I wiped her tears away and she smiled at me, as if she was trying to let me know she was okay.
"I'd never hurt you or leave you. Okay?I promise."
I can see she doesn't believe me but I really do mean it.
"Look Jackson, I only told you because you kept persisting and you kept making me feel like I end up in dangerous situations on purpose or like I didn't care about my safety. I'm not saying you should walk on eggshells with me or feel obligated to stick by my side forever."
A part of me knows I need to tell her the truth about who I am because it feels like I'm lying to her, but another part selfishly enjoys knowing she sees me as a normal person and not some rich tech CEO.
Belinda's POV
He's going to break his promise and leave. I know it.
The pitty in his eyes tells me all I need to know. He doesn't see me as a normal person anymore. He sees me as a broken toy now, so no I don't believe him.
"I'm genuinely so sorry about what you went through, and I'm sorry I made you relive everything. I now know all that I need in order to know how to handle certain situations."
He doesn't know everything but he knows enough and that's okay.
Soon after our conversation ends, we arrive home and it feels a bit awkward between us. For several reasons of course.
"Hey so can we never talk about this ever again?" I asked him before stepping out of the vehicle.
"Of course." He replied.
Soon after, we're in our comfortable clothes again. I just changed into sweats but kept the top. I like how it hugs me so well.
He full on changed into sweats and a vest.
"Hey Bel!"
"Yeah!"
"I'm gonna go workout okay!"
"Wait! I'll join you!"
I definitely need a workout session in order to catch my brain again. That conversation took a toll on my mental. I won't tell him that of course. I don't want him to worry.
I met him in the gym and we both started our separate sessions. He's doing his big boy lifty stuff and I'm doing my girly pop leg day stuff.
We're completely in our own zones. It's really nice how you can literally go to the gym with someone and still feel like you're there alone.
I know he loves working out shirtless so it's strange he kept his shirt on this time.
Jackson's POV
I think it's really cool she wants to share the gym with me. That conversation we had definitely brought us closer together.
I need to workout because I need somewhere to direct my anger. I genuinely feel like my mind isn't my own right now. All I can think about is what she told me. I need to make sure she got rid of everyone because she was young and could have miscalculated how many people were in the houses back then.
Today I decided I would keep my shirt on because of what she said about feeling uncomfortable around shirtless men. I listened carefully to everything she said.
My headsets died unexpectedly, and now all I could hear was her groaning from her reps.
Kind of hot so I'm not complaining.
Without even realising I'm staring at her, she removed her one earphone and asked me a question.
She had to say it twice for me to hear it.
"Hello! Why are you staring at me like that?" She repeated.
Shit
"I was just making sure your form was correct incase you needed my help."
Good save. I think?
"Oh you're the gym expert now?"
"Not to say I'm an expert, but I have been at this longer than you have okay love?"
She bursts out laughing and I don't know if I should be offended or not, so I just left my station and walked across to her.
"Excuse me ma'am what's so funny?"
I'd genuinely like to know. Her laugh is like music to my ears but not when it's at my expense!
"Sorry mr muscle. Your royal gym expert. Honourable ripped muscle man." She teased.
"Girl?…"
I just let her be, and admired her enjoying the thought of bruising my ego.
When she stopped laughing, she eventually allowed me to assist her with her form.
Obviously I have to stand behind her.
I wish there was another way but unfortunately I have to.
Oh darn it.
"Okay you're gonna need to make sure your pinky is placed right here on the weight…then push your bum out like so…but keep your back straight at this angle when you go down okay? Okay try now."
She does as instructed and I'm trying to ignore the fact that I'm bricked by making sure there's some distance between us.
"Am I doing it right?" She asked, almost out of breath.
"Yes that's perfect." I replied.
I gently slid past her so I didn't interrupt her set, but then suddenly remembered the dream she had.
Time to get my payback for her making fun of me a few moments ago.
I sat right in front of her, startling her a bit but she kept going.
"What on earth…are you…doing?" She asked, confused still trying to catch her breath.
"What did you dream about Belinda? What was I doin to you that made you barely be able to look at me this morning?"
She dropped the weights immediately and rolled her eyes.
She's still wearing that stupid top of hers so that also made me initiate the dream thing.
"Drop it. I didn't dream about you." She said this walking away from me.
I stood up almost immediately and followed her.
"You're lying Bel." I teased.
"No im not. I'm gonna go shower now. I've worked out enough."
"Funny you say this walking away from me. Coward. Tell me you didn't dream about me again, but you need to look me dead in the eyes and say it."
"No."
I caught up to her and stood in the doorway as she was about to exit.
"Bel…"
We're both so sweaty but she still smells so good.
"Jackson my goodness can you move?"
"Tell me you didn't dream about me."
"I…" She stopped mid lie and her eyes traveled to my lips again.
Bingo. So that's what happened.
"Did it have to do with my lips? Because you keep staring at them like you've tasted them before."
"Did we kiss?" I asked.
She shook her head, still looking at them.
"Did we almost…kiss?"
Silence.
"Okay you can go shower now. Just so you know…the shower head makes a noise when you increase the intensity. So I'll know…"
I moved out of the way and she practically pushed past me with all her strength trying to intimidate me.
"You're so annoying!" She told me as she stormed off.
The magic words a woman says when she's into you? Wow…I made it!
"You don't know anything!" She added.
Too late B. I know you like… me…