Chapter 56: Chapter 56

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"Eat something."

Her fingers clasped her phone. "I'm not hungry."

"Why not?"

"I dunno..." Jessi tried to keep a straight face while her gaze focused on her phone screen, waiting for a new message. Or a call.

Her parents should be home at this hour.  Were they asleep? Taking a nap? She just sent them a new text reminding them of her flight details. The arrival time in Minnesota might change a little, but they promised to be there at the airport around midnight to pick her up. Her mom sounded really excited on the phone yesterday.

"You're not even gonna take a bite?" Jenson asked with both hands on his bare hips.

"I'm just not hungry."

"Why? You're not feeling well?"

"No. I'm fine," she said calmly, hoping he'd buy her lie.  Jessi stayed put.  Physically, she felt fine. Just sore.

No surprise there—especially after his ridiculously impressive performance last night. But her mental state? An entirely different story.

"Just eat some." The guy regarded her with creased brows and a pout. He reclined beside her, sitting a little too close for her comfort. Still in his boxers. Shirtless. Bed head. His skin smelled of her soap while his breath smelled of mouthwash.

In front of them was a plate of eggs and sandwiches.  All cooked and heated for him. He didn't eat much, though. He didn't even finish his coffee.

She made him breakfast just so he would leave without a fuss, and without feeling the need to ask her out to have brunch somewhere.  No thanks.  She just didn't have it in her to spend another hour alone with him—as if they were just another couple on a date.

"Have a few bites at least." Some concern softened his voice.  "You want gourmet bread?"

"No. I'll eat later," she sighed.

Even after a long night and with messy hair, he still looked gorgeous.  No effort necessary.  Just manly and attractive in every way.

Yet still approachable. Down-to-earth.  Friendly.  Well, sometimes, beyond friendly.

It should be a crime that he always had this much effect on her.  It was painfully unfair—and his mere presence only gave her more reasons to never forget about this weekend.

Or maybe...  Maybe she was just so in love with him already.

Ugh. Stupid, gullible heart.

"Fine." Jenson got up from his seat. He leaned over and started clearing the table. "Let's just grab lunch somewhere later, then dinner before I drive you to the airport."

"No."

"What d'you mean?"

She made a face and dropped her phone on the table.

Did he really plan on spending his entire day with her?  Good grief...  Hadn't he heard of a one-night stand?

"You don't have to."

"I will. Just get over it." He stood by the sink now, busy washing the plates.  "You goin' somewhere?"

"Huh?"

"Why're you dressed up? Where you off to?"

"Just need to buy something."

"Where?" he asked after turning off the faucet.  With the white dishcloth, he wiped the plates dry in just seconds.  Just tidying everything up.  Walking around bare-chested like he owned the place.

"Just, uh, at a store. It's nearby," she murmured, trying to sound casual.

"Where?"

"Around the block. I'll be quick." She'd rather walk alone to the drugstore than have him accompany her all the way there. It should only take ten to fifteen minutes.  Like Kel said, buying the over-the-counter emergency pills shouldn't take a while.

"Gimme a sec," Jenson murmured. "I'll get dressed now."

"No. I'll—"

"I gotta buy you something, too." He stood behind her while she stayed still on the dining chair.

Jessi scowled. "Buy me what?"

He chuckled. "Patience, my love."

"My love"? Her breath got stuck in her throat when his warm hands held her cheeks and tilted her head up. Her back stiffened. Her eyes clenched shut. She wanted to pry his hands off of her face.

What on earth was he doing?

Before she could even guess, he leaned over to give her a kiss on the lips. A quick one.  "We're going together. Conversation over."

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× 11:02AM ×

"What?" Jessi squinted at the guy beside her.

They were headed back to the cold parking lot. The tension between them hit its breaking point before they could reach his truck in the right corner.  Like the drugstore, the parking lot was almost empty, but they still wore their masks.

When he didn't say anything, she got in the front passenger seat and waited for him to turn on the engine.

He mentioned earlier that he wanted to buy her something. She still had no clue what he meant by "something".

A little parting gift? Like what? She was still waiting for him to clarify, but he wasn't talking anymore.

Jenson hadn't said anything since they left the counter, seconds after the pharmacist explained the dosage and side effects in detail. Almost like... He was demoralized that she decided to buy the pills—not just unpleasantly surprised.

The urge to confront him clawed under her skin while she buckled up, just waiting for him to start driving.  And break the silence.

What did he expect? Was he that drunk last night that he completely forgot they had unprotected sex? More than twice, in fact.

To her recollection, he wasn't that inebriated.  The previous night was still pretty vivid in her head.  And it was a huge mistake that shouldn't have happened.

He should be mirroring her concerns on the matter, without her having to intricately explain her choice of a contingency plan.

While she stayed in the passenger seat with the crumpled paper bag on her thigh, Jenson sat stone-faced behind the wheel.  He tossed his face mask onto the dashboard.  "What's your exact address? In Rosenville?"

