ã€ŠTwo Weeks Between Love and Hate[Book 1 Complete]ã€‹ Intro: Pick On Someone Your Own Size Quick Notice: Hi there, you are currently reading "Two Weeks Between Love and Hate" By Xam_I_Am. If you are reading this anywhere besides Royal Road or ScribbleHub, It is an illegally pirated version. You can read for free on either of the sites mentioned above. Please feel free to stop by and say hi and read from the source!

¡°Hey, loser, excited? You shouldn¡¯t be. Even if you got accepted to college, it doesn¡¯t change who you are inside, fatass.¡± Jillian Lins taunted as she twisted around in her chair, strands of bright red hair peeking out from under her graduation cap. She flashed a smug grin at the chubby but tall boy behind her. Her bright blue eyes were filled with mischief, a stark contrast against her fair skin, which was smattered with freckles. Even during their graduation ceremony, Jillian was relentless in her torment. Jason Merris was the target of her constant harassment. His green eyes, framed by thick-rimmed glasses, did their best to focus on anything but her. Jason Merris was always slightly overweight throughout his life, getting worse as he got older. Not exactly the most active person. His days were spent in the company of his computer, shielded from the harsh realities beyond his door. The sanctuary of his room couldn¡¯t protect him from the hardships of life. During his middle school years, his father fell terminally ill, casting a heavy shadow over their small family. Jason and his mother were left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives as his father¡¯s life slowly faded away before their eyes. Food became Jason¡¯s way of coping with his loss. His mother, seeking her own escape, always indulged his cravings, regardless of the consequences. The absence of a strong male role model to guide him through the trials of high school proved exceptionally tough. By junior year, he had stopped reacting to Jillian¡¯s taunts and bullying, which only seemed to fuel her desire to torment him further. Despite his resilience, Jillian¡¯s harassment never truly ceased; it just lessened over time. ¡°Gonna say anything or just keep quiet like a little bitch, like always. Aww come on now, how about a parting squeal for me piggy?¡± Jillian kept prodding the overweight teen with taunts. Jason glared at her, seething with anger, but didn¡¯t utter a word to the redhead. She just smirked and gave him the finger before turning her attention back to the stage, where one row after another was called up to get their diplomas. Eventually, Jillian¡¯s row was called up to the stage. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. They each went across the stage, one by one. When Jillian¡¯s name was called, loud cheers and whistles erupted from a group of people in the audience. Jason glanced back to see who would support someone so cruel. It was a whole family¡ªtwo boys, a young girl, her father, and a pregnant mother¡ªcheering loudly for his personal devil. Jason couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at seeing such a large and supportive family. It didn¡¯t feel fair. Jason¡¯s row got up right after Jillian¡¯s was done. Standing up, he was quite tall at about 6¡¯2¡±, even though he was just 17. His long arms and belly made him look a bit hunched walking up to the stage. Amongst the obligatory applause from the crowd, a lone voice cried out when his name was called. Searching, he spotted her, waving proudly with tears in her eyes. She was everything to him. It had been just the two of them for years now. All he wanted was to make her proud and repay her for raising him solo for so long. Grabbing his diploma, he made his way back to his seat and sat down. ¡°Hey, you made it,¡± came that same grating voice from the seat in front of him. He took a deep breath, feeling the paper diploma crumple in his hand. ¡°You looked a little wobbly out there. I didn¡¯t know you could go this long without stuffing your face, haha!¡± she laughed, along with a few others who overheard. Finally, after bottling up his rage for so many years, he finally unleashed it upon her. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to hear how you fail, Jill.¡± Jillian whipped her head around to look at Jason, stunned just to hear his voice after so long. ¡°Haha... what?¡± she stammered, taken aback by his harsh words. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you crash and burn. And knowing this is the last time I¡¯ll have to deal with you is the only thing that makes showing up here worth it. Fuck you, Jill. Enjoy the mess your life is sure to be. You deserve every single moment of suffering coming to you,¡± he spat out, rising from his seat and striding past the still seated students waiting for the ceremony to end. Jillian got up quickly from her seat as Jason made his exit. ¡°Where the fuck do you think you¡¯re going? I¡¯m not done talking to you!?¡± she yelled loudly. Ignoring her shouts, he continued walking. Fuming, Jillian clenched her fists, desperate to give him a piece of her mind. Suddenly, the PA system cut in. ¡°Congratulations to all of this year¡¯s graduates!¡± Cheers erupted, and caps flew into the air. Amidst the chaos, he disappeared into the sea of celebrating students. Jillian stood alone in the crowd, scowling as her anger reached its peak. But once it started to fade, she finally realized after all these years it wasn¡¯t because of Jason at all. It never had been. Chapter 1: A Simple Vacation ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m gonna head back home for a couple of weeks. I¡¯ve gotta to use up my PTO before it disappears next month... Haha, yeah man, we definitely gotta hit up Rico¡¯s when I¡¯m back¡ ¡°There was a pause, followed by a long sigh.¡± Dude, seriously, I¡¯ve told you before I¡¯m not interested... Yeah, we¡¯re still on¡ Thanks, I¡¯ll catch you later, man.¡± With that, he hung up the phone. Jason was in his mid-twenties, short dark black hair slicked to the side with a hint of gel. His face was ruggedly handsome, with piercing dark green eyes. A light gray suit concealed a well-toned and stocky body. Jason sat at his computer, going through the reports his teams had submitted for last-minute quality checks. As one of the managers for the data security team, it was his job to ensure that clients¡¯ information remained secure and everyone was doing their job correctly. Their company, Territory Data Security Solutions, or TDSS for short, was often contracted to safeguard sensitive data for various other companies. Trying to stay one step ahead of potential security breaches. His job might not be all that glamorous, but it paid well and offered plenty of room for advancement. Starting with the company fresh out of college, he rapidly climbed the corporate ladder through a combination of sharp tactics and hard graft. He even befriended a junior executive, who just so happened to be the CEO¡¯s son. And they say nepotism is dead. Shutting down his computer, Jason packed his work laptop and a few physical documents to work on over his vacation. Taking a full two weeks off felt a bit too sensible for the workaholic. After all, what¡¯s a vacation without a little misery? Just as he was finishing up, he heard a knock at his office door. ¡°Come in,¡± he grumbled, almost sensing the approaching pain in the ass. The door swung open. It, of course, revealed the last person he wanted to see before he left. ¡°Jase! Heard you¡¯re heading off for vacation, so I came to say goodbye,¡± said a rather curvy woman in a snug deep pink dress that left far too little to the imagination. Jason continued staring down at his desk never looking up from his packing. ¡°Great, you¡¯ve said it. Now go,¡± his tone was cold and uninterested. Tina was unphased by his lukewarm reception, her kitten heels tapping loudly on the hardwood floor of his office as she quickly approached him. Her oversized breasts swayed with each step forward. ¡°I was thinking we should totally grab a drink when you get back. We never get the chance to sit down and really get to know each other¡ on a more personal level,¡± her tongue running over her top lip coated in a rather tacky ruby red lipstick. Jason groaned and rolled his eyes at her persistence, ¡°Oh yeah, sure, of course, let me just drop everything for you when I get back. Not like I won¡¯t be busy cleaning up everyone else¡¯s mess,¡± the sarcasm dripping from his words. ¡°No, Tina, not interested,¡± he said firmly, finishing up his packing and throwing his laptop bag¡¯s strap over his shoulder. ¡°Oh, my dear, sweet, naive Jase. One of these days, you¡¯ll come around to see what I can give you.¡± Leaning over his desk, she grabbed his tie, attempting to pull him closer. ¡°And I am gonna blow. Your. Mind,¡± she cooed seductively. Giving him a mischievous smirk, the plunging neckline of her dress revealed hints of red lace framing her hefty bosom. ¡°Cut out the Jase stuff, alright? It¡¯s Mr. Merris to you,¡± he growled, snatching his tie back, unaffected by her charms and attempt at seduction. ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t hold your breath. You aren¡¯t my type.¡± He gestured toward the door, directing the woman to leave his office. ¡°Haha, oh hon, I am everyone¡¯s type,¡± Tina said, smirking as she turned to sashay out of the office, putting all her effort into swinging her hips. Stopping at the doorway to look back at him. ¡°See you soon, Jase.¡± She teased, winking at him with a sly grin before moving out of sight around the corner. Jason let out an annoyed sigh. He hated it when she attempted to flirt with him. To most of the population, Tina was very attractive with her exaggerated hourglass figure and overly done makeup to hide each one of her imperfections. But not him, not Jason. He couldn¡¯t stand the woman, or just about any woman at this point. He turned and made sure his office door was locked behind him as he left. Heading for the elevator, he stopped for a moment to stare out the windows at the Tampa skyline before him. It had been his home for quite a while now. Cold, stoic eyes traced the city skyline. From the outside, it might¡¯ve looked like he was living the high life. But appearances could be deceiving. Once he arrived at the airport, he grabbed his ticket, navigated through security, and boarded the plane. The flight from Florida to Colorado was a lengthy one. It had been ages since he¡¯d been back, so long, in fact, it didn¡¯t feel like he was going but leaving home. He pushed what thoughts he could out of his head and attempted to catch some shut-eye on the flight. He spent most of the time trying to block out the surrounding sounds on the plane, so when it touched down before he managed much rest, he couldn''t help but let out a heavy sigh. Once on solid ground, he went to fetch his bags and secure a rental car for the next couple of weeks. Once all set, he put his bags in the back and hopped into the SUV he reserved, setting off for his childhood home. The journey from the city to his small hometown was quite a distance, and his suit was feeling like a straitjacket. Watching the scenery zip by, Jason¡¯s mind soon wandered. Memories began to flood his thoughts. Flashes of evil grins and laughter caused his grip on the steering wheel to tighten. His teeth creaked as his jaw tightened, feeling himself growing more frustrated as he dwelled on the past. He still couldn¡¯t get over the reasons he left home in the first place after all these years. With a shake of his head, he attempted to clear his mind and eventually snap out of his rage induced trance. Taking a deep breath, he finally managed to calm himself. The highway led Jason to the familiar town filled with old-style buildings he remembered from his childhood. With a population of around twenty thousand, the county sprawled out comfortably without many towering buildings disrupting the skyline. Instead, it boasted tight-knit communities where people looked out for one another ¨C a far cry from the cutthroat vibe of the big city. Cracking open his window, he let the early autumn breeze sweep through the car, filling it with clean, cold air. Compared to the relentless Florida heat, this cooler climate was a welcome change. Sure, he¡¯d adapted to the heat and humidity, he couldn¡¯t deny the longing for the crisp mountain air of his hometown. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Turning off the highway, Jason drove through one of the small town''s many suburban neighborhoods. After a few minutes, he arrived at a modest single-story home. Parking his car, he stepped out and stretched, letting out a satisfied groan. As he stretched, he heard the noise of a bike tire screeching behind him; turning around, he saw a young boy with short, bright red hair and freckles sitting on a bike in the middle of the street. They stared at each other for a moment before Jase spoke up, a bit confused by the unexpected encounter. ¡°Uh, hey there. Can I help you?¡± Wondering why this kid, who looked no older than six or seven, was staring at him. After a few awkward moments of staring, the boy swiftly turned his bike around and pedaled away as fast as his short legs would allow. ¡°What the...?¡± Jase was thoroughly confused as he watched the boy disappear down the bend in the road. Scratching the back of his head, he let out a breath and shook his head in disbelief. Retrieving his suitcase and laptop bag from the trunk of the rental car, he made his way to the front door of the house and knocked. After a moment, the door swung open, revealing a middle-aged woman with dark auburn hair. Her hair cascaded down past her shoulders in soft waves. She looked up at Jason with a touch of disbelief. ¡°Hey mom, I¡¯m back,¡± Jason said, flashing a small smile. The woman¡¯s hazel eyes filled with tears as she quickly hugged him tight. She buried her face in his chest, trembling with what he hoped was excitement. After a moment of wiping her tears into his suit, she looked up at him. ¡°You¡¯re really here! Oh my gosh, I can¡¯t believe it! Ahhhh, I missed you so much!¡± she exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down her face. She hugged him tightly again, still quivering slightly with happiness. He chuckled softly, wrapping his free arm around her. ¡°I missed you too, Mom,¡± he said softly while his hand rubbed soothingly along her back. They must have stood there for nearly five minutes while his mom raved about him being home before Jason spoke up again. ¡°Okay, Mom, I think it¡¯s time we head in. You can tell me how much you missed me inside as well.¡± He gently joked. ¡°Oh, yeah, sorry. Of course, hun. I¡¯m just so excited my baby is home,¡± she said with a slight squeal. ¡°Goodness, you look so good, hun! It¡¯s like you are a new man with that fancy suit, Mr. big shot!¡± Several years had passed since he had flown his mother out to Florida to visit. He frequently offered to fly her out since he couldn¡¯t, well it was more that he wouldn¡¯t take the time off to come back to his hometown. But she always insisted that she wanted him to live his own life and not worry about his mother. So, their visits were few and far between. Her name was Katia, but Jason¡¯s dad always shortened it to Kat. He did his best not to dwell on the implications of that pet name. Though he couldn¡¯t shake off what he¡¯d overheard going on behind closed doors growing up. His mom was graceful in aspect, yet a bit of a klutz, the epitome of sweetness and authenticity. After his father passed away, she started carrying a lingering sense of sadness. But she never let it dim her sunny disposition or her love for her son, especially. Jason was convinced that no man could ever measure up to his father, so no one would ever be good enough for her. ¡°I tidied up your old room and tossed some fresh sheets on your bed, hun.¡± She wrapped her arms around him again, a contented sigh escaping her lips. ¡°I¡¯m just so glad you¡¯re home, Jason. I missed you soooo much!¡± Jason set his luggage down and returned the hug, lifting her effortlessly into the air, eliciting a giggle from Katia as he set her down. ¡°Alright Hercules, go get settled, and I¡¯ll whip up a snack for you. You must be starving after the long trip.¡± She grinned, patting his arm playfully, but Jason shook his head in response as he set her down. ¡°I think I¡¯m just gonna hit the shower and crash, Mom. Didn¡¯t get a lot of sleep on the flight.¡± He yawned as if on cue. She smiled and nodded, reaching for his face with both hands. Jason leaned down, and his mom planted a big kiss on his forehead. ¡°Alright, hun. I¡¯ll wake you up for dinner. Sound good?¡± Katia said, patting his cheek affectionately. ¡°Sounds great, Mom. I wouldn¡¯t wanna miss one of your meals.¡± Jason grinned, giving his mom a quick peck on the forehead back, before grabbing his things and heading to his room. He was hit with a wave of nostalgia as he swung open the door. It was like stepping back in time. It was like nothing had been touched since he left for college. He dropped his bags by the foot of the bed and looked around. His trusty old computer, a relic with its outdated CRT monitor and off-white tower, still stood proudly. Despite its vintage exterior, Jason had decked it out with top-of-the-line parts back in the day. He wondered if there was a way to pack it up and take it with him when it was time to leave. Jason yawned again, snapping out of his fit of nostalgia. ¡°Time for a shower, then a nap,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°I left a clean towel in the bathroom for you, sweetie,¡± his mother¡¯s voice called from outside the door. ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± he replied, a smile tugging at his lips. It was still surreal to have someone be there for him again. He was so used to fending for himself while living alone. With a soft laugh, he kicked off his shoes and peeled off his suit, leaving himself in just his boxer briefs. The relief of shedding that stuffy outfit after hours of wearing it was more than liberating. He opened the door to his room that had a Warcraft 3 poster on it, he glanced down the hallway to ensure his mother wasn¡¯t nearby. Once the coast was clear, he hurried into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. As the shower began warming up, he turned to look at himself in the mirror. Running a hand over the thick stubble on his face that darkened his chin and jawline. Though not incredibly chiseled, his muscles were defined, and he maintained a lean, fit physique. His abs lightly rippled down his stomach, forming a slight V-shape towards his pelvis. Despite feeling relatively in shape, he couldn¡¯t help but frown at his reflection, still seeing remnants of the three-hundred-pound teen he used to be. Jason let a breath out of his nose as he stripped off his last article of clothing and hopped into the shower. He used whatever soap his mom had left in there. It ended up making him smell a bit flowery ¨C not exactly his go-to scent, but it was better than nothing. He ended up having to cut his shower short. The warm water was threatening to make him pass out if he stood there for much longer. Toweling off and wrapping the towel around his waist, he trudged back to his room, stifling another yawn. Once back in his room, he threw on some gray sweatpants. He then made the mistake of free falling face first down on his childhood bed, nearly shattering his old frame. The rough landing on the old box spring mattress almost knocked the wind out of him. Rasping out a weak curse, ¡°Ow...fuck¡± Once he was able to breathe again, he grabbed a pillow to rest his head. Finally able to lay down, the jet lag sapped the rest of the energy he had. Within seconds, he was out cold. Several hours passed before there came a knock at Jason¡¯s door. ¡°Jason, sweetie, are you still sleeping?¡± Katia called out from the hallway. ¡°Mmm... I¡¯m awake,¡± he mumbled back, startled awake as he lifted his head from the pillow. ¡°Oh, good! I invited a few friends over to meet you! They also have a lovely daughter that¡¯s your age as well, so get dressed in something nice,¡± the older woman said with a slight giggle. Her voice quickly faded down the hall. ¡°Mmgh... No thanks,¡± Jason replied, not actually awake. His head hit the pillow once again, and his snores filled the room immediately. Chapter 2: A Surprise Reunion ¡°Why do I have to go with you again?¡± Jillian grumbled as she continued lazing on the couch in nothing but track shorts and a loose top cut off right above her bottom rib. Her petite chest was barely noticeable under the fabric, but the shorts definitely showcased the curves of her wide hips. She had a bright bushel of red hair tied up in a messy ponytail, and her eyes were glued to her phone screen as she scrolled through social media, seeming completely disinterested. ¡°Because you¡¯re living in my home, eating my food for free, and you need to stop being such a recluse,¡± replied a version of the girl that looked almost identical but aged up several years, but not many, with straighter hair. She stood over her daughter with arms crossed, clearly exasperated. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for six months now, and all you do is lounge around and take up space recently. I want you to get out more and back into the real world.¡± Her harsh words had the tender undertone of tough love. The girl lounging on the couch rolled her eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. The real world had chewed her up and spit her out. She wanted nothing to do with it. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been helping with your kids, the laundry, and picking up some shifts at Mika¡¯s,¡± she retorted with more than a bit of sass. The older woman only shot her a stern look. ¡°You mean your siblings and laundry that you help create?¡± Her mother shot back, nowhere near done with her. ¡°Jillian Eris Lins, you¡¯re going to that dinner, and that¡¯s final. You¡¯ve been staying here rent free, and you¡¯re still my child. If you¡¯re living under my roof, you follow my rules. Now, get your butt upstairs and get ready!¡± Her tone left no room for argument. It was clear she wouldn¡¯t accept any more sass, especially from her eldest daughter, who had moved back home earlier this year. ¡°Ugggghh, fine!¡± Jillian exclaimed, sliding off the couch like a rag doll before slowly standing up. She shot her mother a glare before stomping her way upstairs. ¡°Nothing ever changes around here, does it? Friggin¡¯ slave driver,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°And pick something appropriate! We¡¯re not going to a nightclub,¡± her mother called after the retreating figure. ¡°Yeah, because that would actually be fun, god forbid!¡± Jillian shot back as she entered the room that she shared with her younger sister. Jillian slipped out of her clothes, revealing her near anorexic figure. Her petite breasts were small, maybe B cups at best. In front of a tall mirror, she took an overly critical look at herself. Frowning at the sight of her skin sucked in between her ribs and her stomach appearing sunken like she hadn¡¯t eaten in ages. It wasn¡¯t as bad as when she first arrived back home and she was on the journey to getting healthier, but old habits were tough to shake. ¡°Gross.¡± she muttered to her reflection, the dissatisfaction clear on her face as she scrutinized every part of her body one after another. Once she was done berating herself, Jillian rummaged through her closet until she found a cute baby blue dress with a single off-the-shoulder strap. It fit her just right, not too tight but not too loose either. It would hide most of her defects and leave a smooth, unassuming figure, primarily thanks to her wide hips stretching the bottom part. Standing in front of the mirror, she let her curly red hair down from its ponytail, and it cascaded past her shoulder blades. She blew a strand of hair away from her face with a sigh, grabbing a comb to tackle the knots with a grimace. The door creaked open behind her, and a petite girl with long, straight red hair peeked inside. Jillian turned, flashing a warm smile at the young teen. ¡°Hey there, Junebug. Come on in. I¡¯m just getting ready for this pointless dinner.¡± June quickly moved inside the room, wearing a dress adorned with sunflower print¡ªBlack background on top, white on the skirt. ¡°You look adorable,¡± Jillian exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. Their arms wrapped around each other as they shared a sisterly embrace. June was everything to her, the one she missed the most and one of, if not the biggest, reason she made the arduous journey back home. When the hug ended, June looked Jillian up and down with a surprised look, who nodded with a sigh. ¡°Yep, Mom¡¯s making me go too, so I¡¯ll be by your side the whole time.¡± Leaning down, she planted a kiss on the teen¡¯s forehead. ¡°Need help with your hair?¡± June nodded. With a smile, Jill guided her little sister to the mirror and started brushing her hair gently. ¡°Girl, you are just so beautiful and growing up so fast,¡± she complimented her little sister. Wrapping her arms around June from behind, she added, ¡°No guy or girl will ever be good enough for you.¡± Whispering softly as June¡¯s hand rested on her older sister¡¯s arm that embraced her. The door to their room swung open again, and their mom popped her head in. ¡°Hey, you two ready? It¡¯s almost time.¡± Both girls glanced at their mom and nodded. ¡°Yeah, just putting on the final touches and we¡¯ll be good to go,¡± Jillian replied, her mom giving a gentle nod, along with a soft smile. ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t take too long,¡± she said before closing the door. It was a little while later when they finally made it downstairs. Their parents stood waiting at the front door, a scene of affection unfolding before them. Jillian¡¯s mom was adjusting her dad¡¯s collar, wearing a slim fitting red dress that fell to her mid thigh. Her father had a tan complexion, short chocolate brown salt-and-pepper hair, and a trim goatee with the same silver strands. Her mother leaned in, lips brushing against his neck as she whispered promises of intimacy. Jillian quickly intervened, shielding her younger sister¡¯s eyes with a dramatic plea, ¡°Please, not in front of the children!¡± Her mother smiled and rolled her eyes, backing up from her husband and releasing a sigh of amusement. With her straight red hair falling just above her shoulders, one side tucked neatly behind her ear, she wore sapphire earrings that danced with each movement, almost matching the sharp blue of her eyes. ¡°Alright, you two, it''s time to hit the road. We¡¯re heading over to Katia¡¯s, and her son is in town. Let¡¯s try to make a good impression, please?¡± She stared mainly at her eldest daughter, Jillian, whose expression soured instantly. ¡°Wait, you never mentioned there would be some random guy over there. When were you planning to drop that bomb on me?¡± Jillian grumbled, shooting a glare at her mother. ¡°I¡¯m telling you now. Katia says he¡¯s a wonderful young man, hardworking, kind and very dedicated. Maybe you¡¯ll pick up some manners from him tonight. But regardless, I expect you to be polite. Got it?¡± Her mother¡¯s tone was firm, so Jillian just muttered some choice words under her breath. ¡°I heard that, Jillian,¡± her mother replied sharply. ¡°What? I said Bill Schmit, you know, from those car commercials,¡± Jillian shot back, prompting another eye roll from her mother. Leaving their family home, the four of them strolled the two blocks down the street to Katia¡¯s place. Jillian held June¡¯s hand as they walked close to one another, seeming inseparable. They passed by an expensive SUV parked in the driveway as they approached the house. ¡°So, is her son loaded or something?¡± Jillian asked bluntly. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Jillian, don¡¯t you dare ask something like that. Even if he is, what does it matter? Just be civil, for goodness¡¯ sake!¡± her mother said, a bit exasperated at her daughter¡¯s lack of tact. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out her dress and knocked on the door. With a smile, she gave her husband¡¯s hand a squeeze as they waited. ¡°Just a minute!¡± Katia¡¯s voice came from inside the house. She hurried down the hall and rapped loudly on Jason¡¯s door. ¡°Jason, hun! Are you ready? They¡¯re here!¡± After that, she dashed back to the front dining room to make sure everything was ready for dinner. Meanwhile, Jason slowly raised his head from his pillow, still half-asleep. ¡°Huh¡ Whazzat?¡± He mumbled, rubbing his eyes and letting out a sleepy cough. He was so used to the humid climate that the altitude and dryness were murder on his throat. ¡°Ugh... need water,¡± he groaned, dragging himself out of bed and sitting on the edge for a moment. He lazily scratched his head, making a mess of his already messy bedhead. Dressed only in his sweats, he didn¡¯t even notice or care. Eventually, he stood up and shuffled out of his room, barely registering his surroundings as he headed for the kitchen. Jason shuffled sleepily behind his mom as she arranged glasses on the dining room table. Katia then hurried to the front door, bursting with excitement. She wore a chic white blouse and a black pencil skirt paired with dark pantyhose and heels. Her mature frame fit the clothes perfectly. Her face lit up when she opened the door, and her pink-tinted lips spread into a wide grin as she saw her guests. ¡°Ginny!¡± Katia exclaimed with delight, and Jillian¡¯s mother echoed back, ¡°Kitty!¡± They rushed into each other¡¯s arms, sharing a tight hug like they hadn¡¯t seen each other in forever. When in reality, they saw each other yesterday. ¡°I¡¯m so thrilled you all could make it tonight. I can¡¯t wait for you to meet my son!¡± Katia said, her bright smile beaming. She glanced over at Ginny¡¯s husband, still smiling. ¡°Damon, so great to see you again,¡± she greeted, walking over to hug him, too. ¡°Katia, always a pleasure, ¡° Damon replied simply, returning her hug with one arm and as little contact as possible. Katia turned to Jillian and June with a warm smile. ¡°June, good to see you again as well. You look lovely. And you must be Jillian.¡± Before Katia could give Jillian a hug, The redhead extended her hand for a shake instead. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs....¡± fishing for her last name. Katia chuckled nervously as she took Jillian¡¯s hand, shaking it softly. ¡°Oh, please, just call me Katia. No need to be so formal.¡± Jill flashed a defiant look at her mom before turning back to Katia. ¡°Alright, Katia. Nice to meet you,¡± she said, letting go of her hand. ¡°Come in come in! Dinner¡¯s almost ready. I¡¯ve got some wine if anyone¡¯s interested,¡± Katia said, gesturing toward her front door. ¡°Let me just go check to see if he¡¯s¡ ready.¡± Suddenly, she noticed everyone¡¯s attention was fixed on something behind her. Curious, she glanced back, and her eyes widened in surprise. Jason, half naked and completely unaware of the guests, strolled past the front door, taking a long swig from a water bottle. ¡°Jason!¡± Katia accidentally screamed, her hands flying to cover her mouth. ¡°Jason?¡± Jillian said quietly to herself, eyebrows raised as she took in the unexpected sight. The name was surely just a coincidence. Jason almost jumped out of his skin when his mom suddenly screamed his name, causing him to tighten his grip on the water bottle and accidentally drench himself. He quickly shifted into an orthodox boxing stance, scanning his surroundings for his imaginary opponent, coughing up some water that had shot down into his lungs. ¡°Huh? cough, Wha- cough what¡¯s going on?¡± he asked suddenly wide awake, blinking away the water from his eyes. ¡°Jason, for heaven¡¯s sake, go get some clothes on!¡± Katia said loudly. June couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight of Jason splashing himself with water. Jillian glanced down at her little sister, surprised to see her actually laughing. Even their mom couldn¡¯t suppress a giggle. But she wasn¡¯t as amused. As she eyed the man, something about him felt oddly familiar. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she had seen him somewhere, even as she took several long moments to admire his physique. ¡°Mom? What the fuck is going on?¡± Jason asked, feeling puzzled as his mom hurriedly guided him down the hall, pushing from behind. ¡°I already told you, we¡¯ve got company over for dinner. And watch your language. Now, go get dressed, and don¡¯t show your face until you are! Seriously, what were you even thinking!?¡± It all left Katia feeling utterly embarrassed by the recent events. ¡°Alright, alright, sheesh. I don¡¯t even remember you saying anything about guests,¡± Jason replied as his mother shoved him down the hallway. Pushing him into his room, his mother closed the door behind him. She would give him a few minutes to dry off and get decent for dinner. Katia hurried back to the front to attend to their guests. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about that, Ginny. I think he¡¯s just got some bad jet lag or something.¡± she chuckled nervously. Ginny flashed a smile at her best friend as she returned and laughed softly. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t sweat it, hun. I totally get it. Besides, I didn¡¯t mind the show,¡± she teased. Giving her husband a playful side eye, his expression wasn¡¯t one of anger from the comment, but something quite different. ¡°Anyway, come on in. Let¡¯s have some wine. I know I need some now. Are you good with sparkling apple cider, sweetie?¡± Katia said, turning to June, who nodded shyly. The group headed into the dining room and took their seats at the table, except for Katia, who went into the kitchen. ¡°Well, wasn¡¯t that quite the first impression?¡± Ginny remarked with a slight chuckle. ¡°Genevieve...¡± Damon began, glancing at his wife, who met his gaze. She bit her lower lip and winked at him, giving off a playful vibe. They seemed like eager lions, ready to pounce on each other. ¡°Oh, come on, you two. Get a room,¡± Jillian groaned, covering her face with a hand and reaching over to hide June¡¯s eyes as well. Fortunately, Katia returned with a bottle of wine and a bottle of sparkling apple cider. She popped the cork out of the wine and started pouring glasses for everyone, doing the same with the apple cider for June. The group chatted for a bit, mostly about recent happenings and Damon¡¯s work. He was a foreman for the local branch of a major construction company and sometimes got his kids to pitch in. They were helpful when he needed an extra hand but risked getting into trouble with OSHA. ¡°We usually have the twins help out when they want some extra cash. Reese doesn¡¯t mind it, but Wendel is more, mmm, reclusive,¡± Ginny mentioned before Jillian chimed in. ¡°One¡¯s a jock, and the other¡¯s a computer geek.¡± Her parents shot her a glare so intense it could slice through steel. ¡°Sheesh, relax, it¡¯s just a freakin¡¯ joke,¡± Jill said, filling her mouth with wine instead of saying anything else. Katia kept the conversation flowing without missing a beat. ¡°Jason was always glued to that computer of his. He wasn¡¯t much for socializing with others. He¡¯d bug me every so often to grab him some part that hit the market he had to have. But he¡¯s doing quite well for himself now. He even got a promotion not too long ago. I¡¯d say if Wendel decides to turn his hobby into a career, there are definitely worse choices out there.¡± She gave her best friend a reassuring smile, which was returned. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news, Kat! You must be so proud of him. And he looks like he¡¯s taking good care of himself as well,¡± Ginny added, earning another jealous stare from Damon and a groan from her eldest daughter. Katia let out a little giggle and nodded. ¡°Oh, I very much am. You can¡¯t tell now, but he used to be much heavier, but it was like it all slid off him in college. Almost every week, he tries to convince me to move out there with him. But I want him to have his own space and not have to worry about his mother being baggage.¡± Her bright smile revealed just how thrilled she was to have her son home. All the while, Jill was practically slouched over the table, lost in thought, having already finished her first glass of wine. She knew she¡¯d catch flak if she asked for a refill. Aside from too many coincidences happening in a short amount of time, she was bored out of her mind. Feeling a gentle tug on her dress, Jill glanced over and smiled at June. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She asked the teenager, who pointed at the apple cider bottle. ¡°Oh, you want some more?¡± June eagerly nodded, unable to simply grab it herself due to her overbearing shyness. Jillian grabbed the bottle of cider and poured a refill for her sister. June took another sip from her glass as Jillian lightly ran her fingers through her sister¡¯s hair. Just then, an unfamiliar voice interrupted the moment. ¡°Sorry for the delay, everyone, and please forgive me for earlier,¡± Jason said as he entered the dining room. He was dressed in a sleek black turtleneck that clung to his muscles and had some fancy Italian brand name stitched on the chest. He was also wearing black slacks that were perfectly tailored to his long legs and sporting a flashy gold watch that looked like it cost a fortune. The entire table glanced up as Jason spoke. He was used to addressing large groups, so it didn¡¯t bother him to have all the eyes in the room on him. That was until his eyes met the gaze of the eldest daughter of the Lins Family, her curly red hair framing her pale, freckled face. Suddenly, he felt his heart begin to race, and his palms grew sweaty. The feeling of her gaze on him caused him genuine distress. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through him, and the mischievous grin that slowly crossed her face as time seemed to slow made his stomach lurch. It seemed impossible, but there she was ¨C Jillian Lins, sitting in his childhood home. Every fucking freckle on her face brought back truly awful memories. Chapter 3: Clash of Titans Unpleasant memories continued to flood Jason¡¯s mind with scenes from the past. The awful ordeals he endured, all thanks to this petite bitch who didn¡¯t even reach his shoulders. He snapped out of his daze when he heard someone clearing their throat. When he looked up, he was met with the bright smile of a more mature red-haired woman who seemed to have misunderstood his gaze towards her daughter. At the same time, the only other man in the room shot him a rather stern glare. ¡°Hello Jason, good to see you awake and dressed,¡± Ginny teased, rising from her seat to greet him. Damon followed suit, standing beside his wife. ¡°I¡¯m Genevieve, but you can call me Ginny,¡± she said, extending her hand to him. Jason took it, returning the handshake. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lins,¡± Jason replied, opting for the more formal way to address her despite her suggestion. Ginny raised an eyebrow at the formality and the man¡¯s sweaty palm as they shook hands. Curious about how he already knew her last name, she figured Katia mentioned it to him before they arrived, so she chose to just brush it off for now before introducing her husband. ¡°Well, this is my husband, Damon.¡± Both men extended their hands to each other. Damon gave Jason a firm grip, a testament to his years in construction, while Jason¡¯s grip was equally strong. They shook with a competitive energy that Ginny swiftly diffused by clearing her throat. ¡°Ahem¡.And these are my two daughters. The younger one is June. She¡¯s a bit shy, so please excuse her if she¡¯s doesn¡¯t say much.¡± Jason nodded understandingly and offered a slight smile and nod to the timid teen, who let her hair fall in front of her face to hide herself in plain sight. ¡°And this here¡¯s my oldest, Jillian.¡± Ginny said, wrapping up the introductions. Jillian stood up, giving Jason a more than obvious once-over. ¡°Hey there, Jason. Nice ta meet ya. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be best buds in no time, Popeye.¡± She said with a cheeky grin on her face. Ginny couldn¡¯t help but facepalm at her daughter¡¯s brash nature. Jason managed a weak ¡°Uh-huh,¡± feeling like he was facing off against a curly-haired demon from his past. He fought the urge to retaliate with every fiber of his being, nails digging into his palm as he clenched his fist. ¡°Uh, why don¡¯t I go fetch dinner now that we¡¯re all acquainted?¡± Katia jumped in, trying to diffuse the strange tension. Quickly vanishing into the kitchen. ¡°Jason, please have a seat,¡± Ginny said, motioning towards the empty seat at the table. Jason nodded and made his way over, settling into the chair. Of course, the only empty spot, aside from his mother¡¯s, was right across from Jillian. Once he was seated, his gaze met hers once more. Her eyes seemingly locked onto his, her devious grin now reduced to a mischievous smirk. Gripping his fork tightly, he felt the metal bend under the pressure of his thumb. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm the anxiety that was building rapidly, only to notice another pair of eyes on him. Glancing over, he caught June quickly looking away, her shyness actually making him feel a bit more at ease. It was somewhat reassuring to know not everyone in Jillian¡¯s family was out to get him, at least. A few moments later, Katia appeared from the kitchen with plates of food. She set them down one by one, and as she placed one in front of Jillian, she noticed the empty glass. ¡°Oh, Jillian, dear. Help yourself to more wine if you¡¯d like,¡± she said kindly. ¡°Why thank you, Katia, don¡¯t mind if I do!¡± Jillian replied excitedly, reaching for the wine bottle. Her mother shot her a warning glare, but Jillian just stuck her tongue out at her. Tilting the bottle, she poured herself a generous amount of the deep red, filling her glass far more than what was considered a proper pour. With a satisfying thud, she placed the near empty bottle back on the table. After making sure everyone got their share, Katia finally took a seat. ¡°I hope everything tastes okay. This pot roast has been slow cooking practically all day, so I hope it¡¯s as tender as it should be. Please dig in!¡± she said with a proud smile as everyone dove into their meal. Katia was, if nothing else an amazing cook. Her meals never failed to satisfy in terms of flavor. ¡°Kat, this is amazing! If you ever decide to become a chef, you¡¯ve got a job waiting at my place, no questions asked,¡± Ginny exclaimed with a laugh as the two women delved into some gossip about some of the neighbors while they ate. Ginny eventually turned her attention to Jason. ¡°So, where do you work, and what kind of work are you doing now?¡± she asked with a smile. Jason was distracted as he picked at his meal, blinking a few times before he noticed the silence and that he was the one being addressed. ¡°Oh, well, I¡¯m down in Tampa, working for a data security firm. We also handle stocks and bond investment portfolios.¡± His response rolled off his tongue like it was routine. Ginny had basically known most of this beforehand, but she knew it would be a good conversation starter. He explained some ins and outs of his job and what it entailed. It wasn¡¯t really a very exciting field to talk about, but he was good at his job. Jason struggled to eat much while Jillian¡¯s eyes felt like weights on his soul, dragging him down. She only broke her gaze to look down at her food momentarily. Despite the uneasy feeling, he forced down about half of his meal before giving up. ¡°Thanks, Mom, it was delicious,¡± he said, keeping it short as he placed his napkin on the table. Katia quickly spotted his half eaten meal. For her son, of all people, to not clean his plate was a true oddity. Even in the last time she visited him, he still had the habit of finishing every morsel she made for him. ¡°You usually love my pot roast. Is everything alright dear?¡± Katia had genuine concern in her voice but Jason just nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m alright. I think it¡¯s just the jet lag that¡¯s messing with my appetite.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetie. Maybe you should go lie down a bit more?¡± Jason¡¯s sweet, perfect mother suggested. He took a deep breath and nodded with a small scowl on his face. ¡°Yeah, I think that¡¯s for the best. Sorry, everyone. Maybe we can have dinner again before I leave.¡± Silently hoping they¡¯d all just leave and never come back, especially Jillian. All he had wanted to do was simply spend some time with his mom and relax. Now, he would have to spend most of his vacation attempting to steer clear of the fiery-haired she-devil sitting across from him. As Jason rose from his seat, he gave Ginny and Damon a polite nod, and the same to June, skipping you know who. ¡°Good night, everyone,¡± were his parting words before he walked out of the dining room. Katia frowned sadly as she watched her son leave. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Kat. I¡¯m sure it was just a rough flight. A good rest will have him feeling better.¡± Ginny reassured her friend, bringing a small smile back to Katia¡¯s face. ¡°We can come back, or you two can come over, and I¡¯ll cook.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I would like that. You know me, any opportunity to spoil your youngest.¡± Ginny smiled and laughed softly at Katia¡¯s words. ¡°Well, I think he already likes you more than he does me, anyway. All Calvin gives me is trouble. You get all the sweetness.¡± Ginny said with a slight huff but smiled wistfully. Instead of heading to his room, Jason turned left a few doors earlier and into his father¡¯s study. He slipped off his fancy watch and pulled the turtleneck over his head, leaving him in a simple gray tank top that hugged his muscular frame. Casually tossing the discarded clothes onto a nearby chair, he started pacing. His hands running up through his hair, letting out a long groan of frustration before letting his arms fall to the side. Tilting his head back, he stared up at the ceiling. ¡°What the hell am I going to do?¡± closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. The office that hadn¡¯t been actually used in over a decade was surprisingly well kept. Full bookshelves lined both sides of the room, and a sturdy wooden desk sat in the back, complete with an old swivel chair. All in all, it looked like something you would see in an old private eye movie. He walked around, his fingers running along each surface, barely noticing any dust. It was a testament to his mother¡¯s meticulous cleaning despite his father¡¯s passing so long ago. Lost in thought, he wandered the study before sinking into his dad¡¯s favored leather armchair, draping an arm over his eyes. As awful thoughts and memories of Jillian were pushed aside, replaced by ones of his father, leaving him unsure which hurt more. Back at the dinner table, Jillian piped up. ¡°Excuse me, Katia, where¡¯s the bathroom?¡± her glass was empty again, the wine already coursed through her. