13 Dinner Invitation(Part 3)

"Hey, why don't we all sit down and enjoy this meal together?" he suggested, shooting me a knowing look. "I'm sure Alex would appreciate some company after all the hard work he's put in."

I shot Travis a silent glare, but he ignored it, gesturing for Jasper to take a seat at the small dining table. With a resigned sigh, I set the spoon aside and started to set the table, hoping that this dinner wouldn't turn into more than I bargained for.

"So are you offering?" Jasper asked looking at my apron. The sound of Travis's laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls as I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. Jasper's teasing remark about my apron only added fuel to the fire, eliciting an awkward chuckle from me in response.

As I glanced down at the apron, the words "kiss the cook" seemed to mock me, taunting me with their playful suggestion. I had worn it as a joke, never expecting anyone to take it seriously, yet here I was, feeling the weight of Jasper's teasing gaze as he awaited my response.

Travis's laughter continued unabated, his amusement evident as he glanced between Jasper and me, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle unfolding before him. I shot him a playful glare, silently willing him to stop before I died of embarrassment right then and there.

In that moment, the tension broke, and laughter bubbled up within me despite my best efforts to suppress it. I joined Travis in his laughter, the sound ringing out in the room as we shared a moment of lighthearted camaraderie amidst the awkwardness.

Eventually, the laughter subsided, leaving behind a sense of warmth and camaraderie that enveloped us all. Despite the initial awkwardness, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the genuine moments of connection shared with Travis and Jasper, even if they were punctuated by the occasional embarrassment.

With hungry anticipation, we each took our first bites of the vegetable stir fry I had prepared. The flavors burst on our tongues, a symphony of savory and tangy notes dancing across our palates. The crunch of fresh vegetables mingled with the richness of the sauce, creating a culinary masterpiece that left us all craving more.

As we savored each mouthful, the conversation flowed freely, punctuated by laughter and the occasional compliment on the delicious meal.

"Are you gaining weight?" I asked Travis just to piss him off. I figure he's had enough fun at my expense.

"I'm skinnier than you bitch," Travis huffed.

"It's just a little baby fat, Madam Trav," Jasper teased.

"You shut the hell up! Who do you think helped you?" Travis snapped. "Get the soy sauce, Alex. It's on the top shelf."

As I reached for the soy sauce, perched precariously on the counter, I couldn't help but wonder about Travis's organizational skills. Placing a frequently used item on the unreachable top shelf seemed counterintuitive, even for him.

"Travis, why is the soy sauce up here?" I called out, struggling to maintain my balance.

Travis glanced over, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, uh, it's just... strategic placement. You know, to keep it safe from prying hands."

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well that it was just another one of Travis's quirks. I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Sometimes, it was these little moments of chaos that made our friendship so enjoyable.

"Need help?" I heard jaspers voice behind me causing me to jump and lose my balance. I yelped and almost lost my shit as Jasper tried to steady me...by putting his hands on my ass. My heart raced as I felt Jasper's hands on my ass, steadying me on the counter. I shot him a glare, feeling a surge of irritation at his invasive touch.

"What the fuck are you doing," I replied curtly, snatching the soy sauce.

Jasper chuckled awkwardly, his hands dropping to his sides as he stepped back. "Sorry about that, didn't mean to startle you."

But the encounter already left a sour taste in my mouth, reminding me of why I was so hesitant to trust Jasper in the first place.

As I tried to climb down from the counter, I slipped from the counter, my heart racing with the sudden panic of falling, I braced myself for the impact with the unforgiving tile floor. But instead of hitting the ground, I found myself enveloped in a strong, protective embrace.

It took a moment for my senses to catch up with what had just happened. Blinking in surprise, I realized that Jasper had somehow managed to break my fall, his solid frame cushioning me from the impact.

"Are you okay?" Jasper's voice was filled with genuine concern as he held me securely in his arms.

When I realized the position we were in, my discomfort grew, and a surge of unexpected emotions washed over me. Without thinking, I reacted instinctively, my frustration and confusion bubbling to the surface. With an abrupt movement, I sat up, breaking free from the safety of Jasper's embrace and slapped him.

But as I sat there, adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I felt a sudden surge of guilt wash over me. My actions had been impulsive and unwarranted, and now Jasper was staring up at me with a mix of surprise and hurt etched on his face.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to... I just..." My words trailed off, my mind racing to make sense of what had just happened.

Jasper remained silent, his gaze fixed on me, and for a moment, the air between us was heavy with tension. It was as if time had frozen, and I found myself holding my breath, waiting for his response.

