Chapter 800 - Wedding party (J&J) (13) (1/2)

After less than two minutes, Ellie was on the beach.

She is sitting on the warm and soft sand with her shoes next to her. Ellie's chin is resting on her knees and she is drawing random shapes in the sand with her finger while thinking how Jasper didn't need much time to forget about what they talked about. How much was she inside? Few minutes? Five maybe? And he was back to flirting. So much for setting expectations and showing sincerity.

She snorted. Yeah, right… he probably uses words 'I like you' like it's some kind of greeting. Who knows how many times he said those words and to how many girls… and for a moment, she thought that she is special.

A shadow appeared, blocking her sun. Ellie assumed that someone is passing by and didn't look up.

”Why do you have a habit of leaving me without saying anything?”, Jasper's voice startled her.

Ellie didn't respond. The only sign that she heard him was that her hand stopped moving.

Jasper removed his suit jacket and sat next to her on the sand. He leaned toward her and nudged her shoulder with his.

”Are you going to ignore me?”

Ellie pressed her lips into a thin line and shoot him a side glance. Why is he here, bothering her again, causing another whirlwind of emotions when he will just go back to flirting?

”How did you find me?”

”I saw you leave the restroom, in the opposite direction than I expected. I followed you here, and even called your name few times, but you didn't react. Why did you leave like that?”

”You were busy.” Ellie knows that she is acting childish, but she can't help it. She had two logical choices, one was to confront him on the spot, and other was to break all ties with him… but she did neither. She is sitting on this wonderful beach, next to the source of her troubles and explaining herself.

”Is that why you decided to come here?”

”I didn't decide to come here. I just wanted to be away from you.”, Ellie admitted while reminding herself not to look at him. If she looks at him, she might waver… and she can't do that.

Jasper knows that she saw him with Millie and Sharon, and her reaction is not unexpected, but…”Ellie…”, he held her chin with his index finger and thumb and forced her head to turn toward him. Only when she reluctantly lifted her gaze and looked at him, he spoke: ”You gave your three conditions: fidelity, no lies, and respect. I also have one: don't jump into conclusions. Especially if you think that I violated one of your three. I demand that you give me a chance to explain myself and don't just… leave.”

Ellie jerked her head, freeing her chin from his grasp. ”What is there to explain? I told you, no flirting, and the first thing I see is you with those two.”

Jasper sighed. ”If you came and joined us instead of running away, you would hear that I apologized to those two for misleading them. And I told them to keep their distance from me because I am interested only in you, and I don't want you to misunderstand or feel insecure in any way.”

”I…” Ellie wanted to say that she didn't run away, and that she does not feel insecure, but she would be lying. ”I'm sorry.”

Jasper smiled, took her hand in his and kissed back of her palm. ”I'm confident that there will be other occasions when I make you uncomfortable. The only thing I ask is that you talk to me before judging and sentencing me.”

”OK.”, Ellie exhaled.

Jasper looked into Ellie's eyes, and with the light from the sun low on the horizon, her brown eyes turned golden. For some reason, Felix's voice was in his head, telling him not to rush and to let Ellie set the pace. Jasper suppressed his desire to kiss her. Considering her reluctance, it's probably too soon... That little Felix in his head is right. Jasper moved his arm around Ellie's shoulders, pulling her closer to lean on him.

Ellie wanted to straighten up, but he held her in place.

”Shhhh… just stay like this and enjoy the sunset.”

Jasper felt that Ellie relaxed and he smiled. In his mind, he gave himself a thumbs up.