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just down the hall, second door on your left, sweetie,¡± Katia replied. Jillian nodded in thanks, then stood up, looking down at her little sister. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± she said, turning to make her way down the hall to the bathroom. She wasn¡¯t exactly eager to return to her mom and Katia, who were chatting away like hens. So, she took her time. After she finished in the bathroom, she walked back down the hall, albeit a bit more slowly this time. When she heard a noise coming from one of the rooms, she passed by. As she approached the door, she listened intently, hearing some rustling inside. Her heart raced, wondering if it might be Jason. It was pretty wild to think that this could actually be the boy she consistently thought of during her frequent moments of self loathing. It was pretty clear from his glares that he remembered her. She¡¯d been so awful to him back in high school, and they hadn¡¯t exactly parted ways amicably, either. Her mind boggled to think that the guy in the room was the same socially awkward, overweight boy she¡¯d mercilessly teased and tormented back then. The recent image of him in her mind, half naked in the entranceway, made her shiver and bite her lip. She took a deep, calming breath and pushed the door open, stepping into the study. Jason jolted upright from the armchair, expecting his mother, but instead, he saw Jillian shutting the door behind her. He stood up so fast that he felt a little dizzy. His whole body was now tense as she turned toward him. His expression failed to hide that anger, not that he was trying to. He had been barely able to keep his cool at the dinner table, but it was far more difficult now that they were alone. Flashbacks of all times she made him doubt himself, and the worth of his life raced through his mind. ¡°How dare she just walk in here like she owns the place,¡± it was an irrational thought, but it was all he could think at this point. Jillian froze as she turned around, catching Jason¡¯s gaze fixed on her, his anger no longer restrained by common civility. The hostility in the way he clenched his jaw and fists made it extra clear to her he hadn¡¯t forgotten her at all. She threw up her hands in front of her in a feeble attempt to deescalate the situation. ¡°Whoa there, big guy, chill out. I¡¯m not here to start anything.¡± But her attempt at peace just seemed to stoke his anger even more. Using the term big guy like it wasn¡¯t the cherry on top of nearly every back handed insult disguised as a compliment she¡¯d hurled at him in the past. ¡°What the fuck do you want?¡± Jason¡¯s tone was sharp and to the point, his patience already worn razor thin. Jillian frowned at his choice of words and tone. ¡°So, I¡¯m ninety-nine percent sure, but just in case I gotta ask, you¡¯re Jason Merris, right? You went to Grove Falls High about nine or so years ago?¡± Jillian asked, as Jason did his best to keep from letting his rage spill out. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me. Any other stupid fucking questions?¡± he shot back. His best was apparently not very good. Jillian clearly didn¡¯t appreciate his tone as she scowled. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re clearly pissed off, I get it, but I¡¯m trying to be civil here, okay?¡± trying to keep her tone even. She took a few steps closer, still holding her hands up like she was trying to calm a rampaging bull. Jason¡¯s lips curled slightly in anger at her nonchalant tone, as if her past actions hadn¡¯t messed with his head permanently. ¡°I don¡¯t think you do get it! You are only now you deciding to be civil, just because I¡¯m not some fat loser who won¡¯t defend himself. It all seems a bit too convenient to me,¡± he growled, his anger showing no signs of subsiding. Jillian actually rolled her eyes in response. She tried to recall the letters she had written under her therapist¡¯s guidance¡ªletters meant for those she had wronged in the past, which she would later burn as part of her attempt to at least live with the guilt. Jason was making it very difficult for her to maintain her composure and not revert to her old self. ¡°Look, I¡¯m trying to fuckin¡¯ apologize, okay? I was going through some shit back then, and I took it out on you. It was messed up, I know. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever have this chance again, so I wanted to say it now. Will you please accept my apology?¡± Jillian felt like she had nailed the apology in her mind; there was no way Jason wouldn¡¯t forgive her. ¡°Fuck! You!¡± Jason spat back. Jillian acted as if his words had physically struck her, her head flinching back while blinking in dumbstruck silence, staring at him. ¡°Haha, umm excuse me?¡± Jillian replied with a forced smile. ¡°You heard what I said, just in case, I¡¯ll say it again. Fuck you and your shitty excuse for an apology. I¡¯m not buying it and I¡¯m sure as shit not forgiving you,¡± he almost shouted. Jillian glared at him, fists clenched in her own building rage. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s your fuckin¡¯ problem?¡± she shot back. ¡°You¡¯re my fuckin¡¯ problem bitch. You think a few half-baked words will fix everything? Do you even realize the hell I went through because of you? Every. Single. Fucking. Day, I got harassed, picked on, or just straight beat up. You painted a target on my back and made my life miserable for four long, agonizing years! So excuse me if I¡¯m not ready to just let bygones be bygones and simply accept your last-minute, barely cobbled together, bullshit apology. The fact you think I would even consider it shows how fuckin delusional you are!¡± Jillian¡¯s stomach churned as he recounted his school experiences. Could she forgive someone for doing that to her? Probably not. But it infuriated her that he was being so mean about it. ¡°Well, at least I¡¯m making an effort. Fuck, what¡¯s a girl gotta to do to earn forgiveness? Get on my knees and beg you?¡± ¡°Damn, that sounded kind of hot... No, no snap out of it.¡± She quickly pushed those thoughts away. She wasn¡¯t that person anymore; she needed to move on from that chapter of her life. ¡°Haha!¡± Jason burst into laughter, his booming voice filling the room. Jillian¡¯s expression suddenly took on a pleading look at what she felt was coming next. ¡°Oh no, please don¡¯t go there Jason,¡± she silently pleaded. She may have walked herself right into it, but she still didn¡¯t want to hear it from him. ¡°Ha, I bet you¡¯re used to being on your knees but not begging for forgiveness or praying. I wouldn''t even let you if you offered.¡± Jason spoke with a sudden cocky grin, crossing his arms defiantly. A flicker of rage ignited in Jillian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah, the fuck right, loser! Maybe in your dreams, you fat, tiny dicked, moron!¡± she shot back, words dripping with venom. Jason appeared mostly unfazed by her insults, though there was a small twinge of anger beneath his calm facade. ¡°Do you honestly think I couldn¡¯t do so much better than your skeleton looking ass? You can say what you want, but anyone could see the truth. You¡¯d have to pay me to even consider touching you at this point. Why don¡¯t you go throw up my mom¡¯s cooking, you ungrateful fuckin trash!¡± One simple word could sum up Jillian¡¯s expression: devastated. ¡°Screw you, you... j-just screw you.¡± Her lower lip trembled slightly as she swiftly exited the study, rushing back to the bathroom. She refused to let him see her tears. At last, Jason had won. He¡¯d finally bested her after all these years, he¡¯d verbally murdered her till she was running away¡ And yet¡ to his displeasure, victory didn¡¯t taste as sweet as he¡¯d imagined all these years. Instead of feeling this triumphant surge, he was left with a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. All those times he¡¯d acted out the scene of him putting her in her place, and now¡ there was nothing but a strange gnawing ache in his gut. With a heavy sigh, Jason sank back into the armchair, resting his elbows on his knees. His fingers threaded into his hair as he leaned forward, staring at the floor. ¡°Well. . . fuck.¡± Chapter 4: The Mourning After Jillian finally came back to the table after about ten minutes, trying to hide her discomfort. Ginny glanced up from her chat with Katia and gave her daughter a smile, but her expression faltered when she saw Jillian¡¯s face. ¡°Everything okay, sweetie?¡± Her mother questioned. Jillian nodded as she settled back beside her sister. ¡°Yeah, just dealing with some cramps,¡± she replied, relieved she hadn¡¯t bothered with eye makeup for this bullshit dinner party. Sympathetically, Katia chimed in, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, dear. Well, I was going to offer everyone some pie I made, but if you¡¯d rather take some home, that¡¯s fine. Since Jason isn¡¯t feeling well either, we can always catch up more later.¡± Jillian internally winced at the mention of his name. When it came to her children, Ginny rarely missed anything, sensing that something was off with her. She was also very aware that getting her eldest daughter to open up about what was bothering her was like pulling teeth. Jillian hadn¡¯t even disclosed where she had been or why she¡¯d unexpectedly turned up at their doorstep, seeking shelter over six months ago. All Ginny knew was that Jillian had slept for nearly three days straight when she finally came home. Now, her daughter wore the same troubled expression. ¡°Thanks, that sounds wonderful Kat,¡± Ginny said to her friend, who smiled back, walking into the kitchen and began packing several slices of the peach pie she¡¯d baked earlier. ¡°Jillybean... everything okay?¡± Ginny asked her daughter, using a name she called her as a kid to make sure she got her attention while Katia was out of the room. Jillian just scowled at her mother¡¯s childhood nickname for her. ¡°Yeah, Mom, I¡¯m fine. Just want to head home and go to bed,¡± she replied, squeezing her little sister¡¯s hand tightly. Ginny nodded, deciding not to push further. Especially outside their own home. After a bit, Katia came back holding a large Tupperware full of pie slices. ¡°I packed plenty for everyone here and for the boys back home too,¡± she said with a smile, sad to see them leave but glad they stopped by. ¡°Thank you Kat, I¡¯m sure everyone will be so happy. Your desserts are the best,¡± Ginny said, standing up and moving around the table to give her friend a big hug as she took the container. ¡°Say goodbye to Jason for us, we hope he feels better soon. That meal was amazing, as always.¡± she said, putting a hand on Katia¡¯s cheek, smiling warmly. ¡°Oh, stop Ginny. You know you¡¯re welcome over anytime. Hopefully, he will feel better and we can do this again soon,¡± she replied sweetly. ¡°Definitely, I need to get a babysitter more often so we can hang out just us girls,¡± Ginny gave a wink as they exchanged cheek kisses before parting ways. Everyone else got up from the table and made their way out the door. ¡°Thanks for coming. It was nice finally meeting you, Jillian,¡± Katia called out as the visiting family headed down the walkway. Every time she visited Ginny¡¯s before, the eldest Lins daughter had either been out or hidden away in her room the whole time. Ginny turned to her daughter, who clearly had no intention of saying anything in return. Giving Jillian a little nudge, Ginny shot her a stern look until she begrudgingly rolled her eyes and waved back. ¡°Yeah, thanks for having us and stuff,¡± Jillian muttered with obvious disdain. Ginny frowned at her daughter¡¯s attitude but couldn¡¯t help but wonder what the hell happened in that house. Jason waited until he was sure everyone had left before hurrying to his room from the study, clutching his shirt and watch against his chest. Once he was safely inside, he shed his clothes and flopped back down onto his bed, in just his underwear. He stared at the ceiling, lost in thought, replaying the events from earlier. He couldn¡¯t shake the image of Jillian¡¯s hurt expression after their heated exchange. Just why did the sight of her pain hit him so hard? Why did it make him feel sick to his stomach? Jason couldn¡¯t grasp why he didn¡¯t feel the rush he thought he would after landing such a verbal blow. Here he was, twenty-six, sinking to the same level Jillian did back in high school. She at least had the excuse of being a dumb teenager, but what was Jason¡¯s excuse? That he was still stewing over the actions of that teenage girl? ¡°Ugh, this. Fucking. Sucks!¡± he groaned, more frustrated by the situation than anything else. Didn¡¯t he deserve to get even for all the pain he endured? Why did getting his revenge make him feel like the villain? There was a light tap on his door, followed by his mom¡¯s gentle voice drifting in from the hallway. ¡°Jason? You awake, hun?¡± He quickly pulled the blanket over himself. ¡°Yeah¡¡± ¡°Mind if I come in?¡± ¡°Umm, sure,¡± Almost regretting the words as they left his mouth. Closing the door behind her, Katia settled on the side of the bed next to him. She offered a warm smile before gently placing her hand on his arm. ¡°How¡¯re you holding up, sweetheart?¡± Her words filled with the sweet, caring tone only a mother could provide. Jason gave his mom a slight smile, grateful to still have her by his side. She was always ready and willing to provide him with at least some comfort. ¡°Yeah, mom, I¡¯m okay,¡± he reassured her, reaching over to softly squeeze her hand. ¡°I¡¯m just... thinking about stuff, you know?¡± Her smile faltered slightly. ¡°Is there something specific on your mind?¡± she asked gently. Jason¡¯s smile completely faded, but he kept holding her hand. ¡°Just some stuff about the past... mostly Dad,¡± he whispered. Not able to tell her about Jillian, his mom didn¡¯t even know the two went to school together. His mother¡¯s expression shifted to one of slight sadness. ¡°Oh, Jason,¡± she murmured, laying down partially, her head resting on his shoulder. ¡°If your father was still here today, he would be so proud of the person you¡¯ve become. I know that in my heart,¡± Katia comforted him, her thumb softly stroking his arm. Jason took a deep breath, his throat suddenly feeling tight. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Thanks, mom... Do you¡ think about him often?¡± he asked softly. Her thumb paused, and her grip tightened briefly. ¡°Almost every day, dear... But I try to stay positive, and with my baby boy home, it¡¯s much easier for me,¡± she replied, her voice choking up slightly. ¡°You look so much like your father, Jason. Having you home feels like having him back, even if just a little.¡± Jason wrapped his arm around his mother, pulling her tight against him. He felt a damp sensation where his mother¡¯s head was resting as she let herself cry quietly, just a little. Just enough to release some of the pent up sadness she struggled with each day. ¡°I miss him too,¡± his voice was barely a whisper now. They stayed like that for a while, simply lying together in silence, trying to be the other¡¯s comfort. Eventually, Jason let go of his mother as Katia pushed herself up and sniffled a little, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. A sad smile on her beautiful face. ¡°You should get some rest, dear. I¡¯ll make a big breakfast for you tomorrow morning to help you recharge.¡± She smiled down at her son, who reached over and took her hand again. ¡°That sounds great, mom. Thank you,¡± giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he was reluctant to let go as she stood up from his bed. ¡°Sleep tight, sweetheart,¡± she said as she made her way to the door. ¡°Mom?¡± Jason called after her. ¡°Yeah?¡± His mother glanced back at him. ¡°I love you.¡± Katia beamed at him. ¡°Love you too, hun. Good night dear,¡± she left his room with a small wave, leaving Jason to his thoughts once more. It took Jason ages to fall asleep that night. He spent hours just lying there, sometimes scrolling through his phone or staring at the ceiling. When sleep finally came, it brought a barrage of unsettling dreams. In one, he wasn¡¯t the victim of bullying like in his own past; instead, he was the bully. He picked on everyone. Every person had bright red hair and wore the same devastated look that Jillian had earlier as he tormented them. Needless to say, it was a rough night. He kept waking up, only to drift back into that same frustrating dream each time he tried to fall back asleep. Jillian went straight to bed as soon as she got home. She just wanted this day to be over and done with. Lying in bed, she couldn¡¯t shake off Jason¡¯s words from her mind. Sure, she had teased him for years, but even when she attempted to make things right, she still fucked up. He had taken her apology, rejected it, stomped on it, burned it, then pissed on the ashes. Did she really deserve all that? The more Jillian dwelled on it, the more she came to a conclusion. ¡°I do...¡± burying her head under a pillow in shame. Her brain constantly reminded her she deserved every harsh word he said. She was haunted by everything that had gone wrong before and after high school. It was all her fault. Every messed-up situation led her to where she was now, along with the overbearing feeling of being used up and worn out at the ripe old age of twenty-seven. The hundreds of times she endured both physical and verbal abuse was just her cosmic payback. Tears welled up despite her efforts to hold them back, eventually they escaped and soaked into her pillow. Curling up into a ball, she hugged her knees tightly, weeping until she fell asleep, completely worn out. Because of either the crappy dreams he had or the fact he¡¯d napped a ton the day before, Jason found himself awake at five AM. He groaned as he opened his eyes to the familiar ceiling of his childhood bedroom and sluggishly sat up. Rubbing the back of his stiff neck, not used to the crappy pillow and mattress. He felt like going back to sleep wasn¡¯t even an option at this point. Glancing out the window, he noticed a thick blanket of fog shrouding the houses across the street. Checking his phone, he figured he might as well go for a run since he was already up. ¡°Not like there is much else to do.¡± The altitude was much higher here compared to Florida, so the air was noticeably thinner, and would make any training he did more effective. Jason quickly threw on a bright red tracksuit with white stripes running down the arms and legs. The bottoms were a bit worn out, with a few holes here and there from all the use. He slipped on and laced up an old beat up pair of running shoes, grabbed a pair of wireless sport headphones from his suitcase and stuck them in his ears. Connecting them with his phone, as he quietly snuck out of his room and out the front door. The frigid morning air quickly chilled him to the bone. ¡°Fuck, it¡¯s freezing out here!¡± Jason muttered loudly to himself. Even though it was still early autumn, the nights were getting close to below freezing. He put his phone back in his pocket after starting some music and began his run at a slow pace to start. Adjusting to the altitude and the chilly weather would take some time, but he honestly was looking forward to the distraction. It was just what he needed to clear his mind of a certain redhead. A short time later, Jillian was now wide awake in her room. She was tossing some of her stuff into an old Jansport backpack, just the basics for now: phone, makeup, clothes, lingerie, heels, and whatever cash she had stashed away. She didn¡¯t want to but if she had to resort to desperate measures to survive she would. Pulling on a black hoodie and sweatpants, she tiptoed over to her sister¡¯s bed. June was still fast asleep. Jillian leaned down and planted a soft kiss on June¡¯s forehead, trying not to disturb her. ¡°I have to do this¡before I fuck you up as well. . . I love you Junebug.¡± June mumbled a bit in response, rolled over, then snuggled up with her blanket, still fast asleep,. Jillian gave her a sad smile, bottom lip trembling as she brushed away a stray tear from her cheek. Sneaking downstairs, she was relieved that her family slept in most weekend mornings. Pausing at the front door, she took one last look at her childhood home. With a heavy heart, she unlocked the door and stepped outside, gently closing it behind her. It was one of the hardest decision she ever made, but she knew it was necessary, convinced that leaving now was the right choice. ¡°They are better off without me fucking up their lives,¡± Staring down at her feet, counting her steps as she walked. Her thoughts screamed for her to run, while her heart wanted nothing more than to stay with her family. Jason sprinted forward with a burst of speed, stopping after the five second dash to shadow box for fifteen, then resumed his run. He quickly worked up a nice sweat, repeating this routine every two minutes. Taking in deep gasps of air, the altitude made catching his breath a struggle. It felt good to actually challenge his body again. The endorphins pumping through his system, a tired smile on his face. He continued his pattern of running, dashing and shadow boxing while heading back to his moms. The thick fog was still settled on the small town, even as the sun rose. Thin beams of light piercing the low hanging cloud here and there. It was honestly beautiful. As Jason turned onto his street, he picked up the pace for the home stretch. His head was already dripping with sweat as he dashed down the sidewalk. When a small dark figure suddenly appeared in front of him, slowly walking towards him. His eyes widened in surprise, no time to change direction as he blurted out, ¡°Oh, shit!¡± Trying his hardest to slow his giant frame that was hurtling toward the unaware figure. Colliding hard, the force sent the figure clad in all black sprawling onto the nearby lawn. A loud, girlish scream echoed as they hit the grass. The old, worn-out zipper on the bag they were carrying burst open, scattering its contents across the yard. Jason stumbled forward, barely managing to stay upright by running a few more steps to regain his balance. ¡°Shit, shit, shit,¡± he muttered under his breath. From the scream, he realized he had basically bulldozed into a woman. After regaining his balance, he hurried back to where she lay on the grass not moving at the moment. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t see you through the fog,¡± still trying to catch his breath. The woman let out a pained groan as she slowly rolled over onto her back, grimacing in pain. ¡°Who the fuck in their right mind runs in the fog? Uggh, just help me up, you dick.¡± She extended her hand towards the sound of the other voice. ¡°Yeah, I know I messed up, I said sorry.¡± Jason grimaced at her insult but grabbed her hand, easily pulling her back to her feet When Jillian finally got back on her feet, she pushed the hood of her oversized hoodie back and found herself face-to-chest with her assailant. Her anger filled scowl looked up only to meet the gaze of the last person she wanted to see. ¡°Jason!?¡± she exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Jillian!?¡± Jason echoed, equally surprised. They locked eyes for a moment, his gaze shifting to the busted open pack she was carrying and the items scattered on the ground. He paused for a few moments, then looked back at her, noting the almost fearful expression on her face. ¡°What the hell is happening here?¡± Chapter 5: Do You Believe in Fate? The two exchanged a look of surprise before Jason finally broke the silence. ¡°What¡¯s this all about?¡± he asked, pulling out his ear buds, actually sounding somewhat concerned. The petite redhead stared up at the man, fear flickering in her eyes, as if she expected him to lash out at her again. Appearing confused, she slowly realized he wasn¡¯t screaming at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the deal with all this stuff you were carrying?¡± He asked again as he motioned towards the items that had spilled out of her bag. Jillian was still a bit dazed as she turned to look at the lawn. Her eyes widened as she spotted all her clothes and items scattered across the grass, including her underwear and lingerie. ¡°Oh shit!¡± she quickly scrambled to collect her belongings on her hands and knees. He watched for a moment before he slowly approached the mess, retrieving a shirt and a single heel. ¡°Here,¡± he spoke quietly as he offered the items to her. Jillian glanced over at Jason, her expression shifting from curiosity to anger in an instant. She snatched the items from his hands, the rude gesture making him scowl. ¡°Well, are you going to answer my question?¡± he asked once more. Jillian scowled and resumed gathering her belongings. ¡°And why should I bother telling you a fuckin thing? Why do you even care?¡± She shot back, her tone filled with spite. Jason sighed heavily, trying to keep his own anger in check. He couldn¡¯t take thinking about last night anymore. Another argument was only going to lead to more pain and sleepless nights. ¡°Listen, what I said last night, it was messed up...¡± She glared back at him. ¡°Oh, really, which part dick head? When you called me a whore? Or when you mocked my anorexia?¡± Her words made him visibly flinch. Another heavy sigh escaped him as he struggled to meet her gaze. ¡°All of it, I guess. Look, we both said shit and I¡ª¡± he began, but was interrupted by the sound of Jillian zipping up her bag, now holding it tightly against her chest. Jillian stood up and began to walk away from the scene. ¡°Hey hold on!¡± Jason shouted, jogging a little to catch up and grabbing her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me!¡± she nearly screamed. He quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back. ¡°Jesus Christ, I¡¯m just trying to fuckin apologize here.¡± Her glare met his gaze as she looked up at him. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not buying it and apology not accepted,¡± she spat back the same words he told her the night before. Jason could feel his anger quickly rising again. ¡°So, what, you¡¯re just gonna let a few mean words dictate your life? You¡¯re gonna run away like some petulant child? I always knew you were a coward, but this is a new low even for you. Abandoning your family like this,¡± his frustration reaching a breaking point. Not even realizing the hypocrisy of his words. ¡°Don¡¯t act like you know a goddamned thing about my life!¡± Jillian screamed as she saw red, the bag falling from her grasp as her hands shoved against his chest. Jason barely even budged when Jillian pushed him with all her might. As a result, she was the one that ended up toppling backward onto the ground, wincing in pain as she landed on her butt hard. ¡°Ow fuck, my ass,¡± she groaned in agony through clenched teeth. Jason struggled to keep from grinning as her attempt to push him had backfired spectacularly. Though a small bit of sympathy passed through him as he stared down at her, grabbing at her backside. He extended a hand to help her up, but Jillian hesitated, shooting him a stubborn glare. ¡°You¡¯re right. It was unfair of me to assume anything. Can¡¯t we just like, call a truce for now or something?¡± For a moment, they stared each other down in silence. After a failed attempt to stand up on her own, she reluctantly accepted his hand, and he effortlessly pulled her back up. Even with Jason¡¯s help, pain shot through Jillian¡¯s body while she couldn¡¯t quite regain her footing. Her legs lacked their normal strength as they shook beneath her. She fell against him, steadying herself by grabbing onto the jacket of his tracksuit. Gritting her teeth at having to rely on him, she was caught off guard when a pheromone infused bomb exploded in her senses. She¡¯d always been overly sensitive to smell, and Jason¡¯s post run scent was like a jab straight to the pleasure center of her brain. She quickly tilted her head down to press her forehead against his chest to hide her expression. Her face flush with unexpected arousal and her wobbly legs even weaker now. Jason watched as Jillian struggled to remain standing. He still tried not to touch her at this point, holding his hands away from her. ¡°You alright?¡± ¡°S-shut up.¡± The worry he felt left him confused. After all, this was the same girl who had made his teenage years a living nightmare and who he had been actively fighting with since he arrived. The white knuckles that were clutching onto his tracksuit made him suspect there was more going on. Finally, Jillian spoke up again. ¡°I¡I can¡¯t move my legs,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. Arching an eyebrow, Jason repeated her words, ¡°You can¡¯t move your legs?¡± She nodded quickly in confirmation, still avoiding directly looking at him. ¡°We should probably get you inside and checked out. If you really can¡¯t move your legs, you might have broken your tailbone or even slipped a disc.¡± Jason said with mild concern. Jillian felt his hands on her body, as he started lifting her. Panic washed over her as she imagined him seeing her flushed face and mocking her with that same awful smirk from last night. ¡°He is gonna think I am getting turned on by him touching me!¡± Her thoughts raced. She was getting turned on, but that was beside the point. ¡°H-hey, w-wait,¡± she stammered out in protest Jillian reflexively covered her face with her hands. Before she knew it, Jason¡¯s arm was around her waist, and he reached down to pick up the backpack. Peeking through her fingers, she found herself staring down at the sidewalk as she hovered above it. ¡°What the fu-?¡± She mumbled. Confusion helped rid her of the arousal she had been feeling. It was still there, just taking a momentary backseat. Jason had hoisted her up like a small animal, his arm snug around her midsection, tucked up against his side. ¡°Quit squirming before I drop you,¡± he cautioned. ¡°Who the fuck carries someone like this?¡± she protested in annoyance, yet relieved he couldn¡¯t see her face. ¡°I guess I do,¡± he replied nonchalantly. Jillian sighed as he continued to tote her along like a parent carrying a child throwing a tantrum, her arms and legs dangling underneath her. Her backpack draped over his other shoulder. Jason carried her back to his home, walking in and headed straight into the office again. Holding her over a small loveseat, he released her as close as he could to it. She let out a small, ¡°Oof¡± as she was dropped onto the sofa. Trying to sit upright, she winced at the pain before rolling to her side. ¡°How¡¯s your legs?¡± Jillian frowned at his question. ¡°They still feel really weak and shaky,¡± she admitted, starting to worry a bit herself that she broke something. Her butt still was still throbbing painfully as well. Jason reached up and unzipped his jacket. Jillian¡¯s eyes quickly shot over to the noise. Watching as he pulled off the top of his tracksuit, her eyes traced the lines of muscle along his biceps. They darted back and forth between his arms and the outline of his torso, barely hidden by the sweat soaked fabric of his tank top that now clung to his form after his long run. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she squeezed her thighs together. Unable to help the soft whimper that came out as she was assaulted by his scent again. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°You don¡¯t look so good? You feeling alright aside the pain?¡± Jason asked, raising an eyebrow catching her staring at him. She looked feverish to him. ¡°Umm...¡± Jillian scowled, avoiding his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just a little sore is all,¡± she replied, trying to change the subject. Jason took a few steps closer to her. Her head tilting up as he got closer, eyes taking on an almost fearful look. as he loomed over her, even more so now that she was laying down. ¡°W-what?¡± A slightly excited curiosity in her voice. ¡°Roll on to your stomach, and I¡¯ll take a look at your back and legs,¡± Jason suggested. ¡°I did a semester of sports medicine in my last year of college, so I know a bit about injuries.¡± He¡¯d picked up boxing a few years before that and needed something to keep him busy, so it seemed like a good class to take. Jillian shot Jason a skeptical glance at the offer, mistrust written all over her face. ¡°Look, I swear I¡¯m just trying to help. I already said sorry and that I felt bad.¡± Why was he the one apologizing again? It¡¯s not like she was exactly innocent last night, either. She let out a slight grumble but complied with his request, rolling on to her stomach. The oversized sweats and baggy hoodie didn¡¯t do her any favors, making her look a bit frumpy. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to examine your spine first and make sure everything¡¯s in place,¡± he explained. She nodded, resting the side of her head on her arms, facing the back of the couch. Jason rubbed his hands together to warm them up. Leaning over Jillian¡¯s body, he reached out and started to pull her hoodie up. ¡°Whoa, hey!¡± she exclaimed, quickly reaching back pulling it back down. ¡°What, what!?¡± he asked, a bit surprised at her sudden complaint. ¡°What the fuck are you doing, you pervert?¡± ¡°I already told you, I¡¯m checking out your spine. What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were gonna strip me.¡± Jillian¡¯s words came out a bit sheepishly, showing her discomfort at the idea of him seeing the bare skin of her midsection and lower. ¡°I¡¯m not, I just¡Ughhh,¡± his patience was wearing thin with this infuriating woman.¡°Look, I promise I¡¯ll do my best to not make things weird, alright?¡± Jason tried to remain calm, but it was getting harder by the second. Jillian let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Alright, fine. Just get it done with then,¡± she relented, burying her face in the couch cushion and crossing her arms over her head. Without another word, Jason reached out and pulled her hoodie up, again. Her body visibly tensed as her back and sides were exposed. She was extremely thin, her vertebrae protruding against her skin much more than they should be. The look she¡¯d given the night before making much more sense to him. Jason had that same gnawing feeling in his gut as another wave of guilt washed over him. He¡¯d planned to stand his ground, but instead, he ended up regretted his choice of words from last night. He gently wrapped his hands around her disturbingly small midsection. More guilt followed as he realized his hands were almost big enough to wrap completely around her, his fingers resting against her stomach. ¡°Ah!...¡± Jillian let out a muffled cry as his large, warm hands made contact. With his thumbs, he started to press and rub against her spine, trying to make sure everything felt like it should. Jillian twitched and let out several small whimpers as he worked his way down, probing her spine carefully. It felt so much better than she thought it would. ¡°Your spine checks out okay, so that¡¯s good.¡± Jason announced confidently. ¡°Great¡¡± Jillian¡¯s voice came out small and muffled as her flushed face remained buried in the sofa. Without warning, he grabbed the waistband of her sweatpants. ¡°Umm, excuse you?!¡± Jillian interrupted, reaching back and grabbing his wrist as she lifted her head to glare at him over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m checking your tailbone, not your ass,¡± he reassured her, albeit poorly. ¡°Women, I swear, always thinking their body is something special,¡± whispering to himself, shaking his head and removing her hand from his wrist. ¡°I doubt there is much ass left, anyway,¡± managing to keep his thoughts to himself this time thankfully. Jillian shot the man a deep scowl and grumbled as she laid flat again, hiding her already flushed face. Unimpeded, Jason grabbed the waistband, which sat high on her hips. Pulling the sweats down, he encountered two large mounds of flesh, blinking a few times in surprise. As he continued to pull, it became increasingly clear that her ass was significantly larger than he expected for someone with such a slight frame. His face heated up slightly, and he cleared his throat awkwardly. He was so busy glaring at her face and fighting; he missed the elephant in the room last night. ¡°Ahem...Okay, well uhh, let me know if this hurts,¡± Jason said, using two fingers to press down on her tailbone area over her black cotton panties. Jillian emitted a small painful groan, but since she didn¡¯t scream, bloody murder was a good sign that her coccyx wasn¡¯t broken. Releasing the waistband, it lightly snapped against her wide hips. ¡°Well, it seems your tailbone isn¡¯t broken either, though it might be bruised,¡± he said, trying to stay professional, avoiding any mention of the obvious fact that her generous posterior probably cushioned her fall. ¡°Well, then why is my ass still throbbing, and why do my legs still feel like they¡¯re friggin¡¯ jello,¡± Jillian groaned, glancing back at Jason who looked lost in thought. He stood up straight, placing one hand on his hip as he ran a hand through his dark hair, a few damp strands falling across his forehead. ¡°Fuck, why does this jerk-off have to be so stupidly hot?¡± she growled in her head. It wasn¡¯t fair, or maybe it was; she couldn¡¯t quite tell at this point. Her mind was still swirling from being trapped in this small room, basically hot boxing the musk he was exuding and remembering the sensation of his hands. Jason shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck and peering down at her outstretched body. ¡°Not sure, but there doesn¡¯t seem to be any permanent damage. You might have just pinched a nerve. Just try to rest to give it some time to recover. You should be able to walk, but you might feel shaky and be in pain for a while.¡± He spoke matter-of-factly, as he desperately tried to keep his eyes above her waist. Still haunted by the small glimpse he got. ¡°Yeah, no, I don¡¯t wanna be stuck on this damn couch any longer than I have to. In your house, of all places. Is there anything I can do to speed this shit up?¡± Jillian grumbled, more than a hint of frustration in her voice. Mainly due to the constant arousal that was demanding her attention every second she lay there. He shrugged his shoulders, not too thrilled with her bad attitude. ¡°I dunno. Try massaging your back or thighs, maybe?¡± He suggested, folding his arms as he glanced towards the door, hoping his mom wouldn¡¯t wake up soon. ¡°Alright, get on with it then,¡± demanded the woman stuck on his dad¡¯s couch. Jason looked back at Jillian, a bit astonished at her request. ¡°Sorry, I swear I just heard something crazy? What did you say?¡± he asked, a strained, toothless smile on his face. ¡°I said, get to rubbing. This is your fault, so you need to fix it.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but laugh at what had to be a joke. She wanted him to massage her? ¡°I swear I¡¯ll start screaming that you kidnapped me,¡± she stated firmly in a serious tone. The realization that she wasn¡¯t joking slowly sank in for him, and his expression shifted accordingly. ¡°Are you serious¡. You are out of your fucking gourd if you think that¡¯s gonna happen!¡± he blurted out, unable to contain his disbelief. Scowling, she took a deep breath, preparing to escalate the situation, but before she could, Jason¡¯s hand swiftly covered her mouth. ¡°Okay, okay, I get it, fuck!¡± He surrendered, staring at the she-devil on the couch.¡°Ah fuck!!¡± Jason yelled, feeling a shooting pain in his hand, quickly withdrawing it. Jillian had fucking bitten him, hard. Examining the teeth marks on his hand, he turned a hard stare at the woman who¡¯d left them. The two glared at each other before he eventually realized there would be no apology from her. He rubbed his hand with a few mumbled curses. Moving closer, he placed one knee in between her calves, while keeping a foot on the floor to steady himself. ¡°Oh, fuck¡he¡¯s actually gonna do it?¡± Jillian¡¯s mind raced as he positioned his leg over hers. She hadn¡¯t been touched by someone other than herself in quite some time. Truly, she didn¡¯t expect him to agree or fall for her bluff. She wasn¡¯t prepared for this¡yet, she couldn¡¯t deny the thrill coursing through her as he leaned in closer. To hide her shame, she bit her lip and buried her face in the couch again. ¡°I¡¯m starting at your knees and working my way up.¡± He explained, not taking any more chances as his crotch was precariously just over her leg. Getting kicked there because she got surprised seemed more likely than it should¡¯ve been. She gave him a silent thumbs up, showing she was ready. He wasn¡¯t even close to a professional at massages, but as his strong fingers wrapped around her lower thighs, she let out a muffled moan into the couch. His fingers pressed and rubbed at the joints of her knee before traveling up. They slowly sunk more and more into her surprisingly thick thighs, rubbing the muscles beneath the skin. Jillian emitted a louder moan this time, her teeth biting into the cushion, trying to keep her voice down. Jason continued massaging her thighs, working his way up slowly but surely. The higher Jason¡¯s hands moved, the more Jillian trembled. He mostly stayed quiet, but she struggled with the sensations that were threatening to overwhelming her at every moment. White knuckles clung to the edge of the cushion, her teeth gnawing at the couch fabric. Jason was almost done with her thighs, trying to stay completely focused on his task, uncertain where her thighs ended and her ass began beneath the loose sweatpants. One important thing about Jason was that he did nothing half-assed. Even if it was massaging a stupid brat. She wasn¡¯t expecting it when his thumbs hit the tender spot where her thighs and cheeks met. She unleashed a loud moan as a surge of pleasure and pain rushed through her. Legs shaking slightly as his thumbs rubbed in a spiral pattern. As quick as it started, it was sadly over. Jillian let out a small whimper as his hands pulled away from her legs. Shifting off of her, he stood next to the couch and folded his arms. ¡°There, I massaged your damn thighs, hope it worked, cause that¡¯s all you¡¯re getting.¡± Jason said, trying to at least keep some of his pride. He did his best to wipe the moans and whimpers she let out from his mind. Jillian rolled onto her back, resting an arm over her forehead. Her face flushed as she gazed at the ceiling with a dazed look. ¡°Oh, fuck... I really needed that,¡± she murmured breathlessly. Jason rolled his eyes at her. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I gave you a massage. Now, can you get the fu¡ª¡± He paused when he heard a noise come from the doorway. They both turned to see Katia, half-awake in her flowing blue nightgown. ¡°Jason,¡± she mumbled through a yawn, rubbing her eyes. Her gaze then landed on Jillian laying on the couch, causing the room to fall silent before Katia spoke up again. ¡°What¡¯s going on in here?¡± Chapter 6: What About, Breakfast at Katiaéˆ¥æªš ¡°Oh uhhh hey, Mom,¡± Jason said, feeling his nerves fray slightly as he looked at his mother, but she was too busy eyeing the girl on the couch to respond to him. ¡°Hi, Mrs.M,¡± Jillian greeted with a dazed expression. Katia looked between them, seeming a bit puzzled and upset. ¡°Mom, I... we uhh...¡± Jason started, but Katia raised her hand to cut him off. ¡°Hold on, Jason. Save it. I want you both in the kitchen in twenty minutes.¡± Jason sighed, feeling a bit dejected. ¡°Alright, Mom, I understand.¡± ¡°I am so unprepared for this, oh my goodness!¡± With that, she hurried off down the hall, leaving Jason feeling like a kid in trouble, even after all these years. ¡°Huh, she took that well,¡¯¡¯ Jillian quipped sarcastically, with a half-asleep tone, letting out a big yawn. ¡°What¡¯s gonna happen?¡± Jason groaned at her. ¡°Honestly, I have no clue. My mom¡¯s never caught me alone with a girl before,¡± he said, roughly scratching the back of his head. Jillian let out a snort, amused. ¡°Yeah, I bet...¡± She quickly trailed off, catching herself slipping into old habits. The harsh glare from Jason didn¡¯t help either. ¡°Sorry,¡± she murmured, gazing back up at the ceiling again. She draped an arm over her midsection, feeling the warmth from earlier slowly fading away. He kinda hated to admit it, but he definitely didn¡¯t have many, if any, girls interested in him during his teen years. At least none that he could remember or knew about. At this point in his life, women had become pests that he mostly shooed away like a pesky fly. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m gonna take a shower. You can... I don¡¯t know, just stay there, and don¡¯t touch anything.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure, whatever,¡± Jillian said, closing her eyes and resting her head back, her mass of red curls spilling out around her. Shaking his head, Jason left the room and headed to the bathroom. Once Jason was out of the room, Jillian cracked open one eye to make sure he was really gone. Slowly sitting up, she rested her arms on her legs. With a deep breath, she ran a hand through her disheveled curls. ¡°Why are you still here... You should just leave and get it over with,¡± she muttered to herself, a scowl forming on her face. Hearing the faint sound of the shower starting in the other room, she glanced up at the wall. Jillian slowly pictured Jason naked in the shower, imagining every muscle glistening as the warm water raced down the ridges of his body. She bit her bottom lip, a warmth spreading through her abdomen. ¡°Fuck, Jill, what is wrong with you, snap out of it. Why am I even fantasizing about this Jerk?¡± The answer was obvious, but she pushed it aside for now. Testing out her legs, they actually felt sturdier as she got up from the couch. Her butt still hurt a bit, but at least she could walk now. She was a bit stunned that the massage had actually done something. She had just wanted a rub down to help with the pain. But it was like his hands were magic. ¡°Damn¡ I didn¡¯t think it would actually work.¡± Leaving the office, she noticed how quiet the house was compared to hers. In a household of eight, silence was a luxury. So this was a welcome change. Walking down the hall, Jillian noticed a door slightly ajar and her curious nature got the best of her. Pushing it open, she found herself in a small room covered with posters of things she didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°World of Warcraft? Metal Gear Solid? What¡¯s a Deeoo-usss duces ex? Friggin nerd,¡± she chuckled to herself, before the realization she was being a bitch again sunk in. ¡°Ugh, can I just not for two damn seconds?¡± she groaned, then flopped face-first onto the bed. She hated being so self aware. Resting her face on the pillow, she caught a whiff of flowery shampoo mixed with that familiar musky scent. She lifted her head, eyebrows raised in surprise. ¡°Hmm, didn¡¯t peg him for the fancy soap type.¡± She sat up on the bed, scanning the room. Standing up, she wandered over to the closet, sliding it open to reveal a row of neatly hung shirts from Jason¡¯s youth. Grabbing one, she examined it¡ªa logo for some video game or whatever nerd shit it was supposed to be. She chuckled to herself, rolling her eyes. ¡°Seriously, he¡¯s got so friggin ¡®many of these. Why don¡¯t I remember any of them?