Patience (Shawn Mendes)

***DISCLAIMER***

Do not start this book if you haven’t read Bad Reputation as this is a follow up and will make absolutely no sense.

Thank you.

-THREE YEARS LATER-

I met Tom at outside our usual bar and as soon as he approached me he noticed my hair. “Where has all of your hair gone?” He asked pulling me in for a hug.

We broke. “I got sick of it so I decided to cut it in my bathroom at 1am.”

He studied it for a moment. “I think it’s hot.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

We headed in and ordered our usual. I got tequila and he got a beer.

Tom turned to me. “Do you remember when we got stupid drunk and you got your nose pierced?”

I chuckled. “I can’t believe you got a tattoo.”

He shook his head. “I remember waking up the next day and seeing it for the first time. He chuckled. “You laughed so hard you fell over.”

I laughed. “My nose hurt for atleast a week after.”

He looked at it. “You’re rocking the piercing now.”

I smiled. “I actually love it now.”

He scoffed. “I wish I could say the same for my tattoo.”

I laughed and Joe handed me another tequila shot. I looked at him and frowned. “Sorry, I didn’t order this.”

“It’s from the guy over there.” He pointed behind so I turned to look. I saw a blonde haired guy who was sat on his own. He gave me a cute smile before I turned back around.

“Okay.” He downed the last of his drink. “That’s my que to leave.” He stood up and grabbed his jacket off the back of his stool.

“What? You’re going?” I asked.

“He’s cute so get your hot ass over there and go flirt with him.”

“I can’t.”

“It’s been long enough. You’re ready.” He gave me a hug and then left.

Shortly after the guy came over and sat next to me. “Hi.” He said.

“Hi.”

“What’s your name?”

“Jasmine, what’s yours?”

“Alex”

“Well thank you for the drink Alex.”

“You want another?”

“Sure.”

“Tequila?”

I smiled. “Surprise me.”

He turned to Joe. “Two tequila shots please.”

Once he paid Joe I paused and looked at him for second.

“What?” He asked.

“I said surprise me and you got me the same drink?”

“Yeah but you aren’t going to drink it the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever heard of a suicide shot?”

I shook my head. “I’m not doing that.”

Joe placed our shots infront of us with a salt shaker and two limes. I poured some salt onto my hand before licking it off and then downed my shot. I placed my glass back down on the side and bit into a lime slice sucking all the juice out before placing the remains in my glass after.

I looked at Alex and he hadn’t taken his shot. “Aren’t you going to drink yours?”

“I’m going to do something that I’ve only done once.”

“What’s that?”

He took a deep breath and then picked up the salt shaker pouring salt onto his hand. He looked at me before snorting it up his nose.

I placed my hand on his shoulder and gasped “Oh my god.”

He then downed the shot and squeezed lime juice into his eye.

I laughed as he held his eye and kept blinking. “I can’t believe you just did that!”

He looked at me with one eye open and the other squeezed shut. “Surprised?”

I laughed. “Yes.”

That one drink lead to two drinks and then three. Then it lead to a bunch of dancing and before I knew it I was genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.

Somehow during our conversations Alex’s hand ended up on my lap. I slowly slid mine over his and gave it a little squeeze. His eyes immediately darted to the place on my leg where we were touching and then back at me. He leaned in and slowly brushed his lips against mine.

That light and feathery kiss soon transformed into something fierce and passionate in only a matter of seconds. My breaths began to speed up and he began to breathe heavy because we both knew where things were headed.

“Wanna go back to mine?” He suggested inbetween kisses.

I smiled and then nodded. He grabbed his jacket and then took my hand in his. I tripped as we sped through the bar and rushed into a cab.

After stepping out of the cab we ran into the elevator and Alex effortlessly pinned me against the wall before placing kisses on my lips and down my neck. Before things could get too heated the elevator bell suddenly pinged making us break apart. A janitor walked in and I smiled to myself as we acted casual waiting for Alex’s floor.