What?  Why was he asking her this now?  The surprise nearly choked her up. Jessi looked away, internally swearing at herself, her chest somewhat tight. "Why?"

"I just wanna know."

Darn.  It didn't sound half-meant. Would he actually pay her a visit in her hometown? What for?

She'd already promised him she would keep in touch. It was kind of a lie, but he didn't need to find out. Nor did he need to know exactly where her parents lived. Just unnecessary.

Her breaths grew short and unsteady as she looked out his tinted window. Jessi distractedly massaged her forehead, her heartbeat going a thousand miles per hour now. Her palms, armpits, and nape were actually sweating.

He just sounded so...  Determined.  Like he wasn't letting her leave California without telling him exactly where he could find her next week.  "We're not goin' anywhere till you tell me."

She budged in her seat to look him in the eye. A pinch of relief calmed her nerves when he got rid of his scowl.  But deep down, she knew he was only trying to make her talk.

"Jess. Where in Rosenville?"

"I'll text you the address later."

"Why not now?" he murmured with his hand gripping the bottom of the steering wheel. His unwavering gaze just monopolized her attention.

Her throat and chest felt constricted now, but she had to play it cool. Pretend all was good. Even though what she wanted right now was to be left alone in her apartment so she could take the darned pills already.

"You've gotta be kidding."  Jenson broke off their staring game and glanced out his window. He shook his head faintly.  Disappointment laced a bit of anger into his words.

"What?"  She took off her mask.  Her stomach turned over at his sigh. "What'd I do now?"

No answer.

"Why're you upset?"

"You know why," he murmured.

"No. I don't."

He turned on the engine, then drove out of the parking lot with his jaw clenched shut.

They drove back to her place in total silence.  The unbearable tension just made her break into a cold sweat.  With her heart pounding fast, Jessi got out of his truck, internally debating whether she should wait for him to step out.

Did he want to go back inside her apartment? Maybe. Or maybe he didn't want to hang out anymore.

She went around the mist-covered hood.  "You wanna go home now?" Putting on a straight face, she just stood on the damp pavement, patiently waiting right outside the driver's seat.

"No."

"Why're you pissed off?"

Jenson got out of the vehicle without his mask. He looked her in the eyes now. They stood beside his truck, the dim and cloudy sky failing to hide the faint lines on his face while he frowned.

"If you need to go back to your place, just say so."

"No." His brows knitted, his lips still pouting.  "I'm just upset, that you're just freakin' out," he muttered. He glanced down at the paper bag she clutched beside her thigh.

Freaking out?

"Like last night's the biggest mistake you've ever made in your life."

She sighed.  She glanced away as his words sank in like a dozen blunt knives in her chest.  Keeping her mouth shut, Jessi stared at his clenched fist and bit on her lip.  She wasn't "freaking out" anymore. She just wanted to get it over with and get ready for her trip—alone—while waiting for the contraceptive pills to take effect.

Unfortunately, he couldn't find it in him to appreciate her idea of a Plan B—as if their utter carelessness last night didn't bother him one bit.

"Put your mask on." She glanced around them. Darn it. Someone might recognize him out here.  Any second now.  "Go home. Get some rest."

"What—"

"Thanks for driving me to the store."

"Fuck it. You want me to apologize? For last night?" Jenson caught her wrist to hold her still. He held onto her hand when she didn't respond.  His glare said he wasn't letting her walk away from him until they hashed everything out.  "Fine. Sorry." His brows furrowed. "But I'm really not."

"Look. I'm just..."

"You're what?"

"Joss, I'm just trying not to mess things up even more."

"Mess?" He frowned and finally let go of her hand, squinting at her, his tone incredulous. "That's what you—"  He blinked. The muscles in his jaw twitched. "You think last night's just that? A mess?"

"No, I-I...  What else would you call it?"

He scoffed.  "Not just a mess, for starters."

"Okay."

With his face turned away from her, Jenson blew out a breath and mumbled something in Italian.

"I'm sorry." She kept her head and her voice down, biting back the onslaught of tears he need not see. She didn't want to hurt him in any way, but, she had to make him acknowledge that last night shouldn't have happened.

Most likely it was just his confused feelings and fragile emotional state that wanted to convince her otherwise. Sleeping together was a mistake—it definitely shouldn't happen again. But the grief and other issues he was dealing with clearly blinded him from seeing the truth.

"No one needs to know. Okay?"

He just stared at her.

"Please?" She clasped his hand.  Every part of her just ached at the hopeless look in his beautiful eyes.  "Joss."  Badly wanting a proper goodbye, Jessi waited for a different reaction, but he didn't even blink.

"Fine." Jenson turned away from her, his hands resting on his hips, shoulders squared. His top lip curled into a snarl.

Fine?  "What do you m—"

He let out a noisy sigh and shook his head weakly.  "I won't bother you anymore."   He yanked the door open and got back in the driver's seat.  "And I won't tell anyone, to spare you the embarrassment."

Ugh.  "Joss—"

"Safe flight."

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