¡± She paused to think about what the boy wore back then. Only ever remembering him being in very basic clothes most of the time. Like he had been too afraid to show any kind of personality. The thought made her stomach turn a little. ¡°Just another addition to the list of things that are my fault.¡± She sighed. Jillian tried to push away the thought of him being unable to express himself, thanks to her. She took a deep breath, eventually cleared her mind, and continued to look through the shirts, running her fingers over each one as she read the sizes aloud. ¡°Double XL, triple XL... Wonder how they would fit him now.¡± The thought made her grin. ¡°They¡¯d be like dresses on me, haha.¡± Like flipping a switch, an idea struck her. Jillian pulled off her hoodie, leaving her completely topless; she casually tossed it aside. She sifted through the shirts until she found one that looked like the logo of a metal band. It would work. Slipping it on, it was way too big, practically reaching her knees, but it sure was comfy. With a slight grin, she checked her phone, pulling it out of her sweatpants pocket. It had been almost twenty minutes, but she could still hear the shower running. Shrugging, she figured Katia couldn¡¯t really punish someone who wasn¡¯t her own daughter. Plus, it was easy to forget she was an adult in her current situation. So she strolled out of the boy¡¯s bedroom and down the hall, when suddenly she caught the aroma of something good. Jason took his time under the cascade of warm water, racking his brain for plausible reasons he and Jillian were alone together so early in the morning. He couldn¡¯t conjure up a convincing excuse. With no intention of deceiving his mother, he decided that honesty, as always, was the best policy; he just hoped she¡¯d understand. Not that they even did anything. After drying off a bit, he wrapped a towel around his waist and cautiously poked his head out of the bathroom door, scanning the hallway for any signs of movement. Finding it clear, he made a dash for his room, shutting the door behind him. Narrowing his eyes, he noticed his closet door was open. Grabbing some clothes out of his bag, he hastily threw on a plain white tee and comfy basketball shorts. Walking out, he made his way down the hall. Jason heard laughter in the distance. Walking into the kitchen, he spotted Jillian at the small table, devouring a whole strip of bacon. His mother was seated beside her, flipping through an album, both of them giggling like teenagers at the pictures. ¡°Uh, what the fuck is this?¡± Jason blurted out, standing a few feet away. ¡°Jason Alexander Merris, mind your language!¡± His mother scolded, both of them looking up from the table, which was overflowing with food - eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, toast, and sliced fresh fruit. Jillian shot Jason a mischievous grin, wearing his black and red Horde shirt from Warcraft. His frown deepened at the sight of his stolen shirt. Katia let out a huff, but her smile quickly returned after scolding him. ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there, sit down and dig in dear. I was just flipping through some old pictures with Jillian here,¡± Jason¡¯s mom chirped happily as she was in her element. Cautiously taking his seat, Jason¡¯s confusion was clear on his face. ¡°You were such a cutie, Jason. What happened?¡± Jillian teased, and both she and Katia burst into giggles again. ¡°Aww, I think he turned into a fine young man, though I do miss my little boy sometimes,¡± Katia sighed wistfully. Jason let out one of his own, though a bit more melancholic, as he piled food onto his plate. Jillian whistled, her eyes glued to a photo Jason couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Who¡¯s that handsome devil?¡± she asked. Katia explained, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s Jason¡¯s dad way back when we first got together.¡± Jillian was a bit speechless as she examined the handsome visage of a younger version of Jason¡¯s father lounging by a pool. ¡°Oh damn, Katia, good for you. Where¡¯s he now?¡± The jovial mood suddenly shifted as Katia¡¯s smile faded slightly, a heavy silence hanging in the air. The clinking of Jason¡¯s fork against his plate was the only remaining sound as he continued eating. It quickly became evident to Jillian that something had happened to Katia¡¯s husband¡ Jason¡¯s father. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Katia let out a soft and short ¡°Heh,¡± Like she was trying to keep the cheerful mood going but failed. ¡°My Franky was such a good man, and we were blessed to have him. My family couldn¡¯t stand him, but he never let that get in his way.¡± Her fingers lightly traced the edge of the picture. ¡°During his time in the army, he worked with some hazardous materials. The cancer crept up on him slowly. He showed no signs of being sick until the last few years of his life. The doctor said we were lucky to have the time we did with him. He was the strongest man I knew, and he fought as hard as he could to give us what he did.¡± Jason remained silent, keeping his mouth busy with his as he aggressively shoveled food into it. ¡°He left us a few weeks after Jason''s thirteenth birthday...¡± She struggled to hold back tears. Jillian sat in stunned silence, absorbing the painful memory that Katia was sharing. ¡°He was always so proud of his son. If only he could see the man he is now¡¡± Katia paused as she struggled to continue, ¡°I am sure he would have loved to meet you as well, dear.¡± She fanned herself with her hand to try to cool down, blowing out a long breath. ¡°Haha, sorry, I¡¯m just making a mess of myself. Please excuse me.¡± Giving them a quivering smile despite the sadness in her eyes. Jillian, to her credit, didn¡¯t crack any jokes or make any snide remarks. Like he half expected from her. Instead, she leaned over and gave Katia a big hug, which she returned. They held each other for a while, leaving Jason to watch them in silence. When their embrace finally broke, Katia sniffed loudly and smiled at Jillian. ¡°Thank you, sweetheart,¡± she whispered, but just Jillian shook her head. ¡°Please don''t thank me. I¡¯m sorry if I brought up any bad memories.¡± Katia just laughed softly, wiped her eyes, and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t see any memories of my late husband as bad ones.¡± ¡°Yeah, but what about that time dad came home drunk and he¡¡± Jason began, but his mom cut him off with a look that could kill, all while smiling pleasantly. ¡°Oh, let¡¯s not bring that one up, okay sweetheart?¡± sounding more like a threat, she warned him not to bring up that particular moment. Jason just grinned and went back to eating. Jillian perked up, intrigued. She made a mental note to ask Jason about it later. It made her wonder, did she want there to be a later? Did he? Today he had been looking at her with a mix of pity and anger. She didn¡¯t want to stick around if he only saw her as some kind of charity case that he was begrudgingly putting up with. The rest of breakfast passed without much excitement. Jillian couldn¡¯t believe how much food Jason could fit in his stomach. Watching him use a piece of toast to wipe up the last bits of food from his plate, she couldn¡¯t help but stare. He bit the toast in half with one bite before glancing up at Jillian, who was still staring at him. Chewing slowly, they locked eyes. ¡°What?¡± he asked, slightly annoyed. Jillian, trying to sound innocent, replied. ¡°Nothing... Just never seen someone eat like you before. You¡¯re like a human garbage disposal.¡± Setting his toast down, he cast a glance to his mother, who was busy preparing more tea, then back to Jillian. His tone became serious and slightly angry. ¡°So what, you¡¯re stooping back to fat jokes now?¡± Taken aback, Jillian furrowed her brow. ¡°What!? No, of course not, you friggin'' idiot. You just ate five eggs, two giant pancakes, a ton of bacon and sausage, and four pieces of toast. It¡¯s more impressive than anything.¡± Jason finished the last bite of his toast while Jillian failed miserably at not being insulting. He leaned back in his chair, giving her a stare like she was next on the menu. Before he could reply, his mom handed Jillian a cup of tea with honey. ¡°It¡¯s so nice cooking for others again,¡± she said, beaming. Katia then hugged Jason tightly, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind. ¡°So good to have you home, sweetie,¡± she said for the hundredth time since he¡¯d arrived. He reached up and gently squeezed her arm. ¡°Feels good to be home, Mom.¡± After breakfast, Jason and Jillian pitched in to clear the table, despite his mom¡¯s protests. Eventually, they found themselves at the front door. ¡°Thanks for coming over again, Jillian. It was so great getting a chance to talk with you more,¡± Katia said, giving Jillian a hug. ¡°No, thank you, Miss M. Breakfast was delicious,¡± Jillian returned the hug warmly. ¡°Please, just call me Katia,¡± she insisted, releasing her. Jillian nodded, stepping back to grab her backpack from beside the door. Katia turned to address her son. ¡°Well, you¡¯re going to walk her home aren¡¯t you?¡± she suggested, her tone sweet. ¡°What? Do we suddenly live in a violent city or something and we can¡¯t walk a few blocks?¡± Jason said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Katia shot her son a disapproving glare. ¡°It¡¯s good manners to walk a lady home, and no son of mine is going to be so rude.¡± Jillian couldn¡¯t help but stifle a laugh, then playfully used the oversized shirt she was wearing to curtsy behind Katia¡¯s back. Jason rolled his eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. ¡°Okay, fine, whatever. Let¡¯s go then,¡± he relented, getting his shoes on and reluctantly making his way to the door, holding it open for Jillian. ¡°Bye now! Don¡¯t be a stranger!¡± Katia called out as they left. They¡¯d only gone about a block away when Jason stopped abruptly. ¡°Hey, hold on a sec,¡± he said, catching Jillian¡¯s attention as she stopped a few steps away. ¡°Yeah?¡± With one hand on his hip and the other rubbing his forehead, Jason began his interrogation. ¡°First, why are you wearing one of my old shirts? Second, what were you doing in my room? Third, what is this game you¡¯re playing getting close to my mom like that? I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to pull here, but it needs to stop.¡± Jillian scowled, feeling defensive as Jason went on with his barrage of questions. She didn¡¯t appreciate the implication that she had some malicious intent. ¡°First, don¡¯t worry about it. Second, seriously don¡¯t worry about it. And third, for your information, I wasn¡¯t trying to pull anything. Your mom just asked me to join her for breakfast, so I did. Why do you think I¡¯m out to wreck your life still?¡± she asked, folding her arms across her small chest. ¡°Maybe because you¡¯re you.¡± Jason let out a frustrated sigh. Her tendency to respond to his questions without actually answering them annoyed the ever living shit out of him. He rubbed his temples, trying to ease his growing headache. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get real here.You don¡¯t like me and I don¡¯t like you, so-¡° Jason began, but before he could continue, Jillian interjected. ¡°Hold up. I never said I didn¡¯t like you. I mean, yeah, you said some pretty hurtful stuff last night, but¡¡± Jillian retorted, her arms still folded defensively. He paused, a bit stunned by her confession, nodded slowly. ¡°Okay¡well the way we¡¯re going about this isn¡¯t sustainable. We need to figure out some middle ground so we¡¯re not constantly at each other¡¯s throats. For the sake of our parents at least.¡± ¡°Fine, what¡¯s your great idea then?¡± she asked, feeling uneasy now. ¡°Well, I was thinking the easiest thing to do is just avoid each other as much as we can,¡± Jason suggested. Jillian tried not to let her annoyance show anymore than it already was. ¡°Okay, and if our parents keep trying to organize more family gatherings?¡± He shrugged before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Try to dodge them if possible? We¡¯re both adults, so they can¡¯t exactly make us do anything.¡± Jillian chuckled at the thought. ¡°Do you honestly think you could say no to your mom? I don¡¯t know about yours, but mine practically has me on a leash right now since I¡¯ve been living at home, rent free,¡± she said, revealing more than she had intended. Grumbling, Jason glanced down at the petite woman with a stern expression. ¡°I get your point, but just try. If it happens, fine, but let¡¯s at least avoid each other as much as we can outside those gatherings. Also, cut out that whole running away bullshit. Don¡¯t be such a coward.¡± Jillian shot him a hard glare. ¡°First off, yeah, cause I totally planned on getting ran over this morning and second, fuck you.¡± She retorted, causing Jason to emit a low growl. ¡°Great, so it¡¯s settled then.¡± He extended his hand for a shake. ¡°Yup, hope I never see your stupid face again.¡± Jillian responded, mustering all her strength to grip his hand firmly. ¡°Feelings mutual, bitch,¡± Jason squeezed her hand a bit too hard, earning him a death glare in return. ¡°Dick.¡± Meanwhile, Katia excitedly spoke over the phone. ¡°There¡¯s definitely something happening between them. They were so adorable together. Our little plan is really working!¡± The two middle aged women squealed slightly. She had called Ginny as soon as the couple had left. Ginny didn¡¯t even know her daughter had left, but she quickly caught on and joined in the excitement. ¡°Oh, my god. Katia. We could have grandchildren by this time next year!¡± Ginny gasped. Katia couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Oh, come on, Ginny, they¡¯ve only just met!¡± Still, having grandkids would be a dream come true for the both of them. ¡°Kitty, you wouldn¡¯t believe how quickly kids move these days. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if we¡¯re hearing faint wedding bells before these two weeks are over,¡± Ginny exaggerated into the phone. She stole a glance at her husband, both of them still lying together naked in bed. Damon looked less than thrilled at his wife¡¯s conversation. As he gave her side eye, reading some news on his phone. With a grin, she leaned over and pecked his cheek with a kiss while Katia spoke. ¡°I just hope they keep in touch when Jason has to go back to Florida,¡± Katia said, being the more grounded one between them. ¡°Oh, I think I heard Jillian coming in. I¡¯ll catch up with you later, hon. Let¡¯s plan something for tomorrow as well if we can!¡± Ginny exclaimed. ¡°For sure! I think Jason just walked in as well. I¡¯ll talk to you later, bye.¡± Katia had been washing dishes while talking when Jason returned home, while Ginny hurriedly put on some clothes to go see Jillian. Both moms intercepted their kids as they headed to their rooms. ¡°Hey hun, how¡¯d it go?¡± Katia asked sweetly, while Ginny assaulted Jillian with a smirk, saying, ¡°Well, well, well, look who¡¯s back. How¡¯s it going, wild child?¡± Almost simultaneously, Jason and Jillian exclaimed, ¡°Just fine!¡± before disappearing into their rooms and lightly slamming their doors. Chapter 7: The Game of Phones The two moms were left confused after the sudden outburst. They both grabbed their phones and started texting each other. On Ginny¡¯s phone, she saw Katia¡¯s message: ¡°Is Jillian okay?¡± Meanwhile, on Katia¡¯s phone, she got Ginny¡¯s text: ¡°Did Jillian do something rude?¡± They both chuckled softly as the messages popped up almost simultaneously. Ginny then tried calling Katia, but her line was busy as she tried to call her. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh at how in sync they were. ¡°Can you call me again?¡± Ginny texted. Ginny answered right when her phone buzzed. ¡°Hey, long time no hear!¡± she greeted, a hint of laughter in her voice. ¡°Hi stranger!¡± Katia chuckled on the other end. ¡°So, let¡¯s hear it. You said they were hitting it off, right?¡± Ginny inquired eagerly. ¡°Yeah, they seemed to be really into each other. I mean, they could barely take their eyes off one another. I thought it was going great. But when I asked Jason about it, he just said it was fine and went to his room.¡± ¡°Are you serious? Jillian pulled the same thing,¡± Ginny added. Katia let out a disappointed sigh. ¡°I wonder what happened between here and there.¡± Ginny wasn¡¯t worried too much as she walked downstairs and laid back on the couch. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s probably nothing serious. They¡¯re still figuring things out, you know? Bound to have a few tiffs along the way. Maybe just sorting out their safe word or something,¡± she teased, hearing her friend gasp on the other end. ¡°Ginny! Oh my god, you¡¯re so bad!¡± Katia chuckled, her voice brimming with affection. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kat. By tomorrow, they¡¯ll have kissed and made up. Trust me,¡± Ginny reassured her confidently. ¡°Junebug, I will tell you right now ¨C men are trash,¡± Jillian grumbled, frustration clear as she vigorously brushed her little sister¡¯s long red hair. ¡°Sure, they might seem like Greek gods on the outside, all chiseled and smelling like se-.... good, but trust me, inside? Trash.¡± June winced a bit as her hair got tangled in the comb. ¡°Oh, let¡¯s just try to avoid each other, blah blah blah,¡± Jillian said, mocking Jason¡¯s words. ¡°Who the hell says shit like that?¡± Frustration coursing through her as she angrily braided June¡¯s hair overly tight, making the teen feel like a battered Barbie doll, getting a facelift by an unruly toddler. Laying on his bed, Jason stared at the ceiling, feeling restless and annoyed. He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found Marco¡¯s name. After a few rings, Marco¡¯s voice answered in an over the top stereotypical Hispanic accent. ¡°Hola, Como Estas, wha chu wan homes?¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°Yeah, I wanted to order some tacos, but hold the salmonella this time.¡± Both of them shared a laugh before Marco switched to clear, well-spoken English. ¡°So, you¡¯re back from vacation already? Couldn¡¯t handle it or what?¡± ¡°Nah, still out here in Colorado.¡± ¡°Oh, then why¡¯re you calling me?¡± Marco then feigned shock. ¡°You missed my charming voice that much?¡± ¡°Haha, yeah, Marco, I needed to hear that soothing white washed Latin accent before my nap,¡± Jason shot back, a wide grin on his face. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s up dude?¡± Marco asked, curious why he was being called out of the blue. Jason let out a big sigh, preparing himself. ¡°Remember that time I got way too drunk and told you about my old highschool bully?¡± Marco chuckled a bit. ¡°Yeah, how could I forget? You went on for hours about how she messed up your life and everything was her fault or something along those lines. I made a mental note never to let you near tequila again.¡± They shared another laugh before Jason continued, ¡°Whelp, guess who I bumped into on my first fuckin day back.¡± There was a pause before Marco spoke again. ¡°No way! You actually ran into her the minute you got back? Haha, classic. Did you give her a piece of your mind?¡± There was only silence for several moments. ¡°You chickened out, didn¡¯t you?¡± Marco teased. ¡°Not¡ really... I just... instantly regretted it,¡± Jason admitted, prompting another round of laughter from his friend. ¡°Oh shit, haha, what happened?¡± Jason recounted the events of the previous night, how Jillian had found him in the study, and attempted a poorly executed apology, which he promptly shut down with extreme prejudice. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Damn, dude,¡± Marco said, like he was shaking his head. ¡°But that¡¯s not even the part I feel bad about...¡± Jason trailed off, covering his eyes with his hand, really not wanting to repeat what he said. ¡°What?! Come on, you can¡¯t leave me hanging like that. We Cubans live for this soap opera shit,¡± Marco urged him to continue. ¡°Well, she¡¯s really skinny, so I might¡¯ve said something about her¡ throwing up dinner...,¡± Jason finally admitted. Marco stayed silent for a moment. ¡°Okay, but did you tell her she looked like she was going to throw up, or suggest she should? Come on, homie, ya gotta be more specific than that.¡± Marco pressed for more details. Jason sighed yet again, rubbing his eyes. If there was one person he could be honest with and get a straight answer from, it was Marco. They¡¯d been friends since day one at TDSS, even though they worked in different departments. They met during a break and became instant friends. ¡°Ugh, I really don¡¯t want to fuckin repeat it, dude,¡± Jason complained. ¡°Well, now you¡¯ve gotta. C¡¯mon, I won¡¯t bust your balls too hard,¡± Marco prodded. Jason took a deep breath before finally letting it all out. ¡°I said... Why don¡¯t you... go throw up my mom¡¯s cooking, you ungrateful trash...¡± The words hung heavy in the air, followed by an even longer silence. ¡°Marco¡ hello?¡± Jason spoke up, wondering if he was still there. Eventually, Marco responded, ¡°Hold up dude, I¡¯m looking up the treatment for tenth-degree burns.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not funny dude. The look she gave me after I said that¡it was fucking gut wrenching. And today I found out she actually has anorexia.¡± He muttered the last bit. ¡°Dios m¨ªo, Santa Mar¨ªa,¡± Marco exclaimed in shock. ¡°Dude, that¡¯s fucked? I know you have issues with women and all, and yeah, this girl bullied you in school, but¡ fuck man, that¡¯s brutal, even for you.¡± Marco wasn¡¯t exactly making Jason feel any better. Not that he expected him to do so. He let out a frustrated groan. ¡°I knoowwwww! I already apologized, and I told you I feel fucking terrible. Wait, what do you mean issues¡¯ with women?¡± ¡° Seriously... How long have we been friends, Jason?¡± Jason paused for a moment, counting in his head. ¡°About four years. Why?¡± ¡°And how many times have I tried to set you up?¡± Jason rolled his eyes. ¡°Um... I don¡¯t know who¡¯s counting.¡± There was a brief pause after his response. ¡°Sorry, had to open my notes app. One hundred and seven times, almost every damn weekend, dude. And how many of those have actually gone anywhere?¡± Marco asked. ¡°Well, it¡¯s probably...¡± Jason began, only to be interrupted by Marco practically yelling into the phone. ¡°Fucking none, zilch, nada, zero! You. Have. Issues. With. Women! The defense rests, your Honor.¡± ¡°Dude, come on! Just because I don¡¯t want to date some random slut you found me. It doesn¡¯t mean I hate women,¡± Jason shot back, exasperated. Silence hung heavy for a moment before Marco spoke again. ¡°Dude. . . I¡¯ve tried to set you up with my cousin more than once. Does your foot naturally gravitate toward your mouth, or do you just like the flavor?¡± Marco jabbed, causing Jason to feel bad. ¡°Bro, I didn¡¯t mean...¡± Jason began to apologize before Marco cut him off. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m just making a point. You keep shutting yourself off from any chance at a relationship or even simple hookups. But we are getting off topic. I¡¯m guessing you had a reason for calling me, other than to vent?¡± Jason took yet another deep breath. ¡°Yeah... I just... I told her we should avoid each other from now on. Then we didn¡¯t part on the best of terms this morning. I just feel all mixed up, and I¡¯m not sure where to go from here... Any advice would be appreciated.¡± Marco seemed genuinely surprised at the request. ¡°I see...well, let me think.¡± Marco and Jason chatted for another hour or so. Not all of it was advice, but some of it was, and Jason tried to take what his much, ¡°Much¡± more experienced friend had to say to heart. Though he wasn¡¯t really sure, he could do most of what Marco suggested. At the Lins¡¯ home, Jillian quickly scrolled through her contacts and tapped on Mika¡¯s name. June had escaped with her life while Jillian was searching through her old collection of make-up. She¡¯d had enough of being her sister¡¯s emotional dumping ground and dress-up doll. So Jillian defaulted to the next best thing: Her best friend Mika. Jillian heard a sleepy voice pick up on the other end. ¡°Mika¡¯s Needle Works, no tribal, barbed wire or dick tattoos. How can I help you?¡± the woman answered, sounding worn out. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but laugh and tease her. ¡°Is that really how you answer your shop phone?¡± There was a moment of silence before Mika replied, ¡°Oh shit... this is my personal phone, isn¡¯t it? Ugh, I drank too much last night,¡± she groaned. ¡°Well, get ready for a round two because we¡¯re going all out tonight,¡± Jillian declared. ¡°I need to blow off some steam. And if I have to stay sober for much longer, I swear I¡¯m gonna fuckin lose it.¡± she went on, ready to drown any thoughts of Jason in a sea of booze. ¡°Oh yeah? Well, I assume you¡¯re paying then?¡± Mika quipped, fully aware that Jillian was broke. The question hung in the air, allowing Mika to stew in her own words. Eventually, she relented with a heavy sigh. It was as if she could visualize Jillian pouting with big, sad puppy-dog eyes. ¡°Ugh, fine, but you owe me another shift, girl. That¡¯s almost two weeks¡¯ worth of work you owe me now,¡± Mika said, succumbing to the imaginary, sad puppy eyes. ¡°Deal, I really need it tonight. You wouldn¡¯t believe the morning I¡¯ve had,¡± Jillian groaned into the phone. ¡°Oh no, not happening. I just woke up and my head¡¯s pounding. You can bitch about it to me tonight, but right now, I¡¯m gonna go curl up with the toilet with the lights off,¡± Mika said, making a small gagging noise as she dry heaved. ¡°Aww, but...¡± Jillian began, but Mika cut her off abruptly. ¡°Nope! Ow, goddamnit...¡± Her head throbbed from her own outburst. ¡°We¡¯ll talk tonight. Bye, Jill.¡± She hung up, with a final groan of pain. Jillian glared at her phone, then huffed and flopped onto her bed. Resting her head on the pillow, she let out a heavy sigh. With her mind finally left to wander, it inevitably drifted to the one place she didn¡¯t want it to go: a handsome face, deep green eyes, rugged jawline, and a harsh scowl: Jason¡¯s stupid face. She recalled the different expressions he wore, and the image of his form standing over her, breathless and drenched in sweat from his morning run. Her whole body shivered as she remembered that damn intoxicating scent. ¡°Ughhhh, it¡¯s not fair!¡± she groaned, burying her face in her pillow as she replayed their last conversation in her mind. Even though they¡¯d agreed to stay out of each other¡¯s way, she couldn¡¯t help but hope to see him at least once more. Spending time with him hadn¡¯t been entirely awful¡ the hurtful comments and arguments aside, maybe even enjoyable¡¡±That massage was something else,¡± she muttered, biting her pillow. She leaned into the softness of the oversized shirt she¡¯d stolen. Inhaling deeply, she wrinkled her nose at the scent of musty fabric mixed with a hint of detergent. With a sigh, she hugged her pillow tighter. ¡°Should¡¯ve grabbed one from his bag.¡± Those thoughts followed her as she started to drift off, feeling the fatigue from the sleepless night before creeping in. Falling asleep to thoughts of Jason seemed like a twisted joke. After high school, she never imagined they¡¯d cross paths again, let alone end up here¡ªolder, but only one of them having their act together in her mind, and it certainly wasn¡¯t her. Chapter 8: Rarely is Happiness Found At The Bottom of a Bottle. Jillian jolted awake at the sound of a knock on her door. ¡°Jill, hun, you up?¡± Her mom¡¯s voice came through. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, Jillian mumbled a response, her hair an absolute mess and stuck to her face. ¡°Mmm?¡± she managed. ¡°Dinner¡¯s almost ready. You joining us?¡± her mom asked. Jillian nodded to no one, still half-asleep. ¡°Yeah, . . . sure,¡± she mumbled out. ¡°Okay dear, we¡¯ll be downstairs whenever you¡¯re ready,¡± her mom replied, before her footsteps faded down the hall. Jillian smacked her lips a few times and rubbed her eyes before it finally registered. ¡°Dinner?!¡± she shouted, glancing at her phone. It was almost four-thirty. She¡¯d slept for nearly five hours! Letting out a frustrated groan, she ran her hands through her hair, yanking it free from the dried drool on her face. ¡°Ow,¡± heading out of her room and into the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her red curls were a mess, sticking out in all directions. With a sigh, she opted for the easiest solution and pulled her hair into a poofy ponytail, securing it with a hair tie. Afterwards, Jillian made her way downstairs, her poof ball of a ponytail bouncing with each step. The noise from the kitchen table already reached her ears - her youngest brother making a racket from his highchair, and the aroma of spaghetti wafting through the air. Entering the kitchen, she spotted her mom putting the finishing touches on the meal while her dad was engrossed in a tool magazine. June had let her hair down, probably because Jillian had braided it way too tightly earlier. But Jillian wasn¡¯t upset with her for it; after all, being the only other girl in the house aside from their mom, June had a get out of jail free card with unlimited uses when it came to her. There was the youngest boy in the house, at barely two years old, sitting in his high chair. ¡°Come on, Calvin, stop playing with it and eat your food,¡± urged one of the older brothers, Wendel, as he attempted to spoon-feed Calvin mashed peas. Wendel¡¯s long, dark brown hair matched his father¡¯s. Sitting beside him was Reese, his twin, who was engrossed in his phone, probably texting a girl from school. He sported short, clean-cut hair, which also resembled Damon¡¯s rich chocolate brown. And then there was Lonnie, a bit of a troublemaker, who mostly steered clear of Jillian. Not that she blamed him; she had left home when he was just a baby, so he didn¡¯t have any memories of her, unlike their other siblings¡ªexcluding Calvin, of course. Ginny turned to look at Jillian with a smile. ¡°Hey there sleepy head, you feeling alright? You slept for quite a while.¡± Her mom spoke with mild concern, but Jillian waved it away. ¡°I¡¯m fine, mom. I was just catching up on some lost sleep.¡± She said as her mom nodded, but gave her a knowing grin. ¡°Yeah, I heard you woke up quite early. Pretty rare for you, sweetie.¡± Jillian narrowed her eyes at her mother before quickly sneaking a piece of french bread, topped with garlic butter from the plate on the counter. Silently walking to the table, she sat down next to June and across from her youngest brother and the twins. Eagerly gnawing on her bread, she leaned against the table, soaking in the moment. She¡¯d spent so many years away from her family, even a simple spaghetti night felt precious to her. Until she sensed someone¡¯s gaze and looked across the table. She caught Wendel eyeballing her chest. With a furrowed brow, she gulped down her bread and cleared her throat to address her brother. ¡°Ahem... Excuse me, what the fuck Wendel?¡± Her tone tinged with accusation. Wendel, looking perplexed, quickly shifted his gaze to Jillian¡¯s face. ¡°Huh, what?¡± he replied innocently. Irritated, she draped an arm over her chest. ¡°Hell do you mean, what? Why are you staring at my chest like that, you fuckin creep?¡± ¡°Jillian, watch your language, and Wendel, don¡¯t stare,¡± their mother interjected. ¡°What!? I wasn¡¯t staring at your chest!¡± Wendel protested, though he realized he kind of was. ¡°What chest?¡± Reese chimed in, earning him a glare from Jillian as Wendell tried to explain, ¡°I mean, I was, but I was checking out your shirt. Since when are you into MMOs?¡± Wendel saw the confused expression on his sister¡¯s face at the term. ¡°That shirt you¡¯re wearing? It¡¯s from a game called World of Warcraft. It¡¯s like a faction emblem.¡± He explained. ¡°Oh...¡± Jillian mumbled with a mouthful of bread, glancing down at her shirt. ¡°It¡¯s not mine actually. I just borrowed it because it was the least geeky thing I could find,¡± she explained. Wendel chuckled at her remark. ¡°Well, hate to break it to you, sis, but wearing that shirt, people are gonna think you¡¯re a geeky gamer girl. They might even ask if you stream.¡± Jillian was completely lost in this conversation. ¡°Ugh, whatever. I wasn¡¯t planning on wearing it out anyway,¡± she shrugged. Suddenly, a voice chimed in unexpectedly, ¡°It looks way too big for you¡ where¡¯d you get it?¡± Just about everyone turned to glance at Damon, sitting at the head of the table. Their father, usually the strong and silent type, hardly spoke, but when he did, his deep, commanding voice grabbed everyone¡¯s attention. Jillian attempted to smile at her father, though it came out rather weak. ¡°Um, well...¡± She wracked her brain for an excuse that wouldn¡¯t immediately give away the fact that she¡¯d been in Jason¡¯s room. Fortunately, her mother came to the rescue. ¡°Oh, sweetie, it¡¯s just a shirt. Anyway, food¡¯s ready. No more arguing. Let¡¯s eat.¡± With that, she placed a large pot of spaghetti and a plate of garlic bread on the table. Jillian mouthed a ¡°thank you¡± to her mother, who simply winked back before everyone dug into their meal. Jason and his mom sat down together for dinner. Katia had whipped up a homemade meatloaf, fully loaded baked potatoes, and some steamed veggies. Jason had already devoured half the meatloaf, a baked potato, and close to 3 cups of veggies. His mother spoke up in the middle of their meal. ¡°Jason,¡± she interrupted the second potato of his feast that he held like a taco. ¡°Yeah mom?¡± ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t help but notice you and Jillian. You guys seemed to get along, but earlier, when you came home, you seemed a bit frustrated. What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked gently, genuinely curious. Jason had taken a large bite of the potato and chewed slowly, buying himself some time to think of a response. As Jason finally finished chewing his food, he let out a small sigh. ¡°Well, she¡¯s definitely... interesting. She¡¯s got some quirks that are different, but overall, I¡¯d say she¡¯s... nice, I guess,¡± he said casually, taking another bite, hiding the lie on his face with food. Katia, eager for his opinion, was hanging on his every word. ¡°Nice,¡± she echoed, her smile faltering slightly, but still held on mostly. ¡°Oh, um, nice... well, nice is good. Yeah, nice is really good,¡± she babbled, unsure of what else to say. Jason just nodded, focusing back on his meal. ¡°Mmmhmm. Can I get another couple slices of meatloaf, please?¡± he said, raising his empty plate. Katia smiled and nodded happily. ¡°Sure thing, honey,¡± taking his plate like it was completely normal for someone to have such an enormous appetite. ¡°Have any plans for later tonight?¡± Katia asked as she cut up the meatloaf and plated it. Jason let out a thoughtful hum. ¡°Well, I was thinking maybe I¡¯d go for a run, then cruise around town a bit, see what¡¯s new, you know?¡± He shrugged, trying to think of random ideas to pass the time. ¡°Oh, maybe you could check out where the old drive-in used to be. They tore it down a few years ago and put up a huge strip mall,¡± Katia suggested, smiling. ¡°Sure, I guess that is something. Though I can¡¯t believe they didn¡¯t just build a regular mall or something,¡± he chuckled, noting the quirky differences of small-town life compared to where he lived now. Back near his workplace, there were like half a dozen malls within fifty miles, though he never really went to any of them. Katia put his plate back down in front of him with two thick slices of meatloaf on it. Leaning over to plant a kiss on the side of his head, she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re home, Jason,¡± before wrapping her arms around him once more. After dinner, Jillian headed back up to her room. She peeled off Jason¡¯s oversized shirt and ditched her sweatpants and panties. Then grabbed a towel from her hamper and made her way to the bathroom. Starting the shower, she waited until the water was just warm enough before slipping in. She briefly considered touching herself like she usually did during baths and showers, but the idea faded quickly. It was strange, because she usually needed release multiple times a day. But the intensity of Jason¡¯s massage had left her feeling more than content. So she quickly washed her body and hair, finishing in near record time for her. Little did she know, her surprisingly short shower had caught almost everyone in the house off guard. As the spigot was turned off, almost the entire family turned their head towards the bathroom like it was some sort of beacon. They were so accustomed to her taking at least forty minutes. Her mother even got so worried she made her way to the bathroom door and knocked on it. ¡°Jillian, is everything okay in there,¡± Ginny asked. ¡°Uhhh yeah, why?¡± ¡°Oh nothing sweetie, just checking on you.¡± Jillian thought that was rather weird. It wasn¡¯t like she slipped and fell or anything. Shrugging, she quickly dried off. Heading back to her room, she rifled through her closet for something to wear. After a quick search, she settled on a plain, black, tight-fitting long-sleeved top that cut off just above her midriff, showing off a bit of skin. Her stomach wasn¡¯t concave after she did her best to eat as much as she could, but it certainly wasn¡¯t bulging either. It was just okay at this point, mostly thanks to months of hard work. Pairing it with some purple yoga pants that had a black stripe down the sides, she laid everything out neatly on her bed. She glanced at herself in the mirror, then grabbed her comb to tackle the tangle of wet curls. Brushing them out now was a breeze with her leave in conditioner, but she knew they¡¯d spring back into their usual curly nightmare once they dried. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. After slipping into some panties and a bra, Jillian quickly put on the rest of her outfit. Using her makeup kit she applied some eyeliner, smokey eyeshadow, lash filler, a touch of soft pink lip gloss, with a subtle blush to match. Lastly she spritzed herself with her favorite perfume to top it off. With how much work she was putting in, one might think she would be a little satisfied with their look. Yet glancing at herself in the mirror, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of deep dissatisfaction with her appearance. Despising the person she saw in the mirror. The reflection was a constant reminder of past mistakes and the abuses she suffered. Taking a moment to gather herself, she had to remind herself that tonight was supposed to be about having fun and unwinding. She hoped a few drinks would lift her spirits. With her phone tucked into the waistband of her yoga pants, she made her way downstairs. ¡°Daddy!?¡± she called out. Jillian eventually found her father still sitting at the table with her mother and baby brother trying to crawl out of her arms. They seemed to be discussing something, her father seemingly unhappy with the topic. ¡°Hey dad?¡± Jillian called out again, catching his attention. ¡°Would you mind taking me down to Mika¡¯s pleeeease?¡± She asked with a sweet tone, intertwining her fingers and pressing them to her lap. She even threw in some puppy-dog eyes for effect. Ginny laughed softly and gently squeezed her husband¡¯s hand before getting up with Calvin in her arms. ¡°Have fun, sweetie,¡± she said, knowing the man wouldn¡¯t possibly say no to her. Heading out into the living room to sit down, where Lonnie was watching cartoons and Reese was still glued to his phone. Damon rose slowly and gave his daughter a soft smile. ¡°Sure sweetheart.¡± Jillian returned the smile and hugged her father around the waist. ¡°Thank you, daddy,¡± she said sweetly as they made their way towards the front door. Leaving the house, the two jumped into her dad¡¯s SUV. It wasn¡¯t super fancy, but it could fit most of the family, though squeezing in everyone meant someone usually ended up in the back, often the twins. Passing by the Merris house, Jillian glanced over and saw the same expensive SUV in the driveway, instantly thinking of Jason. Damon caught her looking over at Katia¡¯s house with a strange expression. Ginny warned him that something was going on with her and Jason. He scowled slightly, but looked forward before Jillian noticed she had been caught. Pulling up to the curb outside Mika¡¯s tattoo parlor, a two-story building that doubled as her home, Jillian unbuckled her seatbelt. Before she could open the door, Damon spoke up. ¡°Jillian¡¡± quietly trying to get her attention. She turned to look at her father, and they sat there for a moment. ¡°I love you,¡± he finally said. Jillian smiled back. ¡°Love you too, Daddy.¡± Leaning over the center console, she gave her father a kiss on his scratchy cheek. He gave her hand a good squeeze before Jillian hopped out of the car. She waved at her father after she closed the door. He only drove off once she was safely inside the parlor. The buzzing of needles greeted Jillian as the heavy pounding of a metal song blared from the speakers. In the lounge area, a girl with vibrant blue hair lounged on the couch, absorbed in her phone. Her black lipstick matched the multiple piercings adorning her lips, cheeks, nose, and eyebrow. She wore chunky goth boots and a mishmash of ripped black fishnet stockings, black skirt, and a loose dirty looking tank that barely covered her giant boobs. ¡°Hey Grace,¡± Jillian greeted with a smile. Grace only grunted in acknowledgment without looking up from her phone, feet propped up on the arm of the couch. Moving further in, she approached the unattended front counter. The sound of a tattoo machine halted, followed by the snap of a rubber glove. Moments later, a man with a towering green mohawk and tattoos covering nearly every inch of his skin emerged. He had numerous piercings on his face, and Jillian vaguely recognized him as Grace¡¯s current boyfriend. They seemed to practically live at the parlor. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what kind of jobs they had where they made enough money to get so much ink done. The rumor was they ran a porn site but she¡¯d never seen the proof at least. The couple swiftly exited together, leaving the shop empty of customers that she could see. The next person to step out of the stall was a petite Asian woman with almost black eyes, barely taller than Jillian. Her short black hair framed her face like curtains, hiding ears full of piercings and she sported dozens of small and large tattoos peeking out from under her tank top. A full sleeve of ink on her left arm. ¡°Oh shit, you¡¯re here already. Who let you in?¡± she asked with a smile. ¡°Your mom bitch.¡± Jillian replied teasingly, returning the smile. ¡°Busy day, Micky?¡± ¡°Call me Micky again, you¡¯re spending tonight sober,¡± Mika retorted, sticking her tongue out playfully. Jillian chuckled and glanced at the other occupied stall. ¡°Who else is here?¡± she asked, leaning over to get a better look. ¡°Just Darren finishing up some color. He should be done soon. I¡¯ll let him know to lock up,¡± Mika explained, jotting something down at the front desk. ¡°Wait, ask if he wants to join us!¡± Jillian suggested with a grin. Mika looked up with a knowing smirk. ¡°Bitch, you know he¡¯s got like two girlfriends and a boyfriend, right? And I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re not his type. And he said he¡¯s got plans already,¡± she teased, walking back to inform Darren. Jillian playfully stuck her tongue out at Mika. ¡°Boooo, tell him he sucks! And that''s so not even what I meant!¡± she groaned, then sighed. At least she¡¯d have her best friend. She wanted to erase this shitty day with her weight in booze. Normally, she was more of a social drinker, but two¡¯s company would suffice this time. Mika beckoned Jillian to follow her upstairs. ¡°Should¡¯ve been here last night. There were so many people and my cousin started passing around balloons of nitrous,¡± she said, leading the way. ¡°Fuck... I¡¯m so pissed my mom dragged me to that awful dinner now,¡± recalling the previous night with a deep frown. Mika raised an eyebrow, curious about what had really gone down at that dinner. Was she just upset about missing the party, or was it really that bad? Mika opened the door to the second level, the main room had been turned into a bar/lounge. It was a bit messy from the night before, but thankfully, most of it had been cleaned up already. Mika strolled around the bar, eyeing her stock of booze. ¡°Shit, looks like we had more guests than I realized,¡± she muttered. Jillian immediately went into a panic mode. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re out of alcohol!¡± Mika shook her head reassuringly. ¡°Nah, we¡¯ve still got three beers and one of those flavored mix in bottles¡± Jillian¡¯s jaw dropped, frustration evident on her face. ¡°That¡¯s not gonna give either of us a buzz!¡± she complained loudly. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not planning on drinking. I¡¯ve had the Jager burps all day. No matter how much water I drink,¡± Mika said, shuddering at the flavor still lingering on her tongue. Jillian didn¡¯t take that news well. ¡°So now I¡¯m supposed to get sad girl wasted while you sit there and sober watch?¡± Mika sighed in response. ¡°Fine, ya fuckin baby, I¡¯ll have a beer, but just one.¡± Jillian let out a huff. ¡°Fine, I guess.¡± Mika popped open two beers, and they each grabbed one as Jillian settled onto a bar stool. After their first sip, Mika jumped right in. ¡°So, who pissed in your potatoes at this dinner party?¡± She asked, leaning against the bar with her elbow and resting her head on her hand. Jillian took a swig of beer, grimacing at the taste. ¡°Do you remember Jason Merris from high school?¡± Jillian asked. Mika looked confused for a moment at the name, but seemed to remember eventually ¡°Vaguely. Wasn¡¯t he the guy you were always messing with for some reason or another?¡± Mika replied, trying to recollect. ¡°I think we may have had ¡®a¡¯ class together. Tall, fat, quiet guy in the front row. Yeah, I remember now. Why, what¡¯s he got to do with the dinner?¡± she inquired. ¡°That¡¯s the thing¡ªit was his mom¡¯s house!¡± Jillian blurted out, before gulping down the rest of her beer eager to get her buzz going. ¡°Oh? So what, is he still living at home with mommy?¡± Mika asked with a cruel laugh, trying to be supportive in her own way. Jillian¡¯s frown deepened, she even seemed to be a little angry at her friend¡¯s words. ¡°Uhh, guess that¡¯s a no?¡± Mika wasn¡¯t sure what she did wrong. Jillian let out a heavy sigh and shook her head. ¡°No, he is just visiting. I¡¯m not sure, but I think our moms were trying to set us up.¡± At that, Mika opened another beer for her and Jillian took a long drink. Jillian recounted the night and how it kicked off. With the moment they arrived, where Jason casually strolled past them shirtless and accidentally drenching himself with water. Mika¡¯s laughter told Jillian that she was envisioning the same chubby guy he was in high school. ¡°Ugh, I wish I had a picture!