Forgotten

Chapter 15

Chapter Title: A Perfect Mistake

“You are not putting that stuff on my face! I’m telling you, Alysson—that is food!” I laughed as I chased Liara around the living room, brandishing a bowl of my homemade face mask like a weapon.

It wasn’t like I was trying to poison her—it was just banana, yogurt, and honey. All natural. All good for the skin. But try explaining that to someone sprinting away like I’d mixed it with battery acid.

“Come on, Liara! Just give it a try. It’ll be fun!”

“No, it will not be fun,” she huffed, ducking behind the couch. “It’ll be sticky! I say we get some candy, park ourselves in front of a sappy romance, and skip this whole weird spa thing.”

I groaned dramatically, letting my shoulders slump as I gave up the chase. There went my dreams of egg hair masks and glowing skin. Liara was no fun when it came to self-care.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But you’re going to hate today’s snacks.”

She raised an eyebrow as I marched into the kitchen and returned with a Tupperware filled with vegetable shapes—little carrots and cucumbers cut like flowers and stars. The veggies were going to go off at Jacin’s anyway, since he never cooked them, so I figured I’d salvage them.

Liara reached for a carrot, gave it a suspicious look, then popped it in her mouth. She chewed once and spat it right out.

“What is that?”

“It’s a flower-shaped carrot,” I said, holding one up like it was a work of art.

She scowled. “Alysson, I’m not a toddler. You don’t have to trick me into eating vegetables. I’m already ruined. I want sugar. I want fats. Give me movie snacks that belong in a guilty-pleasure drawer, not a fitness magazine.” She stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

“You find us a movie. I’m confiscating snack duty from you—you’ve proven untrustworthy.” With a laugh, I picked up the remote and scrolled through Netflix until I settled on Falling Inn Love. It was cute, predictable, and exactly what I needed.

Liara returned with a bowl of popcorn mixed with white chocolate. I rolled my eyes but let her win this round.

As the movie played, I leaned back against the couch and felt that ache in my chest again—missing Jacin. I reached for my phone and sent him a quick text, just something to let him know I was thinking about him.

It felt selfish, but I couldn’t help it. Even now, sitting with my best friend, I wished he was here. I guess that’s what love does in the beginning. Everything feels sweeter with him around. The week keeps us apart—his work schedule is brutal—but weekends are ours. Or they’re supposed to be, when I’m not sneaking off for girl time.

“That was cute,” Liara said as the credits rolled. “But honestly, the best part was the renovation stuff. I love a good home makeover.”

I smiled. “Yeah, it’s so satisfying to watch a transformation.”

“But the romance part? I just don’t buy it anymore,” she sighed. “I mean, sure, chemistry is real, but fairy tales? Not so much.”

“Uh-oh,” I teased. “I’m guessing your date didn’t go well?”

She shrugged. “It was fine. He was polite, there was decent banter. But… I don’t know. I think movies like this one have ruined me. I want it to be magic. Maybe you stole the last fairytale out there.”

She flopped dramatically onto the couch, hugging a pillow.

“Seriously, what happened to heart-racing, sweep-you-off-your-feet romance?”

I blushed, smiling softly to myself. “I think I found it. And I know you will too—just be patient.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, are you telling me he said the L-word?”

I nodded. “On our one-month anniversary. I was worrying about it constantly, and then he just said it, out of the blue. I was so happy.”

“Oh my God!” she squealed. “He said it first?! I want that. I want a biker bad boy who’s secretly a romantic beast! Toss me in a puddle—I won’t complain… if I get wet.”

“Gross,” I said, scrunching my nose.

Just then, the sound of a motorcycle echoed down the street.

My heart skipped. No, it couldn’t be him—he knew I was here with Liara.

A knock at the door.

Liara smirked and handed me a look that said gotcha.

“I ordered pizza,” she said, feigning innocence. “Can you get it?”

I glared at her but got up anyway, still a little shaky from the horror movie she’d put on—Gothika. I hated jump scares.

I opened the door—and froze.

There he was.

Jacin. My boyfriend. My breath caught as he stood there with a bouquet of red roses, wind-swept and smiling.

