"I missed you," he cooed, a hint of warmth in his voice.
"You did?" Jade replied, taken aback by the sincerity in his tone.
His arms enveloped her in a hug, catching her by surprise. The elevator dinged, and they walked out together. "You never called or texted back. I thought you wanted to at least be friends."
Zion followed Jade down the hallway, his footsteps echoing softly behind her.
"I couldn't. I couldn't because I had feelings for you," he admitted, his gaze earnest.
Jade glanced over her shoulder, her expression a mix of surprise and disappointment. "You could've just told me the truth instead of ghosting me."
Zion's demeanor shifted slightly, a hint of regret creeping into his tone. "Well, I'm sorry."
As they reached the studio, Jade was handed clothes from an assistant and made her way toward the dressing room. Zion paused outside, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, a sense of anticipation radiating from him.
"Shit," Jade hissed suddenly, a pang of frustration slicing through her.
"What happened? Are you okay?" Zion asked, concern etching his features.
Jade peeked her head outside the door, motioning for him to come in. "I need help zipping up this thing. Can you please tie the back, but not too tight?"
He nodded, stepping inside and gently moving her hair aside to access the zipper. As he zipped up her top, his breath warmed the back of her neck, sending goosebumps cascading over her skin. He carefully tied the loose fabric around her waist, his fingers brushing against her. Once he let go, he looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled, a mixture of admiration and mischief lighting up his eyes.
Jade walked out, the weight of the shoot pressing on her as she prepared herself mentally.
Later, they settled into a small diner nearby, Zion munching on a bag of French fries. "How did modeling become your job? I thought you were a babysitter the last time I saw you."
Jade chuckled, dipping a chicken nugget into barbecue sauce. "Actually, my ex got me the job. Everyone knew me because of Brandon, you know since he has his own company."
Zion raised an eyebrow, the conversation shifting as the rain began to pour outside. Jade grabbed her chicken nuggets out of the paper bag, feeling the chill of the storm creeping in through the diner windows.
"I like the rain," she said, glancing outside, "I just don't like the effect it has on me."
"Effect?" Zion asked, intrigued.
"Yeah, it's all gloomy and stuff. It just puts me in a bad mood," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I get that sometimes," he said, locking eyes with her, a spark of understanding passing between them. "Do you want me to drop you off at home?"
She nodded, handing him her phone to input his address. Jade followed the directions that Siri provided, pulling into the driveway moments later.
"You can come in if you want. I don't really want you driving in the rain," he suggested, his voice inviting.
"Okay," she muttered, feeling a rush of warmth at the thought.
Putting her car in park and turning it off, she followed Zion through the rain, the sound of droplets pounding against the pavement filling the air. When they reached his front door, he quickly unlocked it, gesturing for her to enter before him.
"Oh my god, it's pouring," she laughed, shaking off her damp jacket and ruffling her hair.
"It sure is," Zion said, taking her jacket and hanging it on a hook behind the door.
Jade slipped off her shoes, glancing around at the spacious and elegant home. "It's nice here. Did you decorate it yourself?"
"Not really. My sister helped design it; I'm not much of a decorator," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Jade wandered into the kitchen, running her hand down the sleek marble table. "Marble—good choice," she complimented, admiring the craftsmanship.
"You didn't finish your food," Zion reminded her, eyeing the half-eaten nuggets in her bag.
"I'm not that hungry," she said, a touch of guilt creeping in. "I'm sorry. I know you paid, and I'm probably wasting—"
"Hey, no need to panic over it. It's okay," he reassured her, his hand brushing against hers in a comforting gesture.
As she felt the warmth of his touch, Jade found herself lost in his eyes, her heart racing. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she felt a swirl of emotions that left her momentarily speechless.
"Uh, I'm gonna head out. Thank you, Z," she finally managed to say, her voice faltering slightly.
She leaned in for a quick hug, feeling the warmth of his body against hers before pulling away, clutching her jacket tightly. As she stepped back into the rain, a mix of confusion and exhilaration washed over her.
