Page 33 of Beyond the Cage

Chelsea: He didn’t??!

Jasmine: He did. Even stayed the night.

Chelsea: What did you do? Did he say anything?

Jasmine: Nothing happened. We slept. Can you believe dude sent me a text sitting 3 feet away? 2 words – I’m sorry.

Chelsea: Asshat. That’s it? He’s gotta work harder than that!

Jasmine: IKR? I’m meeting him later to see what he has to “say”.

Chelsea: Ok… Call me later.

Jasmine: K.

“Jasmine?”

I turn to the voice and see a cutie from my Physiology class heading my way. He’s the picture of an all-American jock, with blond hair and blue eyes to boot.

“Hi, Damon,” I greet him with a smile.

“Hi. So…last one, huh?”

“Yeah. Glad that’s over.”

“Listen…” He trails off awkwardly.

Uh-oh…here it comes. He’s been trying to ask me out for months.

“A bunch of us are going to Rebel tonight to celebrate. You and your friend should come.”

“Thanks, but Chels is out of town and I have other plans. Maybe another time?”

His shoulders droop in disappointment. “Sure, no prob. See you around.”

He gives me a weak smile and walks away. As I head to my car, I can’t help but wonder why I don’t just kick Cameron to the curb and find a nice guy like Damon.Because I don’t want ‘nice’, do I? I want hot, sexy, irresistible, gives-me-chills, awesome in bed, strange, mysterious, dangerous, won’t-talk-to-save-his-life, all around fucked-up. Maybe I’m the fucked-up one.

Shit. I need to get my fucked-up self to work.

After work, I stop by the apartment to pick up the cookies before heading down to Little Sisters. The moment I walk in, I’m reminded of why I come here. My mood is instantly improved when I’m met with bright smiles and cheerful greetings.

“Look what I’ve got,” I say in a sing-song voice, jiggling the container with the cookies.

“Walk this way first, sugar.”

“Don’t be greedy, John.” I give him a sideways glance.

“Yeah, plus everyone knowsI’mher favorite,” Bernie says.

“You’reallmy favorites.”

Walking around, I pass out cookies and napkins, making small talk.

“Jazzie, where’s that handsome fella of yours?” Delilah asks.

Is he my fella?“Off doing whatever it is he does, I guess.”

“When are you gonna bring him by again?” Stella asks excitedly.