¡± Jillian lamented with a sigh, earning a puzzled glance from Mika. Ignoring the confusion, Jillian kept the dinner details at a minimum, sparing Mika from the dull parts. By the time she¡¯d reached the scene in the study, she¡¯d already finished her second beer. Pouring some cola into a glass, she poured in the tiny bottle of flavored liquor in it. ¡°Then.. he said something...something¡bad.¡± Her expression darkened as if she might tear up just retelling it. ¡°Well, what did he say?¡± Mika said still sipping her beer. ¡°He said... I-I should go throw up his mom¡¯s cooking, and called me ungrateful,¡± Jillian replied, her lips trembling slightly, the alcohol loosening her emotions. Mika¡¯s jaw dropped, her shock quickly turning to anger as she grabbed an ice pick from the bar. ¡°You mentioned he lives nearby, right?¡± The petite, black-haired woman looked deadly serious as she stepped out from behind the bar. ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Jillian grabbed Mika¡¯s arm. ¡°It¡¯s okay, he¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not okay, Jill. You don¡¯t just tell someone with anorexia to go throw up. That¡¯s like telling a former heroin addict they were better off on drugs.¡± Mika was obviously livid, but Jillian just sighed, clearly feeling the effects of the alcohol. ¡°I don¡¯t think he realized...¡± ¡°Ignorance isn¡¯t an excuse, Jill,¡± Mika argued, but Jillian held on. ¡°He¡ well he actually apologized. It seemed genuine...maybe¡ I deserved it for what I did anyway,¡± Jillian admitted, her words causing Mika¡¯s anger to quickly shift to concern. ¡°Jill...¡± As the drinks kicked in, Jillian only got more and more somber and reminiscent. Her grand plan of drowning her sorrows in alcohol to forget about Jason had backfired spectacularly. ¡°And then¡,¡± she sniffed, slurring her words as she clung to Mika on the couch, her face buried in her friend¡¯s stomach. ¡°I kept calling him Staypuft for, like, a whole month. I even had one of the guys put a sign on his back that said it!¡± Mika sighed, patting her back sympathetically. ¡°There, there, it will be alright, forgive and forget,¡± she spoke in a monotone while checking her phone with her free hand, ¡°I am way too sober for this shit.¡± This was about the twentieth time Jillian had recounted some regrettable high school escapade involving Jason. Eyeing the clock, Mika realized it was still quite early. ¡°I changed my mind, if I¡¯m gonna be your therapist, I am gonna need more alcohol. Let¡¯s go hit up the store, weepy,¡± Mika suggested, prompting a groan from Jillian, who sniffled and wiped her tears on Mika¡¯s shirt. As they both got up, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the wet spot on her shirt. ¡°Ugh really Jill?¡± she said, shaking her head. But seeing her friend¡¯s dejected expression, she quickly relented. ¡°Uggh just forget it, let¡¯s go.¡± They made their way outside, ready to fetch some more booze to drown Jillian¡¯s sorrows and keep Mika sane. Jason went for another run to burn off the massive amount of calories from dinner. It was damn near impossible to resist the urge to overeat now that he was back home. On some level, he was self aware of how bad it was for him. Yet it didn¡¯t stop the rest of his brain from telling him to eat as much as possible. The guilt always hit afterwards, making him work that much harder to counteract his horrible eating habits. After his extended run, he was once again drenched in sweat. Heading inside, he wiped himself down with a cool towel but not much else. Taking his mom¡¯s advice, he decided to go out and see what had become of his hometown. Driving around town, he mostly checked out the new areas. The majority were just new homes that popped up. There were a few new stores and gas stations but not much else. The strip mall was also pretty disappointing, filled mostly with stores like cellphone shops, pawn shops, and places to sell gold, typical strip mall garbage. The realization quickly hit him as he was looking around, he had no idea why he was even bothering to look around? Not sure why he even half expected this small town to change in any dramatic way. Jason quickly grew bored with sightseeing and just wanted to go back home to try and get some nostalgia with his old computer. As he headed home, his gas light flickered on. Pulling in at the nearest station, he figured he might as well refuel in case he headed to the city later. Maybe he would treat his mom to dinner. She was the only reason he came back after all. Parking at the pump, he started to fill up his car, finding himself alone despite the early evening hour. The quiet nights were the best thing about being home. Leaning back against his car, he gazed up to see a brilliant starry sky. Lost in thought till the sound of giggling broke his concentration. Curious, he glanced towards the noise, momentarily stunned by the two women exiting the mini-mart. ¡°Wait, is that?¡± he thought to himself, but the name came out a little louder than he intended ¡°Jillian?¡± he muttered. The red head¡¯s name caught the attention of both Mika and Jillian. ¡°Jason?!¡± Jillian exclaimed, clearly surprised, while Mika, equally astonished, looked back and forth between them. ¡°Jason?... Wait, that¡¯s that Jason?!¡± She blurted out in slight disbelief. Chapter 9: Loose Lips Sink Ships, But They Are Good For Other Things Too. ¡°That Jason?¡± wondering what that meant, he was rather confused. The three of them stood there silently, exchanging glances. He felt uneasy as he stared at the two women. Jillian looked wobbly as she stood there staring back. Remembering the promise they made to avoid one another if they could, he nodded at them and turned back to his car. He did his best to ignore the two, but it stirred up an uncomfortable sensation. He was reminded of high school, where he would try to avoid any eye contact with his bully. His best case back then was they would pass by without noticing him, as rare as that was. Leaning against his car, he watched the gas pump numbers rise, along with his nerves. Jillian was about to speak up when Jason had abruptly turned away from both of them. Her jaw dropped momentarily, and her expression shifted into a mix of sadness and frustration. Mika frowned, glancing between Jason and Jill, piecing together the situation. Just from Jason¡¯s appearance alone, it was clear he was doing pretty well for himself. Everything started to make sense as to why her friend was so on edge and focused on him tonight. She knew that seeing Jason likely only fueled Jillian¡¯s belief that she deserved the bad things that happened to her. ¡°Come on, Jill, let¡¯s... Jill?¡± She realized her friend had vanished from her side. Turning back to Jason, she saw Jill marching towards him, fists tight at her sides. ¡°Shit.¡± Jason heard the footsteps approaching behind him before he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning and looking down at the petite redhead, hands on her hips while her unfocused eyes stared him down. ¡°What are-¡° Before he could finish, Jillian interrupted him. ¡°With us, drink, come now,¡± she demanded in a mixed up way, she shook her head before fixing her mistake. ¡°I mean, you should come drink with us.¡± Thankfully Mika showed up between them at that moment. ¡°Sorry about her. She¡¯s a little drunk. Just ignore her,¡± she said, grabbing Jillian¡¯s shoulders and attempting to pull her back slightly. ¡°Come on, lets go.¡± He looked a little shell-shocked at the sudden, though admittedly butchered, invite. If this was a decade ago, he would have immediately thought it was a trap and bolted. Now, though, there was something surreal about Jillian Lins asking him to come have a drink with her. By now, it was clear she was pretty tipsy and wasn¡¯t thinking straight, but that usually made people more honest, not less. ¡°I¡¯m not drunk!¡± Jillian almost yelled, as she pulled herself out of her friend¡¯s grasp with a growl. ¡°Just the two of us drinking is boring. We need a guy to even it up and stuff, like there has to be a guy right¡ Right?¡± It all made sense to her at least. Mika rolled her eyes. ¡°Jill, I really don¡¯t think that¡¯s¡ª¡± It was Jason¡¯s turn to jump in. ¡°Wait a second, you¡¯re Mika, right? Mika Kuzuha?¡± Mika looked up at Jason, surprised. ¡°Um, yeah... I am. I¡¯m surprised you remember me. I don¡¯t think we ever really talked back in school.¡± Her face shifted to concern, as if he was the second coming of Ted Bundy. He quickly felt the need to explain from her reaction. ¡°Well, we had a class together, and I may or may not have had a crush on you back then.¡± Jason scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward as all hell. Jillian¡¯s jaw dropped at this revelation, but Mika didn¡¯t seem flustered at all. ¡°Oh¡ alright. Well, before you go any deeper into that thought, no offense, but you¡¯re not my type.¡± Jason¡¯s brow raised a little. ¡°Haha, noooooo, hard miss. Besides, later that same year, I found out you were friends with Jillian, and that was more than enough to kill any interest I had,¡± he explained. Mika nodded, and Jillian frowned at that bit of info, but they both pretty much understood. ¡°Good to know. Now let¡¯s go, Jill. I¡¯m freezing my ass off out here,¡± Mika said as she took Jillian¡¯s arm and tried to pull her away again, but the redhead wasn¡¯t budging. ¡°No!¡± Jillian shouted. ¡°Jason, fuck the stupid promise. It was stupid and dumb to agree. I don¡¯t think avoiding each other is good and... Fuck, you smell nice,¡± she said leaning in a little, taking a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Jillian was acting so strangely he kind of just wanted to hop in his car and head back to his mom¡¯s. He was kind of craving a drink though, Saturday night felt wrong without one. With Jillian around, he didn¡¯t know how things would go. Not entirely sure if he wanted to give her the chance to make things worse between them while drunk. Mika let out a groan. ¡°Okay look, my nips are about to fall off¡don¡¯t actually look, Jason.¡± She glared at him. ¡°I am not dressed for this and I wanna go home!¡± The autumn night¡¯s chill was really hitting the small Asian woman hard, who was out here in just a tank top and thin-looking pants. She had her pride, but if she had to stand here and wait for her friend a moment longer, she was gonna get really desperate. ¡°Would you mind giving us a ride back to my place, since this bitch won¡¯t move without you? It¡¯s j-j-just three blocks that way,¡± Mika said, pointing down the street. ¡°Yeah, and then come inside and stuff,¡± Jillian added, grinning and snickering slightly, repeating herself ¡°Heh, come inside.¡± Which made Mika roll her eyes before looking up at Jason with a pleading chatter of her teeth. Jason hesitated as he looked at the tiny women before him, one shivering in the cold, and the other still giving him doe eyes while giggling about a bad joke. He was well within his rights to say no at this point... but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. It confused him. Why was he struggling to say no to his high school bully? Eventually, he let out a sigh and nodded. ¡°Fine, go ahead, get in,¡± giving in to Mika¡¯s request. She quickly darted back to the store to grab the two bottles of liquor she had left behind on the curb while chasing Jillian. Speaking of her, she had gotten uncomfortably close to him, shivering slightly as she leaned into him. ¡°Mmm, warm,¡± she murmured, much to his discomfort. ¡°Uhhh, why don¡¯t you get in the car? The heater¡¯s on,¡± he suggested, gently moving her away. Jillian grumbled but eventually complied, heading to the front passenger seat and opening the door. ¡°I meant the back...¡± Jason started, then trailed off, deciding against saying anything further. Jillian gave him a puzzled look, but he shook his head. ¡°Never mind.¡± Jillian didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly slid into the front seat. Jason walked around to the other side, finishing up with the gas before he got into the driver¡¯s seat. He was still in his tracksuit from his run, so he was warm enough, even though his front jacket zipper was undone. Meanwhile, Mika hopped into the back seat almost simultaneously. ¡°Just head down this road. It¡¯s not too far on the right,¡± Mika directed. Jason nodded as they headed down the road, cranking up the heater, much to the delight of the scrawny women in the car. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just hang out here and drink instead of going back to your drafty ass place?¡± Jillian suggested with a laugh, holding her hands in front of the vents to warm them up. ¡°Or maybe I¡¯ll just take these bottles that I Paid For to My drafty ass place, and you can sit and spin.¡± Mika teased back, as they bantered playfully while Jason quietly drove towards the parlor. Thankfully, it was a quick drive to the parlor. As they approached, Mika pointed at the two story building. ¡°It¡¯s the one with the graffiti art all over it. Just park in front to let us out.¡± Jason pulled up to the front of the parlor and parked the car, but kept it running. ¡°Alright, here¡¯s your stop. No charge this time.¡± His horrible joke failed miserably as Mika let out a groan. ¡°Yeah, whatever, thanks dude,¡± she said unamused and even though she¡¯d said thanks, he was pretty sure she didn¡¯t actually mean it. ¡°Come on Jill, let¡¯s head up.¡± She said as she hopped out of the car and shut the door behind her. Jillian meanwhile, was staring at Jason with those same puppy dog eyes. ¡°Please?¡± Her lips curled into a slight frown. He let out a sigh and shook his head. ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t. I don¡¯t think it will end well, and Mika doesn¡¯t want me in her home.¡± he said, trying to be the voice of reason. Jillian¡¯s frown only deepened with the rejection. ¡°But¡ but I really want you to. I know I¡¯ve been, and still kinda am, a bitch, but I genuinely want to start over!¡± She pleaded with the man, reaching over and grabbing his hand, pulling it away from the steering wheel. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t make fun of you or fight at all tonight. Please¡ just give me this chance?¡± Her big blue eyes begged him with every fiber of her being. Jason was usually an expert at turning down women. Some liked to try and win him over with sob stories, but they never did much to sway him; he was able to reject their advances without an ounce of guilt. Though those were the ones most likely to scream at him for being an ¡°Insensitive Bastard.¡± But now... he had no idea why he was struggling so much. This should have been the easiest girl to reject in every single way, yet she was now the hardest. Letting out a heavy sigh, he rubbed his forehead and gave in. ¡°Okay, fine,¡± He finally relented. Jillian flashed a quick smile. ¡°I will have one, maybe two drinks. I want to be able to drive home tonight.¡± She nodded eagerly at his words. ¡°Yeah, sure, whatever you want!¡± She spoke like she was ready to agree to anything. Jason turned off his car, and they both stepped out. Mika was already inside, waiting for Jillian so she could lock up again. Seeing that he was coming as well, she frowned briefly, but it quickly disappeared. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Couldn¡¯t just say no, huh?¡± She knew from the beginning this was a possibility, so she wasn¡¯t about to start a fight over it. Still, she was mentally prepared to kick Jason out if he said anything nasty to her or Jillian. An ice pick to the dick was her surefire way to get rid of unwanted guests. ¡°Just try me.¡± She mumbled under her breath. Once they were all inside, Mika locked the front door. Jason trailed behind Jillian as she headed towards the stairs at the back, taking a moment to glance around the tattoo parlor. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this like a newspaper place before?¡± He vaguely remembered seeing signs and newspaper vending machines in front of the building when he was a kid. ¡°Yeah, it used to be. They closed down a while ago,¡± Mika said, not very enthused about the topic. ¡°I see. So, how long have you been open?¡± Jason¡¯s business sense kicked in as he continued with his questions. ¡°About three years now,¡± she replied as their heavy footsteps echoed up the stairs. ¡°Nice. Seems like you¡¯ve had a lot of success, congrats,¡± Jason congratulated her as they all walked into the loft. It may as well be another world for all he knew; it kind of was. He didn¡¯t think he had ever been left alone with two other women his age before. His expression quickly became excited as he took in the room. ¡°Whoa,¡± he murmured, his curiosity causing him to stray from the others. The two women paused, watching Jason as he wandered around, clearly enthralled by the interior. Mika let out a sigh, while Jillian couldn¡¯t help but giggle at his quirky fascination. ¡°He¡¯s so friggin¡¯ cute¡¡± she whispered, grinning softly. Mika gave her friend a hard stare at the statement.. ¡°I love the old brickwork in this place. The high ceilings are nice too,¡± Jason remarked, his love of all things vintage shining through as he continued to explore. As Jason admired the features of the old building, the girls had decided they¡¯d been sober long enough. Mika especially was over eager to start drinking. If she was going to spend the entire night with two of the three stooges, it certainly would not be while she was sober. Grabbing some ice chunks from the bar¡¯s cooler, Mika cracked open the spiced rum she¡¯d picked up from the gas station and started pouring drinks. ¡°Do you want a drink or what?¡± Mika asked, trying to be a semi good host despite the reservations she might have about Jason. Staring out of the large front window, he turned back to Mika. ¡°Yeah, sure. Two fingers will do, neat please,¡± Mika raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his request, well more the way he requested it. ¡°Uh huh¡¡± she murmured, pouring the drinks and capping the rum. Jillian had sat down on a stool and grabbed her glass and raised it over her head. ¡°Cheers, everyone!¡± smiling at Jason rather exaggeratedly. He gave her a look of discomfort back before lightly clinking his glass against the other two. Jason took a small sip, Mika drank about half of hers, and Jillian downed her drink in one go. ¡°Blegh!¡± she retched, quickly grabbing her cola chaser and rinsing her mouth with it. But had Mika pour her another anyway, quickly taking a good sip like she was desperate to get drunk. Jason couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Jillian¡¯s reaction. ¡°This is decent, is it Kraken?¡± he guessed, casually smiling at Mika as she eyed the bottle of Kraken rum behind the bar. She raised an eyebrow at him curiously. ¡°What are you, some kind of alcohol snob now? No offense, but you really don¡¯t seem like a big drinker. Usually, people who can tell brands by taste have beer guts and big bushy beards.¡± Jillian couldn¡¯t help but imagine what Jason would look like with a Grizzly Adams beard and a gut to go along with his muscles, which set her off giggling. He chuckled a little at the assumption. ¡°Not really. My best friend back home splurges on these fancy bottles, so he invites me over whenever he cracks one open. I enjoy exploring the different brands, but yeah, I¡¯m not really much of a drinker, I rarely have more than one glass.¡± Jason admitted with a shrug. Mika topped up Jillian¡¯s glass and poured herself another before gesturing to the couches close to them. ¡°Come on, giggles,¡± she said, nudging Jillian. ¡°As funny as it would be to watch you fall off that stool, I don¡¯t feel like sweeping you off my floor...Again¡± With a gentle hand on her back, she guided her over to a set of couches and chairs. Holding onto her rum and cola chaser, Jillian settled onto one of the couches, leaning against the arm sucking down more of her drink. Grabbing a remote, Mika switched on some music, filling the room with melodic hip hop at a low volume. Jason joined them, sinking into the armchair with a contented sigh, drink in hand. ¡°So, Jason!¡± Jillian blurted out suddenly. He looked over at her, waiting for her to continue, but she seemed to hit a mental snag. ¡°Soooo?¡± he prompted, trying to bring her back to reality. Mika joined them, taking a seat at the opposite end of the couch from Jillian, eyeing her friend as if she¡¯d glitched. ¡°Oh right, yeah, sorry. Um, well, I was just wondering... How did you do it?¡± she asked, mustering up some courage, trying to psych herself up to finish her disgusting drink. ¡°Uh...,¡± Jason responded, confused as to what she was asking. Mika rolled her eyes, thankfully on the same wavelength as her friend. ¡°I don¡¯t get paid enough to translate this shit.¡± Mika thought. ¡°I think what my tipsy friend here is trying to ask is; What got you to lose all that weight and get into shape?¡± Mika said, taking a sip of her drink. Jillian nodded vigorously. ¡°Yeah, that!¡± She confirmed loudly. Clearing his throat, Jason took a longer sip from his own glass before placing it on an end table nearby. ¡°Well, to cut a long story short, I got hooked on boxing and all that comes with it.¡± ¡°Boxing, huh?¡± Mika said, sounding slightly interested. ¡°So, like, you can just go kick peoples¡¯ asses whenever you want?¡± Jillian asked bluntly, even causing her friend to cringe a bit. Jason frowned at that. ¡°Yes and no. Yes, I could probably handle myself against most average folks in a fight. But no, I won¡¯t stoop to randomly attacking people and tarnish the sport I love. I¡¯ll defend myself and those I care about, as well, of course,¡± he replied firmly. Mika tilted her head with a small nod, while Jillian held her now-empty glass tight to her chest, staring at Jason in amazement. ¡°Like a superhero,¡± she said, her words slurring before she bit her lower lip. There was an awkward silence for a moment before Mika decided she needed to change the subject. ¡°So, what do you do for work now? Did you go to college?¡± Jason glanced over at her and nodded. He started to explain where he went to school and what he studied. How he luckily got a job almost right out of college. His job and how it is mostly just boring computer security and data management. Told them both about the dickhead son of the CEO that took a liking to him. But actually helped his career. He did his very best not to sound like he was bragging. Really discussing work was one of his least favorite things. His tone had shown as much. ¡°Sounds like you make decent money, at least,¡± Mika said bluntly, not overly interested. Jason just shrugged. ¡°Yeah, it makes me enough to survive in the city.¡± He was interrupted by Jillian suddenly jumping off the couch with a loud gasp, startling both Mika and Jason. ¡°I love this freakin¡¯ song!¡± Jillian dashed over to the bar and cranked up the volume even higher. Then she hurried back to Mika, grabbing her by the wrists and up to her feet. ¡°Come on, Mika, dance with me!¡± Mika smiled softly, though she wasn''t that eager to dance, but she never seemed to be excited about anything from what little Jason had. Jillian dragged her friend over to an open area, where they started moving to the music. The pounding bass and intense electronic beats provided the soundtrack to some of the most erotic dance moves he had ever seen. Their moves put the clubs he and Marco had been too, to shame. Jillian¡¯s moves seemed almost illegal for public display as she contorted her body and pressed herself against her friend, grinding against Mika to the beat of the music Mika didn¡¯t seem bothered at all by Jillian¡¯s wild moves. She just went along with it, playing the more submissive role, running her hands up and down Jillian¡¯s body. Jason wasn¡¯t sure if he should keep watching, or if this could even be considered dancing anymore, but he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away. His heart raced, his palms became sweaty, and the crotch of his pants bulged before he could redirect his arousal. ¡°Why is this turning me on!?¡± asking himself as confusion coursed through him. Crossing his legs quickly, he finally managed to look away as the song ended. The two laughed and chatted lightly as they returned to their seats. Jillian looked over at Jason, seeing him stare off into space with his legs crossed, looking¡different. A mischievous grin crossed her face and a predatory look flashed in her eyes. ¡°Oh noooo I feel sooooo dizzy,¡± she slurred purposely, stumbling over toward him before flopping back over the arm of his chair. ¡°Whoa!¡± Jason exclaimed, caught off guard. His hands moved on instinct to catch the woman, who had almost landed in his lap. Jillian burst into laughter as she stretched out in his arms that held her up, one around her back and the other under her knees. ¡°Hahaha, my hero,¡± she said, the wicked grin still plastered on her face. By now, she was pretty much wasted, her petite frame easily overwhelmed by the alcohol. Jason frowned slightly, glancing over at Mika, who seemed unfazed but still resting from the dance. Mika finished her drink and got up. ¡°Jill, another rum or whiskey?¡± Jason stared at her in surprise. Was she seriously going to get Jillian another drink? ¡°Whiskeeeey pleeeease,¡± slurred Jillian, drunkenly waving a hand at her friend before wrapping both arms around Jason¡¯s neck. His deep scowl made it clear he wasn¡¯t amused, especially with her dangerously close to the bulge pressing against his pants. ¡°Aww, why so gwumpy?¡± ¡°Just get off, Jillian,¡± he growled, trying to move her. But as he did, she slipped from his hold to land across his lap. ¡°Whoopsie! Hehehe,¡± she giggled wildly, sitting there with her ample rear pressing against his crotch. For just a moment, Jason marveled at how soft it felt, even through his pants. Feeling his hard-on get pressed down the left leg of his underwear brought him back to reality. ¡°Jillian... Please get off,¡± he pleaded, desperation in his voice. ¡°Haha, make me!¡± She teased as she continued to grind into his lap. ¡°You are the one that has your arm under my butt!¡± Jason¡¯s face flushed deep red as he leaned back, covering his face with his hands. Everything dawned on her as she watched him cover his face with both hands. ¡°That¡¯s not his arm?¡± she thought, now very confused. Wiggling a bit more in his lap, he throbbed with her movement. ¡°It¡¯s too small to be his arm, but too big to be his...¡± As the erection she was sitting on pulsed once more her thoughts were interrupted. A grin quickly crossed her face. Just then, Mika returned with the drinks, taking a sip of her own. ¡°Mika, it¡¯s like I¡¯m sitting on a baseball bat!!¡± Jillian yelled out loud, actually surprising Mika for the first time in months. She nearly choked on her rum, hacking and sputtering. The situation was beyond awful as strong alcohol came out of her nose and shot down her windpipe. The dark-haired woman hastily set down the drinks and bolted to the bathroom. ¡°Jillian, please...¡± Jason groaned, feeling like he might die from embarrassment. He wanted to get the hell out of there, now! Jillian, with only a hint of sobriety, swiveled to straddle Jason¡¯s lap and grabbed his wrists. She pried them away from his face with surprising ease. He was too defeated to resist at this point. Looking at her, his heart nearly skipped a beat at the new soft expression he saw. ¡°Jason...¡± she spoke in a sultry, breathy tone. ¡°W-what?¡± barely managing to muster a response. ¡°If I asked you to¡ If I asked you to use my mouth¡ would you?¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but stare at her. She was biting her lip hard, her face flushed, practically pleading with him to agree. ¡°You want to¡ want me to¡but why?¡± Jason¡¯s dick throbbed again under the softness of Jillian¡¯s ass. She let out a little squeak and gasped lightly in response, before speaking again. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want you to hate me anymore. I want to show you I can make it up to you. And I really want to make it up to you.¡± Pausing, she wetted her plump lips with her tongue. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t forgive me completely, I know I can at least make you feel good. I¡¯m good at it and¡ I need it as well. I need it so fucking bad,¡± she pleaded, clutching his shirt tightly, her desperate longing evident in the small gasps she let out each time she ground against him. Even with her grinding against his cock, his disbelief that she would ask for his forgiveness in such a way. It¡made him a little angry. Forgiving all those years of hurt wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d ever really considered before. Now she wanted him to what? Fuck her mouth in exchange for it. ¡°This is fucked up.¡± Chapter 10: Favors Come in Many Flavors, but the Past is Always Bitter ¡°Alright everyone, settle down and listen up. Today¡¯s lesson is a group project! So let''s all find a partner,¡± the freshman science teacher Mr.Kretch called out to the room of students. There were around thirty kids in the class, most trying to pair up with their friends. Seated at the front right table, a tall, plump, dark-haired boy, with thick-framed glasses observed the scene with mild fear. He resembled a lost sheep among wolves. His dark green eyes scanned the room, seeming to search for anyone else still without a partner. The idea of approaching someone made his heart race. Worst-case, he¡¯d end up with a classmate who also hadn¡¯t found a partner. Best-case, maybe he¡¯d get paired with the teacher. Sitting at the back of the class, a girl with a mop of red curls was slumped over the table. She seemed completely unaware of the surrounding activity. She was deep in dreamland, despite the classroom chaos. As the class settled and partners were sorted, the teacher scanned the room. ¡°Okay, anyone flying solo?¡± he asked with a grin, eyes scanning the rows. ¡°Raise your hand if you need a partner.¡± Slowly, the chubby teen raised his hand, seemingly the only one left out. ¡°Odd, we have an even count, and everyone¡¯s here...¡± Suddenly, a loud snore interrupted him. The teacher glanced towards the noise coming from the back of the room. Stepping out from behind his desk, he made his way towards the culprit. The class laughed softly as they heard another loud snore. Mr. Kretch stood beside the slumbering redhead, arms folded across his chest, a gentle smile on his face. ¡°Ahem, wakey wakey, Miss Lins. Breakfast is ready,¡± he announced playfully. The girl jolted awake, her head lifting from the table, a small puddle of drool in its wake. ¡°Huh, food?¡± she mumbled, blinking sleepily. ¡°You see, class, even when asleep, our brains can still pick up on familiar words and sounds. If it¡¯s something our brains recognize as important, like food, it¡¯ll wake us up. Say you hear a strange noise in the middle of the night. Your brain may take that as a reason and wake you up,¡± Mr. Kretch said, making Jillian Lins his example for the impromptu lesson. ¡°Ugh...¡± the groggy girl grumbled, pushing her hair away from her face and rubbing her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she muttered, stifling a yawn. ¡°Class is in session, Miss Lins. Please make your way to the front and join Mr. Merris at his table for the assignment,¡± the teacher said, before he was interrupted by another yawn from Jillian. ¡°Who?¡± she asked, slowly rising from her stool and shambling forward. Standing at barely five feet tall, she was guided by the teacher towards the front of the class. ¡°This way,¡± he chuckled, making small adjustments to her path so she didn¡¯t run into anything. They made their way to the front table where Jason waited, looking a bit nervous. Jillian climbed up onto the stool beside him, her ample posterior spilling over the edge of the stool. He quickly turned his attention back to the front as the teacher returned to his desk. Glancing at Jason, Jillian couldn¡¯t help but notice his tall and broad stature. At five ten, he already towered over most freshmen and mid length black hair looked really soft to her. ¡°Alright class, I am sure you all noticed the microscopes on your tables by now. Today we¡¯ll compare hair samples. Naturally, we are always shedding hair, as our follicles make way for new strands every day. Each strand of hair is packed with our DNA, which makes each strand pretty unique. So, for today¡¯s fun, you and your partners are going to compare each other¡¯s. Just run your hand through your hair a few times, and you¡¯ll probably find a loose strand or two. Then, take turns looking at them under the microscope. Write anything you notice that sets them apart. Whenever you¡¯re ready, feel free to begin!¡± With that, Mr. Kretch set the class loose to get to work, and the room quickly filled with excited chatter. Jason turned to face Jillian, finding her gaze fixed on him. His nervous expression elicited a small giggle from her. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Jillian,¡± she said sweetly. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he replied softly, ¡°Jason,¡± avoiding direct eye contact. ¡°You¡¯re really tall. You planning on joining the football team or something, big guy?¡± Jillian tried to break the ice, wanting to help ease Jason¡¯s nerves. Another pause followed before he spoke again. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m not really into sports. Maybe we should focus on the assignment,¡± he suggested, still feeling uneasy about Jillian¡¯s comments on his size. Jillian blinked a few times, then nodded. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Let¡¯s get started, sorry¡ wait, is that a Soundgarden shirt?¡± she said, shifting her stool closer to Jason. Looking down at his shirt, he saw the Superunknown album print. ¡°You¡like Soundgarden?¡± Looking back at the small redhead who was still beaming up at him. ¡°Mmhmm! Well I mean I like the two songs that I have heard from them,¡± she said with another small giggle. ¡°Oh¡ Black Hole Sun I am guessing?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah! That and the one about the spoon guy are great.¡± It was hard to dislike someone who at least liked one of his favorite bands. Even if she just cherry picked the most popular songs. ¡°My mom¡she likes their song Flower.¡± ¡°Hahaha whaaat, your mom listens to them as well? That¡¯s so cool, I swear if I hear another Dolly Parton song I¡¯m gonna blow my brains out!¡± Just what was this? Why was this attractive girl actually talking to him? It felt¡surprisingly good. In their conversation, they missed the teacher clearing his throat loudly from a few tables over. Jason looked over and saw the teacher staring at them. ¡°We really should get to work.¡± Turning away from Jillian, his face flushed a bit. ¡°Haha, yeah sorry.¡± She made a mental note to talk with him later more. She found the large boy¡refreshing? He was different from most of the boys she hung around. They were like a bunch of animals, eager to show off how ¡°alpha¡± they could be. Vying for dominance as if seeing how hard they can punch each other might impress her or any nearby girls. But Jason¡¯s shyer and sweeter demeanor was something else entirely, something more genuine, more real. She found it attractive, or at least appealing. The way he kept secretly stealing glances at her only helped reaffirm that she wanted to get to know him better. The smile on her face wouldn¡¯t fade. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his dark locks several times. Jillian looked at him oddly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, curious. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what the teacher said? We need to collect a hair from each of us to examine under the microscope,¡± he explained. Jillian stared at him, feeling caught off guard. ¡°Oh, right,¡± was all she could manage, realizing she hadn¡¯t paid attention in class to catch up with her new friend. Pushing away her slight embarrassment, she nodded and ran a hand through her curls. As they each got a strand of hair, Jason effortlessly positioned himself under the glass slide, securing it easily. Jillian struggled a bit with her curly hair, which refused to cooperate. ¡°Ugh, come on, stay flat,¡± she muttered in frustration. Jason suddenly leaned in to assist her, gently holding her hair straight as she placed the thin glass over it. Grateful for his help, Jillian looked up at him with a soft smile. ¡°Thanks, I¡¡± she began to say more, but as she met his gaze, she found herself speechless. From a distance, she didn¡¯t notice his eyes, hidden by the thick glasses. Now with him so close, she truly caught sight of the unique color, almost like orbs of deep jade staring back at her. She was captivated by them as her words caught in her throat. Uncontrolled tears welled up in her eyes, and her lower lip trembled as she felt the first tear roll down her cheek. Jason saw the tears welling up in her eyes, and panic washed over him. ¡°W-what, what¡¯s wrong, did I do something!?¡± he blurted out, utterly bewildered, leaning away from her. ¡°What¡¯s going on over there? Is everything alright?¡± the teacher interjected, clearly noticing the unusual scene. Jillian whimpered softly, sniffling, but didn¡¯t utter a word, her gaze fixed squarely on Jason. ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening!¡± Jason turned away and called out to Mr. Kretch, who hastened his steps across the classroom. But before the teacher could reach them, Jillian dashed out of the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence. All eyes then shifted from the door she fled through, to land on Jason, who sat there, speechless and bewildered, as the classroom fell into an eerie quiet. Mr. Kretch dashed to the door, hoping to catch Jillian, but she had already disappeared around a corner. He sighed in frustration, unsure of which direction she had gone. Returning to Jason, who was now sitting alone, Mr. Kretch¡¯s face was creased with confusion. ¡°Jason, what happened?¡± he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral, though a hint of accusation slipped through. Jason looked up, his expression stunned. ¡°I was just helping her with the hair on her slide and then...¡± His voice faltered as he felt himself shutting down, overwhelmed by the stares and whispers filling the room. ¡°Did he touch her?¡± ¡°I wonder if he pulled her hair out.¡± ¡°What a creep.¡± ¡°He probably grabbed her ass.¡± Accusations flew, each one more venomous than the last, leaving Jason feeling increasingly isolated and shaky. ¡°Alright, folks, let¡¯s settle down and get back to work,¡± Mr. Kretch said before turning to Jason. ¡°Jason, just¡ just do your own thing for now,¡± he told the teen before walking back to his desk. Jason had no idea just what had just happened. One minute they were acting like friends, the next she was sobbing and running away. Now it felt like he was trapped on an island, stranded and alone. None of it made sense; he had done nothing wrong. Now, everyone seemed to think he was some kind of pervert or something. ¡°Why is this happening to me? I just wanted to help. Someone...anyone¡ please, say something,¡± his thoughts echoed in his head, desperate for someone to speak up for him. Someone had to have seen that he didn¡¯t do anything to her. Yet no one said anything to save the boy, only more harsh whispers like arrows being shot into his back. The class felt like it would never end, and just as the bell rang to signal its conclusion, the PA system crackled to life. ¡°Jason Merris and Jillian Lins, please report to the office,¡± it blared out. The announcement seemed to turn heads back to Jason instantly, casting an even bigger shadow of suspicion over him. With a collective air of judgment, his classmates continued glaring at him as they filed out of the room. The weight of their stares kept him pinned to his seat. Mr.Kretch gave Jason a sympathetic glance but said nothing, probably not wanting to get dragged into whatever mess was brewing now. As Jason made his way through the halls, the whispers and stares showed rumors were already spreading like wildfire. He noticed the way the others would look at their phones, and then back at him with disgust. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding with anxiety as he finally reached the office. Walking in, he spotted his mom already seated in a row of chairs against the wall. Rising from her seat, she rushed over to him, seeing the panic in his eyes. She reached up, placing her hands on the sides of his face, looking him over for injuries. They explained only a little over the phone, only that she needed to come down to the school right away to talk about her son. Jason hurriedly explained what had happened. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I swear, Mom, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I was just trying to help, and then suddenly¡¡± he trailed off. His chest felt tight with a stabbing sensation, the situation bearing down on him. Tears welling up in his eyes. His mother pulled him into a comforting hug, whispering reassurances. ¡°I know, sweetie. You¡¯re my good boy, and I believe you. Don¡¯t worry, mom will take care of everything.¡± soothingly, rubbing his back as he buried his face in her shoulder, trembling slightly. ¡°Mrs. Merris, the principal will see you now,¡° the assistant called out. Katia gave Jason a comforting pat on the back, and he quickly wiped his face before straightening up. Together, they entered the office and took seats across from the principal, who was behind her desk. ¡°So, there have been rumors that your son has inappropriately touched another student.¡± Katia¡¯s eyes widened at the principal¡¯s blunt opening. ¡°And here at Grove Falls, we handle these types of allegations with the utmost seriousness.¡± ¡°You think my son molested someone?! Do you have any proof that he did?¡± Katia¡¯s anger was already spilling over. ¡°We are still waiting for the victim¡¯s account. If they come forward with a direct accusation, then we will have to take action against your son.¡± The principal was about to continue when Katia spoke up again. ¡°And my son has no say in the matter? All you need is some one-sided story? What exactly are you saying will happen?¡± Speaking almost as if she was daring the principal to tell her. ¡°Ahem, well, of course, we will take both sides of the story into account, but if the allegations turn out to be true, we will be forced to at minimum suspend Jason if not expel and contact the proper authorities. You must understand, when there are multiple accounts of students and even a teacher saying that he may have touched a female student-¡± Jason¡¯s face drained of all color. All Jillian had to do was say he touched her and his life would be ruined. It left him shaken and afraid. Even if they had been getting along at first, he knew no one would take his side if she said he touched her, no one aside from his mother at least. ¡°May have! That doesn¡¯t mean he did! You have no proof! You are trying to paint an innocent thirteen-year-old boy as a deviant, yet you have nothing to prove he actually did anything other than a bunch of hearsay!¡± Katia interrupted again, even more furious than before. ¡°Please Mrs. Merris, the victim-¡± She was stopped for a moment as Katia scoffed at the word victim. The principal let out a sigh before continuing. ¡°The victim hasn¡¯t shown up to give her account of what happened, so until she does, your son will not be facing any punishment.¡± ¡°You¡¯re goddamn right he won¡¯t be. I will bring the best fucking attorney in the state down on this school if you even think about doing anything without actual evidence. I know my son is innocent and if he ever comes back to this farce of a school, you better thank your lucky stars that he is such an understanding young man!¡± Katia growled, her face twisted in rage as she quickly stood up from her seat. She grabbed Jason¡¯s wrist and pulled for him to get up from the chair. ¡°Come on Jason, we are leaving.¡± The young teen looked a bit shell-shocked but stood up as he was told, the chair straining from the weight as he pushed up on it to get up. Pulling her son along with her, they quickly rushed out of the office and eventually the school, her footsteps never slowing. ¡°The nerve of that woman, I swear!¡± Katia fumed, her voice trembling with anger. ¡°Who does she think she is, talking about you like that? And right in front of you no less! If your father were here, he¡¯d tear that place apart with his bare hands.¡± She ranted about the injustice of it all, never wavering in her belief of her son¡¯s innocence. She knew her Jason would never do something like that. Tears of frustration streamed down her face as they reached the car and sped off toward home. Her emotions were a tangled mix of fury and grief. It had only been six months since Jason¡¯s father passed away from cancer, and they were both just trying to move on with life. He had never seen his mother so worked up before. The anger and sadness on her face was painful to watch. It was that moment where he swore he would never again put his poor mother through such an ordeal. Jillian sprinted straight out of school, not bothering to grab her stuff or attend her other classes. Tears still streaming down her face as she ran, blurring her vision as she tried to wipe them away. About a quarter of the way home, she heard a car¡¯s tires screech to a halt behind her. Ignoring it, she kept running until the car pulled up beside her and screeched to a stop. ¡°Jillian!¡± a familiar voice called out, prompting Jillian to finally stop and look back at the car. Ginny practically sprinted out and enveloped her daughter in a tight hug. ¡°Jillian, what are you doing out here? The school called me saying someone might have touched you, and you ran off in tears! What happened, sweetie?¡± Ginny was in a panic. She felt sick at the thought of someone touching her daughter inappropriately. Ginny¡¯s pounding heart filled Jillian¡¯s ears as she held her close. She barely understood her mother¡¯s words. Her head was so stuffed up from crying and the heavy rhythmic heartbeat drowned out everything. ¡°Mom...he¡¡± She barely spoke before her sobs started again, her voice muffled as she buried her face in her moms chest again, tears soaking into her mother¡¯s blouse ¡°Let¡¯s get you home and then we can talk,¡± Ginny said gently, rubbing Jillian¡¯s back as they hugged. The sick feeling was even worse now. She softly nodded against her mom¡¯s chest, finding some comfort in her presence. They got into the car while a toddler June happily babbled in the backseat, playing with her toys. Just seeing and hearing her calmed Jillian down more than anything. She adored her little sister more than anything. They drove the short distance home and quickly went inside. Jillian sniffled and whimpered as her mother wrapped one arm around her and carried June in with the other. In the entranceway, where most of the family photos hung, Jillian¡¯s gaze quickly locked onto one of the pictures, and it triggered another sudden wave of emotion. She bolted up the stairs and into her room, her tears flowing freely again. A few moments later, Ginny gently pushed open Jillian¡¯s bedroom door. Inside, Jillian was lying on her bed, face pressed into her pillow as tears soaked into it. Ginny set June down on the floor so the little one could entertain herself for a bit. Taking a seat beside Jillian, she began to gently stroke her eldest daughter¡¯s back. ¡°Thinking about grandpa again?