CHAPTER 22

JAZMIN

I QUICKLY WASH the dishes. I was whistling the entire time I was doing the dishes. Joy has a hold on me. I'm thrilled that she's in MY home. No, I'm not going to take advantage of her, but I will make a new start in a new friendship for Dad's sake. Is this correct? Ugh! Stop contradicting yourself, Brain.

When I was finished, I went to my room and attempted to open the door without making any noise. On my bed was a lovely figure. Averi is still sleeping on her back, facing away from me. I resisted the urge to rush to her side and wrap her in my arms forever. Instead, I went to my closet, pulled out a nightgown, and went to the shower. I can't sleep in too many clothes.

I was about to leave the bathroom when I heard her mumbling. Is she calling me? I went into her room and found her still sleeping but talking in her dreams. She's in a trance.

"No! Please, no!" she screamed and remained motionless, her eyes closed. She has a bad dream. I jumped to her side and jolted her awake. But she remained in her dreams.

"Please do not leave. Please don't abandon me," Averi wept. I felt a lump in my throat. She's in a vulnerable position right now. Far away from Averi, where you can see her business attire daily. I froze when she hugged me tightly. I thought she was awake, but her eyes were still closed, and tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"Please do not abandon me. Please don't." She sobbed as she hugged me. When I saw how weak she was, my heart shattered.

"Hush. It's fine. Everything will be fine," When I discovered my tongue, I said. I comb her hair with my fingers and gently caress her back. I was relieved when she stopped crying.

"Please don't leave," she said, sniffing and hugging me tightly. When I saw her pressing closer to my breast, I felt something inside me burst, but she was still sleeping. I was the only one who was thinking about perverted things.

The first rule in Jazmin's player book. —- Never touch a girl when she is in a vulnerable state.

Yeah. I re-read my rule book. I wasn't serious. I don't have one, but it's not a good idea to have lustful thoughts when a person isn't even in good health.

"Ssh, I'll stay. I'll never abandon you." But it was what I said that had the most impact on me. I saw her smile before she went silent. She went back to sleep.

I miss these times with her. I was cuddling, then sleeping in each other's arms. And because of my exhaustion from work and what happened today, I quickly fell asleep and drew closer to the chocolate-scented goddess I'm used to being with.

~*~

AVERI

I AWAKENED WITH A COMFORTABLE HAND COVERING MY WAIST. I opened my eyes with a smile, surprised to see that it wasn't my fiancé, but his daughter. Before I burst out laughing, I remembered what had happened the night before.

Oh, I went to the hill and, ironically, discovered a house owned by Jazmin. Odd.

It was too late when I realized I was staring intently at the face of the person next to me. She's just as stunning as she's always been. And, by the way, what is she wearing? I gulped when I saw her sexiness in the thin clothes. Oh my God! Is this where we were until I woke up? Jazmin's toned legs were crossed in mine, and her hand was on my waist.

Oh, you enjoyed it! Stop talking, brain!

My cheeks were turning red by this point. I tried to untangle myself from Jazmin slowly, but I failed. She awoke more beautiful than she had ever been. How did she do it? Ugh! What was I thinking?

"Hey. Good day," Jazmin said, half-yawning. She's so adorable. That was my favorite part when she first awoke in my arms. Averi! No!

"Ahh, g-good morning," I said smoothly as I drew back to face her. I tried not to look at her smoking hot body, but my perverted eyes told me otherwise.

"Eh, you had a bad dream last night, and I comforted you, and you pulled me closer, so that's why you woke up so close to me. I'm sorry," she apologized. My blush deepened.

"It's fine. I apologize if I have intruded on your personal space," I said, not looking.

"It's fine. We can... be friends, right?" "I'm getting up," she said as she stood up. Providing me with a better view of her body. Look down, Averi! I did what my mind told me to do.

"Of course. We should be." I sigh. "Because I'm your father's fiancee," I explained, looking at her. I saw her smile but didn't look her in the eyes. She nodded.

