Chapter 41: Chapter 41

×

"I'm not..." She looked away from his heedful gaze just to stop her heart from pounding harder in her rib cage.

If he didn't stop melting her resolve with his gorgeous eyes, she might just say some things that would only worsen the issue. But it seemed that was exactly what he expected. Jenson stood too close to her, his nose inches away from hers. "You are."

Jessi frowned when she caught a whiff of Charmaine's perfume.

Oh great. So the woman was back in town. Why was he here then? Why invite her to the party instead of his fiancée? Or... Charmaine was already at the bar, celebrating with his co-stars and his other work friends.

Jenson scoffed and faintly shook his head. "Don't lie to my face, Jess. You know you're not good at it."

Ugh! What the heck? Were they arguing now? She stared at his creasing brows, her brain struggling to come up with a reply that didn't sound so defensive. "I'm not lying."

"But?"

"I just... I-I don't wanna be seen with you in public, hanging out with you outside of work," she explained in a calmer tone. "She probably hates me already."

Even worse? His colleagues thinking Jenson was two-timing. "Shit." Jenson pulled away and scrubbed his hand through his shorter hair. When she didn't move, he opened the door to the backseat of his pickup truck. "Get in."

Oh no. Did she piss him off? "Why?"

"We need to talk."

"About what?" She backed off instead of heeding his command.

He caught her wrist and looked her dead in the eye again. "Please."

×

"You're really leaving next weekend?"

"Probably." Jessi took a deep breath, her heart still thudding hard in her chest. The total privacy they now had mostly dulled the urge to leave him in here.

After locking the doors, Jenson took off his face mask, revealing the days-old stubble that partly hid the angles of his clenched jaw. "How's your mom and dad?"

"They're fine."

"Real worried, I bet."

"Dad really thinks Cali's gonna be the biggest hotspot soon. Mom just wants me home like, now, before the travel restrictions get worse."

"Yeah. I get it," sighed the guy beside her. The lengthy silence that followed only emphasized the disappointment in his gruff voice. His backseat stayed dark, but the faint lights coming from the other side of the street helped as she studied the look on his face. "They want you back there 'cause they're worried about you."

"Sorry."

"I mean, your choice..." Jenson muttered with a weak shrug. Their sleeves touched when he reclined. "It's not like I could keep you here."

The dispirited tone of his deep voice wedged a knifelike pain into her chest, nagging at her conscience like the previous nights. Weeks, actually. Jessi bit on her lip and sat still. But sitting close to him wasn't what bothered her the most—it was his insistence to have this conversation with her tonight, and the fact that he mentioned Charmaine again.

"I shouldn't," he murmured, resting his hairy and muscular forearms on his thighs.

What did he really want to talk about? Her decision to quit? Or he needed her to sign an NDA or something. Did he want to hang out with her at the party?

Small creases formed between his brows. His lips pouted when she didn't respond. Jessi leaned closer to him. The awkward silence didn't help her gauge his emotional state, and the tension in the air only heightened when she caught the hint of alcohol in his breath. "You been drinking?"

"Just a glass of wine."

Drinking by himself? Or with someone else? Jessi sat back and tried not to frown. "Where?"

Strange. He didn't like wine. Was he drinking with Charm? What he drank didn't seem to affect him, though. Or perhaps not yet. No slurred words or other telltale signs.

Maybe he was just boozing the jet lag away? He and the team just got back from Canada after the main cast had to shoot a teaser for the next season. Maybe Jenson thought wine would help with the headache. "At the bar. With the guys."

"Oh."

Their thighs touched when he leaned closer. He briefly massaged his forehead, and his other hand almost landed on her wrist.

"But you don't drink wine."

"The guys picked." Jenson sighed, his tone flat and almost bored. "Here. Put this in your suitcase."

"What?"

He leaned forward and grabbed something from the paper bag on the front passenger seat. He handed her a transparent bottle.

She stared at the pills inside. Lavender-colored pills. Familiar shape. Oh...

Why was he giving her his vitamins? The bottle wasn't bigger than a glass of water, but full to the brim. "What's this?" She used her phone's flashlight to check the label.

"Take half a dose before going to bed, at least thrice a week. If you feel some side effects, make it once a week."

"Wait." Jessi gripped the bottle, his clinical tone only adding to her confusion. "But this is yours."

He covered her hand with his to place the bottle on her thigh. "It's gonna keep you from getting real sick if ever you get infected again."

"Oh." Scary thought, but, his concern was valid. "Okay. Thanks."

He gave her a feeble nod in reply.

The lengthy silence that followed made her imagination race. Being this close to him as they sat alone in the dark just overwhelmed her with thoughts she shouldn't be entertaining.

