The Girl in the Hoodie is Mine

Jason’s POV

Mr. Kingsley didn’t waste any time. After dropping me off at my place, he sped off with Ella, leaving a cloud of tension and confusion behind. Great. Just great.

I stood at the curb, staring at the taillights of his sleek car disappearing into the distance. My head was spinning with everything that had just happened. Marriage. Marriage. To Ella Kingsley, no less.

And now, I had the small matter of telling my parents.

Not that I could tell them the truth, of course. No one was supposed to know that this wasn’t exactly a love match but a forced arrangement with an expiration date. Ella Kingsley had made that painfully clear. This was to remain between us until the year was over.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair as I made my way into my apartment. The thought of sitting down with my mom and dad and explaining this situation felt like walking into a lion’s den wearing a meat suit.

They would adore Ella, of course. Who wouldn’t? But they also had expectations—romantic, fairytale-like expectations. And the reality of this arrangement couldn’t have been further from that.

As I stepped into my apartment, the silence felt deafening. It gave me too much time to think, and thinking right now was dangerous. I needed to distract myself, to come up with a plan for how I was going to navigate the next year without losing my sanity—or my heart.

Because, as much as I hated to admit it, I was already in deep.

Ella might see this as a temporary arrangement, a way to prove herself to her father, but for me, it was a chance to prove something entirely different. That I could be the one for her, not just for a year, but for a lifetime.

That thought both terrified and thrilled me.

I grabbed my phone and sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the blank screen as I debated calling my parents. How was I even supposed to start that conversation?

"Hey, Mom, Dad. Guess what? I’m marrying Ella Kingsley. No, no, it’s not what you think. It’s just for a year. And no, I’m not joking."

Yeah, that would go over well.

With a sigh, I finally dialed my mom’s number. It rang twice before her familiar voice answered, warm and cheerful as always.

"Jason! Hi, sweetheart. How are you?"

"Hey, Mom," I said, trying to sound casual even as my heart pounded in my chest. "I’m... good. How are you and Dad?"

"We’re fine," she said. "Just finished dinner. What’s going on? You sound... different."

Damn. She always could read me like a book.

"Uh, nothing. Just... busy. Work’s been crazy lately."

"Well, that’s to be expected. You’re making big moves, Jason. We’re so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom," I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Listen, I—uh—have some news. Kind of big news, actually."

There was a pause, and I could practically hear her ears perking up. "Big news? Oh, Jason, what is it? Did you close another deal? Get a promotion? What?"

"Not exactly," I said, running a hand through my hair again. "It’s... personal."

"Personal?" Her voice was laced with curiosity now. "Jason, you’re not—wait—are you seeing someone?"

"Kind of," I admitted, wincing at how that sounded.

"Kind of? What does that mean? Jason, just tell me."

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I braced myself. "I’m getting married."

Dead silence.

"Mom?"

"Married?" she finally said, her voice a mix of shock and disbelief. "Jason, are you serious? To who?"

"To Ella," I said quickly. "Ella Kingsley."

Another pause, and then a sharp intake of breath. "Ella? The Ella? Your college friend?"

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile even though she couldn’t see it. "That Ella."

"Oh my God! Jason, this is... I don’t even know what to say! When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Are you in love with her?"

I laughed nervously, scratching the back of my neck. "It’s... complicated, Mom. I’ll explain everything soon, I promise. But for now, just know that it’s happening, okay?"

"Complicated?" she repeated, clearly unsatisfied. "Jason, marriage isn’t something you just decide on a whim! Does she feel the same way about you? Is this really what you want?"

"Yes," I said firmly, even though my chest felt tight. "It’s what I want."

Because it was. Even if Ella didn’t know it yet.

"Well," my mom said after a long pause, her tone softening. "If you’re happy, then that’s all that matters. Just... don’t shut us out, okay? We want to be there for you—for both of you."

"I know, Mom," I said, my voice quiet. "Thanks. I’ll talk to you and Dad soon."

As I hung up the phone, I let out a long breath, leaning back against the couch.

One conversation down. A lifetime to go.

Now all I had to do was convince Ella that this arrangement didn’t have to end after a year. That we could be more than just a contract.

I just hoped I had what it took to win her heart. Because if I didn’t... 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

I wasn’t sure I’d survive losing her.

