Dark affairs

The next morning I got up and went to the bathroom to start my morning routine. After I did my business I put on my cleansing face mask and while I let that take effect I started brushing my teeth when there was a knock on my front door. Who could want something from me this early in the morning?

As I wasn't really fully awake yet I stuck my toothbrush between my teeth and shuffled out to the front room. I grumpily opened the door only to find a grinning Jack pushing a huge bouquet of roses towards me.

"What the heck, Jack what are you doing here this early? Since when do you leave your bed before 11 am?"

Jack disregarded my question completely, his eyes scanning me from top to bottom.
"Charming" he chuckled.

"Huh?" I mumbled turning sideways to quickly check my appearance in the hall mirror.

I was wearing probably my oldest pyjama bottoms that were way too short, an ancient t-shirt of undefinable colour that had a big tear on the right shoulder, a bandana around my head to hold back my hair, my face was covered in white cream and the toothpaste foam was slowly dribbling down my chin.

"Fuck you" rolling my eyes I turned around and went back to the bathroom making a statement by slamming the door behind me.

"Anytime Darling" I hear him shout after me. I didn't acknowledge his lame joke though and started to wash off the mask.

A minute later there was a knock on the bathroom door and I heard him droning, "aww, come on Mickey I was joking, you look gorgeous anyway."

I dried off my face with a towel and after checking myself in the mirror I decided against makeup. Firstly it wouldn't help much and secondly it takes too long and I didn't want to let Jack wait so I opened the door and walked into the kitchen where Jack had already sat himself down at the breakfast bar.

"You know you make it worse when you come up with those ridiculous compliments that are complete lies." I accuse him.

He turns to me feigning hurt."Mickey, I swear to god you are the most beautiful girl I know"

I just stand there with my arms crossed in front of my chest, tapping my foot impatiently. "You are digging yourself an even deeper hole." I warn him with raised brows.

He seems unfazed by my grumpy mood and flashes me a smile.

"I brought coffee and bagels with cream cheese and roses, will you please stop being mad at me?" He uses his puppy dog eyes that work so well on all the girls, he even takes it as far as pouting a little bit and I try to keep a straight face at how ridiculous he looks.

He realises that I can't keep up my façade and grins victoriously while patting the chair beside him.

"Come, come, sit down and have breakfast with me." He puts two brown paper bags onto the table and starts to rip them open.

I sigh and turn around to get two plates and two mugs from the cupboard and place them in front of us.

"Stop eating out of the bag you slob." I scolded him as I push his fingers away then I open the bigger bag that holds two takeaway cups with what I assume are our favourite fashion of coffees and pop the lid to pour them into mugs and I pull open the smaller bag to find three bagels and two muffins which I place all on his plate apart from one bagel that lands on mine.

"Slight case of OCD" he mumbles under his breath but I heard him and slap his arm unexpectedly which makes him jump in surprise and rub the spot while he furrows his brows.

"Ow, that hurt." He says pouting again.

"Oh stop it, you baby" I dismiss his complaint and pull out the chair to sit beside him. For a few moments we dig into our food in a comfortable silence. It's always easy to be quiet with him because despite what you would think when you see his uber energetic self, he knows when to shut up.

But then I feel him fidgeting in his chair and I know he is getting serious and wants to say something. So I turn towards him and nod my head at him to show I'm all ears.

He swallows his last bite and clears his throat.
"Look Mickey, I want to say sorry if I have made you sad with what I asked you yesterday. I had no idea. I talked to Cassadee after the game and when I told her what I said she immediately slapped me round the head, explaining that the way I worded it you probably assumed I want to have multiple girlfriends at the same time."

He had been looking down during his little speech, more speaking to the table than to me but made a pause and stole a glance at me. I nodded to indicate that that was exactly what it sounded like.

He sighed deeply shaking his head probably at his own stupidity.

"Look, I meant to make things better between us, not worse. I wanted to tell you that you mean more to me...that I want more from you than a casual hookup. But the thought of being in a relationship, of having to open up and letting myself fall terrifies me. I've been hurt so many times, I've built my walls so high..."

I can feel his distress and put my hand on his arm in what I hope is a comforting manner. He quickly looks up and then hides his face in his hands sighing again.

"...I want it so much but I need to take baby steps.....I just hope you can understand?" He peeks through his fingers and I can't help but smile and shake my head at his cuteness.

"Hey, Jack, I do understand, I mean I was pretty sad when you suggested this 'open relationship'" here I make air quotes with my fingers. "But I think I get what you mean now and I'm okay with baby steps, I'm not a fan of rushing into things either."

Its a bit of a lie because I certainly rushed into this whole affair with Alex but look where that got me. I ended up hurt and full of resentments.

He perks up at that immediately "so.... girlfriend?" he asks full of hope and despite this really unromantic way of being asked I can't help but answer,

"yes,.....boyfriend."

He jumps up and pulls me out of my chair lifting me up by my waist to swirl us around wearing a huge grin on his face.
I giggle at his antics and he stops and looks into my eyes before he ducks down to softly peck my lips.

"Mhm, boyfriend.... I like the sound of that."

Notes

I lost motivation these last weeks and didn't know what to write but then all of my favourite stories updated and I felt bad for not doing it. So I got this chapter down somehow, definitely not my best one.