Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Jessica’s POV

The moment we crossed the threshold into the apartment, the weight of the entire semester seemed to settle into my bones.

I let out a breath so loud it was practically a gale-force wind, dumped my heavy bag onto the sofa with a satisfying thud, and dragged my feet toward the bedroom.

Aaron trailed behind me, his presence a comforting shadow, keys jingling as he tossed them on the counter.

I didn’t even bother with grace; I just flopped lazily onto the bed, face-planting into the pillows with a muffled groan.

The mattress bounced slightly under my weight, and I starfished out, letting the cool sheets soothe my overheated skin.

“I’m stepping back out for a bit,” Aaron said, his voice vibrating through the bedframe as he leaned against the doorframe. “Do you need anything?”

I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above. A mischievous spark flickered through my exhaustion.

“A lollipop,” I said seriously. “A cherry one. Or maybe watermelon.”

Aaron paused, his hand halfway to his pocket.

He stared at me like I’d suddenly sprouted a second head or started speaking in ancient Aramaic.

He didn’t say a word—no “Are you five?” or “Is that all?”-he just gave a slow, bewildered blink and and headed out.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone in the quiet. I smiled like a kid who’d just pulled off the best prank known to mankind.

I loved getting on his toes like that-throwing curveballs just to see that flicker of confusion in his dark eyes. It was payback for all the times he’d teased me, but in a fun way now, like our own little game.

Who knew a simple lollipop request could feel like a victory?

I forced myself up to change, trading my heavy, salt-stained hoodie for a loose, silk-blend slip dress that felt like a cool breeze against my skin. It was barely there, the kind of outfit that made me feel human again.

I grabbed my current read from the nightstand: “His Mistress” by Auteure Angel, a new author I’d stumbled upon.

The cover promised drama and forbidden romance, and I’d been hooked since page one-the kind of story that sucked you in and made real life fade away.

I wedged myself into the corner of the bed, propping a mountain of pillows behind me until I found the perfect nest. Then,

I dove in.

I didn’t just read; I drowned.

The story was a black hole that had me swirling in words: the heroine’s forbidden atfair and the atmospheric tension built like a summer storm, every chapter pulling me deeper into a life that wasn’t mine.

Time became a liquid, slipping away unnoticed.

Outside the window, the vibrant afternoon sunlight bled into a bruised twilight, and shadows began to stretch across the

floor.

I was so immersed-the plot twisting into a betrayal that actually made me gasp aloud-that I didn’t even hear the front

13:14 Mon, Jan 12

Chapter 13

door

It wasn’t until Aaron’s rhythmic footsteps echoed down the hall that the spell finally broke.

I blinked, my vision blurry and my eyes stinging from the dim light.

I glanced at the clock and felt a jolt of shock; night had officially fallen, and the room was a cavern of darkness save for the small, warm halo of my reading lamp.

Hours had vanished, swallowed whole by the pages.

Aaron appeared in the doorway, carrying a plastic bag that crackled with every step. He didn’t just get a lollipop.

He dumped the contents onto the bed: a multi-pack of gourmet lollipops, a box of imported chocolate biscuits, and several chilled juice boxes.

“You’ll need the sugar for your reading haul,” he said, his voice low and raspy in the quiet room.

A surge of genuine, childish joy hit me. Before my brain could filter the impulse, I scrambled off the bed and jumped at him.

Aaron’s reflexes were terrifyingly quick; he caught me by the thighs, his large hands steadying me as my arms looped around his neck.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my face inches from his.

For a heartbeat, the air in the room thickened. I could feel the heat radiating from his chest, smell the faint, outdoorsy scent of the night air clinging to him.

We held each other a second too long for “just friends,” the silence stretching until it felt choking to the lungs.

He set me down gently, his touch lingering on my waist for a fraction of a second before he pulled away.

I cleared my throat, trying to break the spell before I did something reckless. “I’m going to shower,” I said, my voice a little steadier than I felt.

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13:14 Mon, Jan 12