¡± Ginny asked, a sympathetic frown on her face. Jillian nodded silently, trying to steady her breathing. Eventually, Jillian shifted to rest her head in her mother¡¯s lap. ¡°I just miss him so much, Mom,¡± she choked out. With a sigh, Ginny continued to comfort her daughter, her hand moving up to run through Jillian¡¯s untamed curls. ¡°I know, sweetheart. I miss him too. He meant a lot to us all, but I know he was special to you¡ And you were special to him.¡± Jillian grew up under her grandfather¡¯s care. When she was born, both Damon and Ginny had full-time jobs to make ends meet. So, Ginny¡¯s dad stepped in to help raise his granddaughter. He was already in his late fifties when Jillian was born and wasn¡¯t in great health. He¡¯d been battling kidney disease for a while. Even though the treatments helped prolong his life, it took a toll on him. Jillian would keep him company during those uncomfortably long dialysis appointments. He quickly became more of a father figure to her than Jillian¡¯s real dad. Their bond only grew stronger with each day. He passed away just over a year ago. It took Jillian the whole summer to start feeling normal again, but she¡ was different now, quicker to upset, quicker to anger. ¡°Jillybean. . .Can we talk about what happened at school?¡± Ginny finally asked her. Jillian took a deep breath, sitting up slowly and wiping away her tears. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. ¡°I¡I got partnered with this boy¡he was tall and lonely looking. He was so shy and timid, like he wouldn¡¯t hurt a fly.¡± Jillian rubbed her eye with her sleeve covered palm. Even through the tears and the description, Ginny could already tell that her daughter was fond of this boy. ¡°We were supposed to do this project where we compare our hair with each other¡¯s. He was wearing a band shirt I recognized, so we started talking a bit¡¡± Jillian paused with a frown, looking at her hands as she fiddled with her fingers. ¡°I felt like we could be friends at the very least.¡± She was getting a bit off topic, but Ginny simply let her daughter work through everything she was feeling. ¡°S-so we started working on our project. His black hair looked really soft and shiny. So he got his hair under the glass pretty easy, b-but my stupid curly hair just wouldn¡¯t stay flat on the glass.¡± Jillian¡¯s words seemed to become more and more distraught. Ginny tried to steel herself to hear the part where this seemingly innocent boy struck. Looks could be deceiving, and even if someone seemed kind at first, all humans were capable of terrible things ¡°So he leaned over to help me get my hair under the glass¡It was really sweet of him.¡± Jillian said as she continued to choke up. Yet there was still nothing about the boy touching her anywhere. Ginny was getting confused. Yeah, she knew she was upset over her grandfather, but she also seemed upset about this boy. ¡°And then....I saw his eyes...¡± A few final tears trickled down Jillian¡¯s cheeks. ¡°He had grandpa¡¯s eyes, Mom... I could swear... I felt like grandpa was looking right at me... Like he had come back.¡± Jillian sniffed loudly, her lower lip quivering as she tried to continue. ¡°I couldn¡¯t... I just couldn¡¯t take it...¡± Tears started to fall again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for leaving school.¡± Jillian moaned sadly, burying her face in her mother¡¯s chest again. Ginny frowned deeply at her daughter¡¯s words. This whole misunderstanding stemmed from the color of a random boy¡¯s eyes. She would have to call the school and explain that everything was fine. ¡°It will be alright, sweetie,¡± Ginny whispered softly, comforting her daughter. Later that same day, Ginny gave the school a call and explained what had actually happened between Jillian and that boy. She clarified Jillian wasn¡¯t harmed or touched in any way, but was still recovering from the loss of a family member and left school abruptly because of it. Then, it was the school¡¯s turn to call Katia and give her the news as well. Jason could come back to school and all possible punishments were dropped. They couldn¡¯t say much more than that, worried about getting into legal trouble for sharing info about a possible victim, even after being cleared. Katia was rightly furious about all of this. The school had wrongly accused her son and offered nothing to make up for their fuck up. Jason stayed away from school for the rest of the week, a move that turned out to be a mistake. It just fueled the school¡¯s rumor mill, spinning wild tales like Jason got picked up by cops and landed in juvie. At least, that was one of the more tame rumors going around. Jillian was shielded from most of it, with folks tip-toeing around her. Only her closest friends knew what really happened, but even they could only do so much to squash the rumors without being labeled a sympathizer. Jason¡¯s return to school was anything but smooth. Whispers followed him like a shadow, and the stares were piercing. Simply walking down the halls, people pointed him out. Even those who didn¡¯t know him were eager to get a look at the school¡¯s new resident pervert. His towering height made him stand out, unable to hide from the unwanted attention. The crowds parted for him, no one daring to get within arm¡¯s length. Jillian was lost in thought, leaning casually against her locker, when she noticed the sudden shift in attention down the hall. Her gaze quickly fell upon Jason, and her smile grew with recognition. She had meant to tell him she was sorry the very next day after their altercation, but Jason had been absent for the entire week. Spotting him now filled her with a sense of relief and hope; finally, she had the chance to apologize and explain, maybe even resume the friendship they started in science class. As Jason approached, head lowered, eyes fixed on the floor, Jillian¡¯s heart thudded in her chest as he walked by. She seized the moment and stepped forward to make things right. ¡°Hey, Jason, I listened to some more Soundgar-¡± Jillian called out, rushing up to him and placing a gentle hand on his arm, giving him a smile. But when Jason turned to look at who was touching him, his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. ¡°G-get away f-from me!¡± Jason ripped his arm away from her as hard and as quick as he could, fear and panic filling his face. She simply stood there, mouth agape, stunned at the reaction she got. ¡°I just¡ I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± She stepped closer, but Jason wasn¡¯t having it. ¡°P-please, just leave me alone, I don¡¯t want a-any trouble,¡± his panicked tone sounding harsh in his deep voice. ¡°Trouble?¡± She softly repeated softly, feeling a painful ache in her chest. Why was Jason acting like this? She just wanted to apologize for running off. Jason stumbled backward into a couple of guys, who promptly pushed him away hard. ¡°Hey, watch it, ya fat creep!¡± one of them shouted as Jason was shoved onto the floor with a loud thud, letting out a groan as the wind was knocked out of him. Laughter and mocking comments erupted from the onlookers. ¡°Haha, I think I felt the ground shake.¡± someone joked. ¡°Gross, you actually touched him!¡± another chimed in. Wincing, Jason pushed himself up slowly from the floor, but before he could fully get up, Jillian rushed over to help him. ¡°What did you do that for ya Jerk!¡± she started in anger at the boys. ¡°Are you alright?¡± her voice softening for Jason. Still trying to be kind. However, her attempt to help only made him recoil again, causing him to fall back onto his butt. ¡°P-please, just stay away,¡± he pleaded, his deep green eyes filled with fear. For Jillian, it felt like her grandpa was saying those harsh words, and it stung more than she expected. Jillian¡¯s sadness quickly morphed into a fiery rage bubbling up inside her. How dare he look at her like that with those eyes? Irrational thoughts quickly flooded her mind, drowning out any sense of reason or kindness. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever the fuck I feel like, you fat fuck!¡± Jillian spat out, her vicious words drawing laughter and gasps from the onlookers as if it were some kind of joke. Jason¡¯s eyes widened in fear, and he scrambled to his feet, pushing through the crowd quickly. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a tub of lard move so fast! Must be feeding time!¡± Jillian mocked him loudly as he ran, her sadness now buried deep inside of her, under layers of anger and self loathing. Anger would shield her from the pain; as long as she was angry, she didn¡¯t have to think about how her actions affected those around her, and kept the memories of her grandfather at bay. Over the next four years, Jillian continued to replace the sadness she felt whenever she saw Jason with anger and hostility. He quickly became overwhelmed by all the bullying, even approaching the school for counseling. They always sent him away with empty promises they would look into it. Yet, nothing ever changed, no one was ever punished for their actions. Except for Jason, that is, as his torment only became worse if they saw him going into the office to rat on them. With his mom still recovering from his dad¡¯s passing, Jason kept the daily torture at school to himself, keeping his promise to avoid increasing her burden. The fact he couldn¡¯t live up to his father¡¯s strength and bravery filled Jason with so much shame. So he kept it all hidden from his mother, no matter how much he suffered. He struggled to make it through those hellish years on his own. The only silver lining was that the reason for the bullying eventually faded, as Jillian told people she¡¯d have ¡°kicked Jason¡¯s ass for even thinking about touching her.¡± Along with threatening them if they continued to spread such a stupid rumor. But the target on Jason¡¯s back remained until the last day of school, when Jason walked away from Jillian at graduation. Chapter 11: Holding on Loosely Means Sometimes You Canéˆ¥æª› Let Go Jillian was asking, no, begging him to use her mouth. It was not something Jason would have ever seen coming. Not that she was the first to ever offer him head. But from her, from Jillian Lins, of all people, it just felt wrong. The thought of forgiving her was just a whole other level that he couldn¡¯t come close to fathoming at this point. Yet, Jason hesitated with his answer. He managed to swallow his resolve then firmly answered her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Why... am I too skinny? I mean, I am trying to eat more and gain some weight, but it''s harrrrd,¡± she said with a whine, her words still a bit slurred. ¡°He liked me super skinny, so I got used to not eating.¡± ¡°Hold on a second,¡± Jason interjected. ¡°I never said that and no, that''s not the reason. Jillian¡if the last guy you were with only liked you when you were sickly thin, then you never should have been with the douche in the first place. You shouldn¡¯t let anyone control you like that. What¡¯s the point if they don¡¯t like you for you, why even waste your fuckin¡¯ time? Plus, it¡¯s really fuckin¡¯ toxic if you ask me.¡° Jason wasn¡¯t sure why he suddenly launched into a lecture about Jillian¡¯s health and self esteem. Maybe it was the guilt still lingering from what he¡¯d said the night before. What did surprise him, though, was that deep down, he meant every word. It didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t hold a deep hatred for her still, even if he had recently gotten better at hiding it. The scars of their past couldn¡¯t be erased by his recent guilt or sexual favors alone, and yet, here he was trying to tell her she should have more self respect. Jillian stared wide-eyed at Jason as he vaguely hinted that he was happy with her¡as she was. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m... okay, but not okay enough to suck you off?¡± She said with a soft smile, tilting her head slightly. Though he wouldn¡¯t admit it aloud, the way she looked at him was unfairly cute. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I just¡¡± he sighed, ¡°I can¡¯t let you do it because it¡¯s just fucking wrong. Forgiveness in exchange for sexual favors? That¡¯s just fucked up and I wouldn¡¯t make anyone stoop to that level.¡± Although he was trying to be as clear and concise as possible, it sounded like he was speaking in riddles to Jillian. The only thing the overly drunk woman knew now was that he wouldn¡¯t forgive her if she sucked his dick. So, in her infinite wisdom, she suggested something else. ¡°So, what if you don¡¯t have to forgive me, then? Just let me suck it for nothing. Everyone wins!¡± She grinned like it was the perfect compromise. Jason sighed, shaking his head and covering his eyes. ¡°Everyone wins, what?¡± Mika said finally returning from the bathroom. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jason said, trying to save Mika from their awkward conversation. ¡°He won¡¯t let me suck his dick, Mika! And I said it was fer free!¡° Jillian shouted, causing Jason to groan in embarrassment. Mika sucked in a breath. ¡°Okay, girly, I think your brain is subtly trying to tell you it¡¯s time to call it a night.¡± Jillian let out a loud groan. ¡°Ugh, but we just started, and I¡¯m barely even tipsy yet.¡± They both stared at the redhead with searing doubt. ¡°Oh yeah? Get up and walk a straight line then, bitch,¡± Mika told her, grabbing the drink she had poured for Jillian and setting it back on the bar. Jillian pouted and let out another whine before leaning into Jason¡¯s chest, curling up like a cat against him. Her hand pawed at the white tank top underneath his tracksuit, revealing his thick layer of dark chest hair. ¡°Oh, damn...¡± she murmured, running her fingers through the coarse hair. ¡°Hey!¡± Jason protested, grabbing her wrist and pulling it away with a light scowl. She just giggled, giving him a sloppy smile. ¡°You might want to get her home soon, before she gets even more handsy, because it¡¯s only gonna get worse.¡± Mika remarked, her words catching Jason off guard. Usually Mika would let Jillian stay, but she was in no mood tonight. She really didn¡¯t want to wake up in the middle of the night to Jillian¡¯s wandering hands¡again. ¡°What? Why do I have to take her home?¡± Jason asked, his confusion evident, not sure why he was suddenly Jillian¡¯s chauffeur. Mika shot him a menacing look as she finished tidying up. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not sure how things are in Florida, but I don¡¯t exactly trust the cab drivers around here with a girl who¡¯s clearly lost all sense of personal space,¡± she chided, crossing her arms and shifting her weight slightly to one side. Jason quickly connected the dots. Seeing his realization, Mika flashed a small grin as Jason reluctantly agreed. ¡°Sucker,¡± she thought. ¡°Come on, babe, let¡¯s get you in the car,¡± Mika said, gently tugging Jillian by the wrist away from the man¡¯s lap. ¡°Nooooooo,¡± Jillian whined, her body going a bit limp as she stood up. Mika leaned in, whispering in Jillian¡¯s ear, ¡°You owe me another one.¡± Jillian perked up almost immediately, turning to her best friend. ¡°I love you, Miki,¡± she said, thankfully not shouting it in her drunken state. Even if it seemed like she was helping her friend get laid, Mika had watched the pair for a bit. The fact that Jason didn¡¯t lay a single hand on while Jillian was all over him told her everything she needed to know. He rose from his seat, his partial arousal now on full display as it pressed against his pants. He quickly turned away from the girls. Mika suppressed her laughter, but Jillian openly giggled at him. Once his shame had faded significantly, Jason turned back to face the pair. ¡°Ahem, well, I guess let¡¯s go. Thanks for the drink, Mika. It was unexpected, but thanks all the same.¡± Even with the awkward moments, he couldn¡¯t say it was a completely bad experience. Somehow, Jillian had gotten him to drop his guard enough that she found herself in his lap and wasn¡¯t immediately shoved off. It left him in a bit of an awkward spot, not sure how to navigate a situation where he failed to deploy his usual defenses. Like there was some sort of long lost spark trying to force its way through the hate. The three of them headed down to Jason¡¯s car and loaded Jillian into the front passenger seat, leaning it back so she could rest on the short ride home. ¡°You sure you¡¯re good to drive?¡± Mika asked Jason. He nodded, looking sober as ever. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. It was only one drink, and it¡¯s been almost an hour.¡° he reaffirmed as he walked around to the driver¡¯s seat. The window suddenly rolled down and Jillian slumped out of it. ¡°Byeeeee, Micky!¡± She drunkenly grinned. Mika scowled at her for a moment, but it faded quickly, replaced with a smirk. ¡°Shut up and get out of here.¡± With that, Jason gave a short wave before driving off. Jason was grateful for the peaceful ride home, with Jillian sprawled out in his passenger seat, a pool of red curls splayed out behind her head. The electronica station on his radio playing the song Shooting Stars that somehow matched the mood perfectly. The surreal ambiance of the flashing street lights they passed made the short drive back home feel like it had lasted for hours. Jillian opened her tired eyes, only to peer out the window. Seeing the stars overhead she took a long, slow breath before closing her eyes once more. The music seemed to soothe her worries if only for a moment. The drive gave Jason a moment to collect his thoughts on the night he just had. Spending so much time with his arch nemesis was certainly not on his bingo card for this vacation. He planned on just avoiding her for the rest of his time, yet for most of the night she was constantly staring at him. It was like she was stuck to him in more than one way. He rolled down the windows, letting the chilly, autumn air fill his lungs. Clarity allowed him to accept that he was, at the very least, okay with this one night where they weren¡¯t at each other¡¯s throats. Not that she didn¡¯t want to have something down her throat. Finally pulling up to the two story home, he parked the car and turned down the radio. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Jillian¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Slowly sitting up, she stretched her arms out, making her shirt lift a bit. His eyes looked down at her thin stomach. He found it hard to believe she had gotten so skinny for the sake of someone else. Looking around the car groggily, a sudden chill made her shiver slightly from the open window. Soon she realized they were at her house. ¡°Oh... right,¡± she murmured sleepily. Jillian shakily climbed out of the car, taking a moment to gather herself. Rubbing her arms for warmth, she turned to face Jason with a crooked smile. Jason blinked at her and opened his window a bit more. ¡°Um, you heading inside?¡± he asked. Jillian nodded, still smiling faintly. ¡°Yeah, I just wanted to see you off,¡± her teeth chattered as she stood there. Jason sighed. ¡°Okay..well hurry inside, it¡¯s fuckin¡¯ freezing out here,¡± he advised, rolling up his window before making a quick U-turn to head back to his mom¡¯s place. Jillian waved rapidly as he drove off before wrapping the arm back around her, though Jason couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something wasn¡¯t quite right. Driving home, Jason parked in the driveway and hopped out, locking the vehicle. Letting out a big yawn, he ambled towards the front door, which, to his mild surprise, was left unlocked¡ªdefinitely not something you¡¯d see in the city. Quietly stepping inside, he locked the door behind him. Another yawn escaped him as he headed down the dark hallway to his room, almost overlooking the note stuck to his door. Peeling off the sticky note, he used his phone light to read it. ¡°Hey sweetie, hope you had fun tonight. If you¡¯re hungry, there¡¯s cheesecake in the fridge. Love you lots! -Mom¡± He chuckled to himself at his mom¡¯s thoughtfulness, but also couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted. As much as he adored her, he knew Florida was where he needed to be; living with her again meant he¡¯d risk falling back into old habits. There was only so much he could do to try and burn off these huge meals he was eating several times a day. Crumpling up the note, he headed into his room. With a tired sigh, he peeled off his clothes until he was down to his boxer briefs. Too tired to really admonish himself for the small bulge in his stomach from the day¡¯s meals. ¡°I will do better tomorrow¡maybe.¡± Collapsing onto his bed, he pulled the covers over him. Socializing with the two women had drained his batteries far more than any run ever could. More thoughts of the evening¡¯s events swirled in his mind. Could he ever forgive Jillian for all the chaos she¡¯d brought into his life? Then again, was his life really so bad now? Her offer lingered in his thoughts. Unable to get the mental image of her bright blue eyes looking up at him. Her soft, pink lips tightly wrapped around his¡ If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Fuck, I am never gonna fall asleep like this.¡± Trying to push those arousing thoughts aside, he rolled over and saw a small pile by his closet. It took him a moment to remember what it was. ¡°That¡¯s¡her hoodie.¡± She had been wearing it when she attempted to run off this morning. The memory replayed in his head. Her face was the last thing on his mind as he drifted off to sleep. Jason¡¯s sleep was quickly interrupted by a relentless knocking that kept getting louder and more desperate the more he tried to ignore it. ¡°Ugh... what now?¡° He grumbled, clumsily patting around for his phone. Squinting against the bright screen, he had barely managed five minutes of actual sleep. Groaning as the knocking continued, he pushed himself up and glanced towards the window, where a shadow loomed behind the blinds. Without much thought, he dragged himself out of bed and shambled over to investigate. Pulling up the blinds, he was met with the sight of Jillian¡¯s messy curls blowing in the chilly breeze. She stood there, shivering uncontrollably, offering him a weak smile. ¡°What the actual...¡± Jason quickly opened the window, certainly feeling more awake now. Jillian managed a weak smile behind her chattering teeth. ¡°H-h-hey, s-s-sorry, d-d-did I w-w-w-wake you?¡± She hugged herself tight, trying to keep warm. ¡°Yeah you kinda did...Wait, why the hell are you even out here!?¡± She just continued to stand there chattering in response, like she was trying to speak but was too cold. The conversation wasn¡¯t going anywhere fast while she was out in the chill winds blowing that night. ¡°Just¡ get in here before you freeze, you fuckin¡¯ idiot,¡± he said, reaching out to help her. She tried to take his hand, but her arms refused to unwrap themselves from around her body. With a sigh, Jason leaned out the window, wrapped his hands around her waist, and pulled her into his room with ease. He quickly locked the windows and closed the blinds once she was inside. Jason turned back to Jillian, who was like a popsicle at this point, standing in the middle of his room, still violently shivering. He couldn¡¯t just leave her like that, unfortunately . Rubbing his forehead for a moment, he pointed firmly at his bed. ¡°Sit,¡± he commanded, not giving her an option otherwise. Jillian complied. He grabbed his blanket and wrapped it around her petite frame almost twice over. It still held some warmth from his body, and Jillian seemed to melt a bit with relief, an almost cartoonish grin of pure delight crossing her face. His smell was all over the blanket and it definitely helped to warm her up. Jason sat down on the bed next to her. ¡°So, why the hell were you standing outside my window when I just dropped you off?¡± he asked again, firmer this time. Jillian shyly glanced over at Jason, who was almost completely naked. Even in the dark, she could still trace the contours of his muscled body and the handsome features of his face. ¡°Um, so, I had originally planned on staying at Mika¡¯s, but I forgot to grab anything before we left cause¡ well, you know, so I don¡¯t have my keys or my phone,¡± she explained, looking embarrassed as she spoke. With his look of skepticism, even in her half drunken state she was able to figure out his next question easily. ¡°If I knocked or rang the doorbell, my dad would freak out. He has to work early tomorrow morning, and I didn¡¯t want to disturb him¡ ya know? I already burden him enough¡ I didn¡¯t know what else to do, so here I am,¡± she said, her tone filled with shame. The cold had done wonders to sober her up. At least she wasn¡¯t slurring very much anymore. ¡°Sorry, Jason. I fucked up... again.¡± With a heavy sigh, she averted her gaze, frowning at the floor. Even if he kicked her out, his cozy blankets were a nice consolation prize, at least. Jason frowned as he listened to her story, puzzled by how this woman managed to survive this long on her own. He¡¯d only been in town for two days, and it felt like each time he saw her, she was struggling with something. Letting out a heavy sigh that caught Jillian¡¯s attention, he ran a hand through his jet black hair, which effortlessly fell back into place. There was a tense silence until Jillian couldn¡¯t take it anymore and spoke up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologized again, her voice weak and shaky as she began to peel off the blanket. ¡°This was a dumb idea. I shouldn¡¯t be bothering you like this. Not really sure why I even thought to come here. I¡¯ll just suck it up and walk back home.¡± Jason¡¯s head snapped back to her, a bit surprised by her statement. Again, he was shown a side of Jillian that he had no idea even existed. Adjusting his tone, he took a deep breath before speaking up. ¡°It¡¯s fine... You can stay here, just for tonight though.¡± The words that left his lips felt so wrong, yet right in some ways. He was pretty¡ no, he was absolutely sure he had never said something like that to any woman before. ¡°Are...you sure?¡± Jillian asked, genuinely surprised that he was actually agreeing to let her stay. ¡°No I¡¯m not sure! You aren¡¯t supposed to even be here. Get out, you bitch! You ruined my life!¡± The part of his mind that still despised the woman screamed in protest. Jason simply nodded at her with his jaw tight, not entirely sure why he was agreeing to it, but he did it anyway. Jillian¡¯s face lit up with one of the sweetest smiles he¡¯d ever seen from her. ¡°R-really? Thank you so much, Jason. I promise I¡¯ll try not to bug you,¡± she said excitedly. With that, Jillian threw off the blanket and stood up. He wasn¡¯t sure what she was doing now, though it quickly became clear as she hooked her thumbs into her waistband and pulled her pants down. Even in the darkness, he could see the now bare, pale, freckled, round cheeks of her butt. It was impossible not to stare, like his male brain refused to let him look away. Jillian didn¡¯t need to look back at Jason to know he was staring at her. It felt good to have his gaze on her without it being filled with hate or pity. Jillian kept her shirt on as she kicked off her shoes and the pants now around her ankles. Reaching behind her back, she swiftly unhooked her bra, and let out a sigh of relief as she removed the torture device from under her shirt. She glanced back at Jason, who had been staring at her shamelessly. ¡°Sorry, I just can¡¯t sleep in all that stuff,¡± she explained innocently. Pulling her arms into her shirt and in the next moment, her bra fell to her feet, kicking it to the same pile as her pants. Crawling onto the bed on all fours, she looked at Jason who was still sitting on the edge. She stared at him nervously as if she had something to ask. ¡°What?¡± he asked, regaining some control of himself. ¡°Well, I was just wondering if I could sleep by the wall. I tend to roll around a lot in my sleep, and I don¡¯t want to fall off,¡± she asked. ¡°Oh...,¡± Jason murmured, caught off guard by the unexpected innocence of Jillian¡¯s request. ¡°Well I mean you can sleep however you want. I am gonna go crash on the couch.¡± The statement seemed to physically smack her in the face the way she recoiled in surprise. ¡°What, why?¡± She asked, watching him gather one of the pillows. Jason looked back at her with a raised brow. ¡°Cause I am letting you sleep here. What¡¯s the issue?¡± Jillian let out little noises of frustration, like she was trying to figure out what to say. ¡°Well.. it¡¯s..like.. What is your mom going to think when she wakes up and sees you on the couch?¡± She announced, finally coming up with something. This caused him to pause and think for a moment. It was late and his mom usually woke up pretty early. There wasn¡¯t much chance of him getting up before her. ¡°I¡¡± he tried to speak, but only ended up biting the inside of his cheek. ¡°I can¡¯t be considering sleeping in the same bed as this awful woman. For all I know she is gonna¡ gonna¡¡± He desperately tried to think of something she might do to him in his sleep. Everything that came to mind was just old memories of her back then, bullying him. None of it seemed like something she would do now, though. ¡°Fuck, why is it so hard to hate this bitch when she is right in front of me!¡± His thoughts screamed at him once again. It was so much easier when he was telling off imaginary Jillian. At last, Jason let out a deep breath. ¡°I guess, you¡¯re right¡¡± Saying that hurt him to his very core, but she was. It was much easier to just keep this whole sleepover a secret from his mother and there was no way that was happening if he was out on the couch. Jillian was already back to grinning widely, as she knew what was coming. ¡°I¡¯ll just sleep on the floor then, I guess.¡± That was not what she wanted to hear. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid!¡± She blurted out a little loudly. ¡°I mean, the bed is plenty big enough for the both of us, and I don¡¯t take up that much space, ¡° she paused. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to call you stupid,¡± she apologized meekly, coming to sit on her knees atop the bed. He scowled a bit, but she was giving off that same cute, timid vibe again that he just did not know how to handle. Jason was done talking about this. It was late and he was exhausted. It was obvious that he wasn¡¯t going to win at this point, and he didn¡¯t actually want to sleep on the floor, like at all. ¡°Fine, we can both sleep on the bed,¡± he decided, surrendering to the wiles of this devilish woman. Her smile came back instantly, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. His eyes widened as her body pressed against his and his face was lost in the mop of red curls. The pleasant scent of her shampoo and perfume wafting into his nose. As if realizing who they were in the next moment, she quickly pulled away. ¡°Oops, sorry heh, I am just excited.¡± Jason gave her a perplexed look. ¡°Why exactly was she excited?¡± He wondered if she had some plan that involved him sleeping in the same bed? His inner skeptic was on full alert at this point. As Jillian settled back down next to him after the hug, she looked away, still smiling. ¡°Sorry, I honestly just sleep a lot better next to someone and Mika doesn¡¯t let me stay over often for some reason. I promise I will do my best not to bother you or wake you up.¡± Jason could feel his guard lowering once more at the seemingly innocent explanation. To his surprise, he was able to readily accept this answer, like it made sense. After all, what other reason would people have to sleep in the same bed if it wasn¡¯t going to actually help them sleep? Well, aside from the obvious. ¡°Thanks again for letting me stay, Jason. I promise I will make it up to you.¡± Jillian said, her voice filled with gratitude as she finally moved over to the side of the bed by the wall, resting her head on one of the pillows and wrapping the blanket around her. Watching her for a moment as she got settled in, he eventually did the same and got back under the covers. As the blanket came up to his chest, the scent of her perfume filled his nostrils again. The warm, sweet scent that had a slight spice to it and filled his senses. Laying his head back on the pillows, he stared up at the ceiling trying to fight off invading thoughts of the woman next to him. The bed really wasn¡¯t that big, even though she had insisted it was big enough. When the both of them were laying flat on their backs, he felt the softness of her skin brush up against his waist. The sensation of their hips touching sent shivers through Jason¡¯s body, causing him to roll onto his side, facing away from Jillian. He tried to find a comfortable position in the cramped space of the full sized bed. ¡°Good night¡¡± he said awkwardly, his words trailing off into the quiet of the room. Jillian turned to look over at Jason as they lay together, his large, broad back facing her. It took everything she had not to reach out and trace her fingers along the lines of his muscles. ¡°How long has it been since I have actually been in bed with a guy? Feels like forever ago.¡± She laid there watching him, waiting for something, but something never came. ¡°He¡¯s really just gonna lay there and fall asleep, isn¡¯t he¡¡± It suddenly hit her that this really was all that was going to happen. ¡°Jason wants nothing to do with me. Of course he doesn¡¯t. They aren¡¯t the same¡ it¡¯s not ¡®him¡¯ laying next to me¡ he hasn¡¯t found me, he hasn¡¯t found me ¨C¡± she repeated the small mantra in her head, trying to ease her nerves. Jason seemed content just lying there, trying to sleep, which helped ease some of the fear she was feeling. When she was drinking, it was easy to push away her worries with playful flirting and teasing. But being left alone with her thoughts while somewhat drunk made her remember all the terrible moments from her past. Before she could stop herself, her eyes watered as she stared at his back. ¡°Why are you crying, you idiot? You¡¯re going to ruin everything,¡± Jillian thought, letting out a little sniffle. Jason noticed right away and asked softly, ¡°You alright?¡± rolling over slightly to look at her. She half-expected him to yell at her, like he would when he¡¯d caught her crying. ¡°That¡¯s not him,¡± she reminded herself more firmly. The fact that Jason even cared enough to ask about her made her smile. ¡°Yeah... I¡¯m alright,¡± she replied softly, scooting over to wrap her arms around Jason¡¯s broad frame. Her hand rested gently on his chest. Jason looked at the hand and then back at her. ¡°What are you¡¡± he murmured in mild confusion. Nuzzling her face into his back, she snuggled closer. ¡°Please...just let me stay like this just for a little a while,¡± she whispered, trying to hide the sadness in her tone. He fell silent. Feeling her warmth against him and her hand resting on his chest, he let himself slowly relax. Before he even realized it, he was fast asleep. She noticed Jason¡¯s tense body relaxing, and the cadence of his breathing began to slow. Gently propping herself up in bed, she gazed at the peacefully sleeping figure beside her. Watching him sleep, she couldn¡¯t help but smile at his serene expression and soft snores. With a slow, tender touch, she ran her fingers through his soft hair, something she had wanted to do since they first met, and lost herself in the moment for what felt like ages. Summoning her courage, she leaned in close to his face. ¡°You¡¯re too good for me, Jason... I can¡¯t compete,¡± she whispered softly before planting a gentle kiss on his temple. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered again, before settling back down, wrapping her arm around his waist, and snuggling into him once more. As sleep washed over her, she felt a sense of safety and comfort unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Chapter 12: Sweet Dreams Are Made of These, but Somethings Will Never Change. The two slept peacefully through most of the night. Jason had rolled onto his back while asleep, and Jillian had tossed and turned as she said she would, ending up with her arms wrapped back around him. Her head found its way to rest on his firm chest, although it wasn¡¯t the most comfortable pillow. But the warmth and the rhythm of his heartbeat kept her sound asleep. Around five in the morning, one of them stirred slightly. ¡°Mmmmghh,¡± the redhead mumbled softly. Breathing deeply, Jillian let out a contented sigh as she inhaled his intoxicating scent once again. ¡°Mmmmng. . . god papi.¡± Jillian mumbled in her sleep. Wrapping a leg over his, her hand began to trace down Jason¡¯s abs under the blanket they shared that was barely covering him. Her fingers glided over the front of his boxer briefs. Finding his bulge there, she gently caressed it. He breathed deeply as his arm moved to rest on her back, holding her slim waist. The two lay there together, still recovering from their late-night. She was obviously more out of it due to the copious amounts of alcohol she¡¯d consumed, as she continued to stroke the flaccid length over the thin fabric. ¡°Mmm... please,¡± she whimpered almost sadly as she continued to touch the unconscious man. Jason turned his head, his lips curling into a slight frown in his sleep. His arm moved from her around her waist to behind his pillow to support his head better, and his frown vanished and he continued to snore softly. Jillian¡¯s hands didn¡¯t stop, though. Her body craved affection, closeness, warmth. She needed it all. Her small fingers slid under his waistband, brushing against the bare flesh of his growing manhood. Her hips rocked back and forth, crotch grinding against the outside of his thigh, letting out another desperate whimper. ¡°Oh, Papi...¡± Jason was just a man, with a body bound to the laws of nature like every other man. It took little for his dick to grow without conscious input many mornings. Jillian¡¯s hand wrapped around the hardening shaft, and her whimpers became even more intense. ¡°Ahhn. . . fuck. . . So big.¡± Her breath quickened, and as she lay on his chest, she could hear the intensity of his heartbeat rise against her ear. Soon, Jason¡¯s hard-on was straining against his snug boxer briefs. He let out a groan from the discomfort, and Jillian¡¯s mostly asleep brain seemed to sense it. Moving her hand back, she pushed the underwear down, unleashing his cock to stand at full attention. His expression relaxed as soon as he was free. Jillian¡¯s slender fingers slowly wrapped around Jason¡¯s shaft, ¡°You¡¯re so hard for me, baby...¡° She slowly slid her hand up but stopped halfway. Her subconscious seemed confused, holding it there for a moment half-lidded eyes stared at his cock. The throbbing in her hand became the disturbance in her fantasy that brought her back to reality. He let out a small groan wriggling a little, trying to get comfortable. She groaned as well, feeling the first pulse of a headache from her impending hangover. ¡°Ugh, fuck...my head,¡° she whined softly, nuzzling her face into Jason¡¯s chest. ¡°Mmm, Papi, I love it when you are still here in the morning. I had the strangest dream last night. I went back to my old house and ran into this guy I used to know.¡± She whispered softly, giving Jason¡¯s chest a few gentle kisses. ¡°Can I give you a good morning blowjob? I promise to make you cum quick.¡± Still very groggy and her blurred vision unable to make sense of what she was seeing. All the while she was caught up in some past memory of another man. She turned her head, her eyes opened a bit more as her hand began to stroke up from the base of Jason¡¯s erection. ¡°Wow¡ you¡¯re so big this morning. You must be really excited to¡¡± the rest of her words died in her throat. Blinking several times to clear her vision while mesmerized by the impressive length and a girth in her hand. The world slowly came into focus, accompanied by an intense pounding in her head. This wasn¡¯t the situation she thought she was in. The chest she was resting her head on felt firmer than the one she remembered. As the outline of Jason¡¯s erection became more visible in the dim morning light, Jillian quickly let go of his length. Watching it fall, her eyes followed and bounced with its movement. ¡°Oh¡ oh no, no, no, no¡± she whispered, feeling a sense of panic wash over her. "What have I done..." Her fuzzy memories slowly returned with the headache. ¡°¡ I asked him.. to forgive me for a fucking blowjob?! What the fuck is wrong with me?!¡± She looked down at his exposed penis again. ¡°But..we went to bed together¡and now his dick is hanging out?¡± She could still feel the remnants of his warmth. ¡°Did I pull his dick out in my sleep?¡± her thoughts racing wildly. A sudden fear gripped her. What if he woke up and found them like this? Would he be angry that she had touched him like that? Would he understand if she explained what happened? Would this be what made them devolve into another shouting match? After all the progress they¡¯d made last night? At least she thought they made some progress, she was in his bed wasn¡¯t she? Jillian didn¡¯t want any of that. She didn¡¯t want to face angry Jason again; the hurtful words, the awful bickering, and the back-and-forth. Her heart raced, and panic began to overwhelm her. ¡°I gotta put this monster away¡ but seriously, good for you, Jason.¡± She reached back down to the man¡¯s underwear, her shaky hand moving slowly and carefully to his waistband. There was no way she could put it away with it fully erect like this. ¡°Go down, go down, please, please,¡± she begged, hoping if nothing touched it, his erection would fade quickly. She waited for several moments, simply holding his waistband out, waiting for it to soften. ¡°Mmmm, what¡¯s going on?¡± Jillian, was startled by Jason¡¯s voice, quickly yanking her hand back from his underwear. Unfortunately, the waistband of the boxer briefs snapped down right on his balls. He immediately let out a pained groan, his hands quickly moving down to his crotch. Jillian let out a startled, ¡°Oh shit!¡± and brought a hand to her mouth. She quickly pushed herself up and off of his chest. Instinctively, she reached out to him, as if she could help soothe the pain she¡¯d caused, but stopped herself half way. ¡°Oh god, fuck I¡¯m so sorry!¡± she sounded like she was about to cry as she sat there on her knees. The only silver lining was that his erection went down much quicker due to the pain. ¡°Ahggh, what the hell is going on?¡± Jason¡¯s tone was between anger and the pain-filled rasp of someone who had just taken a blow to the crotch first thing in the morning. ¡°I-I-I.¡± Jillian stammered, her hands shaking as she watched the man quickly remove the waistband from his most sensitive of areas and pull his underwear back up. He winced slightly, then sat up against his headboard, blinking and rubbing his eyes with the heel of his palms. ¡°Jillian? What the hell?¡± he asked, looking at her in the dim light, unable to see her full expression. She lowered her head, long curls hiding her face. Jason frowned as he picked up on her guilt. ¡°Jillian...why was my underwear down?¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The conversation from the night before came back to him then. He remembered her begging for him to use her mouth, but then before falling asleep she had promised not to bug him. Trying to do it anyway, after he had already said no, was definitely bugging him. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t notice?¡± Jason¡¯s voice was low and cold. She quickly looked back up at him with fear in her eyes. ¡°I... I just,¡° trying to explain what had actually happened would be pointless. The truth wouldn¡¯t help her case. He watched her frown deepen as she looked away. She shook her head slowly, unable to say anything in her defense. She had no excuses for him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason.¡± Jason scrunched up his face as her apology only confirmed his suspicion. After a moment of thought, he pulled the blanket over his lower half. ¡°You should probably leave...¡± his words stung so badly, even though it wasn¡¯t a curse. Somehow, him calmly dismissing her was almost worse than yelling. Jillian could only nod in agreement. ¡°Y-yeah,¡± she said, her voice catching slightly. Sniffling a bit, she moved to the edge of the bed, making sure Jason couldn¡¯t see her face. Tears blurred her vision, dripping down her cheeks as she grabbed her yoga pants. She hurriedly pulled her pants on and slipped on her shoes. Jillian tried so hard not to make a sound, but her quiet sobs were all that could be heard in the small room. She wondered why she always ended up in the same awful situations. Messed up every possible good thing that came her way. It was like she couldn¡¯t control herself. The sobs made him feel worse and worse, like each one was a punch to the gut. His brain told him he should be angry and annoyed with her, but the rest of him cringed with each sound she made. Grabbing her bra, she hurried over to the door, pausing before she left. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry,¡± she said, leaving the room right after. Jason wasn¡¯t sure why, but he got out of bed and went to his window to look out at the front yard. The front door opened and closed quietly. He watched her as she darted towards the sidewalk¡ then stopped and turned back to face the front door again. It was almost like she was waiting for him to come out and stop her from leaving. The morning fog made the world look gray. With each passing moment, her face twisted into a more distressed and pained expression until it was that same devastated look he saw that first night. She finally turned and sprinted away into the distant fog. Jason felt a sudden pain in his hands. Only then he noticed his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white. Relaxing his hands, he opened them to reveal small red marks on his palms, some of them slowly beading up with blood where his nails had dug into the skin. ¡°Damn it. . .¡± he grumbled with a deep frown. Why was he the one feeling guilty again when she was in the wrong? He had technically known Jillian for nearly twelve years now, but honestly, he couldn¡¯t say that any of the days spent with her were great, or even good. Jason put all this time and energy into hating the woman. But when they actually talked like civil adults, it was like they had a genuine connection¡surprisingly. She was kind of funny, and when they weren¡¯t fighting, she was sort of sweet..in her own way. It didn¡¯t feel like he was being nice to her, but she kept showing up anyway, defying his expectations of her. He stared out at the empty road for a few minutes more. Then came a knock. ¡°Jason? I heard the front door close. Did you just get home?¡± He hesitated a moment before replying. ¡°Um, no mom. I was up and needed to get something from my car. Sorry if I woke you.