Page 99 of June: Jess' Story

“Sorry,” I say brusquely.

“Don’t be. Now I get to spend Christmas with Brit.” He gives me a wink.

“Fuck off. You know she’s officially married, right?”

“Yup, I know,” he says with a smile, leaning back against his seat.

I look at the map on the monitor towards the front of the plane to see the little plane icon is now making a large U. We were a little short of half way. So three hours. I’ve got three hours to come up with a plan.

I pull out my phone and get to work.

It’s almost midnight when I’m at her door. I knock gently at first. But after four knocks, I do it louder, and when I go to do it again, the door flies open revealing Jess in a little white nightgown. She locks up when she realizes it’s me and I take it as a chance to look at her. Really look at her, like I wanted to earlier today.

Her hairischopped short, and honestly, she looks even sexier without the flowing locks. Like you actually notice her nose that turns up a little at the end and the way her lips make that perfect little v. Or the freckle above her left eyebrow.

“Can I come in?” I ask.

She just stands there staring at me.

“Eden’s sleeping,” she eventually says back.

“I’ll be quiet.” She pokes her head out the front door and looks around. Then takes a few steps back, leaving room for me to enter.

“You shouldn’t answer the door in the middle of the night,” I say, setting keys down on the entry table. She watches me with a keen eye, like she’s willing me not to get comfortable.

She crosses both arms over her chest to hide her hard nipples, but all it does is make her breasts pop in the sheer sleeveless nightgown. She notices me noticing and she reaches for a zip up fleece off the coat rack and puts it on.

“Why are you here?” she asks, leaning against the kitchenette counter.

“Because I promised I’d help, and I’d be here. And I haven’t been.”

She nods, and gives me a thin-lipped smile. “Don’t worry, I won’t hold you to it. I’m done with all that, and I don’t want your help, okay?ButI do have work tomorrow, though…” She trails off and holds a hand up for me to leave.

“Does Tommy know we broke up?” I ask.

She does the spine straightening thing again. It’s one of her tells. “I haven’t told him explicitly, but I’m sure he realizes it. We FaceTime daily from here.” She gestures around the small studio apartment. “I’m too tired for this, Alex.” She sounds too tired for this, which means she might be delirious enough to give me a chance.

I get down on one knee and her eyes go wide. I pull out a ring box that’s been knocking around in my bag for longer than I’d ever admit.

“Jess,” I start.

“NO,” she says, flat out. I haven’t even cracked the box open yet. “Get out.” Her tone is harsh and she points a finger at the door.

“Jess, hear me out.”

“No. P-please leave,” she stutters, then stumbles back as she walks towards the bedroom. “When I wake up tomorrow, just p-please don’t be here.”

She shuts the bedroom door gently and I stand up from where I’m kneeling like an idiot. Right, deserved that.

Jess

When I hear the front door close and click shut, I finally take a full deep breath. He was here.I think.But maybe this is a dream. I’ve had dreams like this before. Except normally the second he gets down on one knee I jump into his arms and kiss him.

So maybe that’s how I know it wasn’t a dream, because lucid Jess knows better. I’m not pretending or doing anything for show, for anyone or any reason ever again. It was a fucking disaster and I don’t have the wherewithal or the emotional fortitude to deal with it.

W.O.A Jess has to stay focused. On saving, on figuring out custody, maybe even on moving back to DC. W.O.A. Jess doesn’t and can’t focus on the man kneeling on her living room floor with a ring box.

I don’t even know if he loves me. In fact, the more time I put between myself and“the situationship” (that’s what I’m calling it now), the more I don’t think he could have possibly loved me. We’ve only gone on one date! (I’m only counting the deli.) No one should be asking anyone to marry them after one date.Fucking psychopath.