L
We wrapped up faster than we typically did during a photo shoot and a lot of it was because Jennie was helping me. I was lucky to have her, even after I walked out on her. I should have at least offered her some kind of explanation. I didn't like leaving it the way I had. I wanted her to know I would kill to be locked to her lips, twining my body with hers. Instead, I ran out without even looking back. Without even saying goodbye. I was a grade-A asshole.
Mino came over and clapped me on the back. "Thanks," he said. "Depending on how quick you can get me proofs, I might want to have you do the wedding party. My sister would die if we didn't get shots of her and her friend all dolled up."
"Friend?" Jisoo asked with a quirked brow. "By friend, do you mean Hawk?"
I saw Jennie smile. "By Hawk, do you mean Hunk?" she asked.
I felt my lips curl up. I liked that she was funny. She could hang with the guys and fit right in. I had a feeling that she had a bawdy sense of humor. I wanted to experience it first-hand. If I didn't fuck things up too badly with her, maybe I would. If she gave me that honor.
"Give me five, and I'll have everything set up," she announced, her crisp blue cat-like eyes on Jisoo and Mino.
"Did you need any help?" My voice was too eager. Even I knew that. I couldn't curb my enthusiasm just being around her if I tried. It wasn't my fault that I was drawn to her, that I wanted to be around her.
She stopped what she was doing to look at me and I had to catch my breath. The way she looked at me, the way she gave me an intense yet devastating curled lip, I was paralyzed.
"You helped me," I told her, trying to think of something quick. Everyone was staring at me and Jennie had this smug grin on her pretty face like she knew it. "And I, uh, well, I think I should return the favor. If you don't think I would be too much of a detriment."
Jennie continued to look at me. I felt myself shift underneath her gaze. "Sure," she said after a moment. I let out a relieved breath, like I was worried she was going to reject me. "I could use the help."
I practically ran across the room to help her. I heard Mino snickering, but ignored him. Clearly, he understood my enthusiasm. Jisoo was gorgeous. If she told him to jump, I highly doubted he would respond with anything other than asking how high.
She led me into the kitchen where she stood at the fridge and started pulling out cheese. In under fifteen minutes, she had different cheese cut up and arranged on a tray. My job was to stick tooth picks in them because I couldn't be trusted with anything else, something I accepted without offense.
I brought the tray out just like she instructed me to do and placed it on the table. Jennie came out right after me with four wine glasses on a different tray. Mino and Jisoo came closer to the table as she proceeded to pop a bottle of wine and pour a small amount into each glass.
Honestly, I didn't know anything at all about wine. I didn't drink it much - beer was my preferred drink. But I loved watching her speak to the couple about it. She would get this light in her eyes, like this was what she enjoyed to do more than anything. And it made my stomach tumble with nerves. Why in the hell would this woman waste her time with someone like me? I knew I was attractive. I wasn't a complete idiot. I had my fun in high school and in my early twenties. I kept in shape. I honed my skills. I did everything I needed to do to be the best I could, but I didn't feel like I was good enough for Jennie. She was too intelligent, too beautiful. If I was being honest with myself, I was intimidated by her. To the point where I could barely speak properly around her.
I loved the sound of her voice. It had a light rasp to it, like she smoked when she was younger, but quit a while ago. When she spoke of wine, I could tell she was passionate about it. It was a topic she loved speaking about. I could listen to her speak about it for hours. I barely touched my wine, barely munched on the cheese. I couldn't stop staring at her. I couldn't concentrate on anything else. By the time Mino and Jisoo left, Mino had bought a bunch of wine and Jisoo nearly had a fit over it. Still, Mino didn't budge, so Jennie put in the order and got a hefty deposit. Which she deserved.
"Congratulations," I murmured when it was just the two of us.
Jennie nodded her head once, her eyes on the closed doors before she shifted them to me. "Listen," I continued. I knew I was pushing my luck but I couldn't help it. My mouth was going a mile a minute and I couldn't stop it. "I wanted to apologize. For what happened a couple of days ago."
"You don't have to do that," she told me.
"I know," I began quietly, "but I want to. At the very least, you deserve an explanation. I promise you, I would never leave in the middle of that, but my sister is the exception. And I hope you understand."
"I do," she responded briskly.
"Oh." I wasn't expecting her to agree with me so quickly. "Okay. Would you be willing to give me another chance to make it up to you?"
Instead of replying with words, Jennie crossed the room and gave me a long kiss.