Read Online Jocelyn's Choice by Ella Jade - Free Book Online

bed." He pulled me against his chest. "But did you want to order something to eat?"
    "I'm not hungry," I told him. "How was Ryan's new car?"
    "Sweet," he said. "And Brenna will be in her glory riding around in it. She's so materialistic."
    "How could you not be, around here?" I reminded him. "You guys have everything."
    "Does that bother you?"
    "No," I said. "When I first started hanging out with Evan, I didn't want him to come to my house because I was embarrassed, and I think that's why we always hung out here. I hated pulling up in my old car and parking in your driveway, especially after seeing what kind of cars you all drove. My clothes, compared to Brenna's, or Evan's, for that matter, were laughable."
    "Jocelyn, stop it," he said. "We don't look at those things."
    "I know that now," I said. "And, with the exception of Brenna, I know you guys don't care about those things."
    "No, we don't," he said. "But I do have something for you." He reached over to his nightstand, picked up a small box, and handed it to me.
    "What's this for?" I asked.
    "It's something I wanted you to have, and I hope you'll accept it."
    "You didn't have to get me anything," I told him. "You already take me out all the time, and you always pay. I don't need gifts too."
    "This is more of a necessity," he said. "Just open it."
    I did what he asked and opened the box. I didn't know what to say.
    "You have to be the only teenage girl on the planet who doesn't have a phone,"
    he said. "I don't know how you manage."
    "You bought me a cell phone?"
    "It's extremely frustrating not being able to call or text you," he said. "I've taken care of the contract, so you don't have to worry about a bill."
    "I had a phone," I said. "But, there was this writer's workshop over at the college I wanted to attend. The instructor was a published author, and it seemed really interesting."
    "You write?" he asked. "Why have you never told me that?"
    "I haven't actually written anything yet, I mean, a few short stories, but I don't know if I'm any good. When I saw the class being offered last fall, I really wanted to take it. My English teacher suggested it and said if my family could swing it, I'd really benefit from it."
    "So, did you go?"
    "Yes," I said. "And I learned a lot, but it was expensive. Max said I could do it, but between my car insurance and monthly cell phone bill, he couldn't afford the class too. He won't let me work too many hours at the coffee shop during school, so my paychecks are kinda small. They wouldn't pay for a phone bill half the time."
    "So, you gave up the phone to take the class?"
    "What choice did I have?" I asked. "I never really used the phone anyway."
    "You will now," he said. "Especially when I go back to Connecticut."
    "I can't accept this." I tried to hand it back, but he wouldn't take it.
    "I insist," he said. "It's about safety too. You need it in case your car breaks down or you get stuck somewhere."
    "I'm sure Max will pay for my service now that the class is over."
    "He doesn't have to," he said. "This is paid in full. I've added it to my plan, so if you go over or something, it'll just be added to my bill. You have Internet too."
    "Alex, I can't." It was a cool-looking phone, but I didn't think I should take it.
    "Please."
    "I'm asking you to," he said. "If you only use it to talk to me, then so be it, but it's yours."
    I looked into his beautifully mesmerizing eyes and saw how much he wanted me to accept his gift. How can I argue?
    "Thank you," I whispered. "This was very thoughtful of you."
    "I need to feel connected to you," he said. "In every aspect of my life, and when I'm thinking of you during the day or at three in the morning, I want to be able to tell you."
    "You can call me anytime. I'm always gonna want to hear from you." I smiled.
    "You've totally taken over my life." I pressed my palm to his cheek, and he closed his eyes, leaning into me.
    He slowly opened them, took the phone, placed it back on the dresser, then gently