waiter "anything else, senor?" he asked looking at James "no, that's enough" I replied in his place.

"I am so lost Rose, I thought we were happy, what went wrong? Don't you love me anymore?" he asked me choking in his own breath