I launched myself into his arms, squealing, and he just barely managed to lift the roses out of the way before I crushed them.

“What are you doing here?! I told you it’s girl night!”

He chuckled. “It’s okay. I got permission.”

“I let him come,” Liara said from behind me, grinning. “He texted me and asked if he could surprise you. Do you really think he’d bring those roses on a bike?”

I turned and hugged her tightly. He’d planned this. With her. For me.

“I’m taking you on a date,” he said simply. I stared between them, dumbstruck. “Wait… you put on Gothika just to scare me and cover up the surprise?”

Liara beamed. “I would never do that to you on girl night. Now go get dressed.”

I ran toward her room, then skidded to a stop and ran back to kiss Jacin hello. “Be right back!”

As I dashed off, I heard Liara mutter, “I’m not helping him again if you bring vegetable snacks.”

I laughed all the way to the bedroom. I added some mascara, brushed out my messy hair, and settled on jeans, a white halter top, and a soft cardigan. Nothing too fancy—Jacin was in jeans and a tee.

When I returned, he took one look at me and smiled.

“You look beautiful.”

Blushing, I took his hand. “Thank you.”

“Have her back before midnight, young man,” Liara called playfully.

As we walked to the bike, Jacin added, “I gave the flowers to Liara to put in a vase. First time I buy flowers for a girl and she forgets about them.”

I cringed. “I’m sorry!”

“I’m kidding. Well, not about it being my first time buying flowers. But honestly? I’d rather have you get all excited about seeing me than about roses.”

I grinned. “Now, if it were chocolate, you might’ve had some competition.”

He laughed. “You, my beautiful girl, have your priorities in this order: food, breathing, and then sleep.” I playfully slapped his arm as I climbed onto the bike, wrapping my arms around his waist. I leaned close and whispered,

“You’ll always be first on my list.”

In an instant, he spun me around so I was sitting in front of him.

His lips crashed into mine. I gasped as he held me close, his hands tangling in my hair. The kiss deepened, urgent and all-consuming. When we finally came up for air, his lips trailed down my neck, teasing the sensitive skin. I moaned—my first real moan—and instantly blushed.

“Oh my goodness! Not in front of my house!” Liara shouted. I jumped back, mortified.

“Sorry! We’re leaving now,” Jacin said, helping me climb on properly.

We sped off into the night, and I clung to him—not just for balance, but because I never wanted to let go.

We arrived at the cinema. Jacin bought our tickets, and as we headed to pick up our snacks, he stopped.

“Restroom first. It’s a long movie.”

We walked down a long, quiet hallway. The horror movie was still playing tricks on my mind when he suddenly swung me gently against the wall, his lips crashing into mine again.

“I just needed more,” he whispered against my mouth, his voice gravelly.

“Better than food,” I whispered back, breathless. We kissed like no one was watching. I couldn’t get enough.

“We should cool down,” he murmured against my skin.

“I don’t want to,” I admitted.

He chuckled. “The hall’s about to fill up.”

Reluctantly, I stepped away. My lips tingled from his kiss.

“Your lips are swollen,” he teased, giving them one last peck.

We returned to the snack counter, where the line had grown. He stood behind me, arms wrapped around my waist, his chin resting on my head. Finally, it was our turn. We grabbed our drinks, popcorn, and chocolate, and added flavoring—just butter for me, every flavor imaginable for him.

He had gotten us a loveseat. As the lights dimmed, he threw an arm around me and I snuggled into his side.

I could’ve stayed like that forever.

The movie ended too soon. We lingered until the lights came on, then made our way downstairs and split a plate of fries and milkshakes at the restaurant. I topped it off with a peppermint crisp tart.

As we rode back, slower this time, I smiled against his back, hoping the night would never end. When we arrived, we stood beside his bike, kissing under the stars. Every time I turned to go, he pulled me back for another kiss, until I was breathless and giggling in his arms.

Eventually, I yawned.

He kissed me one last time. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

I slipped inside, changed into my pajamas, and climbed into bed beside Liara.

It was the perfect date.

Every second with Jacin felt like magic.

Like I’d stumbled into something rare and real.

Bumping into him was the best mistake I ever made.