room. I giggled as the door closed behind us and Chase leaned in, pressing his mouth to mine.
I arched into him and deepened the kiss, feeling it all the way down to my toes.
He pulled away much too soon and linked our hands, leading me to my bed. He sat first, pulling me onto his lap so my legs dangled off one side. “I haven’t given you your present yet.”
“There’s more?”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small black velvet pouch.
My heart fluttered. “What is it?”
He smiled. “Just open it.”
I nodded, eager to see the contents. I reached my fingers inside and grasped something small and delicate. When I pulled my hand out, a sparkly silver necklace dangled from my fingers. I held it up so I could examine it, noticing the mason jar charm hanging on the chain. “Oh my God. I love it.”
“I saw it and thought it was meant for you.”
“Here.” I handed it to him. “Would you put it on me?”
He took it from me and clasped it behind my neck, examining it on me. “Perfect.”
“Hold on.” I attempted to climb off his lap, but he held onto me. “I’ll be right back,” I explained. “I’ve got something for you.”
“It’s not my birthday.”
I cocked my head, my silent plea to be released.
He relented.
I slipped off his lap and kicked off my heels, padding over to my closet and digging in the back. I unrolled the jeans where I had stashed my mason jar and walked back over to Chase.
He looked at the jar. The one he’d seen in the coffee shop that began his wish-granting mission.
I nudged him over. “Let’s lay on my bed so I can show you.”
He smirked. “I like where this is going.”
He kicked off his shoes and we both sat against my pillows along the wall with our legs outstretched in front of us. I unscrewed the top of my mason jar and held it out to him. His brows shot up. “You sure?”
I nodded.
His eyes lit up as he reached in and pulled out a paper, unfolding it like a kid on Christmas morning. “Visit a fortune teller.”
I plucked it from his hand and tossed it into the air. “Done.”
He smiled as he pulled out another paper and unfolded it. “Have a picnic on the beach.”
I plucked it away and tossed it to the floor. “Done.”
He pulled out another. “Pull an all-nighter with a hot guy.” He smirked. “You game?”
I nodded.
He placed that paper down beside him and pulled out another piece and unfolded it. “Go blonde.” His eyes cut to mine. “Oh no you don’t. I love your hair the way it is.”
I smiled, loving how comfortable things between us had become.
He pulled out another piece of paper and unfolded it. “Lose my virginity.” He stilled the second the words left his lips.
Nervous laughter escaped me. “Chantel wasn’t lying. She definitely went through my jar.”
“She had no right to,” he said, folding up the paper and lowering it beside him.
A long silence passed between us.
“Is that a wish you’re going to grant me tonight?” I asked.
He tipped his head, his eyes pleading with me. “Soph.”
“Chase,” I mimicked.
“As much as I’m enjoying making your wishes come true, I don’t want to rush you.”
“You’re not rushing me if I’m asking you to.”
He scrubbed his hands up and down his face. “Listen, it’s not easy being the gentleman in this situation because, I gotta tell you, I can’t stop thinking about being inside you. How you’ll feel and how you’ll sound when I’m doing all the things I want to do with you. But…”
“I don’t need you to be a gentleman. I just need you.”
“Soph, being someone’s first is a big responsibility.”
I crawled onto his lap and straddled him, my knees on either side of him. “I’m twenty. I’ve waited to feel the way I feel when I’m with you. That can’t be wrong.”
He dragged his fingers through his hair, confliction written in every crease on his face.
I cupped his cheeks between my hands, the end-of-day stubble on his jawline prickling my palms. “I’m ready,” I assured him.
He huffed, and I couldn’t tell if it was out of frustration or waning control. He lifted me off his lap and threw his legs off the side of my bed.
Uh, oh.
I straightened my dress and sat back down where we’d been sitting. I stared up at him, feeling anxious, afraid he was going to turn me down.
He reached behind his neck and