¡± He hated lying to his mom, and he was awful at it, but with the door between them, it seemed to work this time. There was no way he could tell her the truth. It was far too absurd. Jillian ran down the sidewalk in the chilly morning fog, holding her bra tightly in her hand. Tears were still falling from her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t figure out why she was crying so much. He just asked a simple question and told her to leave - she should be fine, right? But for some reason, she felt this intense pain that was tearing her apart inside. She ran home, grabbed the spare key from the fake rock by the bushes, and quietly let herself in. She went straight to her room, laid down on her bed, still fully dressed, shoes and all. Why did she trick Jason into letting her into his bed? Did her drunk self really think he would give in and have sex with her? The answer was not surprising - yeah, she expected him to be like every other guy. Just pretending to be that one man that was not like those other guys. She expected he would show his true colors when they were alone together. But he never even laid a finger on her. All she wanted was to get laid and prove to herself that Jason was just another man who would take what he wanted and leave. She was wrong, and she messed up, big time. Instead of proving anything, she showed him she was just another whore, desperate for attention. As Jillian laid there on her pillow facing the wall, she smacked her forehead with a fist. ¡°Why. . . why are you still like this?¡± she whispered to herself, smacking herself several times. Six months had passed, and she was still the pathetic girl she¡¯d fought so hard to leave behind. If she couldn¡¯t live a normal life, maybe she should go back. It was like a bad itch that wouldn¡¯t go away. All it would take was one call, and she¡¯d be back in that compound. At least she knew what she was there. Jillian laid there, her pounding headache keeping her from doing the one thing she wanted to do more than anything. Sleep. She just stared at the wall of her room. No, this wasn¡¯t her room anymore - it belonged to June now. She didn¡¯t belong there. She¡¯d abandoned this family a long time ago. Gave up her right to this life, but she was back anyway as damaged goods. When Jillian randomly showed up at her parents¡¯ doorstep months ago, she barely understood what she was doing. She was extremely malnourished, skin and bones, in her attempt to please someone who used her for his own entertainment and twisted desires. When her mother opened the front door with a toddler in her arms, Jillian almost bolted. Ginny must have seen the panic in her eyes because at that moment she grabbed her, holding onto her tight with Calvin in between them. The sobs that her mother cried that day still haunted Jillian. They simply stood on the front walkway, Jillian¡¯s own tears quickly joined her mother¡¯s. Together they cried for what seemed like an eternity. The rest of the family soon joined them. Her brothers, June..her father. It was the only time she had ever seen her dad shed a tear, even a little bit. But those small tears meant everything to Jillian. Still, she couldn¡¯t help the awful desire to go back to that personal prison, back to where she felt she at least belonged. Where she would be treated like how she felt, like a broken toy, just a moment away from being tossed in the trash. Jillian didn¡¯t know when she stopped crying, but after June had left the room, she let herself cry even harder. On the verge of passing out from exhaustion, she heard her mom calling from outside the door. ¡°Jillybean, Mika¡¯s here. She has your phone and wants to talk. Can you come down?¡± Jillian lifted her head from her tear-soaked pillow and called back to her. ¡°Be-¡° Jillian¡¯s first attempt came out quiet and hoarse, but she cleared her throat and tried again. ¡°Be right there,¡± with that she heard her mother¡¯s footsteps fade away down the stairs. Slowly pushing herself up, she sat on the edge of the bed for a moment. She took several moments to try to motivate herself to get up. Finally, she forced herself to her feet and made her way to the door. She crept down the stairs slowly, gripping the handrail tightly to steady herself on shaky legs. Walking over to the front door, Mika was standing in the entrance looking at some pictures while she waited for Jillian. ¡°Hey,¡± Jillian spoke up softly, and Mika turned to look at her. ¡°Yo, I just wanted to -- oh god,¡± Mika blurted, seeing her friend¡¯s red and puffy face. ¡°Mika, would you like to stay for lunch, dear?¡± Ginny called out from the kitchen. ¡°Uhhhhhh, no thanks, Mrs. L. can¡¯t stay long. I do need to steal your daughter for a bit, though.¡± Mika said, grabbing Jillian¡¯s arm and pulling her outside. Once the door was shut behind them, Mika nearly screamed, ¡°What the fuck happened to your face?!¡± ¡°N-nothing.¡± Mika dragged the redhead away from the house, towards her parked car. Jillian didn¡¯t understand, but she trusted her friend, trying to keep up. Once they were inside Mika¡¯s car, she shoved a half empty water bottle into Jillian¡¯s chest. ¡°Drink that right fucking now,¡± she demanded. ¡°What in the wide world of fucked up sports happened to you?! Did Jason say something again?! I swear I¡¯ll cut off his fucking d--¡° ¡°No, he didn¡¯t do anything,¡± Jillian tried to explain gently. Taking a long drink from the bottle she was given, Jillian coughed slightly as the lukewarm car water went down her parched throat. Flipping down the sun visor and looking in the mirror, she frowned deeply at her appearance. Her eyes were super bloodshot and her face was red and puffy, while her cheeks were sunken like she was dehydrated. ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything he said or did... I fucked up,¡± Jillian continued her explanation, but all she got from her best friend was an eye roll and a scoff. ¡°Jesus Christ. When are you going to stop blaming yourself for everything?¡± Mika growled, scowling at her friend, but was with a harsh look in return. Left a bit stunned when she wasn¡¯t met with her friend¡¯s usual humor. Instead, it seemed Jillian was serious this time. ¡°Whoa...okay, well...What happened then?¡± She asked, now more concerned than angry. ¡°Can we...go get coffee? I feel like I can barely function,¡± Mika nodded to her. ¡°Sure babe, anything you want.¡± Starting her car, the two headed off to find a fix of caffeine. Chapter 13: Spilling Tea, Misunderstandings, and Threats of Mutilation, Make for a Busy Sunday. Sunday was the day known for being lazy and lacking excitement. Well, whoever coined the phrase Lazy Sunday clearly hadn¡¯t witnessed the whirlwind that was Jillian and Jason. After the morning they had, Sundays would never be the same. Jason found himself back in bed, staring up at his ceiling yet again. Even back in his teens, when he had a rougher day than normal, he would spend hours staring up at this ceiling, wondering why life was so unfair. And so here he was again, laying there as the hours passed, hands behind his head, replaying the events of last night and this morning in his mind. Remembering the pain and distress that was etched on her face, when he caught her hand in his pants. ¡°Did she feel bad for what she was doing or because she got caught? Could she really consciously do such a thing after our conversation last night? Maybe she would¡What if I¡¯m overlooking something, though? She didn¡¯t really act on those impulses while drunk. Hell, she even shyly asked me instead at Mika¡¯s. Would she really just do it, all while sober?¡± It just didn¡¯t add up for him. The whole situation felt like a plot straight out of a cheesy romance novel. Except he rejected her and there was no chance of them falling in love of course. Thoughts kept swirling in Jason¡¯s mind as he tried to make sense of it all. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that there was more to this fucked up story than he knew. But now things were even more awkward than they were yesterday. ¡°Ugh, how do I even approach her now? Should I just go over and ask?¡± Jason groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. ¡°Why does everything have to be so complicated?¡± he muttered, sitting up on the edge of his small bed. As he looked ahead, Jason noticed Jillian¡¯s black hoodie by his closet again. His eyes widened as he saw it, feeling like he¡¯d struck gold. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± he exclaimed, getting up and rushing over to grab the garment. It was a simple black pullover with a hood, nothing particularly remarkable about it. Clearly too small for him, but just a bit too big for Jillian¡¯s petite frame. His thoughts wandered momentarily. He couldn¡¯t help but find it odd how she always seemed to be sniffing him. ¡°What the hell was up with that?¡± his thoughts wondered as his curiosity was piqued, lifted the hoodie to his face and took a cautious sniff. ¡°Hmm... Cinnamon and...¡± He paused, taking another big sniff. ¡°What¡¯s that scent?¡± Bringing the fabric closer to his face, he couldn¡¯t quite identify it. ¡°Hey, sweetie, did you...¡± His mom wasn¡¯t usually one to barge in, but it was almost noon, and she heard Jason talking in his room. She stared at her son, still in his underwear, holding a small hoodie up to his face. Jason and Katia locked eyes and stayed silent for a few seconds that seemed to stretch into minutes. ¡°Oh... um, sorry, sweetie, I just, uh..,¡± his mom started but didn¡¯t finish. Katia slowly backed out of the room and closed the door behind her with a soft click. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, I was gonna make you something since you skipped breakfast. But uh, no rush, t-take your time,¡± she called out, her footsteps quickly fading down the hall. Jason felt like his brain had just short-circuited, caught red-handed standing there, sniffing Jillian¡¯s clothes. His face burned with embarrassment. Burying it in the hoodie, he let out a long, irritated groan. After a moment, he lifted his head. ¡°Ginger!¡± finally figuring out the elusive scent. It perfectly matched the fiery redhead¡¯s personality and appearance. The subtle spice of ginger and the delicate aroma of cinnamon would forever remind him of Jillian. Deciding what to wear, he threw on some relaxed jeans and a plain white V-neck tee with an Italian brand stamped on the chest. After slipping on some socks and his trusty old sneakers, he folded up the hoodie and left his room. As he made his way down the hall, he heard his mom chatting away in the kitchen, likely on the phone. Stepping into the kitchen, he quickly started talking. ¡°Hey mom, I...¡± but was interrupted as Katia nearly dropped her phone in surprise. Katia breathed a sigh of relief as she managed to grab her phone while leaning against the kitchen counter. ¡°Jason, hey there sweetie! What¡¯s wrong?¡± she chirped, shooting him a slightly guilty look. Jason brushed it off, assuming it was just her getting caught off guard. ¡°Nothing, just wanted to give you a heads up that I¡¯ll be out for a bit. But I wanted to ask if you would like to go out for dinner tonight?¡± he asked with a smile. Katia blinked a few times before responding, ¡°Oh, uh... sure, sounds great, sweetie. Unless you want to take ji-¡° She caught herself before saying something too forward. ¡°I mean if you¡¯d rather take someone else, that¡¯s fine too.¡± Jason firmly shook his head. ¡°Nope, there¡¯s no one else I¡¯d rather take to dinner than you, Mom,¡± with a smile, he moved closer and leaned down to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead. ¡°Love you, Mom. I¡¯ll be back.¡± With that, he headed out of the house, leaving Katia a little stunned. ¡°Hello? Kat, you still with me?¡± The voice from her phone snapped her out of her daze. ¡°Oh, yeah, sorry. I¡¯m here. Jason just came by to tell me something.¡± ¡°I heard. Going to dinner with such a handsome young man. I¡¯m jealous.¡± Katia laughed softly with the voice on the other end of the line. ¡°Oh, Ginny, stop it. But you¡¯re right. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful son,¡± she admitted, a broad smile spreading across her face. ¡°Anyway, what were you saying?¡± Ginny asked over the phone. ¡°Oh, right. Well, it was definitely a piece of clothing. Black but not big enough for him to wear and he was sniffing it,¡° Katia replied, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of her tea. ¡°Oooo, do you think it might have been a girl¡¯s, perhaps? Maybe a certain red-headed girl¡¯s?¡± Ginny suggested with a laugh. Kat gasped lightly and agreed happily. ¡°Oh, that might be it!¡± ¡°Now we just need to figure out how he got a hold of one of my blouses.¡± The two shared another good laugh at the joke. ¡°Just a sec, Kat, there is someone at the door. Give me a shout if you find anything new, alright?¡± Ginny chirped. ¡°Yep, will do. Catch you later. Bye!¡± They exchanged a quick kissing sound before hanging up. Ginny set her phone down and headed into the living room. There, she found her youngest and Lonnie engrossed in playing with their toys, behaving like little angels for once. Smiling at the sight, she strolled past them to the front door and pulled it open, only to be surprised by the sight of Jason standing there. Ginny was a bit stunned for a moment before regaining her composure and putting on her best smile. ¡°Oh, hello Jason, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here. How are you, dear?¡± ¡°Good, thanks. Sorry to bother you Mrs.Lins, but is Jillian home?¡± Jason replied, watching as Ginny¡¯s eyes widened in shock. After pausing to think, she eventually shook her head. ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s here right now. Mika took her somewhere.¡± The young man¡¯s face fell, as if he had just received some terrible news. ¡°Ah, well...¡± Jason hesitated for a moment in his response. Ginny glanced down and noticed the black article of clothing he was carrying with him. Without explaining how he ended up with it, he held it out to her. ¡°Can you give this to her when she gets back?¡± He asked, handing the item to Ginny. She automatically reached out and took the hoodie, pausing to inspect it for a moment. ¡°Alright, well I should head...¡± Jason began, but before he could finish, Ginny shouted, ¡°Please come in!¡± Jason flinched a bit from the shout but was more surprised by the words. ¡°Come in?¡± He asked, confused about what was happening. Ginny cleared her throat. ¡°I mean, please come in. I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t be long. They¡¯ve already been gone for almost an hour. I¡¯m sure they just went to get some coffee or something. You know, young girls and their fancy coffee,¡± Ginny laughed a little awkwardly, having to lie about how long the two had been gone. She reached out and took Jason by the wrist. There was no way she was going to let this chance slip away from her daughter. ¡°Oh, um, okay,¡± Jason said, looking confused as he was pulled into the big two-story house. He glanced around and saw all the pictures hanging up. There was barely a blank space to be found anywhere in the home. It was pretty much the opposite of Jason¡¯s apartment, where all he had on the walls were the TVs in the living room and his bedroom. Ginny closed the door behind them and pulled Jason into the kitchen. ¡°Please, sit down. I was just about to make lunch.¡± Ginny said cheerfully as she guided him to the kitchen table. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not necessary, Mrs...¡± He couldn¡¯t finish the sentence. ¡°Please, just call me Ginny. Trust me, it¡¯s easier for both of us. And when my best friend¡¯s son comes over, I won¡¯t let him leave hungry. It¡¯s a mother¡¯s duty after all,¡± Ginny said with a smile, sealing the deal with her warmth. Jason just gave in to her request and his empty stomach grumbled slightly in agreement. Nodding, he sat down at the end of the table, feeling a little out of place. She giggled softly, then threw the hoodie on the counter and grabbed her phone. With a quick picture of the garment, she texted it to Katia. ¡°You won¡¯t believe it! Jason just returned Jillian¡¯s hoodie, he¡¯s here right now!!!¡± Katia replied with a bunch of shocked emojis and then some embarrassed ones. ¡°That means he was totally smelling her clothes earlier then! I can¡¯t believe it?!¡± Ginny chuckled at the message and replied with some heart and bell emojis. She then put her phone down after sending one more important text. Mika stared at her best friend sitting across from her at the small table outside the coffee shop. ¡°Jill¡,¡± she began, but quickly hid her face with her hands, trying to rub the mental images out of her eyes. Jillian had shared every detail from the previous night, leaving nothing out. This included the description of Jason¡¯s...well, let¡¯s just say it was something Mika didn¡¯t really need to know, along with the hand gestures that accompanied it. While she was a bit disappointed in her friend for essentially molesting Jason in his sleep, she still had Jillian¡¯s back. Even when Jillian wasn¡¯t on her own side, Mika would support her. ¡°I know. I¡¯m a terrible person,¡± Jillian admitted. ¡°I hate myself for what I did, for all he¡¯s been through, everything I put him through.¡° She continued expressing how bad she felt. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Mika sighed heavily and groaned a little. ¡°Girl. . . like, from what you said, it was just a mistake. You can¡¯t control what you do when you¡¯re asleep. Not after the shit you have been through. Why didn¡¯t you just tell him that?¡± She asked, taking a long sip from her now slightly cold cappuccino. Jillian sighed heavily. ¡°I was too scared. Afraid he wouldn¡¯t believe or yell at me. I just panicked.¡± Mika groaned again. ¡°Bitch, you need to stop jumping to these dumbass conclusions. Not everyone is gonna scream at you for a stupid mistake. You¡¯re not there anymore,¡± her tone softened. Mika was the only one Jillian told about where she had been the last several years. She knew it would just make her family see her differently. She had barely managed to tell Mika a month ago, and that was after a ton of drinks. Jillian sighed heavily and frowned, looking down at her third mocha latte. ¡°Sometimes I wonder... If it wouldn¡¯t be easier just to go back to him,¡± she whispered, slowly looking back up at Mika. A firm hand suddenly slapped Jillian across the face, hard enough to send her head twisting and her curls flying. ¡°Ow, what the fuck!¡± Jillian cried out, causing a few other customers to glance over at them. She raised her hand to her cheek and shot Mika with an angry glare. But her expression softened as she noticed her friend staring back with angry tears in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever fucking say that again, Jill. Just... don¡¯t,¡± Mika¡¯s voice caught at the end, gripping her wrist as her hand stung badly after slapping Jillian. The pain in Jillian¡¯s face suddenly didn¡¯t seem so terrible, especially since it was a lot weaker than the slaps she was once used to. ¡°Sorry,¡± Jillian mumbled as the two of them sat there quietly for a moment. The buzz of Jillian¡¯s phone caught their attention, she picked it up and saw a text from her mom. ¡°Huh... My mom says she wants me home ASAP,¡± she read the text aloud with a curious look at her phone. Mika wiped away her tears and composed herself quickly. ¡°She didn¡¯t say why?¡± Jillian shook her head. ¡°Nope, all she said was I need to get home.¡± Letting out a sigh, she stuffed her phone into her bra. ¡°Can you give me a ride back?¡± she asked, prompting Mika to tease her. ¡°Nope, you gotta walk home. Haha, of course I will. You may be an idiot, but you¡¯re my idiot.¡± ¡°Oh fuck you!¡± Jillian shouted back, pretending to be offended. They both stood up and hugged each other tight for a few moments, then wrapped their arms around each other¡¯s waists, still holding each other. ¡°I love you, even if you hit like a girl,¡± Jillian joked. They both giggled a little before getting in the car and heading back to the Lins¡¯ house. It was about fifteen minutes by car because they wanted to go to the one decent coffee spot in town that wasn¡¯t Starbucks. Pulling up, Mika and Jillian hopped out of the car and strolled up the driveway toward the house. Jillian called out as they entered, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m here! What¡¯s the emergency?¡± Ginny¡¯s voice quickly responded, ¡°Hey sweetie, we¡¯re in the kitchen.¡± They both made their way into the kitchen. Not surprisingly, they found her two youngest brothers and June already seated, digging into what appeared to be bowtie pasta salad, grilled chicken, and soft-boiled eggs in neat little egg cups. What really caught her off guard was seeing Jason chowing down on an already half-empty plate of food, casually seated in her father¡¯s usual spot. Jillian¡¯s eyes widened, and her heart sank at the sight. ¡°Mom... what the fuck is happening here?¡± she asked in a whisper, trying to mask her growing panic. Ginny just grinned at her daughter. ¡°Language, young lady. Jason simply dropped by a little bit ago, and I thought I¡¯d offer him some lunch,¡± she said innocently. Mika was almost as surprised. Jillian had yet to come up with a plan for the next time she saw Jason. She felt wholly unprepared. ¡°Oh god, I¡¯m so not ready for this!¡± her brain buzzing with activity. ¡°Mika, would you like to join us, dear? I made plenty,¡± Ginny offered, pulling Mika¡¯s attention away from Jason. ¡°Thanks, but I gotta open the shop in about half an hour. Sundays are always super busy,¡± she explained. ¡°Oh, well, that¡¯s too bad. I expect you to join us again for dinner soon, though, dear,¡± Ginny said, walking over to refill Jason¡¯s plate, while he looked between Jillian and her little brother Lonnie, who seemed to be staring at him. ¡°Alright, I will soon, Mrs. L,¡± Mika replied as she stuck her hands in her pockets. Jillian walked over to her mom, who was getting her own plate ready at last. ¡°Mom, what the fuck is this!?¡± Jillian whispered loudly at her. ¡°Language!¡± Ginny repeated in a whisper as well. While the two were arguing with each other, Mika approached Jason and whispered in his ear. ¡°I know she messed up, and she will apologize again, but she¡¯s in a really bad place right now. So you will give her the chance to do so. If she says. . . what she said to me earlier, something she should never have said to me in the first place. I¡¯ll sneak into your room while you¡¯re asleep and castrate you with a pair of rusty garden shears. Don¡¯t speak, just nod if you understand.¡± Mika¡¯s tone was extremely serious, and when she leaned back, he nodded slowly, putting another forkful of food into his mouth. Jason had no idea what Jillian said to make Mika so mad. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be the one that was mad, or did he miss something? ¡°Alright, I gotta go. See ya, Jill. Bye, Mrs. L,¡± Mika said happily, effortlessly transitioning from her threatening tone. As she walked out of the kitchen, another unseen voice was heard. ¡°H-hey, Mika!¡± The voice cracked a bit, to which Mika simply replied, ¡°Hi Wendy. Bye, Wendy.¡± Then the front door opened and closed, followed by a heavy sigh from around the corner. Jillian groaned as she finished arguing with her mother, and then settled in the seat between June and Jason. Jillian¡¯s hands gripped her pants, scowling at the table instead of at him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She whispered, trying to remain calm. Jason quickly finished chewing the food in his mouth and wiped his face with a napkin, before he started to explain. ¡°I...¡± was all he got out before Ginny placed a plate of food in front of Jillian. ¡°Jason came over to give back your hoodie, sweetie. I thought you might want to thank him yourself, plus I wanted to get to know him better. So I figured this would be a good opportunity.¡± Ginny said with a smile as she went back to grab her own plate of food. Jillian looked a bit stunned at Jason for a second. ¡°My hoodie?¡± She asked, confused. He nodded and got up and grabbed the hoodie from the counter. When he sat back at the table, he handed the nicely folded hoodie to her. She took the garment and stared at it for a bit. Did he really use the hoodie as an excuse to come over and see her? Or was it something else? Her heart started to beat faster in her chest. It was such a small thing, but she could feel the weight of the morning slowly lifting off her shoulders. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ¡°Ahem, well, Jillian...¡± Ginny cleared her throat, snapping her out of the trance. ¡°Oh, right,¡± Jillian said as she turned to Jason. They stared at each other for a long moment, which caused Ginny to smile widely as she watched in fascination, soaking in every moment watching the two love birds. Feeling her sister nudge her with an elbow, Jillian looked over at June giving her a curious look. June made the sign for thank you with her hand, making Jillian frown. ¡°I know, I know, sheesh,¡± Looking back at Jason, she let out a happy sigh and smiled. ¡°Thanks, Jason, I appreciate it.¡± Her words were a bit too sweet and made Jason feel an odd sensation in his stomach. ¡°It¡¯s uhh no problem,¡± he said softly, turning back to his food with a light smile. A little while later, a boy in his late teens, with dark chocolate hair flowing past his shoulders strolled into the kitchen, looking a bit depressed. He was in a thin zip-up hoodie featuring a Beholder from DnD. ¡°Hey Wendel, there¡¯s food on the stove if you¡¯re hungry, hon,¡± Ginny chimed in as the teen rummaged through the fridge. He grabbed a cola and a small bag of carrots before turning to his mom. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m okay. I...¡± Wendel finally realized that something was off in the kitchen. Looking at Jason, who was basically shoveling pasta into his mouth, Wendel blinked a few times. He then turned to his mother with a confused look. ¡°Oh sweetie, this is Katia¡¯s son Jason. He will be in town for a few weeks.¡± Ginny could tell that wasn¡¯t the question he wanted to ask. ¡°He came to return your sister¡¯s hoodie.¡± she added, with a bit of an emphasis on the last words. Jason glanced at the young man and nodded in greeting as he chewed his food quietly. The teen returned the nod before giving his mom a pleading look. Ginny sighed and nodded, giving the boy permission to quickly leave the uncomfortable situation. The rest of lunch was mostly simple questions about life in Florida. The weather, the people, etc. Jason even tried to bring up some light conversations with Lonnie and June. ¡°So Lonnie, what kind of bike do you have?¡± He recognized Lonnie from when he first arrived back in town. The small boy had been riding his bike and had stopped to stare at Jason. The small boy¡¯s eyes widened as he was addressed. It almost looked like he wasn¡¯t planning on speaking at all. ¡°Umm, I got a Huffy for Christmas.¡± His voice was high pitched and full of shyness. Jason smiled at him though. ¡°That¡¯s awesome, I remember I got a Mongoose one year. I loved jumping off the curbs with it.¡± ¡°O-one time I jumped over Oliver¡¯s skateboard!¡± Lonnie quickly interjected at the mention of jumps. The two started talking about all the stuff they¡¯d once jumped over on their bikes. Though one of them got him in trouble with his mom after talking about how he landed on his little brother¡¯s plastic dinosaur and broke it. ¡°Do you go to the local highschool June?¡± Jason asked curiously. June looked even shyer than Lonnie, but she shook her head. ¡°We homeschool her mostly, aside from a few tests throughout the year.¡± Ginny answered for June. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s cool. I bet she learns a lot more than some of the junk they teach these days.¡± While June only answered with moving her head yes or no, Ginny or Jillian answered the more complicated questions. He wanted to ask why June didn¡¯t speak, but Jillian gave him a look that said, Don¡¯t ask. Jillian tried to eat as much as she could, but her stomach refused to take more than half of what she was given. ¡°Uggh, I¡¯m friggin stuffed,¡± Jillian groaned slightly, leaning back and placing a hand on her tiny bare stomach, which was slightly distended from the small amount of food she ate. The pasta seemed to fight with the abundance of coffee she had consumed earlier. Jason couldn¡¯t help but chuckle a bit at her, acting like she actually had a gut on her. ¡°What?! Why are you laughing at me?!¡± Jillian said with a scowl as she turned to glared at him a bit, her eyes bulging at what she saw. The smile on his face was something else. Had he ever smiled at her like that before? ¡°Ho-lee shit. . .¡± Jillian thought to herself as she stared at him with unabashed awe. His teeth looked perfectly white and mostly straight except for a chip in one of his canines, which actually made him even cuter. ¡°It¡¯s just funny seeing you eat so little and then act like that.¡± She watched him pluck a piece of chicken from her plate and put it into his mouth. The simple act made her feel like she was melting for some reason. Seeing the cocky look on his face as he chewed. Ginny could tell her daughter was quickly falling for the handsome boy, at least in her motherly opinion. ¡°Oh, whatever, not all of us can eat a million pounds of food in one sitting like you do. Some of us are still normal humans. Ugh, I feel like I need to lie down again,¡± Jillian said, feeling kind of gross. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s better to exercise after eating. It helps with digestion, and we had some good protein with our carbs for energy, so it would be the perfect time,¡± Jason said with Ginny quickly agreeing. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! Jillian, you and Jason should go for a walk or something.¡± Jillian glared at her mother as if she had just betrayed her. She despised exercise and definitely wasn¡¯t in the mood for it, especially now that she felt like she had a food baby. ¡°Oh, well... I was planning on going for a run in a bit¡± Jason said as Jillian¡¯s eyes darted back to him, the same betrayed look. ¡°That¡¯s great. You can go with him, Jillian. Why don¡¯t you go change into something more suitable, and Jason can show you how to get back into shape!¡± Her mother said, getting a little too excited and leaving Jillian feeling like she¡¯d been thrown under the bus. ¡°When have I ever been in shape?¡± She grumbled. Jillian slowly got up from the table, grumbling as she walked past her mom. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this,¡± she muttered quietly. Ginny just smiled and whispered back, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Her words only confused Jillian as she walked away. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re gonna change, I guess I should, too.¡± Jason said, standing up with his plate. ¡°Thank you, Ginny, it was delicious,¡± he added as he walked over and put his plate in the sink. ¡°You¡¯re most welcome, Jason. Don¡¯t be a stranger and come by anytime, sweetheart.¡± Ginny said with a cheerful wave at the young man. Jason walked towards the door, passing by the stairs just in time to see Jillian half way up. His eyes were fixated on her butt, which was moving and bouncing with each step she took. The yoga pants she was wearing left little to the imagination as it clung to her body, and his heart started pounding in his chest. Feeling guilty for staring at her, he blurted out, ¡°I¡¯ll meet you outside.¡± Startled, Jillian turned to look down the stairs and saw Jason at the bottom. ¡°Oh, um, sure, sounds good,¡± not really sure why she said it so enthusiastically. Running right now sounded like the opposite of good, but the idea of being out there with Jason didn¡¯t sound too bad after all. She expected all this tension between them but, there was barely any now. Far less than any time they met before ¡°I figured he would be mad¡¡± a smile slowly spread across her face at her thoughts. Chapter 14: We Have Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Yet People Still Choose to Run. Jason flashed a gentle smile at Jillian. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why such a simple gesture affected her so deeply coming from him. Perhaps it was because she was so accustomed to seeing him grumpy or upset that the opposite was a surprise. ¡°Good¡ I mean yeah, see ya there.¡± Jason fumbled his words as he waved to her before walking away. Jillian waved back eagerly, a smile spreading across her face as she watched him go. Lost in thought, she only snapped out of her trance when she heard a crunching sound behind her. ¡°Why are you standing there?¡± Jillian¡¯s head snapped back up the stairs and she saw Wendel standing at the top, snacking on his carrots. Her smile quickly faded as she glared at her younger brother. ¡°None of your goddamn business, Wendel,¡± she growled back at him. ¡°Whoa, no need to get all aggro on me, just wondering why you were staring down the stairs,¡± the boy replied, holding his hands up in defense. ¡°Wait, how long have you been there?¡± Jillian asked curiously. The teen paused, thinking, then shrugged his shoulders. ¡°I would say about forty-three seconds before you noticed me.¡± Jillian rolled her eyes at her brother¡¯s exact time. ¡°And did you see Jason down there when you first showed up?¡± Wendel shook his head in response. ¡°Then how long have I been standing here?¡± Jillian mumbled to herself. Jason sprinted home at full speed. Once inside the house, he dashed straight to his bedroom. After searching through his belongings, he realized he had nothing clean to wear. The tracksuit he had brought badly needed a wash. Frustrated, he muttered to himself, ¡°Shit, shit, shit.¡± Though he knew it wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference as he was going to just sweat in them immediately anyway, he didn¡¯t want to smell like an old gym bag in his tracksuit. Deciding that he would go shopping soon, he settled for some basketball shorts and his last clean tank top. Lacing up his running shoes, he rushed out the door. His mother watched him leave, giving him a small wave and a smile. The entire process took only about five minutes, and Jason was back in front of the Lins¡¯ house. Entering her room, Jillian carefully and casually considered her outfit choice. With how little she had, it should have been easy. But that wasn¡¯t the kind of girl she was. Her choices boiled down to some tight stretch pants or track shorts that she usually wore for relaxation. In addition, she had her own tank top and a shirt that was essentially a loose crop top that cut off at her lowest rib. Even with the limited selection she had, she struggled to decide what to wear. She thought about the massive closet of dresses and evening gowns she had less than a year ago. They were one of the very few things she enjoyed about being stuck in that place. Even if she never had a reason to wear any of them. After spending about ten minutes being indecisive, she let out a groan. Why was she fretting about this? They were just going for a run, not a date. Whatever she wore would end up getting gross and sweaty, so it shouldn¡¯t really matter. At this point, all she had decided on was the bra. It was a little tighter than the rest and some old bloomers that barely fit. Turning her head over her shoulder, she checked the mirror to see how her butt looked in the tight bloomers. She suddenly found herself lost in the rabbit hole of wondering what Jason was going to wear. She hoped he would wear the same tracksuit he had been running in the last few days. It was probably so soaked with those powerful pheromones that it would make her head spin. She shivered at the thought. ¡°God, you are so gross,¡± she said to herself with a laugh as she walked over to the window. Jillian¡¯s eyes bulged when she spotted Jason outside, casually leaning against a streetlight pole. Watching him check his watch, frown, and then glance back at the house. ¡°Fuck!¡± she yelled to herself, scrambling to throw on the crop top and track shorts in a hurry. Grabbing her old black and white Converse shoes from high school, she quickly laced them up, almost tripping down the stairs in her haste. With the door slamming behind her, she dashed outside as fast as she could. Jason glanced up at the sound, watching as Jillian sprinted over to him, her curls bouncing with each step. Taking in her outfit with a hint of surprise, then noticed how out of breath she was from the short run. Leaning forward with her hands on her knees, she coughed and wheezed a bit. ¡°Sorry... I... took,¡± she paused with a cough, ¡°..so long.¡± After finally catching her breath, she stood upright and rested her hands on her hips. ¡°Phew,... sorry. Have you been waiting long?¡± She asked, chuckling slightly as she looked up at him. ¡°Umm, yeah, kinda,¡± Jason replied, his expression neutral. Jillian stared back at him, unamused. ¡°Pretty sure the line is: No, I just got here,¡± she said, folding her arms across her chest. Jason shook his head. ¡°Why would I lie about that?¡± he replied bluntly. ¡°Uhh because it¡¯s a nice gesture to avoid making the person you¡¯re meeting feel bad for being late?¡± ¡°Yeah, but shouldn¡¯t the late person feel bad for keeping the other person waiting, anyway?¡± ¡°So you want to make them feel worse?¡± ¡°No, but I don¡¯t see how lying would make them feel better. Personally, I don¡¯t like being lied to.¡± ¡°Well, obviously, but a little white lie to reassure someone you¡¯re not upset is just common courtesy!¡± ¡°I still think I¡¯d rather hear the truth.¡± ¡°Ugh! Fine. If you want to get technical, we didn¡¯t even have a set time to meet here, you ass! It¡¯s not my fault if you rushed,¡± she then paused as a thought popped into her head. ¡°Wait¡ did he rush? Did that mean he was excited about running with me?¡± The two continued to argue for a few minutes about whether it was better to be honest or to spare feelings on certain things. ¡°Okay, okay, can we just agree to disagree here? I¡¯m tired of arguing,¡± Jillian huffed, while Jason sighed with a nod, pushing off the light pole. ¡°Fine, I can live with that. Ready to go?¡± she had almost forgotten about the run in their bickering. ¡°Ugh, yeah, I guess,¡± she groaned, pulling her curls into a loose poofed out ponytail with the hair tie she kept on her wrist. Jason watched her closely; when she lifted her arms, he caught a glimpse of the black bra she was wearing. He wasn¡¯t an expert, but he was pretty sure it wasn¡¯t a sports bra. He almost spoke a rather mean thought about her chest aloud, but managed to stop himself. It was yet another milestone in his personal growth. ¡°Alright, well I am gonna throw some back-and-forth dashes to my routine, so I keep pace with you, okay?¡± Jason said casually, stretching his body to prepare. Jillian tried not to make it obvious that she was staring at him as he stretched. Her eyes tracing the muscles around his waist that peaked out as he stretched to the side. ¡°Mmhmm... sure¡. sounds good,¡± she replied, though she wasn¡¯t entirely focused on what she was agreeing to. Lost in his display, watching the muscles in his body bend and stretch with his movements. Jason finished and noticed Jillian standing there in a slight daze. ¡°You good?¡± he asked, stretching his arms over his chest a few times. ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah, let¡¯s get this over with already,¡± she said, trying to sound a little annoyed trying to cover herself as she snapped out of her trance. It felt like she was having a lot of these moments lately. ¡°How about we head over to the park down the road? It¡¯s not too far. It would be a decent start, at least,¡± Jason suggested, watching Jillian¡¯s eyes widen a bit. ¡°That¡¯s like a mile away?! Are you trying to kill me?¡± she accused him. Jason just rolled his eyes in response. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. I usually run like five miles, four or five times a week. Though mostly on a treadmill, ¡®cause Florida summers are super brutal.¡± Jillian grumbled something under her breath, borrowing a phrase she¡¯d heard her brother use often. ¡°Five miles, friggin¡¯ try-hard,¡± she muttered. ¡°Alright, enough talk, let¡¯s just go,¡± she said reluctantly, and they set off at a leisurely pace down the sidewalk. When Jason suddenly dashed off like lightning, Jillian let out a small scream and flinch as he zoomed past her. He ran about a hundred feet before skidding to a stop and dashing back toward her. Watching him with frightened eyes, she held a hand over her heart like she was scared half to death. She watched as he started running back towards her. He wasn¡¯t even out of breath, standing there and looking at her strangely. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What are you doing? Why did you stop?¡± he asked, raising a brow. ¡°What am I doing? What are you doing, you psycho!¡± Jillian shouted back. ¡°I told you. I¡¯m doing these dashes to rack up my miles while still keeping up with you,¡± Jason explained, hands on his waist. His broad chest and clean cut hair gave him that superhero look she saw all too easily. ¡°Well... ugh, a heads-up would¡¯ve been nice!¡± she grumbled before pushing forward with her jog. Jason just shrugged, effortlessly catching up in no time. ¡°I mean, I told you I was¡ Nevermind, Sorry I guess,¡± he decided that apologizing would be the fastest to get past all this, his long legs letting him simply speedwalk to keep pace with her jog. Running with someone else was kind of strange for him. He¡¯d tried it with Marco once, and the man didn¡¯t talk to him for a week after like he insulted his pride or something. Jason kept sprinting ahead every minute or so, occasionally throwing in some shadow boxing at the end of his dashes. Jillian tried to keep up, but her small tank of stamina quickly emptied, and the struggle began. Halfway there, she was panting heavily and looked like she might collapse. Seeing her falter, Jason slowed down even more to match her pace, basically walking alongside her slow jog. ¡°Come on, Jillian, you¡¯ve got this. Keep pushing, dig deep,¡± he urged, trying to motivate her to continue. It was clear she was more than tempted to give up. Her usually pale, freckled face was now flushed red from the exertion. ¡°I... can¡¯t... I¡¯m... gonna... die,¡± Jillian said between gasps with a pitiful whine. Jason moved and started running backwards in front of her. ¡°Yes you can, and you aren¡¯t gonna die. I believe in you. Come on, tell you what, if you make it to the park without stopping, I¡¯ll do anything you want after. Within reason, of course.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure what he was promising, but it sounded good. She looked up at him with slightly furrowed brows. He would do anything she wanted? ¡°Prom... promise?¡± She gasped out. Jason grinned in response, seeing the flicker of life come back to her eyes. ¡°Promise.¡± She nodded and grit her teeth. A look of determination appeared on her face. He turned back around to continue his dashes. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the park was in sight. ¡°Almost there. This is the home stretch. Come on, you can do it, push hard!¡± Jason cheered her on as he dashed forward and threw a few more punches into the air as he ducked and weaved. The man was sweating pretty good now, and his scent lingered in the air like a trail she could follow as he moved ahead, giving Jillian a boost of endorphins. It was as if it distracted her mind from the pain and kept her going. At long last, the two reached the park. Jillian quickly flopped down on the cool grass and took deep, gasping breaths. Jason walked over and stood over her, smiling. ¡°Congrats, you made it to the first stop. Take a moment to catch your breath, then we will continue our run.¡± ¡°You ¡owe me¡¡± she said in between deep breaths. Jason chuckled with a nod. ¡°And what is it you want?¡± He was curious and couldn¡¯t help but think back to the events of last night and this morning. He wondered if she would ask for something he wasn¡¯t sure he could agree to. The entire plan of promising her anything she wanted was Marco¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Women are pretty selfish creatures, but they tend to have pretty limited ideas on what they want when put on the spot. If you are the only one around, it usually works out if you promise them whatever they want.¡± His friend¡¯s words played out in his head. ¡°But what if she tries asking for forgiveness again¡¡± this thought caused his chest to tighten slightly. Despite his inner turmoil, he kept a calm expression. When Jillian gave him a mischievous look as she panted, he braced himself for the worst. Jillian was chugging water like there was no tomorrow, trying to quench her thirst. ¡°Take it easy. You¡¯ll make yourself sick drinking too much water after a run,¡± Jason cautioned her. Jillian pulled away from the fountain, water dripping from her lips and chin. ¡°Oh relax, legs. I know when I¡¯ve had enough,¡± she retorted, then playfully snuggled back into Jason. Nestled into his arms as he held her in a princess carry. ¡°How about we take a little walk around the park?¡± she suggested. ¡°Go on then, march¡Urp¡± Placing a hand over her mouth like she was going to throw up. ¡°I warned you.¡± He said with a sly smile. She swallowed the impending sickness and glared at him. ¡°Shut up and get moving!¡± shouting before her smile returned. Jason rolled his eyes and did as he was told. ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly what I had in mind when I said I¡¯d do anything,¡± he admitted. ¡°Oh? And what exactly did you have in mind?¡± ¡°Well, I definitely didn¡¯t plan on being a human taxi, that¡¯s for sure.¡± He sounded a bit annoyed. ¡°Then maybe you shouldn¡¯t have offered anything,¡± Jillian teased. It was perfect weather for a Sunday, families out and about, enjoying their day at the park. She stretched comfortably in Jason¡¯s arms, enjoying her new accommodations. For her, being close to him, surrounded by his warmth, was like being on cloud nine. Meanwhile, Jason was mortified, carrying her around. The looks they got from passersby were enough to make him want to drop her mid step. ¡°This is so fucking embarrassing!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s rest under that tree for a bit,¡± she said, pointing to an enormous oak tree. Jason quickly obeyed, having no complaints, wanting to get out of sight as quick as possible. Bending down to one knee he set her down by the base. She gave him a funny look, but said nothing. He sat down next to her, leaving a decent gap between them. They sat in silence for a while, neither of them finding the will to speak. It wasn¡¯t until the silence became more oppressive than speaking would that it broke. They both turned to each other and blurted out simultaneously, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± They both looked wide-eyed at each other. Jason was quick to speak up, ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± But Jillian shook her head just as quickly, ¡°No, no, please you first.