After the conversation with my mom, I sat staring at my phone, debating my next move. I couldn’t keep this to myself, but I also couldn’t exactly blurt it out to just anyone. There were only two people I trusted enough to share this insanity with—Dylan and Max.

Grabbing my keys, I headed to Dylan’s place. He and Max had become my sounding boards over the years, though this was by far the most ridiculous situation I’d ever have to explain to them.

The moment I knocked on Dylan’s door, it swung open, and he stood there holding a slice of pizza, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Dude, what’s with the 9 PM visit?" he asked, stepping aside to let me in.

"I need to talk," I said, walking in and collapsing onto his couch.

"Great," Max’s voice chimed from the kitchen. He appeared a second later, holding a beer in one hand and a bowl of popcorn in the other. "What is it this time? Another insane work deadline? A new mysterious deal?" he plopped down next to me, tossing a piece of popcorn into his mouth.

I took a deep breath, rubbing my hands over my face before blurting, "Mr. Kingsley gave me permission to marry Ella."

Max froze mid-chew, staring at me like I’d just told them I’d joined a cult. Dylan slowly lowered his pizza, his mouth hanging open.

"Come again?" Dylan asked, blinking at me.

"You heard me," I said, glancing between the two of them. "Mr. Kingsley. Ella’s dad. He gave me permission—no, insisted—that I marry Ella."

Max burst out laughing, almost choking on his popcorn. "Oh my God, you’ve finally lost it! Jason, seriously, what’s going on? Did you hit your head?"

"I’m not joking," I said, leveling them with a serious look.

Dylan shook his head, sitting down across from me. "Wait, wait, wait. Back up. Start from the beginning. How the hell did we get here?"

So, I told them. About Ella’s father wanting him to marry someone "worthy," his belief that I fit the bill, and Ella’s proposal for a one-year contract marriage to prove herself to him. By the time I finished, Max was gaping at me, and Dylan was pinching the bridge of his nose like he was fighting a headache.

"So let me get this straight," Max said, setting his beer down. "You’re agreeing to a contract marriage with Ella Kingsley, knowing full well her dad’s breathing down your neck, and you’re just... fine with this?"

"Yes," I said firmly, though even I heard the strain in my voice.

"Why?" Dylan asked, leaning forward. "Why would you agree to something so insane? You’re not exactly hurting for opportunities, Jason. This isn’t some 18th-century romance novel where the family name is on the line."

I hesitated, looking down at my hands. "Because I love her," I said quietly.

Max’s eyes widened, and Dylan let out a low whistle.

"Jason," Max said softly, his teasing tone gone. "Does she know?"

I shook my head. "No. And she can’t know. Not yet, anyway. She sees this as a way to prove herself to her dad, and if I tell her how I feel, it’ll just complicate things."

"More than they already are?" Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow.

I glared at him, but he had a point.

"Look," I said, leaning back against the couch. "I know it sounds crazy, but this is my chance. My chance to show her that we could be more than just... this."

Max exchanged a look with Dylan before turning back to me. "And what happens if she doesn’t feel the same way at the end of this year?"

The question hit me like a punch to the gut, but I didn’t let it show. "Then I’ll walk away," I said, though the thought of it made my chest tighten. "But I have to try. I can’t just sit back and let her go without fighting for her."

Dylan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I’ve got to hand it to you, man. You’ve got guts. Stupid guts, maybe, but guts nonetheless."

Max smirked, nudging my shoulder. "And here I thought you were boring. This is next-level drama, Jason. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said dryly.

He grinned, leaning back and crossing his legs. "Hey, for what it’s worth, I think you’ve got a shot. Ella’s not as oblivious as she seems. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you."

I nodded, a flicker of hope sparking in my chest.

"Just promise us one thing," Dylan said, his tone serious.

"Anything," I said.

"Don’t lose yourself in this. You’ve got a good thing going, Jason. Don’t let it all fall apart chasing something that might not work out."

I swallowed hard, nodding again. "I promise."

Because as much as I was determined to win Ella’s heart, I knew Dylan was right. This was a gamble—a high-stakes, all-or-nothing gamble.

And I just hoped I wasn’t betting more than I could afford to lose.