Page 15

Chapter 15

Jessie

I had to get my shit together.

Having Mikey away on a road trip was the first time I’d been truly alone in years. I always had Cole. And technically, Cole was next door if I had an emergency or something, but it would have to be pretty dire for me to bark up that tree.

Strangely, I was sleeping harder than I had in years, despite being alone. Was the air different in Mikey’s apartment? Was I that weighed down by Cole? Cole hadn’t been the whole reason I’d been a shit sleeper for most of my life, though.

I was both grateful for and embarrassed by Mikey force-feeding me and picking up the slack where I wasn’t taking care of myself.

I looked down at the bandage on my left index finger, thinking of the kiss he left there. Why did I keep replaying him kissing my boo-boo? Why did it surprise me so much?

Friday, I decided to pretend I had it together as a method of trying. I picked up ingredients to make a healthy dinner, plus a fancy fizzy water as a treat. There would be no wine-soaked garbage food benders to get over my garbage relationship.

I was settling in to watch some deliciously trashy TV when my phone buzzed.

Benjamin Michael Jockey

Game just ended. Checking in on my favorite roomie.

Did u eat today?

I had two options. Answer honestly, or fuck with him a little bit for fun. He was genuinely being kind, but that was scarier than joking. I’d rather make the tone light.

Yes, Daddy. I made myself a healthy dinner and cleaned it up. Now I’m having water. Do I get my gold star?

PS you need water glasses that don’t sweat so much. Or coasters. My ice water keeps trying to leave a ring on your coffee table

Bad attitudes don’t get gold stars, Jessalyn

Good girls who eat and drink their water do

I guess I had started the whole Daddy joke early on in our... roommateship, but he was taking it to another level. Kitty had said he was a shameless flirt. He was just flirting like he would with anyone else. Right?

I’m being good! What more do you want?

Start contributing to this family and get us some coasters

I snickered, thinking of the girly coasters I could crochet. He’d regret that request.

For real, u good?

My stomach turned. I hardly knew Ben and he was pretty worried about me. I’d met him, what, a little over a week before? And I was squatting in his apartment while he wasn’t home. What the fuck was I doing with my life?

Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for checking. You good? Y’all win?

The three dots appeared and disappeared multiple times. Then nothing. The amount of disappointment I felt told me everything I needed to know.

This situation wasn’t sustainable.

I needed to make a plan to leave.