Our civilised front went straight out of the window the very second he unlocked the door to his apartment.

I woke up the next morning and attempted to sneak out as quietly as I could. I got changed and gathered all my belongings before opening the door and making a quick escape.

I took a shower when I got home and Tom came over after so I filled him in on all the events that took place last night whilst he made me one of his best bacon sandwiches.

Halfway through telling him about the amazing sex I had my phone began to ring. I walked over to where it was charging and checked it.

It was a number I didn’t recognise. I accepted the call. “Hello”. I answered.

“Hi it’s Alex from last night.” Alex said on the other line.

“How did you get my number?”

“I’m friends with a guy who’s a cop.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“Probably.”

I didn’t say anything.

“So what do you say?”

“To what?”

“Another date?”

“Isn’t the whole point of a one night stand not seeing the other person again.”

“You were one hell of a one night stand. I’m not gunna go forgetting you anytime soon.”

I chuckled.

“So what’s your answer?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“That answer is unfortunately not good enough. I need a yes or a no.”

“Or what?”

“I will keep ringing you.”

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not. I will keep ringing you back until you agree to go on a date with me.”

I chuckled. “You’re an idiot.”

“No I’m serious.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll think about it.” Not believing him I hung up but immediately after he rang back.

I picked up. “Hello.”

“Go on a date with me.”

“I said I’ll think about it”. I hung up again.

He rang back.

“What?” I answered.

“I’m not gunna stop.”

“And I said I’ll think about it”. I put the phone down once again.

He rang back again.

I answered and cut in before he could speak. “Fine! I’ll go on a date with you.”

“Friday, 7 o clock, meet at Joe’s.”

This time he was the one who hung up.

Once Tom left I grabbed my keys and drove to Mom’s to pick up Peter.

I knocked on the door and then let myself in. “I’m here.” I shouted and it wasn’t long til Peter came running up to me.

I knelt down and gave him the biggest hug. “Did you have fun weekend with Grandma and Grandad?”

“We baked cookies.”

“Did you? Did you save any for Mommy?”

He nodded and then took me into the kitchen where a cookie was sat for me to eat. He picked it up and gave it to me.

“Thank you very much. How many did you make?”

He held both of his hands up.

“10! Where are the rest?”

He shrugged his shoulders with a guilty look on his face.

“I know where they went.” I picked him up and then squeezed his belly lightly “They went right here didn’t they?”

He giggled.

I put him back down. “Go get your bag.”

When he ran upstairs I found Mom and greeted her with a hug. “Thanks for looking after him.”

She held my face. “You can call me anytime you need me to look after him. You know that.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Her hand moved to my hair and stroked it. “Did you cut your hair?”

I chuckled. “Yeah. It was getting in the way so I cut it.”

She gave me a worried look.

“I’m fine.” I insisted.

“Are you still going to counselling?”

“Yes. Stop worrying about me. I’m fine.”

“Just know we are always here.”

“I know.”

Peter came back and then we said goodbye before heading back home.

Friday

"Bed time is 8 and you can have any food or drink you want from the fridge but touch my wine and I’ll tell your Mum.” I said to Jess as I showed her around the kitchen.

She chuckled. “Got it.”

I gave Peter a kiss. “Be good for Jess please.”

He nodded.

I turned to her. “I should be back before 11 but if you have any problems give me a call.”

“Will do.”

I said goodbye to them both and then climbed into a taxi. When I got to the bar Alex was already waiting for me outside.

We headed in and ordered two beers. Joe handed us our beers and Alex turned to me. “Tell me something about you.”

“You first.” I taking a sip of my beer.

“Okay, I’m a surgeon .”

I raised my eyebrows. “A surgeon.”

He took a sip of his beer. “I’m head of paediatrics actually.”

“So you look after sick kids?”

He nodded. “Now tell me something about you.”

“I’m an actress.”

His eyes widened. “Would I have seen you in anything?”

“Maybe.”

He smiled. “What?”

“I’m currently playing Velma in the broadway show Chicago.”

