The Bad Boy and Miss Checklist

Chapter 8 Late Afternoons

Author's POV:

Sloan glanced at Elise with a quick smile. “You don’t have to stay for the extra shifts today. I can manage.”

Elise tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Really? That’s fine. I was actually thinking…” She hesitated for just a second, then turned toward Jaxon. “Would you like to watch the films with me?”

Jaxon blinked, a faint surprise crossing his features before a small grin appeared. “Sure. Why not?”

The two of them moved toward the small screening room, the hum of the projector already filling the space with that comforting, low buzz. The lights dimmed, and Elise felt herself relax instantly. She had always liked films—the way they could transport her somewhere else, even for a little while—but tonight, the company made it feel unexpectedly lighter.

As the first scenes played across the screen, she stole a glance at Jaxon. He seemed… different somehow. More relaxed than she had seen before. His attention alternated between the screen and small smiles directed at her. At one point, he nudged her gently during a funny moment, and they both laughed, a quiet, shared laugh that felt effortless.

They talked quietly between films, commenting on the cinematography, the actors’ performances, and occasionally straying from personal anecdotes. Elise found herself sharing stories she wouldn’t normally tell someone she had just started hanging out with. And Jaxon listened—really listened—with those intense, steady eyes that seemed to catch every detail.

The evening passed with ease, punctuated by laughter and shared jokes, until the last credits rolled. Elise glanced at the clock. “Wow, time really flew,” she murmured.

Jaxon nodded, stretching slightly. “Yeah, I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much.” His smile was genuine, warm, and it sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.

When he mentioned heading toward the bus stop, Elise hesitated for only a moment before saying, “Hey… I live in the same building. I can give you a ride if you want.”

He raised an eyebrow, a little amused. “Really? You’re offering?”

“Yes. Don’t make me regret it,” she teased lightly, feeling a blush rise at the corner of her cheeks.

The drive was quiet at first, both of them settling into the rhythm of the car. Then conversation slowly resumed, lighter this time, teasing, joking. Jaxon pointed out street signs she’d never noticed, and Elise shared small childhood memories tied to the corners of the neighborhood. The car felt intimate but comfortable, a small bubble of normalcy in their otherwise busy lives.

When they arrived at their building, neither seemed ready to end the evening completely. Elise parked, and for a brief moment, they just looked at each other, smiling.

“Thanks for the ride,” Jaxon said finally.

“No problem,” Elise replied softly. “Goodnight, Jaxon.”

“Goodnight, Elise.”

They went their separate ways—she to apartment 207, he to 208—and both fell asleep with soft smiles lingering on their faces. Elise found herself replaying moments from the evening in her mind: the easy laughter, the quiet glances, the feeling of someone genuinely enjoying her company. She had expected a normal, uneventful night, but somehow, it had turned into something she couldn’t stop thinking about.

The next morning, Elise’s alarm rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. She groaned softly, stretching before sitting up to start her morning checklist. Breakfast, shower, organize her notes for the week, check her calendar… each task methodical, precise, a reflection of the order she liked to keep in her life. Yet even as she moved through the motions, her mind kept drifting back to last night, to the easy camaraderie she had shared with Jaxon. She blinked and shook her head, trying to focus.

By mid-morning, her routine complete, she headed out for church. The streets were calm, sun spilling across the pavement in golden sheets. As she drove, her thoughts wandered freely. She couldn’t help but smile at the memory of Jaxon’s laugh, the way his eyes had crinkled when he found something genuinely amusing. It was strange, but in a way she hadn’t expected, she felt lighter, almost giddy.

Arriving at the church, Elise parked and stepped out, adjusting her coat against the crisp morning air. Inside, the familiar scent of polished wood and candles greeted her, grounding her in comfort. She scanned the room briefly, her gaze settling on her parents.

Margaret, her mother, was there, a picture of warmth and grace, greeting members of the congregation with her usual ease. Her crisp blouse and neatly pinned hair gave her an air of quiet authority, but her smile softened the edges, making her approachable. Richard, her father, stood beside her, tall and commanding as ever, a strong presence in any room. His deep voice carried easily as he exchanged greetings with fellow churchgoers, and Elise couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

As she walked toward them, David appeared, falling into step beside her. Elise’s heart gave a small, involuntary skip. They had been together for some time now, comfortable in their relationship, yet she couldn’t stop the tiny flicker of thoughts about Jaxon from crossing her mind.

“Hey,” David said softly, offering a quick smile. “Mr and Mrs Brookes.”

Elise returned his smile, nodding toward her parents. “Morning. Mom, Dad.”

“Good morning, My love…… How have you been, David,” Margarete said warmly, pulling Elise into a hug, then doing the same to David. Richard nodded in acknowledgment, giving him a brief, appraising look before returning to the surrounding congregation.

The service began, the familiar hum of the choir lifting, the words of the sermon filling the space. Elise found herself following along, but her thoughts wandered, slipping back to last night—Jaxon’s easy smile, the way he had leaned forward slightly when he laughed, the little jokes they had shared. She caught herself smiling quietly, hoping no one noticed.

David shifted beside her, following along with the service, but Elise couldn’t help the fleeting glance toward the entrance, wondering if Jaxon might show up—or even just thinking about him. She scolded herself silently; it was inappropriate to let her mind wander like this during church. And yet, she couldn’t deny the happiness it brought her, that unexpected warmth that hadn’t been there before.

As the choir sang the final hymn, Elise let herself smile softly. The day, the morning, even the quiet memories from last night had brightened something inside her she hadn’t realized needed brightening. And though she tried to focus on the sermon and the familiar rhythm of church, her heart lingered elsewhere, on a person who had entered her life so unexpectedly and so effortlessly.

Unbeknownst to her, David had caught a glimpse of something unusual as he had stopped by to say hello earlier in the week. Something that made him pause, a fleeting moment where he had noticed Elise and Jaxon together. It had been brief, almost insignificant, but enough to lodge itself in his mind. He didn’t say anything now, keeping his thoughts carefully contained, but a subtle tension lingered beneath the surface.

Elise, oblivious, focused on the choir, on the sermon, on the warmth of her parents nearby, and the simple joy of a Sunday morning. The church felt full, welcoming, safe. And at that moment, as she glanced at her parents and then at David beside her, she couldn’t help but let herself smile, thinking quietly to herself, maybe… maybe life isn’t so predictable after all.

And with that small, quiet thought, Elise’s focus returned to service, smiling as she sang along.