The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

JASON POV:

After the whole under-the-table situation, we somehow managed to get back to normal—or at least, as normal as things could be. I couldn’t stop wondering what that was all about, but I knew better than to push Ella for answers. She’d talk when she was ready—or not. Either way, I wasn’t about to ruin the night by prying.

Dinner was good—better than I’d expected. Seeing Ella actually enjoy herself was a win. She’d tried the dish I suggested, and the look on her face when she took the first bite was priceless. She didn’t say it outright, but I could tell she loved it.

"See?" I’d teased, smirking. "Told you I had good taste."

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling, and damn if that didn’t make me feel like I’d just hit the jackpot.

After dinner, I brought up the idea of going to the movies, but before I could finish, I really looked at her. Ella looked tired—not the bad kind, just the kind that said finals were kicking her ass and she probably needed rest more than anything else.

"I’d love to," I told her, hesitating, "but you look like you’ve had a long day. Maybe I should just take you home instead."

She blinked at me, and for a second, I thought I’d said the wrong thing. Then she nodded, keeping it casual. "Good call. Don’t want to flunk out right before graduation."

I laughed, opening the car door for her. "Fair enough. But after finals, no excuses—you’re coming to the movies with me."

She rolled her eyes, but there was that smile again. God, she didn’t even know how much that smile got to me.

The drive back to her apartment was quiet, but not awkward. The kind of quiet where you don’t feel the need to fill the space with pointless chatter. I kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gearshift, and every now and then, I’d glance her way. She was staring out the window, her profile lit by the soft glow of passing streetlights.

She looked... peaceful. Content, maybe. I liked seeing her like that.

When we pulled up in front of her building, I turned off the car and got out before she could say anything. By the time she reached for her bag, I was already opening her door.

"Do you ever turn this whole ’gentleman’ thing off?" she teased, stepping out.

I smirked, sliding my hands into my pockets. "Not when it’s you."

Her eyes widened slightly, and for a split second, I thought I saw her cheeks flush. She rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

We walked to her apartment in easy silence, the sound of our footsteps the only thing breaking the stillness of the night. When we reached her door, I stopped, unsure of what to do next.

"Thanks for tonight," she said, her voice softer than usual.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words got stuck. Ella turned to look at me, and suddenly, the air between us felt different. Heavier.

I wasn’t even thinking at that point. I just knew I wanted to be closer to her.

My hand brushed against hers, and she didn’t pull away. I leaned in slightly, my gaze dropping to her lips before flicking back up to her eyes. She wasn’t moving, wasn’t saying anything, and for a moment, it felt like everything else had disappeared.

But then reality hit me like a freight train.

I froze, every instinct screaming at me to stop. If I crossed this line, there’d be no going back, and I wasn’t sure I could do that to her—or myself.

I pulled back, exhaling sharply as I tried to steady myself. "Sorry," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes searched mine, and I could see the confusion, maybe even a hint of something else, but I didn’t let myself dwell on it.

"Jason..." she started, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

I shook my head, forcing a small, rueful smile. "Goodnight, Ella."

And before I could lose what little resolve I had left, I turned and walked away, my chest tight and my thoughts a complete mess.

When I reached my car, I leaned against the door, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. What the hell was I doing?

Whatever it was, I knew one thing for sure: Ella Kingsley was going to be the end of me.

One part of me was absolutely furious that I didn’t kiss her. The other part—well, the other part was kind of proud.

I mean, I’ve come a long way with Ella. She’s not like anyone else I’ve ever met, and the last thing I wanted was to ruin whatever this was with a stupid, impulsive, dickish move. Nope. Not happening.

Still, the memory of her standing there, so close I could feel the warmth of her breath, her eyes searching mine, wasn’t going to leave me alone anytime soon. I knew I’d be replaying this entire scene in my head all night. And yeah, I’d curse myself for stopping, for pulling back when every single nerve in my body was screaming at me to close the distance.

But deep down, I knew I’d done the right thing.

Being a gentleman, though? God, that was proving to be one hell of a tough job.

.....

So much for sleep.

The moment I stepped into my place, I already knew this wasn’t going to be a restful night. Not a chance. The way she’d looked at me, the way the air had practically sparked between us—that wasn’t something you could just shake off.

I tossed my keys on the counter, ran a hand through my hair, and let out a frustrated sigh. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see her standing there, her lips just inches away, her eyes locking with mine like we were the only two people in the world.

I groaned, collapsing onto my bed staring at the ceiling. What was I supposed to do now? Replay the scene on an endless loop and drive myself insane? Probably.

And tomorrow morning? Oh, I had a high bet on starting the day with a cold shower. Because if tonight was any indication, sleep wasn’t happening, and I was going to need all the help I could get to reset my brain.