Chasing Jenna by Micki Fredricks Page B

mind went blank. You really are stunning, Jenna.”
    His words were like a kiss to my heart. I was hopeless for this boy. Whatever or whoever he needed me to be, I’d change it all for him.
    “I can’t remember being this nervous talking to a girl.” He said with a small laugh.
    I squeezed his hand softly, “I’m not some girl. I’m Jenna. Just talk.”
    “I’m starting to understand that. It seems to make this harder.” he said as he picked up my hand and gently pressed his lips onto my palm.
    Instant desire surged through my body. It mixed with the panic of understanding; this might be my last chance to tell him how I feel. I needed to explain that his presence in my life had changed me somehow in this short period of time. No one had ever made me feel as beautiful, or as wanted as he did, with just a simple touch.
    “Cale,” I whispered.
    He slowly lifted his eyes to mine, I wanted to look away but couldn’t. There was something there; a pleading, that I couldn’t fully understand, but didn’t need to. He had to continue; his choice was already made.
    “Why don’t we start from the beginning?” I said softly. My heart broke into tiny pieces, understanding that with one sentence, I had given up any hope of making him mine.
    “Okay,” he said as he carefully laid my hand back down.
    As we talked about the possibility of Cale sponsoring me, I couldn’t help but get lost in the traditional values it was rooted in. He explained how it came from the desire to give back to the community. The founding brothers of the house felt deeply that this program would help ensure the future of the towns they lived in, and improve the lives of generations for many different families.
    He took me step by step through the process. They would first need to get permission from my mom. There would be training and then an interview process with the elders of the house. This included Cale’s dad. The final decision would be made after that. If I was accepted, I would be eligible for financial help with items like computers, tuition reimbursement, and even living expenses.
    “It’s not like you would be expected to wear a t-shirt around that says ‘I’m Cale’s sponsored girl’,” he said with a little sarcastic laugh.
    I didn’t think that sounded like such a bad idea.
    “Well, what do you think?”
    “Honestly, I’m not sure I can accept those things from you. I mean, tuition reimbursement and computers, those are high dollar items and I’ve never really been good with handouts.”
    “This is not a handout, it’s more like a helping hand. And it all comes from the foundation, not directly from me. Besides, if you don’t get it, someone else will, and I really want you to have it.”
    My head spun. It sounded like an amazing opportunity. But I didn’t want him to look at me like a charity case. I knew exactly how I wanted him to look at me, but that idea was fading, smaller and smaller by the second. This might be the only way to keep Cale in my life.
    “What are you thinking? Your silence is kind of making me crazy right now.”
    I looked up from my deep thoughts.
    “Well, I think it sounds like it’s very important to you.” I paused, hoping I wouldn’t regret this. “I would be honored to be Cale’s sponsored girl.”
    He jumped up and lifted me out of my chair so he could hug me. I squeaked out a laugh. “Thank you, Jenna. Thank you for trusting me.”
    “You’re welcome.” I whispered in his ear as I realized that we were cheek to cheek. He pulled back from me just enough so he could see my face. For just a few seconds he stared right into my eyes. I was so captivated by the way he made me feel. I don’t think I’d ever felt as connected to another human being as I did with him in this moment. He took a deep breath and slowly put a hand lightly on the side of my cheek.
    “This really means a lot to me. I promise I will take very good care of you.”
    Although, startled by the intimacy of the