"I'm going downstairs to start making breakfast. Just take a shower. You can borrow anything from my closet, friend." She closed the door with a sad smile.

I was so tired that I had to sit in bed for a while. Friend? After all, it's a great start. After borrowing a black tank top and shorts from her closet, I sighed deeply and walked to the shower.

~*~

THE SMELL OF DELICIOUS FOOD accelerated my walk to the kitchen, where I found the most delectable food ever. Ugh! In my mind, I'm perverting Jazmin yet again!

I smiled, leaning against the doorframe, as she wiggled her butt as she sang Kesha's Timber. I was standing for a moment when she noticed someone staring at her back.

"Hey. Sit. The food is ready." She smiled. Her smile was contagious, so I returned it and sat at the counter.

"How did you change your clothes?" I enquire. She had just showered and was dressed in skinny jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt.

"I showered in one of the guest rooms and got clothes while you were in the bathroom," she explained as she served the food. She cooked bacon, ham, eggs, pancakes, and smoked chocolate in a mug.

I take a drink from my mug. "Hmm... the chocolate is delicious. Will you work as a part-time cook at FT?" I said it casually.

Her smile fades and is replaced by a frown. Oh, my big mouth!

"I was joking, of course. Why would an heiress like you want a part-time job in a small business?" I couldn't decide whether to laugh or smile at my stupid joke. "Uh, it's delicious, huh?" I said, my mouth full of food. She laughed at what I did. Whew!

"You have something in your mouth," she said, wiping the Chocó with her thumb and sucking it. For a brief moment, I became paralyzed. I pretended to eat so she wouldn't notice my red face. That was a scorcher! Then there was an awkward pause.

"So, um... Do you have work today?" I want to break the silence. I needed to be unpretentious. We agreed to be friends.

"No. Saturdays and Sundays are days off for me. It was my free day, so I took advantage of it "she said, not looking at me. She's tinkering with her food with her fork.

"Me, too." I smiled when she looked at me. She returned her smile. "Hmm, so your father is aware of this house?"

Jazmin's mouth opened and closed. I'm not sure if she'll respond to my question. "Nope," she replied.

"I hope you don't mind if I ask a lot of questions. But why?" I was curious why she hadn't told her father about the house.

"Ahh. It's fine. You asked a lot of questions a while ago, so I don't mind at all," she said with a sneer.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking down.

But she still responded. "This was built for a specific reason. For a special someone. For personal reasons, I was keeping this from Dad and Hana. But I'll let them know when it's time. I'm hoping you won't reveal my secret," She didn't ask, but she did command.

"O-okay," I stuttered as she changed her mood. The awkward silence returned. We had finished eating, and Jazmin put the plates in the sink.

"I'll wash the dishes," I said as I walked to the sink.

"Are you certain?" she inquires.

"Yeah. Because you make the best breakfast ever, it's an honor for me to wash the dishes." I smiled as I noticed her nodding and smiling.

"Okay," she said, raising her hands. When a voice made my heart skip a beat, I was washing the dishes and humming.

"Since you ask me too many questions, may I ask you one?" Jazmin enquires. When I turn around, I see her sitting in the chair at the counter.

"All right," I said nervously, continuing what I was doing.

"Uh, about the amnesia. It had been seven years, according to Dad. So, how did you manage to live with that?" Is that what George knew? That I still have amnesia?

"I, uh, I exist. Life must go on, eh?" I said. I'm glad I'm not facing her.

"Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, how did you recognize your friends and parents?"

Now I had to lie. Great!

"They introduce themselves to me," I said, trying not to choke.

"Okay, that's fine. So I guess I should introduce myself to you?" Jazmin stated his case. I run into her as I'm about to face her because she's only an inch away from me. "My name is Angel Bonnie Ramirez, and I am your ex-girlfriend." She kissed me passionately before I could react. And the funny thing was, I kissed her back! What the fuck!