¡± Being the straightforward guy he was, he simply nodded, skipping anymore back-and-forth. ¡°I just wanted to say sorry if I jumped to any conclusions, automatically thinking the worst this morning,¡± he started. ¡°And I wanted to apologize for not explaining myself and getting upset,¡± she excitedly followed up as well, a bit stunned by this sudden breakthrough. The two seemed to get a tiny bit closer as they locked eyes. A moment of silence passed between them before he spoke softly, ¡°So¡ it was just an accident, then?¡± She nodded eagerly, ¡°Yeah, I was basically still asleep and thought I was with¡ well, I wasn¡¯t really thinking anything, and the first thing I saw when I woke up was my hand was, um...¡± She held out her hand like she was gripping something cylindrical. Heat coloring her cheeks as she felt an odd shyness talking about it with him. A stark contrast to her normal self, who had never struggled with talking about sex, even when she was younger. ¡°Holding your... man¡hood, I guess,¡± Jillian said, trying to pick the most innocent word for dick she could. ¡°When I realized what was happening, I tried to put you away. But then you woke up and... I¡¯m really sorry about that too. It was an accident as well. . . It looked like it hurt.¡± She looked away. ¡°I kinda panicked when I saw the look in your eyes. I got scared.¡± She sighed, too anxious to hold Jason¡¯s gaze anymore. He frowned in the middle of her speech, but still listened intently. There were a few more moments of quiet before Jason finally broke the silence. ¡°Yeah¡ the waist band certainly didn¡¯t feel good, and I was pretty mad¡ at first, but I kept thinking about it, how upset you seemed¡ I really thought about it for a long time. I thought about all the shit you did to me back then, but somehow, I couldn¡¯t see you doing¡ that.¡± Jillian turned to face Jason, her mouth slightly open in surprise. She couldn¡¯t believe the words coming out of his mouth. ¡°It all just didn¡¯t make sense to me,¡± Jason explained, while Jillian continued nodding along. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I literally don¡¯t remember shit before waking up. It was like: Surprise! Your dick is in my hand,¡± she added, trying to defend herself with a little humor. Jason cleared his throat after her colorful defense. ¡°I see¡Well, honestly... I was afraid I missed the chance to get the truth after you left,¡± he admitted. ¡°So¡ you used my hoodie I left behind as an excuse to come see me?¡± The thought that he cared about what really happened so much that he used returning her hoodie as an excuse. It made her heart race. It felt like he might just care about her, even. Her stomach fluttered lightly as his beautiful green eyes stared back at her. She had to wonder just what this boy was doing to her. Jason felt increasingly awkward as she brought up him returning her clothes. The way she was staring at him didn¡¯t help either. ¡°Umm... Yeah, I guess,¡± He managed hesitantly, while rubbing the back of his neck and breaking eye contact. His embarrassment was more than obvious at this point. Another momentary silence followed, neither of them knowing what to say next. But Jillian slowly scooted closer and closer, till she was eventually pressed up against him. Her head laid softly against his chest and her arms carefully slipped around his waist, her whole body turning. ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s... It¡¯s cold... A-and you are supposed to still be carrying me¡if that¡¯s alright,¡± she whispered. Jason swallowed his nerves and slowly shook his head slightly. ¡°Umm¡ I guess it¡¯s fine¡A promise is a promise,¡± he whispered back, losing his voice. She cuddled closer till she was basically in his lap. The warm scent of her shampoo once again filling his nose. Jason hesitantly raised his hand, inching it toward her waist before freezing in place. ¡°Is this right? Should I even be here with her? What kind of fucked up situation is this? What am I doing cuddling with my high school bully!? I don¡¯t cuddle!¡± His inner voice screaming at him non-stop It all felt so far from reality he couldn¡¯t come to terms with any of it. The past few days had been an emotional rollercoaster. He wasn¡¯t even sure if he was remotely okay with this situation. After all, he¡¯d be leaving in less than two weeks. He shouldn¡¯t get too attached. Was he getting attached? ¡°Push the bitch off!¡± But just as those thoughts yelled at him, she reached back, took his hand, and placed it around her waist, resting it on her bare stomach. The voice in his head was banished instantly, as it felt like a current ran through his fingertips when they pressed into her warm, soft skin. It felt like his heart was suddenly in his throat. ¡°What the fuck is happening to me?¡± his mind spun with a million different thoughts and emotions. Jillian let out a long, satisfied sigh, and her body melded completely against Jason. It took him a moment to realize she had fallen asleep on him. A strange crooked smile spread across his face as he sat there contemplating what to do. The sound of voices nearby brought him out of his thoughts for a moment. Looking up, he noticed a couple walking close by, hand in hand. The girl had bright blonde hair and her breasts looked too large for her small size. While the guy had short dark brown hair and wore a letterman¡¯s jacket with his jeans. The girl seemed to find Jason and Jillian cute while the guy stared a bit too intently, squinting as if trying to get a better look. Luckily, the girl pulled him away before it became too awkward. After that weird moment, Jason leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes. Neither of them got enough sleep last night, so taking a nap seemed like the perfect solution. He would deal with this mess when his head was clear and rested. So, resigned to his fate, they sat there together, keeping each other warm in the early autumn breeze. ¡°Obviously, there is nothing I can do. I mean, I promised right.¡± Not sure just who he was trying to convince, Jason let himself finally relax. Once he did, it was shocking how fast he felt himself fall asleep like this, snuggled up with her. It had been really easy to fall asleep last night as well. In these last three days, he had felt so many emotions he thought were impossible for him. Because of a woman that he thought was the reason he couldn¡¯t feel them. Chapter 15: You Wonéˆ¥æª› Ever Finish if You Donéˆ¥æª› Begin. As the day went on, the sun continued to move across the sky. Jillian made a tiny whimper and barely opened her eyes. She pressed herself even more into his lap and against his chest. Even grabbing his other arm, wrapping it around her as well. The extra warmth caused a wide grin to spread across her face like a fiend. With another happy sigh, she quickly fell back to sleep. Another half hour went by before Jason began to wake up. He groaned painfully as his back ached from the awkward sleeping position. Blinking his eyes open slowly, he looked down and spotted the top of Jillian¡¯s head. She was cozily nestled in his lap, her head snuggling against his chest. This moment felt entirely different from the chaos when he woke up this morning. He didn¡¯t recall exactly when he had wrapped his other arm around her, but her slight shivers made it clear why it was. Shifting one arm away from her to rub his tired eyes, he heard Jillian murmur in protest, evidently missing the warmth that the arm had provided. A soft chuckle escaped him as he checked his watch. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s already been two hours,¡± he whispered to himself, somewhat amazed they¡¯d slept so long out in public. Jason groaned, ¡°No wonder my back is killing me.¡± He tried to shift his position, which made Jillian suddenly clutch his shirt tighter. She was trembling in his lap, and it didn¡¯t seem like it was just because of the cold. As he looked down at her, hearing her mumble something barely audible. ¡°P-please...Don¡¯t go...Take me...With...¡± Her words were soft, filled with a longing that made Jason frown with concern. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder who, or what, she might be dreaming about. Was it an ex-boyfriend? The thought made his mood sour for a moment. But then, he considered, what if she was dreaming about him? After all, they¡¯d had their fair share of moments where she might want to be taken away by him. ¡°Please... Papi... no,¡± Jillian mumbled in her sleep, clinging tighter to his shirt. All pleasant thoughts and feelings dashed with those simple words. He couldn¡¯t help the scowl that appeared on his face, relieved she couldn¡¯t see his expression. Even though he knew he shouldn¡¯t feel this way, a wave of jealousy hit him hard. The thought of her dreaming about another guy while resting in his lap was, to put it mildly, infuriating. Why was she here if she was still hung up on this Papi? He guessed she was probably dealing with a bad breakup and was still in love with her ex. Regardless, it wasn¡¯t exactly making Jason feel great. He awkwardly shifted to avoid scratching his back on the tree bark as he lifted Jillian into his arms. With a burst of leg strength, he pushed himself up and started walking home, his mind a whirlwind of unfamiliar emotions and questions. ¡°Who¡¯s this Papi? What do I mean to her? Why do I even care...?¡± He mulled over these thoughts, walking faster and faster. Soon, Jillian slowly woke up, blinking sleepily and yawning loudly. ¡°Mmmm, what¡¯s happening?¡± Jillian grumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and giving Jason a sleepy smile. But Jason didn¡¯t look down at her. ¡°We¡¯re heading home,¡± he said, trying to keep his tone even. Jillian sensed something was off from his tone right away and narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Jason... is everything okay?¡± She felt him tense up as he held her. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just late, and I thought we should get going,¡± Jason replied, still attempting to hide his emotions. But Jillian wasn¡¯t fooled; she knew the signs well already and could tell he was upset about something. She definitely didn¡¯t want another stupid misunderstanding to get in the way. ¡°Jason, stop. Let me down!¡± Jillian squirmed, trying to get out of his grasp. ¡°Why? What¡¯s up?¡± Jason asked, a bit puzzled. But noticing she was trying to worm her way out of his grasp, he gently placed her on the ground. Once her feet touched the ground, Jillian straightened her clothes and huffed in exasperation. ¡°Alright, what the hell is wrong now?¡± she said, hands on her hips, looking up at him. Jason gave her a confused look and played dumb, ¡°What are you on about?¡± Let¡¯s be clear, Jason was terrible at lying. It was one of the many reasons he usually stuck to the truth. Avoiding eye contact, his eyes darted around, giving him away instantly. Jillian was so not having it. She let out a big sigh, wound up her fist, and landed a punch right in his stomach. ¡°Ow!¡± she yelped, clutching her wrist right after. This made Jason look back at her, a bit surprised at the light smack he felt on his abs. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± he asked, eyebrow cocked. Jillian shot him a look, slightly annoyed. ¡°I was trying to knock some sense into your stupid head, but it¡¯s too high up, so I settled for your stupid stomach.¡± She snapped, while trying to shake off the pain in her hand. ¡°Christ, what do you eat, friggin¡¯ lead weights for breakfast? Feels like I just broke my damn hand.¡± She was laying it on thick, but her punch technique needed serious work and her wrist had bent awkwardly upon impact. ¡°You tried to punch me in the gut?¡± Jason looked at her, more amused than offended now. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I get hit in the gut with medicine balls all the time while conditioning. I barely felt what you did, haha. Here, let me see your hand,¡± reaching out, to examine it. ¡°No! That¡¯s cheating! And you¡¯re just going to make it worse, and tease me about it!¡± Jillian pulled back, doing her best to keep her injured hand out of his grasp. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make it worse. I just want to check if you really hurt yourself,¡± he insisted, trying again to reach for her hand. But she wasn¡¯t having any of it, twisting and turning to avoid him. ¡°No!¡± she yelled, moving away, trying her best to stay out of his reach. ¡°Jillian, hold still damnit!¡± Jason grumbled, chasing after her. ¡°Never!¡± Jillian shot back, darting away. ¡°Will you calm down you stupid brat! You¡¯re making a scene.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Leave me alone!¡± she screeched. Jason finally caught her around the mid-section with one arm, lifting her up before she could escape. ¡°Noooo, let me go!¡± she protested, kicking wildly. ¡°Why the hell are you being so damn difficult? I¡¯m trying to help!¡± he said, trying to keep her flailing legs away from him by bending back. Just then, an unfamiliar voice chimed in. ¡°Hey, let her go!¡± They both looked over to see a guy in a button up Hawaiian shirt and clean blue jeans, flip-flops, and topped off with a Colorado Rockies cap. Just an average joe, apart from the slight dad bod, which actually made him look even more average. ¡°It¡¯s alright, sir, she¡¯s just being a bit of a brat right now, we know each other. I promise nothing bad is going on aside from her attitude,¡± Jason tried to calm the worried passerby. ¡°That sounds mighty suspicious, if you ask me. The way you are holding her and the way she is trying to escape, it sure looks bad,¡± the man observed, his phone in hand, seemingly ready to call the police. ¡°Please sir, I assure you-¡° Jason began politely, but Jillian was done with this guy¡¯s interference. ¡°Dude, fuck off! I¡¯m fine. Mind your own damn business,¡± she snapped, clearly annoyed. She had stopped wiggling and kicking and was calmly letting Jason hold her now. Both the stranger and Jason were stunned by her sudden and blunt outburst. The man, now visibly upset, scowled and retorted, ¡°I was just trying to help, no need to be rude.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure, thanks, bye!¡± Jillian grumbled loudly at the man as he walked away, her plan ruined by some idiot. Jason gently set Jillian back on the ground, completely baffled. ¡°What the hell was that!?¡± he was very confused by the sudden shift in behavior. She sighed, massaging her forehead with the hand she had pretended was injured. ¡°I just wanted things to go back to how they were before we woke up and you got quiet,¡± she explained, sounding defeated. ¡°So, your big plan was to throw a tantrum after faking an injury... because you thought I was being too quiet?¡° while he couldn¡¯t hide his confusion. A smile slowly came back to Jillian¡¯s face. ¡°Well... do you still feel as grumpy as you did before?¡± she probed, looking up at him shyly. ¡°Grumpy? Since when have I been grumpy?!¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but sound a little offended. ¡°Yeah, you seemed a bit off... What¡¯s bothering you, Jason? Please, tell me. I promise I won¡¯t tease you or anything. I wanna be a person you can at least share with,¡± Jillian¡¯s big blue eyes looking up at him, full of concern. Jason met her gaze, though he still looked troubled. With a deep sigh, he realized he couldn¡¯t hide his feelings from her anymore. ¡°It¡¯s just...¡± He hesitated, turning his head slightly, but before he could look away, Jillian reached up and gently turned his face back toward her. Jillian¡¯s bright smile, with cute freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, stared up at him. ¡°Shit, when did I start thinking her freckles were cute?!¡± his brain screamed at him. Back in college, he had a completely different attitude towards people with freckles and red hair, basically looking down on them. There was even a time he got reported for harassment by rejecting a girl who dyed her hair red way too harshly. It made him tone down his hatred a notch or two, outwardly at least. But now, looking into Jillian¡¯s eyes, he found himself completely lost in the swirls of blue. Feeling his mouth go dry, Jason cleared his throat and gently took hold of Jillian¡¯s wrists, pulling her hands away from his face. Except he didn¡¯t let go of her. ¡°It¡¯s just...¡± he started again the same way but paused. Her smile remained, showing she was glad he was opening up. ¡°I am not your Papi...¡± The change in her expression was hard to describe. It was instant and visceral. Her lower lip trembled, and her expression shifted to fear as she struggled to speak. ¡°W-where did you hear that name?¡± she barely managed to say, yanking her arms free from his hold. Jason looked a bit worried at her reaction. ¡°Oh... Well, you said it in your sleep... You seemed really... um, eager to see whoever he is.¡± Jillian took a deep, shaky breath. She couldn¡¯t believe she had said that name or even dreamed about him. She never remembered her dreams, and now she was more than happy she never did. But since Jason had arrived it felt like all she did was dream. ¡°I... I did?¡± her heart racing at this point. ¡°Yeah... It sounded like you were calling out for him. I mean, if it¡¯s someone you are still in love with I understand but¡¡± She quickly shook her head, not wanting him to continue that line of thought. Jillian hugged herself, her head tilting forward, and closed her eyes. Her whole body shaking like a leaf as she thought about what Jason had said. Her mind was filled with shock and fear. Why was he still haunting her dreams? Even after so many months, it was as if her subconscious still yearned for him without her even realizing it. Jillian eventually looked back up at Jason, trying to hold back her tears. She was so tired of crying in front of him. ¡°Jason, I¡¯m so sorry. I can¡¯t explain everything, but please know I want nothing to do with that man anymore. He means nothing to me, and I¡¯d be happier if I never heard or spoke his name again,¡± she said, as tears started to escape her eyes. Jason¡¯s frown deepened, seeing the pain in her eyes. It was clear this man, this Papi, had caused her to suffer. ¡°Please, you have to believe me,¡± Jillian pleaded. Jason raised a hand to stop her. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain anything to me. I mean. . . It¡¯s not like there¡¯s anything going on between us,¡± he said bluntly, leaving Jillian a bit blindsided. Jillian and Jason were trying to convince themselves they felt nothing, but it was clear they were both, in one way or another, in denial. She was scared she might lose herself in Jason. She knew she was emotionally fragile, a fact that haunted her. If things took a turn for the worse and she wound up hurt, she could see herself back in that situation she¡¯d fought so hard to escape. But¡she couldn¡¯t take the overwhelming need to be close to someone since Jason came back into her life. She needed his warmth, his touch, she just needed him, even if it meant nothing. Jillian looked down and spoke quietly, ¡°Yeah... Nothing at all.¡± They were both avoiding eye contact, lost in an awkward silence. The two stood there in silence as she quickly recomposed herself, taking big calming breaths trying to wipe a few tears away from her face. Jason seemed to wait patiently for her, looking away to not stare at her vulnerable state. Once she was sufficiently calm, Jillian threw a curveball. ¡°Since¡ since neither of us have feelings for each other. Then there wouldn¡¯t be any harm in fooling around, right?¡± For Jillian, lust was much less complicated and an easier emotion to understand. Jason¡¯s head snapped back to her. She had a small, mischievous smirk while still brushing away a few tears. ¡°Excuse me!?¡± he exclaimed. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh, looking up at him with a full on grin now. ¡°Come on, Jason, I know you¡¯re not that blind. I certainly am not. We both obviously find each other attractive. And since there¡¯s nothing between us, then why not mess around with no strings attached?¡± She spoke in a confidant tone, like this wasn¡¯t her first time suggesting something like this. ¡°Hold on, hold on, hold on. Are you seriously suggesting we...um, hook up, right after we just dealt with all this drama?¡± Jason crossed his arms as they talked. ¡°Why not? As long as everything is consensual, what¡¯s the issue? You¡¯re definitely attracted to me, and you aren¡¯t so bad yourself. And if you say you¡¯re not, I swear I¡¯ll call you out every time you check out my butt from now on,¡± Jillian challenged him, hands on her hips. Her wide, lovely hips bulging out of her skimpy track shorts. A throat clear and a hand gesture pointing up caught Jason¡¯s attention, leading him to look up and see a grin on her face. ¡°Look, I dunno about you, but it¡¯s been ages since I got any, and I honestly miss it. Since we won¡¯t get attached, we can just fuck while you are here on vacation and when you leave, you won¡¯t ever hear from me again.¡° Jason stared at the woman in disbelief as she casually spoke. It looked like Jason wasn¡¯t the only one who was considering how little time he had in this town. Jillian was aware, but was still offering him all these things. It was objectively a good deal, just enjoying physical pleasures whenever he wanted. But why did it feel like a hollow win? It was likely due to his father¡¯s influence, who had been a devoted family man before he passed. Constantly talking about finding the right woman who would be his one and only. Like some fairytale romance would one day come his way. But in today¡¯s world, that seemed impossible. Women felt so picky, and many men struggled to measure up or just gave up completely. Jason though, he seemed to fit the bill for many women. With his height and muscle mass, it was like they were drawn to him. If he wasn¡¯t so rude to them and choosy, he probably would have a lot more experience by now. Jason found himself at a loss for words in front of Jillian. He almost blurted out a no, but hesitated. ¡°Can I... think about it?¡± he asked, caught off guard by his own uncertainty. Jillian¡¯s smile only grew. ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that,¡± she teased, sticking out her tongue and giving him a wink. Without waiting for another word, she practically leaped into his arms, which he reflexively caught her in. He tried to look annoyed, but Jillian just laughed and playfully patted his cheek. ¡°You¡¯re so cute when you¡¯re pretending to be mad,¡± she teased. Jason could only roll his eyes and let out a resigned sigh. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± he muttered, adjusting his hold to a princess carry as they set off for home. He picked up the pace as they walked past his house, not really wanting his mother to see what he was doing. As if her asking about his love life every single time they talked over the phone wasn¡¯t bad enough. She was way more invested in it than he was. It got Jillian to giggle a little as he sped up. ¡°Don¡¯t want your mom to see our passionate embrace?¡± teasing him even more with a wide grin. ¡°I just don¡¯t wanna get bombarded with questions about us or, god forbid the whole, when are you gonna give me grandchildren guilt trip.¡± He said with a groan, making her laugh. ¡°Haha, right? I swear my mom has an attic full of baby clothes stored away. Some are still brand new. Labeled, ¡®for my least disappointing child¡¯.¡± Their mothers were very similar it seemed, which was probably why the two were such close friends. They shared a good laugh together when Jillian compared their desire for grandchildren to that of an addict jonesing for a fix. Walking up to the house, Jason put her down when they got to the driveway. ¡°Thanks for the ride, big guy. You coming in?¡± She asked, trying to sound casual. But he shook his head. ¡°No, I promised my mom I¡¯d take her out for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Oooh, okay. Sorry for bringing up fooling around before you leave for that. Not that I want you to stop thinking about it. But have a good night, Jason,¡± she said with a smile and waved at him as she headed inside. ¡°Yeah, thanks, you too, Jillian.¡± Jason said sarcastically, before turning and giving a little wave behind his back. ¡°Hey Jason!¡± Jillian called, running back to him. As he turned around, Jason gave her a curious look. She made sure the coast was clear, then gestured for him to come closer, as if she had a juicy secret to share. He instinctively leaned in. ¡°What is it?¡± he whispered. With a playful smirk, she reached up and tugged him down by the neck, planting a kiss on his cheek, her soft lips parting from his cheek with a loud smack. ¡°Thanks for believing in me,¡± she whispered into his ear before they both stepped back. Jason stared at her wide eyed, struck dumb for a moment. Jillian just giggled, waved again, and dashed inside the house. Jason was momentarily spellbound as he watched her hustle into the house, captivated not just by her jiggling behind, but by her entire presence. Snapping out of his daze, he walked away, but something nudged him to look back. When he did, he caught sight of her on the second floor, her red hair loose, face beaming. She waved goodbye to him. He took a deep breath, finally breaking into a slight smile himself, and waved back. As she leaned on the windowsill looking down at him, he turned and started back down the road. About an hour before Jason and Jillian got back home, the house echoed with the sound of a gruff teenage boy¡¯s voice. ¡°Mom!...Mom!...Mooooooom!¡± he called out, his voice bouncing off the walls. Ginny, coming out from the nursery, whisper-yelled back, eye twitching, visibly annoyed. ¡°What!?¡± Her eldest son, or at least one of them, stood across the room, clad in his letterman jacket. He hurried over, his voice a notch too loud. ¡°Mom, you won¡¯t believe what I saw at the park today!¡± ¡°Shhhhhhh! For goodness¡¯ sake, Reese. Calvin just fell asleep. If you wake him up, you¡¯re on crib duty,¡± Ginny warned him, her voice a mix of frustration and desperation. Reese immediately toned it down, now aware of the consequence. ¡°Right, well, I was at the park with Felicia, and we were... uh, never mind that,¡± he said, brushing off the details with a quick wave of his hand. ¡°Come on, Reese, out with it. I¡¯m trying to sneak in a nap while the baby¡¯s asleep,¡± Ginny urged her son, trying not to roll her eyes. She was bracing herself for yet another tale of his mis-adventures. Much as she loved him, Reese¡¯s self-centered stories could really test her patience. ¡°Okay, so we were walking around, right? And our usual spot under that big tree was taken. So, we were looking for another place to go.¡± Ginny was about to lose it. She tried to zone the teen out, hoping for a moment of peace, but then she heard a name that caught her attention.Ginny quickly grabbed her son¡¯s shoulder, snapping him to attention. ¡°Hold on, hold on. What about your sister?¡± she prompted him to clarify. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to tell you. I was just walking in the park and...¡± Reese began again. ¡°Just tell me about your sister, Reese,¡± Ginny interrupted, her eye twitching again. ¡°I am! I swear I saw Jill making out with some random guy under this tree. I mean, who else in this stupid small town has red curls, right?¡± Ginny¡¯s eyes widened in shock. They were already making out? Was the run just an excuse to be alone? So many questions flooded her mind. ¡°Reese, was the guy she was with tall? Did he have black hair? Muscular?¡± she fired off multiple questions, causing her son to pause for a moment. ¡°Uh, I mean, I didn¡¯t really get a good look at him. I didn¡¯t want to watch my sister sucking face with some rando, so I didn¡¯t stick around long. But yeah, I think his hair was dark,¡± Reese said, making a face as he tried to use what little brain power he had. Ginny beamed and did a small happy dance. ¡°Oh, Reese, you¡¯re the best! Such a good boy,¡± Ginny said, playfully grabbing her son¡¯s face and peppering it with kisses. ¡°Mom, quit it!¡± Reese protested, trying to dodge her affection. Ginny suddenly stopped and gasped. ¡°I have to tell Kat!¡± Ginny yelled and just like that, Reese was forgotten and left behind as his mother dashed across the room to find her phone. The boy was very confused and wondered why the hell she was so excited about her daughter kissing a stranger. At least, he thought she was. His eyesight was getting bad, but there was no way he would be caught dead in glasses. ¡°Man, I hope I don¡¯t go crazy when I am that old.¡± Shaking his head he retreated to his room. Later that night, Jason stepped into the fancy steakhouse, decked out in a sharp, deep gray suit and tie. His hair was styled neatly, with just a hint of gel giving it a slick look. His face was shaven clean and by his side was a stunning mature woman. ¡°Oh, honey, are you sure about this? I feel so out of place,¡± she said, glancing nervously at the well-dressed crowd of people enjoying their meals. Despite being dressed in a gorgeous red silk evening gown herself. ¡°Haha, yes, I¡¯m sure. I told you, I wouldn¡¯t want to be here with anyone else,¡± Jason replied, looking down at her with a smile. She hugged his arm tightly. ¡°I swear, you¡¯re the sweetest son in the world.¡± Katia clung to Jason¡¯s arm tight as they were led to their table. The two sat at their table, ordering drinks and browsing the menu, enjoying some light conversation while deciding what they wanted to eat. Katia suddenly lowered her voice to speak in a half whisper, like it was a secret. ¡°Jason, sweetheart, I want you to be honest with me,¡± she said, leaning in slightly. ¡°Remember, I¡¯m your mom, and I¡¯m always in your corner.¡± She grinned at her own boxing reference. Jason laughed softly, and put down his menu, intrigued by her seriousness. ¡°What¡¯s up, mom?¡± Katia took a deep breath, clearly nervous. ¡°I have to ask, and I won¡¯t tell anyone. I swear... what are your intentions with Jillian? Oh gosh, I said it,¡± she blurted out, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. Jason¡¯s expression shifted slightly, clearly uncomfortable. She had just asked him if he liked Jillian the other day, and his response had been pretty vague. Now, she was probing further and more aggressively; she seemed to know something was going on between them. Naturally, Jillian¡¯s offer came rushing back to his mind at that moment, and he attempted to mask his embarrassment by taking a long sip of his imported beer, needing a moment to gather himself. ¡°Um, well... I...¡± he began, noticing his mother leaning in with anticipation written all over her face. ¡°Mom, why do you think I have any intentions with Jillian?¡± Reflecting on it, it seemed like his entire visit had been subtly nudging him towards spending time with her. Katia¡¯s initial confidence faltered, and she leaned back in her seat, absently toying with a few strands of hair. ¡°Oh... um, well, you see,¡± she began, her tone hesitant as she searched for the right words. ¡°It¡¯s just that... you¡¯re turning 27 this year, Jason, and you¡¯ve never even mentioned a passing interest in a girl to me. I started to wonder... well...¡± She trailed off, unsure how to continue. Jason tried to complete his mother¡¯s sentence, ¡°If I was gay?¡± ¡°N-n-no, I mean, it¡¯d be okay if you were... but what I¡¯m getting at is, you never seem to talk about women in a positive way when we chat. It¡¯s always complaints about this lady did this or that lady did that darn thing.¡± Of course, his actual word were much more colorful. Katia frowned as she continued, ¡°I just thought, you know, since Ginny¡¯s my best friend and I heard her daughter was single and back home, maybe you two would... hit it off? You two have been talking and spending a lot of time together and it seemed, well¡¡± She paused, glancing back up at Jason. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetie. We didn¡¯t mean any harm. It¡¯s just mothers looking out for their children¡ Are you angry at me?¡± she said meekly. Jason let out a sigh and shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not angry, mom. I half expected something like this from you, to be honest.¡± Katia looked surprised by his response. Jason chuckled at her expression. ¡°What? You¡¯re always asking if I am dating anyone or checking if there is someone I¡¯m interested in. I¡¯ve lost count of how many times I¡¯ve heard the grandchildren-before-I¡¯m-too-old speech in the last two years.¡± Katia¡¯s cheeks flushed, and she nervously bit her lip. Jason simply smiled, reaching out to take his mom¡¯s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. I get it. I just haven¡¯t found the right girl yet.¡± Katia¡¯s eyes widened from her son¡¯s words, her mouth hanging open in mild surprise. ¡°Does¡ that mean...¡± She hesitated, her own words catching in her throat. ¡°You¡¯re not interested in Jillian?¡± Her voice trailed off sadly. Jason sighed, giving his mother¡¯s hand another gentle squeeze and shaking his head. ¡°Not... in the way you want me to be, Mom. I¡¯m sorry,¡± trying to speak softly. ¡°Wait, then why were you kissing her in the park!?¡± Katia blurted out, then immediately covered her mouth. That wasn¡¯t supposed to come out. Jason looked genuinely confused. ¡°What? We never kissed in the park?¡± Katia still looked shocked; she could easily tell when her son was lying, and this wasn¡¯t a lie. ¡°But... but Ginny said... she said that he said...¡± Katia¡¯s face turned beet red as she stumbled over her words. ¡°I don¡¯t know where you heard we were kissing in the park, but I promise we weren¡¯t. . .¡± Katia lowered her head in shame. The waiter came over to take their order, and Jason sent him away for a few more minutes. Jason sighed as he looked wearily at his mother. ¡°Mom... Look, I do like Jillian, I can honestly say she¡¯s probably gotten closer to me than just about any girl ever has. But I still don¡¯t think it¡¯s going anywhere. We¡¯re just too different.¡± He barely noticed his mom looking at him with a strange expression. ¡°Sweetie...¡± Katia began. ¡°Yeah mom?¡± He answered, reaching out to grab a slice of bread from the basket on their table. ¡°Are you still a virgin, dear?¡± Her question was like a deafening explosion that made his ears ring. Chapter 16: No Refunds or Store Credit, But if You Are Interested in a Trade. Jillian waved to Jason from her window, smiling like an idiot as she watched him disappear. Her smile slowly fading. Resting her head against the window, she exhaled a breath she didn¡¯t know she was holding. ¡°Great job Jill. Why don¡¯t you just go offer yourself up on a silver platter again? Might as well have asked him to use and abuse me while I was at it.... But hey, at least he might not lock me up when he go back home...¡± She frowned deeply as her eyes focused on the faint reflection of herself in the window. ¡°¡Why do I want him so badly?¡± The recent memory of falling asleep in his bed coming to the forefront of her mind. The feeling of safety and comfort she got while wrapped up with him. ¡°That¡¯s why¡¡± Whispering to herself, she closed her eyes for a few moments. Jillian let out a final sigh, stepped away from the window, and walked over to her bed. She glanced over at the black hoodie Jason had given back and the shirt she¡¯d swiped from his closet. Neither piece really appealed to her right now. Yeah, they were cozy enough, but they lacked that special something she really craved. Arms folded, she mulled over her options. The door opened, and she turned to see June walking in. Jillian shared a smile with her little sister, who gave a cheerful wave. Using sign language, June asked what was up. ¡°Oh , I¡¯m on a mission to find a sleep shirt that smells just right.¡± Jilian said, looking back at the clothes on her bed for a moment. The smaller red head looked puzzled and suggested maybe washing them would help. But she just laughed. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not about soap or perfume. I¡¯m after a unique scent. It¡¯s like a rite of passage for us girls. It¡¯s hard to get, but if you do, it means you¡¯ve really made it. I call it the ultimate scent...¡± The crazed look in her eye made June squirm slightly. Jillian paused for a moment, making June curious about what smell could make her sister go to such lengths. ¡°The Boyfriend Shirt Scent!¡± After a brief silence, June rolled her eyes and made gestures that pretty much called Jillian crazy, all thanks to this Jason guy. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t call your older sister crazy! You just don¡¯t understand the magic of the scent. Oh my gosh, when he gets all sweaty after a run, that¡¯s when his true power is unleashed.¡± Jillian got a dreamy look as the corners of her mouth sparkled with beads of saliva, while June watched her with a mix of horror and disbelief. The thought of having to smell someone all sweaty and gross made her inwardly gag. Jillian suddenly gave June a big hug, and June¡¯s eyes popped open in surprise as she got a whiff of her sister¡¯s scent. She quickly tried wriggle away, trying to get free letting out whimpers of complaint. ¡°Listen, Junebug, one day you¡¯ll get it. You¡¯ll find someone whose smell you grow to love, as you love them. You will realize that what was once something gross and unpleasant becomes something you miss when it¡¯s gone.¡± Jillian went on, talking about how great it is to be basked in the scent of the one you care about. Even though just the other day she talked about how men were garbage and how no one would be good enough for her. Luckily, June eventually broke free and took long, gasping breaths of fresh air away from her. She then gestured at her sister with a scowl. ¡°Well, I love you and I still think you stink.¡± Jillian looked puzzled for a second, then sniffed her own shirt. ¡°Ew, uhh yeah, I definitely need a shower,¡± she admitted, and June vigorously nodded in agreement. Jillian decided it was the perfect time for one of her shower-turned-bath sessions. This move wasn¡¯t exactly popular with anyone else needing the upstairs bathroom, but Jillian wasn¡¯t concerned about that. Sitting relaxed in the tub, she scrolled through her phone that was safely tucked into a Ziploc bag to keep it dry. She was mid-scroll when something important hit her. She didn¡¯t have Jason¡¯s number. ¡°Shit, I wanted to see his outfit for dinner. Damn it, I bet he went all out.¡± Jillian had only ever seen Jason somewhat dressed up once, during dinner, when he wore a turtleneck and slacks. It was nice, but it didn¡¯t really give her that fuzzy feeling she was after. When she closed her eyes and pictured him in a sleek business suit and tie, she was surprised to find her mind added a pair of thick-framed glasses to his image. ¡°Wait...he doesn¡¯t wear glasses anymore. I wonder if he uses contacts?¡± she thought, and gasped at her next thought, ¡°What if he had surgery? That¡¯d be such a pity; he looked so cute with glasses.¡± Her mind drifted back to their high school days, and she couldn¡¯t help but frown as she remembered how she had stomped on those cute glasses a few times in highschool. Jillian¡¯s head sunk more into the water, letting out a groan as she blew bubbles. ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m such a hypocrite,¡± she thought sadly. Thinking about how her teasing could have driven him to get surgery weighed heavily on her mind. In a random moment of inspiration, she thought up a crazy scheme. Writing a text to her mom, she crafted a little white lie. ¡°Hey mom, can I get Katia¡¯s number? I need her recipe for this amazing breakfast dish she made.¡± Her mom replied surprisingly quick. ¡°Sure, here it is. Good luck with your ¡°recipe¡± sweetie.¡± It was an odd reply, but she got what she needed. Jillian quickly added Katia¡¯s number to her contacts and sent her a text. ¡°Hey Katia! It¡¯s Jillian. My mom gave me your number. Have you guys already headed out for dinner? So excited for you!¡± She even threw in a few party hat emojis for good measure. Katia replied almost immediately, ¡°Hey Jillian! Yep, we¡¯ve already left. We¡¯re off to a fancy dinner in the city. I¡¯m excited!¡± ¡°Sounds awesome! Send me a pic, will you?¡± She kept her request intentionally vague. ¡°Come on, Katia. I know you won¡¯t disappoint me. Come onnnn... Jackpot!¡± Katia sent a picture of Jason looking rather intense as he drove, leaning against the window with one hand on the steering wheel, while the other rested on the windowsill. He was all dressed up in a sleek gray suit and tie, with the same fancy gold watch on his wrist. ¡°Isn¡¯t the view amazing!?¡± Katia teasingly captioned it with the following text. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but stare, transfixed by how Jason looked in his suit. ¡°Excellent photo, Katia! You could be a pro photographer. And hey, if you¡¯ve got more pics of the ¡°view¡± feel free to share them!¡± She added some winking and drooling emojis to emphasize her point. The rest of Jill¡¯s bath time turned into a bit of a game, seeing how long she could keep edging herself to Jason¡¯s photo. However, this fun was interrupted by a loud banging on the door that made her jump slightly. ¡°Jill, seriously, get out! I need to shower and go to bed, and all my shit is in there. You¡¯ve been hogging the bathroom for like two hours!¡± It was her younger brother, Reese, sounding more than a little annoyed. Jill just rolled her eyes and replied, ¡°Calm down, calm down. I¡¯m coming out. No need to get your panties in a knot, ya big baby.¡± As she stepped out of the tub, feeling warm and relaxed but not entirely satisfied, she reached for a towel. That¡¯s when they both heard their mom¡¯s voice yell up the stairs in an angry tone. ¡°Reese, you are going to the optometrist next week!¡± It was clear she was not in the best of moods. ¡°That was weird,¡± Jillian mumbled, wrapping herself in a towel. She cracked open the door, only to hear Reese and their mom arguing downstairs. She shrugged it off, not really in the mood to dive into that mess. So she headed to her room to change into some cozy PJs. The plain smell of laundry detergent made her let out a small disappointed sigh. Flopping onto her bed, she stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering to Jason yet again. She wondered if he¡¯d been thinking about her at all. She was curious about what he thought about the offer she made him, but she wouldn¡¯t push him. It was his call to make at this point. Jillian was quickly dozing off as she laid there in her towel. Despite squeezing in a nap earlier, she was still shy of her usual goal of at least twelve hours of sleep. She was just always so exhausted for some reason, and the run only exacerbated the problem. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. Hoping for another one of Katia¡¯s photos, Jillian eagerly checked her phone. It was her, but it was mostly just some regular chatter at first. But it took a turn that made her eyes nearly bulge from her sockets. ¡°What the actual fuck¡ no way.¡± The next morning, Jason was dead to the world as he slept sprawled out in his bed when a knock at his window, not his door, stirred him awake. Rubbing his head with a groan, he barely remembered last night after drinking his fill of beer when his mom had offered to drive them home. It was one of those awkward nights he just wanted to forget. The knocking on the window grew louder. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Ugh, okay, okay, I¡¯m coming,¡± he muttered. With all the effort he could muster, he rolled onto his side, slowly got up, and shuffled to his window to open the blinds. Jillian was outside, flashing a huge smile at him. Jason reached down, opening the window. ¡°And just what do I owe for the pleasure of this early morning wake up call?¡± Jason asked sarcastically, letting out a groan of pain, massaging his temples as his brain throbbed in his skull. That was when she looked down, her eyes going wide as her smile stretched even wider. ¡°Oh please sir, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you very much,¡± she chuckled. Jason was highly confused until he followed her gaze downward and realized he was completely naked and his dick hung freely right in front of her. ¡°Fuck, shit!¡± he exclaimed, scrambling to cover himself with his hands. Jillian couldn¡¯t stop giggling, her smile wide as she watched him hurry to find some underwear. As he bent over to pull them up, she playfully whistled, making him groan in mild embarrassment. Once his boxer briefs were on, he walked back to the window, but her eyes were still glued to his crotch. ¡°You know, that¡¯s not leaving much to the imagination, haha. I can still see the outline and everything. Actually, I think it¡¯s a little sexier now ¡®cause it¡¯s got an air of mystery around it now. Ooooo mystery diiick,¡± she laughed a bit harder, obviously enjoying herself. Jason was definitely not enjoying himself, nor was he in the mood for any of these games. He moved his hands to his temples to try to squash his headache. ¡°Jillian... seriously, what do you want, make it quick or I¡¯m shutting the window?¡± He was losing patience fast. With a twinkle in her eye, she reached into her hoodie and pulled out a folded black shirt. ¡°Well, since you asked,¡± she began by clearing her throat, sounding like she was at a customer service desk, ¡°I¡¯d like to exchange this for something more me. Maybe a track suit jacket?¡± She held the shirt out to Jason, clearly eager for the trade. ¡°I¡¯m not giving you my track suit,¡± his stomach churned as he got a little queasy, feeling even more annoyed now. ¡°Besides, it still needs a wash.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you fuckin dare even think about washing it!¡± Jillian half-joked, half-warned, taking a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. ¡°Look, I think my offer is pretty fair. Just take a look, you won¡¯t be disappointed I¡¯m sure!¡± she added, offering the shirt to Jason once more. ¡°Ugh, If I say yes, will you leave me alone so I can go back to sleep?¡± Jason said with a longer groan. Standing was now making him feel utterly sick as his vision swam like he just got off the tea cups ride from the fair. ¡°It all depends on whether you¡¯re willing to give me what I¡¯m asking for,¡± Jillian replied, still holding out for the track suit jacket. ¡°Fuck, fine. I need to go shopping for new clothes, anyway. I don¡¯t want to wash the same ones over and over while I¡¯m here,¡± Jason grumbled, finally giving in. He walked over to a hamper and grabbed his red track suit jacket and tossed it to her through the window. The girl grabbed it eagerly, hugging it tight as if it were her best friend. ¡°Oh god yes!¡± she exclaimed, taking a deep breath in, savoring the smell of the well-used tracksuit. She shivered, a wave of excitement running through her. ¡°You¡¯re so friggin¡¯ weird,¡± Jason said with a headshake which was a big mistake. His dizziness getting even worse. He would probably be more grossed out if he wasn¡¯t so dead from last night. Taking the folded up shirt from her and tossing it onto his desk before heading back to bed. Jillian watched him, leaning on the windowsill with a smile. ¡°So, have you thought about my offer from yesterday?