“And look, I know I was, uh, a little... aggressive this morning.”
Jessie was clearly not trying to react, but that was a reaction in itself. She rubbed her lips together and stared at the cement between us.
“I promise, this is purely from a friend perspective, okay? I’ll leave you alone. I just don’t think you should go home without seeing where your job is going.”
She nodded and sniffed, considering my offer in silence. “When did you buy Bud Light Limes?”
“I had some left over from that party,” I lied.
Her eyes flicked to the full six-pack minus our two bottles, but she didn’t say anything. She shivered.
“Stay with me tonight, Jessie. It’s cold up here.”
She scowled. “I need to think.”
I sighed. “Think all you want, but sleep at my place, okay? Don’t sleep up here.”
“I’ll come down. I just need some time to think.”
“Arms up,” I said.
Her brow furrowed until she saw me holding out the sweatshirt for her to slide into.
“I’m right downstairs. My door’s open and you have my number. Don’t stay up too late.”
She gave a sad laugh. “Okay, Daddy.”
I laughed, my stomach tingling again. “You’re a real brat, you know that?”
She caught my hand before I could walk away, peering up at me with the tiny dimple next to her lips showing. “Thanks, Ben.”
I squeezed her hand, noting how nice it felt in mine. I didn’t do a lot of hand-holding on hookups. Something about it was so simple and sweet. Intimate. Trusting. A gesture you make with your body when you’re really connecting your soul to someone else’s.
And yet, I couldn’t leave well enough alone.
“Anytime, Sweet Cheeks.”
Chapter 11
Jessie
My hand shook as I raised my knuckles to knock on the door. It was all getting real.
It didn’t take long for it to swing open.
His voice was soft. “Hey.”
“Hi,” I whispered. A sob shuddered through me.
Then he took my hand, pulled me inside, and closed the door. Without thinking, I thrust myself into his arms, wrapping myself tight around his neck. He responded by pulling me in at my waist, letting us be together again. My tears were hot, melting into his shirt. This wasn’t how I wanted the evening to go, but it felt like it would be okay anyway.
“Hi, roomie,” Ben said with a quiet chuckle. “Welcome home.”
* * *
We sat on the couch with a bowl of popcorn between us, watching a nature documentary. Ben was trying to take my mind off things.
“Which would you rather have as a pet: a baby ocelot or a baby bobcat?” he asked.