As I sat there, the weight of my actions settled heavily on my shoulders, mingling with the confusion and guilt swirling inside me. I couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort, both from the physical proximity with Jasper and from the realization of my own impulsive behavior.

"I... I don't know what came over me," I finally managed to say, my voice wavering slightly. "It was just... a reflex, I guess."

Jasper remained silent, his expression still a mixture of surprise and hurt. I couldn't blame him for feeling that way—I had just slapped him out of nowhere, after all.

"I'm really sorry," I repeated, the words feeling inadequate in the face of my actions. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

For a moment, Jasper seemed to consider my apology, his gaze flickering away before returning to meet mine. There was a brief pause, during which the tension in the room seemed to stretch taut, before he finally spoke.

"It's okay," he said, his voice gentle. "I understand."

I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, relieved that he wasn't holding my outburst against me. But even as some of the tension dissipated, a lingering sense of discomfort remained, casting a shadow over the room.

"I tried to catch you so you would fall. Why'd you slap me? Should I tie you up so you can't do that again?" Jasper flirted.

"It's just a reflex." I felt my face heat up. Despite my best efforts to brush off the unexpected fall and subsequent awkward encounter with Jasper, I couldn't deny the rush of giddiness that swept over me as I found myself nestled against his firm, muscular frame.

The sensation of his strong arms wrapped around me, providing a sense of security and protection, sent a tingling warmth coursing through my veins. There was something undeniably reassuring about the solidness of his body beneath mine, like a sturdy anchor in the midst of chaos.

As I managed to stand on my own and push away from Jasper, I couldn't help but be acutely aware of the physical proximity between us. Each movement sent a flutter of excitement dancing in my chest, a tantalizing reminder of the unexpected chemistry that seemed to crackle between us.

Despite my attempts to rationalize away the tingling sensation coursing through me, I couldn't deny the intoxicating allure of Jasper's presence. It was as if his mere existence had the power to elicit a cascade of emotions I had never experienced before—a heady mixture of adrenaline, attraction, and uncertainty.

In that fleeting moment, as I stood awkwardly before him, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of curiosity and intrigue that pulsed through me. It was a sensation both exhilarating and unnerving, leaving me grappling with emotions I couldn't quite comprehend.

As Jasper and I returned to the dining room table, I couldn't help but notice the knowing smirk plastered across Travis's face. His eyes twinkled with amusement, clearly enjoying the spectacle of our clumsy encounter in the kitchen.

"Looks like you two had quite the adventure in there," Travis quipped, his voice dripping with amusement as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Forgive him, Jazz. Alex was never good at handling his emotions."

I shot him a glare, silently cursing his tendency to revel in the discomfort of others. It was bad enough that I had to endure the embarrassment of falling on top of Jasper, but having Travis there to witness it and revel in my discomfort only added insult to injury.

Ignoring Travis's taunting expression, I took my seat at the table and focused my attention on the meal before us. Despite the lingering awkwardness of the kitchen incident, I was determined not to let it overshadow the pleasant evening we had planned.

Jasper, ever the gentleman, remained composed as he settled back into his chair, offering me a reassuring smile that helped ease some of my lingering discomfort. It was clear that he wasn't going to let a momentary mishap ruin our evening together, and for that, I was grateful.

As I reached across the table to pass the potatoes to Travis, my hand brushed against Jasper's glass, sending it tumbling over and spilling its contents onto his shirt. A look of frustration crossed Jasper's face as he glanced down at the now soaked fabric, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation.

"Shit, I'm so sorry," I exclaimed, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment as I scrambled to grab a nearby napkin and help him mop up the spilled soda. "I didn't mean to—"

Before I could finish my apology, Travis interjected with a chuckle, his amusement evident as he watched the scene unfold before him. "Looks like you're having a bit of a rough night there, Alex," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I shot him a withering glare, my irritation with his constant needling growing by the second. "Thanks for the reminder," I muttered under my breath, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I focused on cleaning up the mess I had made.

Jasper, ever gracious, waved off my apology with a small smile. "It's alright, accidents happen," he reassured me, his voice calm despite the inconvenience of the situation. "Besides, it's just a shirt."

Travis insisted that Jasper go shower while she washed his clothes. Surprisingly, Jasper didn't seem to find the offer odd and accepted without hesitation. As Jasper disappeared into the bathroom, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe this would give me some time to collect my thoughts and regain my composure after the embarrassing incident with the spilled soda.