Darn it. She just hoped he didn't suspect it was no longer just a little, harmless crush. It had to stay top secret. Jenson didn't need to know. He already had a lot on his plate to keep him busy—he had no time to waste for other things, including the issues she'd been trying to brush under the rug lately.

The last thing she wanted? Damaging their year-old friendship just because she couldn't keep her stupid girlish feelings to herself.

"Did you mean it?"

"What?" she murmured, staring at his profile, waiting for him to elaborate.

"That you'll come back here if things settle down, and if the new guy doesn't last long."

"Why would I lie to you?"

"I dunno. You tell me."

Jessi gripped the cold bottle. Her breathing hitched when he leaned closer to her. Now his pointed nose almost touched her face.

His calm, steady breaths warmed her forehead. Jenson's unwavering stare turned into a frown. "I didn't wanna let you go this soon. Just to be clear."

Her breath caught in her throat again.

Oh shit.

Did he want her to apologize? To some degree, he still seemed upset by her decision, probably just holding back his real emotions. But perhaps it was just the drastic change that bothered him a lot. "I still don't want you to go."

"Jenson..."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, then let out a noisy sigh. Before she could come up with a more sensible reply, he rested the side of his head on her shoulders.

Something in her stomach hurt. But she couldn't pull away.

"Just makin' sure nothing's gonna change between us, after you leave."

"What?"

Did he believe she would just cut him out of her life? What did he really mean?

"I just feel like, I did something wrong."

"No. No. You didn't." She held back a sigh. Her chest ached at his words. The gloom and loneliness in his mellow voice... It wrenched her gut. Her sudden decision just stressed him out further, obviously. "Don't think that."

"Can't help it."

"You didn't say or do anything wrong. I just need to be with my parents right now."

He nodded weakly.

"They're getting old, y'know." Jessi placed her arm over his chest. She hugged him lightly.

"Yeah. I know. I respect your decision. But I want you to come back. I mean, after the numbers settle down and..." Jenson stroked the back of her hand. His arm pressed hers onto his chest, not at all willing to let go. "If you can't find a good job there, just give me a call."

"Okay."

He gently kissed her wrist and held her forearm to keep it on his warm chest.

A rush of blood heated every inch of her face. Her neck and limbs tensed up, and her thoughts struggled to calm down. Even breathing was a challenge now. She loved the intimacy and sincerity of his gestures, though. It was just surprising—he never seemed like the type to wear his heart on his sleeve. "Thanks for everything." She gave his arm a squeeze and pulled away.

"Stop it."

"What?"

Hunched over now, he sighed and rubbed his fingertips on his beard. "You're talkin' like you'll be gone in the morning."

She snickered. "I could be."

"Not funny, Kinley."

"Then stop acting like you're gonna miss me a lot."

"You're being weird." He scoffed and leaned in to hug her.

She stiffened and shut her mouth. It was not a quick embrace.

"Keep in touch." Jenson wrapped his arms tight around her back, his chin pressed onto her shoulder.

Her face felt like he just lit her up on fire. The back of throat warmed up, and tears were starting to fill her eyes.

Oh heck no... What was he doing to her?

She couldn't push him away, though. Neither did she feel ready to tell him the truth—that a part of her wanted more than a close friendship with him. She couldn't. She shouldn't.

He was a committed man, and not the type of person who was okay with infidelity. "Come with me to the party," he murmured to her ear. "Gotta unwind sometimes." Jenson let go of her.

"Okay."

A satisfied grin calmed the wrinkles on his dark brows.

"Wait. You sure Darren's gonna be there?"

"Yeah. He just texted me."

"Okay." If his work friends would keep him busy all night, at least Darren would be there to keep her from feeling like a total outsider. "But, I gotta change first." After a cold shower. Then put on some foundation at least. Some lipstick and concealer to hide all the—

"Why? You look fine."

"Hardly." She made a face to match his scowl. "I look like I just got out of bed."

"Fine. I'll wait here."

"No. I'm gonna need an hour at least."

"I know." He chuckled.

"Go. I'll just take a cab."

"To the bar? No. I'll wait." Jenson reclined.

"Ugh. You're being unusually stubborn."

"G'ahead. I'll wait here."

Jessi shook her head and stifled a smile. She wanted to tell him he shouldn't step out of his truck or go inside her apartment building. Someone would recognize him.

A single photo by a stranger was all it would take. He would be hounded by paparazzi out here in no time. At this point, she wouldn't be surprised if a malicious tabloid had already published a photo of him hugging and kissing her outside the hospital. Bunch of sellouts.

"I'm fine. I'll wait." He smirked and looked away, clutching his phone on his thigh, his tone calm but assertive. Although his lopsided grin bordered on smug, it still looked cute. Endearing.

"Don't follow me."

×