“Never heard of it.”

My mouth dropped. “You’ve never heard of Chicago?”

“Nope. What is it about?”

I told him what it’s about and he smirked. “I like a bad girl.”

I jokingly rolled my eyes and we decided to play pool as we got to know eachother more.

After several tequila shots he turned to me and picked up one of the lime slices. “If I can throw this in that guys drink you have to go on a second date with me.”

I thought for a moment. “Okay but you won’t do it.”

“Oh really.” He threw the lime and it landed straight in the glass of the man sitting opposite us making him immediately look over at us.

I quickly grabbed Alex’s hand and we ran out of the bar as fast as we could. We stopped halfway down the road and my stomach hurt from laughing so much.

We caught our breath back. I checked the time and it was almost 11. “I should probably go. It’s getting late.”

“I’ll walk you back.” He suggested.

“It’s not far I can just get a cab.”

“If it’s not far then I can walk you.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can get a cab.”

“I don’t have to but I want to.” He said holding his arm out.

I smiled and then linked my arm with his. We spoke non stop on the walk back until we reached my apartment door.

“Thank you for a lovely night. I had a really great time.”

He smiled. “I had a really great time too.”

He looked at me for a moment and then slowly leant his head in towards mine.

Just as our lips were about to touch Jess opened the door making us pull away.

“Sorry, it’s late. I have to go.” She said.

“No worries. Thank you.” I replied.

She stared at me like I’d forgotten something and then I realised she was waiting for me to pay her.

“Oh right yes. Sorry.”

I got $20 out of my purse and then handed it to her. She took it and when she left there was an awkward pause between me and Alex.

“Who was that?” He asked.

“My babysitter.”

“Your babysitter?” He questioned.

I took a deep breath. “I’m a single mom.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I understand if you wanna go.”

“Why would I want to go?”

“As soon as I mention the word Mum to any guy they bolt immediately.”

He snaked his hands around my waist. “Sorry to disappoint you but I’m not going anywhere.”

I smiled. “Really?”

He nodded and then pressed his lips against mine.

“Do you want to come in? I have wine.”

He smirked. “How can anyone say no to wine.”

I smiled and then unlocked the door taking his hand in mine.

As promised we met up the next Friday and stayed in the bar until closing. Joe had to kick us out and even then we weren’t tired so we headed straight to a takeway and shared a pizza.

We decided to met up every Friday and without fail we did. No matter what I was doing I always made sure I met him at 7 o clock at the bar and he did the same.

One week we met up and I knew something was wrong, he lost one of the kids he was looking after that day so he confided in me.

Another week he made me laugh so hard I fell off my chair.

One Friday it was raining heavily and I was running late. I didn’t have time to touch up my make up or change out of my rehearsal clothes instead I just put my hoodie on and ran to the bar.

When I got there Alex was no where to be seen. I waited out in the rain for a few minutes before I saw him. He was running late just like I was and I could see he was still in his scrubs.

“Hi, sorry I was running late.” He laughed and then looked down at himself, “I’m still in my scrubs.”

“I was running late too, I’m still in my rehearsal clothes.”

He paused for a moment and looked at me, the rain was running down his face and he kept blinking to stop it from getting in his eyes. “I can’t keep doing this.”

Not again.

My heart sank. “What?”

“I can’t keep meeting up with you every week because it’s not enough.” He paused and then took my hands in his. “Jasmine, these past few weeks have been amazing. Spending time with you has been the highlight of my week and after I see you I literally count down the days until I see you next. I think about you all the time even when I’m lying in bed trying to sleep and you’re the first thing on my mind when I wake up. I know it seems too soon because we’ve only been on a few dates but if you want to wait I’ll wait.” He smiled. “Hell, I’ll sit in that bar every Friday until you’re ready.”

I chuckled.

He paused for a moment and looked at me. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

I smiled. “Yes”.

He smiled and then pulled me in for a kiss. Our lips connected and even though we were cold and wet from standing out in the rain everything in the world felt right again.