¡± she asked, reminding him of the deal she proposed. Jason shifted to look at her through half-lidded eyes, pulling the blanket up a bit as a cool breeze blew in from the window. ¡°Sorry, but I really tried not to think about that during dinner with my mom.¡± Honestly, it was tough for him not to dwell on it. But he wasn¡¯t lying when he said he did his best not to think about it while he was with her. He was doing well until a certain question popped up. Jillian laughed softly with a playful smile. ¡°I understand, but that sounds like you thought about it at least a little.¡± He turned to give her a death glare, and she returned a nod, understanding to drop it for now. ¡°So, got any plans to go shopping today or tomorrow?¡± Jillian was still clutching his unwashed track suit to her chest like it was a precious baby. Feeling the massive headache surge once more, he looked up to the ceiling and covered his eyes with his arm. ¡°I mean, maybe? Are you going to bug me the entire time I¡¯m here?¡± His tone was sharp, thanks to the pounding in his head. But she was completely unphased by his grumpiness at this point, but she couldn¡¯t resist playing it up. She gasped dramatically and put on a wounded voice. ¡°Are you saying you don¡¯t want me around? Oh, so cruel, so harsh! Ahboo hoo hoo¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but groan at her theatrics. He took a moment, breathing deeply, then moved his arm and looked back at her, pausing mid-thought when he caught sight of what she was doing now. Jillian climbed in through the window, his jacket now tied around her waist. The sleeves hanging in front of her like tails, almost down to her feet. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± he asked, highly suspicious of her intentions. She just smiled at him. ¡°Just remembered something I gotta do,¡± she said, licking her soft pink lips as she started strutting towards the bed. ¡°Jillian...¡± his entire body tensing at her approach. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just stay put; this¡¯ll be all over soon,¡± she cooed, her voice smooth and flirty. He thought she agreed to give him some more time to think. Why was she suddenly looking like she was about to jump his bones right then and there? Jillian closed the gap to his bed in no time, soon looming over him. Jason¡¯s surprise morphed into a bit of a glare. Her smirk was the last thing he saw before a phone was put right in front of his face. He blinked, confused, as he stared at the phone, seeing it unlock and light up, revealing a home screen he knew all too well. Squinting at the bright light, he tried to make sense of the situation. Jillian quickly pulled the phone back. ¡°Thank youuuu,¡± she sang, tapping away gleefully on the screen. It all finally sunk into Jason¡¯s thick, tired skull that the woman was using his phone. She had unlocked it using his face recognition. ¡°Hey! What the fuck are you doing with my phone?¡± sitting up, he tried to snatch it back, but the woman swiftly dodged. ¡°Hold on, almost finished,¡± Jillian mumbled, fingers flying over the screen. ¡°Jillian, seriously, give it back!¡± He raised his voice, grabbing her hoodie to pull her closer. ¡°Just a sec,¡± she insisted, her fingers tapping at lightning speed, channeling all her texting skills. ¡°Jillian!¡± Jason exclaimed, his voice a mix of frustration and this strange amusement he was feeling as he tried to pull her back onto the bed. Jillian, with a surprised yelp, managed to roll away, still furiously typing on his phone. This was the second time in less than a day that they¡¯d ended up in a playful wrestling match over something. ¡°What are you even typing? Who are you messaging?¡± Jason asked, stretching out to grab the phone while also holding onto her hoodie to stop her escape. He mainly hoped she wasn¡¯t texting one of his work contacts for some reason. In a move that was almost comical, Jillian pulled her arms and head into her oversized hoodie, along with the phone, like she was a turtle. Using the phone while protected by her outer layer. ¡°How are you so friggin ¡®slippery!?¡± he shouted, momentarily thrown off by the move. Jillian just laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve always hated taking medicine. My dad used to have to try and pin me down to give it to me,¡± she shared, a hint of mischief in her tone. Jason sighed deeply in his defeat. Moments later, Jillian wriggled out of the bottom of her hoodie with ease. ¡°And...done. Who¡¯s Pest, by the way?¡± she asked, handing Jason his phone back while standing in just her bra and sweats. Jason quickly grabbed his phone and threw her hoodie back at her. Finding her chest a lot easier to pry his eyes away from than her butt ever had been. ¡°Pest is just a pest. And why were you messing with my phone?¡± he inquired, diverting his gaze from her to his phone screen. It was open to his messages, and he noticed a new text. Curiously, he read the recipient¡¯s name and then the message itself, his expression turning into a confused frown. Name: ¡°Bootylicious Booty Call¡± ¡°Hey Jillian, I can¡¯t wait to bow down and worship your butt, just devote my entire pathetic existence to your wonderful posterior. Like, if I had to put it on a scale of 1 to 10, your butt would be an 11¡million! I just can¡¯t help but think about it day and night. It calls to me, and I wake in a cold sweat when I dream about it. Even though your rack may be small, I can only imagine it being perfect as well. Your biggest fan, -Jason. PS. Let this serve as permission to text or call me at any time, be it day or night.¡± Jason just finished reading the message Jillian sent herself using his phone. He looked up to find her looking pretty pleased with herself. ¡°Wow, modest much?¡± he said, shaking his head and letting out a sigh. He quickly changed her contact name in his phone to ¡°Jillian.L¡± and put his phone aside. While watching her pull on the hoodie, he asked, ¡°So, what was all that really about?¡± It was now clear that falling back asleep after that would be impossible. Her head popped through her hoodie and she gave him a smile. ¡°You didn¡¯t have my number, so I thought I¡¯d help you out,¡± she explained, like it was the most natural thing in the world. ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t remember asking for it,¡± Jason said, lounging back on the bed and propping himself up with his arms behind him, while Jillian let out a small laugh. ¡°Well, now that I have your number, it looks like you¡¯re stuck with me,¡± she said with a wink. He just gave her a strange look with a raised eyebrow. ¡°I could always block you,¡± he pointed out, but Jillian just laughed harder. ¡°If you haven¡¯t blocked those annoying messages filled with I love you¡¯s and heart-eye emojis, I doubt you¡¯ll block me,¡± she said confidently. But Jason didn¡¯t seem amused by that comment; his frown all too serious. ¡°She¡¯s... she is a special case,¡± Jason said, letting out a heavy sigh. Jillian raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his words. ¡°Oh... Do you want to talk about it?¡± she asked, her tone serious as well. He shook his head slowly. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m just hoping she¡¯ll eventually tire of me ignoring her and move on.¡± She shot him a look that silently called him out for being na?ve and he met her look with a slight glare. ¡°What?¡± Jillian just shrugged in response. ¡°It¡¯s just that a lot of things are making more sense lately,¡± she said, walking back over to the window. ¡°Anyway, give me a call when you¡¯re heading out to go shopping!¡± She waved cheerfully and then climbed out of the window, her foot promptly getting caught on the window¡¯s ledge, letting out a small yelp as she fell with a thud. A few seconds later, she called out, ¡°I¡¯m okay!¡± Jason sighed, getting up and walking over to the window to find Jillian sitting on the grass, brushing dirt and leaves off the track suit jacket she pulled off her waist. ¡°Goodbye, Jillian,¡± he said gruffly. ¡°Oh, make sure you remember to hang up that shirt I returned.¡± A bright smile lighting up her face that had a grass stain on the pale skin of her nose. Giving her a strained look, he tried desperately not to react to the cute way she looked up at him. As she sprung back to her feet, she waved goodbye and ran off. She was definitely one of the strangest girls he had ever met. Glancing at the shirt lying on his desk, he paused for a moment before closing the window and blinds. Approaching the shirt, he slowly unfolded it, only to find a surprise. A pair of red lacy panties were tucked inside, accompanied by a note that read, ¡°I slept in these last night. Enjoy. XOXO -Jill¡± His eyes widened in surprise as he gingerly picked them up, realizing they were basically a g-string. ¡°Jesus Christ...¡± his mind went straight to imagining her wearing them, and his body responded accordingly. Hastily bunching them up and tucking them under his pillow, it was too risky to give in to his urges right now. ¡°¡Maybe later.¡± Chapter 17: Money Canéˆ¥æª› Buy Happiness, but It Can Buy Sexy Underwear, and Thatéˆ¥æªš About the Same. Jillian was sitting at the kitchen table, casually eating some leftover pasta while glued to her phone. With every slow bite, she kept glancing at the time, counting down to noon. No word from Jason yet. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d actually leave without her. After the rollercoaster they had been on yesterday and this morning, he wouldn¡¯t dare, right? Just as she was about to lose hope, her phone suddenly blasted the ¡°Rocky¡± theme song at full volume - it was her ringtone for Jason. Startled, she almost fell off her chair, sending her pasta bowl flying. She had cranked her phone¡¯s volume to max, just in case. Jillian was relieved she was home alone when she saw the name ¡°Mystery Dick¡¯¡¯ pop up on her screen. Dad was at work, the twins and Lonnie were at school, and Mom was out running errands with June and Calvin. Normally, Jillian would have gone with them shopping, but she refused to miss this call. As she picked up her phone, she looked down at the bowl of pasta she¡¯d knocked over. ¡°Crap!¡± she muttered, deciding to ignore the mess for now. She answered the phone with an overly sweet, ¡°Helloooo?¡± When she heard a sigh on the other end, a sound she¡¯d recognize anywhere, she couldn¡¯t help but giggle. ¡°Hey Jason, hooow¡¯s it gooooing?¡± ¡°Are you still coming?¡± He said in a slight monotone voice. He didn¡¯t sound too happy, but there was something else in his voice, too. ¡°You bet my sweet juicy ass I am,¡± Jillian shot back without missing a beat. Jason groaned at her choice of words. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m leaving in ten minutes. If you¡¯re not ready, I¡¯m going without you.¡± Jillian¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°Ten minutes?! On what planet is that enough time to get ready for anything?!¡± She couldn¡¯t believe how unfair his deadline was. ¡°Tick tock,¡± he said simply, and then hung up. Jillian stared at her phone in disbelief. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he just hung up on me. That dick!¡± Jillian rushed out of the kitchen and up to her room, tripping a bit on the stairs along the way. She quickly changed out of her clothes, fumbling a bit in her haste. She started searching frantically through her dresser. ¡°Where are my leggings?¡± she yelled, scattering clothes everywhere. Finally, she found her sky-blue leggings tucked in the corner of the bottom drawer. She struggled to pull them on as they fought to get over her butt. ¡°Ugh, why are these so small?¡± She had them since she was fifteen, so the answer was obvious, but didn¡¯t matter right now. Jillian picked out a white blouse that was snug in some places and loose in others, with elbow-length sleeves that flared out. It buttoned up from her neckline down to her stomach, with pretty pleats along her chest. In front of the mirror, she quickly tried to tame her hair, aiming for presentable rather than perfect. A few swipes of light pink lip gloss later, she glanced at the clock and nearly had a heart attack. Nine minutes had flown by. ¡°Fuuuuuck!¡± she exclaimed. There was absolutely no chance she¡¯d get to Jason¡¯s place in under a minute. Jillian grabbed her small purse, slung it over her shoulder, and raced out of her room, practically leaping down the stairs. Then she realized she¡¯d forgotten her flats upstairs. ¡°Aaaaggghhh!¡± she yelled in frustration. She couldn¡¯t believe it; if he actually left without her, she¡¯d be pissed. She tried to tell herself he wouldn¡¯t do that, though. He was just messing with her, like she often did to him. After slipping on her dark blue flats and dashing back downstairs¡ªa whole twelve minutes lost since the call¡ªshe scrambled with her house keys in a panic. Finally locking up, Jillian turned and cut across the grass, running faster than she ever thought possible. She pushed herself to the limit, wondering why she was going all out just to go shopping with him. Was it really worth it? ¡°Absolutely.¡± She hadn¡¯t enjoyed hanging out with a guy this much in forever. It wasn¡¯t always exciting and there were tough moments, the good far outweighed the bad in her mind. They always seemed to work things out somehow. And when they were together¡ It just felt¡nice. Like she could be herself and still be safe. Sprinting down the street, she finally hit the halfway mark around the bend. She stopped in her tracks as Katia¡¯s house came into view, noticing immediately that there was no car in the driveway. Catching her breath, she stuttered, ¡°N-no way... He... left?¡± Her heart ached, the pain of disappointment swelling inside her. She really hadn¡¯t expected him to actually leave her. Her brain quickly tried to convince itself it wasn¡¯t a big deal, and it didn¡¯t matter. But deep down¡ it mattered to her. Suddenly, a car screeched to a halt beside her with its windows down. ¡°What the hell are you doing, you crazy fucking woman?!¡± Jillian whipped her head around to see Jason glaring at her from his car, his eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. ¡°Wha... but you...¡± she stammered, staring at him, pointing to his house and then him. ¡°You ran past me like a bat outta hell! I¡¯ve been parked outside your house for like five minutes already!¡± biting back the urge to enhance his sentence with a few more colorful words. Seeing the stunned look on her face, he figured he¡¯d said enough. ¡°Well, are you getting in or what?!¡± he asked, motioning towards the passenger door. Jillian snapped out of her daze and quickly moved to action. ¡°You never told me you were coming to get me!¡± she exclaimed, hurrying to the car and hopping in. ¡°I told you to be ready in ten minutes, not to be over at my mom¡¯s place. And you weren¡¯t even ready on time,¡± Jason retorted. ¡°You have no idea how fast I had to move to get this ready, you jerk! I didn¡¯t even have time to put on perfume! So, next time, give me a proper heads-up, and maybe I¡¯ll actually be on time!¡± She playfully smacked his arm, pretending to be mad, but the soft smile on her face as she buckled her seatbelt told a different story. Jason just shook his head and muttered, ¡°Women, I swear.¡± Putting the car into gear, Jason drove them down the road, and they were on their way. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but laugh and tease him. ¡°Oh, get over yourself, just cause it takes you a minute to change, doesn¡¯t mean everyone else does.¡± She glanced down at her purse, the smile on her face refusing to fade. Resting her hands on her lap, she stared at her plain nails. She used to love having them all fancy and done up when the manicurist would come by once a month to her private hell. She wondered if Jason thought girls who splurged on their nails were stupid. Noticing they were getting on the highway, she looked over at him. ¡°Where are we headed?¡± ¡°We are heading to the city. What, you thought we were going to the run down local Ross?¡± Jason laughed a little. Jillian gave him a look, trying to figure out if he always aimed for the pricier lines of clothing. ¡°So, where do you shop then, Mr. Too Good to Dress for Less?¡± she joked, giving him a once-over. He was wearing a deep blue brand name polo, paired with dark blue jeans that fit him just right. And on his wrist was his watch, the same fancy one he had been wearing the first night. Even when he was working out, he wore it. It had to be pricey, considering how often he was showing it off on his wrist. Plus, those biceps of his were really making the short sleeves of his polo work overtime. ¡°I mostly shop online for stuff I really want. I often get suits as gifts or have a personal shopper pick out the fancy things for me,¡± Jason said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. Jillian¡¯s jaw dropped a bit when she heard this. ¡°Wait, just how many figures do you make?¡± she asked, clearly shocked. He looked at her for a second, his expression hidden behind his sunglasses. ¡°Well, not that it¡¯s any of your business, but I make just under a hundred thousand a year, and that¡¯s before taxes,¡± Jason explained. ¡°What? But then, how can you afford all this fancy stuff and live in the city?¡± She hated that she knew how much rich folk and businessmen spent on their luxuries. A hundred grand a year was nowhere near enough for the things he was mentioning. ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t actually pay for any of that. It¡¯s just one of the perks of my job. You really think I¡¯d shell out my own money for a personal shopper? That¡¯s hilarious,¡± Jason laughed, shaking his head. But inside Jillian¡¯s mind, the wheels were spinning. What kind of job comes with an included personal shopper? Something didn¡¯t quite add up. ¡°So..the fancy watch, was it a gift too?¡± Jillian asked, her curiosity piqued. Jason glanced at his watch, took it off, and handed it to her. Jillian was a bit surprised. ¡°Are you sure?¡± She looked up at him, eyes wide. He just smiled and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I trust you.¡± Jillian¡¯s heart skipped a beat at his words. She knew how insanely expensive top of the line watches could be. As gingerly as she could, she took the watch from him. As soon as she held it, it hit her why he was so casual about it. ¡°It¡¯s a fake?!¡± she blurted out, examining the watch. It was a nice fake, but fake nonetheless. ¡°Haha, yep. How¡¯d you figure it out so fast?¡± Jillian shot Jason another smile with a slightly nervous laugh. ¡°Mostly just a lucky guess. It felt kind of light, so I figured it might be fake.¡± She was telling the truth, although her frequent shopping trips to overpriced jewelers had taught her more than she cared to admit about watches. ¡°My dad picked it up during his leave in Hong Kong. It looks pretty impressive until you get up close. I was trying to get it insured, but after getting it appraised, it turns out insuring a hundred-dollar knock-off doesn¡¯t really make sense. You can¡¯t really insure sentiment anyway,¡± he shared with her, opening up about the backstory of his not-so-luxurious watch. Jillian held the watch a little longer, curiosity in her eyes. ¡°This belonged to your dad?¡± she asked gently. Jason nodded. ¡°Yeah, he was super proud of paying just over two hundred bucks for it. Told me to sell it if times ever got hard for me and Mom...¡± His voice was light, almost laughing, but she could sense the sadness beneath his words. ¡°He must have been an amazing dad and husband,¡± she spoke softly, handing the watch back, their hands brushing against each other as she did. Jason clipped the metal band back onto his wrist. ¡°He really was, and tough as they come...¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. After that, the car fell quiet as they headed into the city. Jason didn¡¯t head to one of those fancy specialized sports stores that care more about looking good than being practical. Instead, they stopped at a massive sporting goods shop that had something for every sport you could think of, plus loads of everyday wear. Luckily, it was pretty quiet since they went on a weekday afternoon. Though quiet still meant there were a bunch of people there, just spread out. As they strolled through, they chatted about some of the stuff they saw and even paused to check out the huge fish tanks in the fishing area. As Jillian pressed her nose to the thick glass, calling out to the fish, Jason found he had a natural smile on his face that refused to go away. Both of them actually had a really good time just wandering around, checking stuff out and talking about this and that. Jason had already picked up a few things. They made their way over to the track and field section, on a mission for track suits. ¡°Jason, over here! Found them,¡± Jillian shouted, dashing ahead with a huge grin, waving him over as she waited for Jason to catch up. ¡°Uhh yeah, I knew they¡¯d be here,¡± Jason laughed, and they shared a quick, happy glance before focusing again. He picked out three matching track suits to keep at his mom¡¯s place, thinking he¡¯d maybe visit more now for¡ reasons. They were just about done when a rather enthusiastic employee popped up. ¡°Hey there! Need any help finding anything, you two?¡± he asked, his smile almost too big for his face. Jason was ready to dismiss the employee, but Jillian chimed in before he could. ¡°Got any changing rooms?¡± she asked, all sweetness. The staff member pointed over at a set of stairs. ¡°Yep, right down there, behind the stairs.¡± ¡°Thanks a bunch!¡± she replied, smiling back. ¡°No problem, just give a shout if you need anything,¡± he said, leaving them alone again. ¡°Planning on trying something on?¡± Jason asked. Jillian hadn¡¯t picked out anything yet, so he was curious. She only gave him her iconic, devious grin. ¡°You will see,¡± she said before rushing off into the women¡¯s section, disappearing behind some racks of clothes. Shortly after he heard her voice call out to him. ¡°Jason, I¡¯m going to try some stuff on. Meet me at the dressing rooms!¡± Trying to spot her in the maze of tall racks was a challenge, since she was pretty short. Watching some clothing on the racks move like she was moving through a field of corn. ¡°O-okay,¡± Jason replied, a bit confused, scratching his head. As he wandered, his eyes landed on some women¡¯s running shoes. ¡°Maybe she¡¯d run more if she had the right shoes,¡± he mused. The flat soled ones she wore were hardly fit for running. He found a nice pair that he thought she might like. The odd desire to buy them for her welling up in him. But Jason had no clue what size shoes Jillian wore, so he just shook his head and put them back. He figured he¡¯d offer, but ultimately, it was her call. As he headed over to the changing rooms, it was eerily quiet. Glancing around, he saw cameras stationed outside the changing rooms, but nobody was in sight. The silence was so profound that Jason couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Jillian... are you here?¡± His voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m in stall one, over in the corner. Come here, I need your opinion,¡± Jillian called back. With a raised eyebrow, he followed her voice. ¡°Okay, what do you need advice on?¡± Jason asked, a bit wary. ¡°Just come in. It¡¯s unlocked,¡± Jillian urged, beckoning him into her changing area. ¡°Did you pick out some shoo¡es...?¡± He trailed off, his mind clearly somewhere else as he entered. Once inside, he saw Jillian wearing a colorful, paint-splattered running crop top that fit her like a glove. Her perky nipples poked out from under the spandex. And the tiny compression shorts she¡¯d picked hugged every crevice and made her butt pop delightfully. When she turned around to face him, the outline of her labia and the small nub between them were clear as day. ¡°Shit s-sorry!¡± He blurted out, already backing out of the changing room, pushing the door open. Just as he turned to leave, Jillian caught his wrist, making him stop in his tracks. He could¡¯ve easily dragged her along, but he didn¡¯t want to do something like that. Not with her in that outfit. ¡°Jason, stop! It¡¯s okay, please stay?¡± she said, making him pause and turn back to face her. He gave her a worried look, his eyes kept darting downwards from her face and back. He took a deep breath and took a moment before finally relaxing. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± he agreed, then shut and locked the changing room door behind him. Jillian flashed him a big smile when he agreed to stay. ¡°Thanks! Usually Mika would be here to tell me what she thinks, but now you get the honor.¡± She said, with an air of excitement, placing her hands confidently on her hips. ¡°So, what do you think? Does it look good on me?¡± She beamed at him, full of energy. Jason scanned her from head to toe, noticing how the outfit hugged her figure erotically. Trying to maintain his composure, he awkwardly shifted the items he was purchasing to cover his growing arousal. Even though her overly skinny frame was not the most appealing, the outfit looked amazing on her. It highlighted all of her good aspects without showing off the bad too much. ¡°Um, first thing is, I think you are supposed to wear underwear with those. It¡¯s kind of revealing... I can see¡pretty much everything.¡± Jillian just laughed a little. ¡°So, we¡¯re even for the show you gave me this morning, then?¡± He frowned, realizing she probably planned this from the start. ¡°Of course she did, I keep forgetting who she is.¡± She gave him a playful smile and a wink. ¡°Come on, tell me more,¡± she urged him to go on. ¡°Well... uh, it does look great on you and all, but I don¡¯t think you need to spend so much on an outfit unless you¡¯re actually competing. They¡¯re pretty expensive and, you uh...¡± Jason¡¯s voice faded as Jillian turned to check herself out in the mirror again. She struck a few silly poses and then did some stretches that were a bit too provocative. Bending her knees to squat, testing the stretchy fabric. Then doing some knee lifts. Each stretch showing off her best asset. ¡°Uh...¡± His train of thought completely derailed as he blatantly stared, watching her. ¡°Come on then, out with it. Tell me what you really think? I can take it. I¡¯m a big girl.¡± Jillian teased, peeking at him through her red curls when she turned to glance at him. Jason was visibly struggling to maintain his composure, his eye giving a little twitch, teeth grinding as if he were caught in an internal battle. ¡°I think uh... I...¡± Jason stuttered, his hands clutching his items for dear life. ¡°Keep it together Jason, remember who she is, what she did¡¡± his mind trying to summon some anger to keep his cool. He had never felt this much pressure to keep himself under control. Jillian, who was playing miss oblivious, looked back to check herself out in the mirror again. She watched his expression in the mirror. Jason felt like he was slowly regaining control over himself as she turned around. That was until she bent over to touch her toes. It was like there was a ringing in his ears that made him lose all sense of self, and in the end, he went silent. Jillian stood up and glanced back at Jason, her curiosity piqued. ¡° Hmm¡ Ja-SON!?¡± she yelped, surprised as he dropped his things and rushed her. Quickly backing her against the wall, trapping her there with his hands on both sides. Leaning forward so he was almost to her level. ¡°Woah there big guy, w-what¡¯s this all about?¡± her words coming out in a nervous and excited stutter. Looking up into his wild eyes, she could feel a heat bloom in her abdomen. His imposing figure made her heart thump in her chest as she was smothered. The rush of feeling helpless under his muscular form gave her goosebumps. ¡°You¡ you¡¯ve pushed me to my limit,¡± he said simply. ¡°Your limit, huh?¡± licking her lips, as she felt the heat radiate from his body. ¡°I can only let you get away with so much.¡± His voice was low and full of desire. ¡°Oh, yeah?¡± Jillian cooed, returning his gaze with one of pure lust. ¡°Are you planning to teach me a lesson, then? Spank me like a bad girl?¡± biting her lip as she reached up to unbutton his shirt collar. It was obvious she was right where she wanted to be. He was so close that his scent was once again overpowering her senses. If all it took was a pair of tight shorts to do this to him, she didn¡¯t care what it cost. She was getting them. Jason gently grasped her hands as they worked on his shirt and pulled them away, pushing them above her against the wall. She gave him a grin thinking he was finally going to take control and have her right in there in the changing room. All it would take is one last push. ¡°Jason.¡± she whimpered softly, looking up at him. ¡°Please... Take me however you want... I want you so fucking badly. I can tell you want me too. I can see it in your eyes.¡± Since he had her hands contained, she leaned her head forward. Her lips found his neck, kissing and sucking roughly. Jason leaned against the wall more, trying to steady himself as he lowered himself even more, his chest pushing against hers now. Taking this as a sign, she became even more active, attacking his neck with kisses and rough bites. Her warm mouth on his skin sent several shivers down his spine. He fought so hard against the urge to touch her body, knowing that if he did. There would be no turning back. It was a part of himself he was afraid to let loose. ¡°Jillian... I can¡¯t,¡± Jason said after several moments of quiet. Jillian lifted her lips off his neck with a wet smack. ¡°What? Why?¡± she asked, but resumed attacking his neck again, her tongue softly running against the wet spot she¡¯d kissed as a parting gift. Jason let out a shuddering breath. ¡°Because... we¡¯re in a fucking dressing room.¡± Jillian slowly stopped attacking his neck at his words, but let out a slight whimper. ¡°I¡¯m not risking getting arrested here... Please, just...¡± He started, but paused, letting go of her wrists. Her hands quickly moved to his head, fingers running through his short hair. ¡°If what, Jason? Tell me, and I¡¯ll make it happen.¡± Lightly pulling on his hair with one hand, while the other moved down his face to caress his stubbled cheek. Jason took a deep breath and closed his eyes. ¡°If you can wait... I¡¯ll give you what you want,¡± he whispered. Jillian froze at this and frowned. ¡°What I want?¡± A mild anger flashed in her at his words ¡°Jason, look at me,¡± she commanded. He did, their eyes meeting, as their faces were only inches apart. ¡°What?¡± he asked cautiously, searching her gaze for answers. ¡°What about what you want?¡± Jillian¡¯s question stopped him in his tracks. ¡°Yeah, I want this, but shouldn¡¯t you as well, I¡¯m not going to force you¡Jason, what is it that is holding you back?¡± Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He''d been telling himself that this was just about her desires. Fooling himself, that it would just be a way to get her off his back. The realization that she wasn¡¯t just interested in her own pleasure, hit him hard. The last few minutes were proof that he had his own desires that his body yearned for. It yearned for her. Jason hesitated, his mind racing with uncertainty. How was he supposed to respond to such a question? He took a moment, his mouth opening and closing as he weighed his options. Finally, he met her gaze again with a plea in his eyes. ¡°Not here... please,¡± he murmured softly, hoping she would understand the gravity of his request. Seeing the smirk on her lips. It was clear she would not let him off easy. ¡°It¡¯s gonna cost you,¡± she teased. ¡°Buy me these clothes and...¡± she trailed off, her eyes twinkling with mischief. He swallowed hard, the tension thick in the air. ¡°And what?¡± he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. A coy smile danced across her lips as she leaned in closer, her expression softening. ¡°I want you to kiss me,¡± she demanded, her desires laid bare in those words. Somehow Jason found himself nodding without much hesitation, understanding dawning on him. The clothes didn¡¯t actually mean anything, but the kiss... that was the true payment she was after. Taking a deep breath, he leaned in and unceremoniously pressed his lips against hers. He wished he could say he swept her off her feet with an amazingly passionate kiss, but the image in his mind didn¡¯t quite match up to reality. Instead, Jason puckered his lips too much, and it ended up feeling more like two kids that were playing house kissing. One you would call your first kiss just so the other kids wouldn¡¯t make fun of you for never kissing a girl. It was over as quick as it began. Leaning back, he knew he messed up from the look of surprise on her face. Jillian still grinned at him and lightly patted his cheek. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re cute,¡± she teased, nudging him to stand up straight. Jason stood outside of the changing room as Jillian got dressed again. Spending his time banging his head against the wall by the corner for two reasons. The first was he still had a hard-on and wanted to hide it from anyone that might pass by. And the second was the painful image of himself kissing her with overly puckered lips. The memory needed to be removed by force and he didn¡¯t have any lobotomy tools handy. ¡°I am so stupid. What the fuck was I thinking?! Why did I even try kissing her in the first place? I will never be able to live this down,¡± he screamed internally. While in the changing room, Jillian got a text message. ¡°Why is there pasta all over my kitchen floor?¡± she had completely forgotten about the mess she made before leaving, and her mom came home to find it. ¡°I think I will deal with that one later.¡± Putting her phone away, she continued getting dressed. Once she was done, they hurried out of the changing room area and paid for their stuff. As they got back in the car for the long ride home, an awkward air settled between them, making conversation impossible. Outwardly, Jason tried to keep his cool, but internally, he was fucking mortified. Even though Jillian seemed to be smiling, he couldn¡¯t help but picture her thinking about how awful the kiss was and how she was going to tell everyone she knew just how pathetic he was. This was by far one of the worst feelings he had in a long, long time. Chapter 18: I Have Always Been Good at School, but Learning Has Never Been Quite Like This. About halfway home, Jillian couldn¡¯t take it anymore. It was easy to tell how embarrassed Jason was just from how he refused to even fully look at her anymore. Yeah, the kiss was¡pretty bad, but that didn¡¯t mean she was upset with him. So she gave him some time to calm down, hoping he would say something. When he didn¡¯t so much as clear his throat or look her way during the ride, she knew it was up to her. Suddenly turning to the man beside her, she gave him a hard stare. ¡°Jason!¡± she shouted a bit too loudly in the confines of the car, causing Jason to jump in his seat. ¡°Ah, what the fuck, Jillian!?¡± he growled, quickly steering the car back into his lane. ¡°Sorry, sorry, but we need to talk,¡± she said, her expression serious. Frowning, Jason remained silent for a moment before cautiously asking, ¡°Okay... and what do we need to talk about?¡± He didn¡¯t really want to dwell on what just happened, and he felt things were only going to get worse. His hands gripped the steering wheel tight as he waited for her humiliating line of questioning to begin. ¡°So, um... I had a really great time today hanging out with you,¡± Jillian said, her words coming out slowly. ¡°It was a lot of fun, you know? Just wanted to tell you.¡± She had a shy smile as she finished. Jason looked at her, looking surprised, then back at the road. He let the music of the radio take over for a few moments before speaking. ¡°Yeah¡ me too, had fun I mean¡¡± his voice was quiet. Jillian¡¯s smile widened at his response. He was relieved she didn¡¯t bring up... ¡°And even if it wasn¡¯t perfect, I didn¡¯t mind the kiss either,¡± she said, bringing up that topic. Jason fought the urge to drive into the nearest ditch and flee on foot like a fugitive from the law, but just banged his head against the steering wheel instead. Jillian couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that Jason¡¯s lack of experience was her fault. If she hadn¡¯t made his life so miserable back in school, he might have had more luck with girls. Lately, the high school version of Jason seemed to be on her mind a lot. Sure, he was chubby and a bit of a nerd, but there was something about his face and eyes she just couldn¡¯t forget, past the whole resemblance to her grandfather. This contemplation led her to revisit a memory she had long avoided confronting. Finally, she mustered the courage to acknowledge her role in Jason¡¯s romantic struggles. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason. I know I am probably the reason you have had such awful luck with women,¡± she confessed. Jason looked back at her. ¡°Yeah.. you probably are, not that I would call it luck¡. Why do you seem to have a specific reason in mind?¡± During junior year of high school, the bullying didn¡¯t completely stop for Jason, but it wasn¡¯t as intense as it had been in his first two years. Instead of saying anything back, he lost that will and mostly kept silent, especially around Jillian. In fact, he hadn¡¯t said a single word to her all year, a silence he maintained until graduation day. However, he still communicated with others when necessary. There was one girl, with pale skin, long, frizzy brown hair and big red glasses that seemed huge on her tiny face. She seemed to be an exception. Aside from her braces, she appeared like any other average girl with very modest proportions. You¡¯d often catch her walking with Jason in the halls. It was maybe the fact that she didn¡¯t speak much either that they got along so well. The girl¡¯s name was Ann, and she was your typical bookworm, always buried in her studies. Spending the majority of her time at school alone. That was until junior year, when she found herself sharing two classes with Jason. They were both straight A students and started studying together. Surprisingly, they hit it off and became fast friends. The tall teen boy was initially cautious around her, but eventually warmed up when she seemed content to simply sit in silence and only talk when necessary. However, Jillian always made snide remarks whenever she saw them together. She¡¯d say things like, ¡°Watch out, everyone! Sasquatch is on the loose, and he¡¯s kidnapped a nearsighted spider monkey from the zoo.¡± This kind of teasing went on for a few months until Ann reached a breaking point. One day, Jillian said something that Ann simply couldn¡¯t ignore. ¡°Hey Jason, I heard your mom was caught out at the pig farm. Guess we know who your real dad is.¡± Jillian¡¯s insult was shocking and vulgar, and it made all her friends laugh. Ann knew that Jason¡¯s father had passed away a few years back and couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She stood up for her friend. ¡°Just fuck off and die, Jillian. I bet Satan could use a bitch like you.¡± Ann grabbed Jason¡¯s hand and pulled him away down the hall. Everyone in Jillian¡¯s group was now laughing about the pathetic comeback, but she wasn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t help but fixate on the sight of her holding Jason¡¯s hand; it felt like her insides were on fire with a burning rage. She couldn¡¯t have cared less about the petty insult that had been thrown their way. But seeing someone holding hands with him? Unforgivable. The very next day, Jillian and her then-boyfriend decided to confront the brunette as she was at her locker. As soon as Ann opened her locker, Jillian reached in and snatched one of her notebooks. ¡°Hey! What are you doing!?¡± Ann tried to grab it back, but Jillian¡¯s boyfriend stepped in, easily holding her back. ¡°Give that back, Jillian! No don¡¯t open that!¡± Ann cried out, trying to reach past the taller boy, stopping her with just one hand. ¡°Shut up bitch,¡± Jillian snapped, turning away to open the book. Sure enough, scattered across multiple pages, there it was: Jason¡¯s name encased in little hearts, Ann with his last name accompanied by typical girlish doodles. All the telltale signs of a crush. Jillian¡¯s scowl deepened, and a surge of rage clouded her vision, painting everything a furious shade of red. Glancing back at Ann, who was trying to get past her boyfriend, weeping in her desperate attempt to get her special notebook back. Jillian brandished the notebook, pointing it at her. ¡°So, you¡¯re into Jason, huh? You are both fucking disgusting. A couple of pathetic worms, crawling around grossing everyone out. Do you know what happens to worms around here? They get squashed until they¡¯re nothing but a smudge under my boot.¡± She wasn¡¯t wearing boots, but it sounded more dramatic that way. Ann stared at Jillian in disbelief as she began ripping and tearing out every page from the girl¡¯s notebook like an animal. ¡°No! Please, stop!¡± Ann screamed and pleaded, her tears flowing as she reached out for her destroyed notebook, now nothing but shreds in a matter of moments. Jillian didn¡¯t know, but the notebook had contained a lot more than just the things about Jason. They had pages and pages of poetry and stories she had been writing since middle school. Callously tossing the empty shell of the notebook to the ground, Jillian left Ann to collapse to her knees. Slowly, she began gathering the torn pieces of her papers, sobbing quietly as she cleaned up the mess. Most other students simply skirted around the scene, not wanting to get involved or become targets themselves. In the next month, Ann and Jason faced relentless and even harder bullying. While Jason had his reasons to stay strong and thicker skin at this point, Ann did not. She grew even more quiet and distant, withdrawing from others. Jason even tried to reach out, attempting to salvage their friendship. It had taken most of his courage to even try to comfort her. But Ann wasn¡¯t able to even speak to him anymore. It was enough to discourage him and the two quickly drifted apart like boats heading in different directions. By the end of the month, she stopped attending school altogether. Neither Jason nor Jillian saw her again. Rumors circulated that she either switched schools or opted for homeschooling. Once more, Jason found himself alone, dealing with Jillian¡¯s animosity on his own. As Jillian finished telling her story about how she used to hassle poor Ann, she fiddled with her fingers, feeling a mix of regret and reflection. Ann was now just another name in a list of apology letters she had written with the help of her therapist. It dawned on the redhead that she had a therapy session scheduled for tomorrow, a reminder she hadn¡¯t expected. She skimmed over some of the details but confessed to Jason about how she had targeted Ann out of jealousy. It was clear from Jason¡¯s expression that he wasn¡¯t pleased with her actions. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t stepped in, you probably would have had a girlfriend and have a lot more experience by now, I¡¯m truly sorry, Jason... I was just so angry and sad all the time back then,¡± she admitted with a deep frown, her hands still nervously fidgeting. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t excuse what I did to you and her. I am not asking you to forgive me. I Just hope you can see that I deeply regret those years.¡± Jason was shocked how much Jillian started opening up to him. He remembered she hadn¡¯t been kind to Ann, but he didn¡¯t realize it was that bad. It answered a bunch of questions he hadn¡¯t thought about in ages. ¡°I get it, I know you are sorry but... I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever completely forgive you for what you did...¡± He hesitated, and Jillian glanced up at him with watery eyes. After a moment of looking at her, he went on, ¡°But I can see you¡¯ve changed a lot... You¡¯re not the same person, and I can respect that, at least.¡± Jillian took a deep breath as she stared at Jason, her heart swelling with emotion at his words. Even if he wasn¡¯t forgiving her, it felt like a huge step forward. A shaky smile formed on her lips, and tears started spilling out and over her eyelids. ¡°Thank you, Jason... That makes me really happy to hear.¡± Droplets slowly rolled down her cheeks, but she maintained her smile. Jason tried to concentrate on the road, but he couldn¡¯t shake the ache in his own heart from their conversation. ¡°But... you¡¯re a bit off about one thing,¡± he added. ¡°Huh?¡± Jillian asked, curious about what she might have misunderstood. ¡°I don¡¯t think Ann and I would have ended up together.¡± Jason said, his words slowly sinking in. ¡°Wait. . . what?¡± Jillian asked, still trying to wrap her head around it. ¡°I never had any feelings for her. She was just a friend I¡¯d study with and sometimes talk to now and then. One day she asked if I could ever see myself wanting to date someone like her, and I told her no.¡± Jason¡¯s confession hung in the air like a cloud of smog, Jillian reached over to switch off the radio, the car falling into silence. ¡°Hold on, when you say no, you mean you let her down gently, right? Like you said, you¡¯d love to but couldn¡¯t because... Like, it¡¯s not you, it¡¯s me or something, right!?¡± Jillian¡¯s sadness had evaporated, replaced by curious dread. Jason took a brief pause before giving Jillian a confused look. ¡°What? Why on earth would I tell her something like that?¡± Jillian¡¯s eye twitched in annoyance, realizing that this was Jason and he hadn¡¯t changed all that much from back then. He was a straightforward, socially dense man, and he was probably a straightforward, socially dense teen, if not even worse. ¡°So, let me get this straight... a girl basically asks you out, and you just... said no, that¡¯s it?¡± She was really hoping she got it wrong. ¡°Of course not,¡± Jason replied, and she sighed in relief. ¡°Good, I was about to say...¡± ¡°I said, No, thank you.¡± Jillian was cut off mid-sentence by his blunt correction. They fell into an awkward silence, placing a hand over her eyes cringing at the painful image in her head. ¡°Are you serious... and you think I was the cruel one?¡± ¡°What? How is that cruel? She asked if I could see myself dating a girl like her, so I was honest. Why do you always think telling the truth is somehow mean or cruel?¡± Jason was bewildered, shaking his head. Jillian¡¯s expression darkened, and she started smacking Jason¡¯s arm repeatedly. ¡°It¡¯s mean when you bluntly reject a girl who probably spent weeks gathering the courage to ask you! Seriously, what¡¯s wrong with your head?!¡± She raised her voice, not stopping the assault on his arm. ¡°Ow, quit it! I¡¯m trying to fucking drive here! Do you have a death wish!? Stop hitting me!¡± Jason struggled to keep the car steady, trying to fend her off with one hand. ¡°Not until I smack some sense into you!¡± Jillian retorted fiercely. Fifteen minutes later. ¡°Thank you officer, I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Jason said apologetically, ¡°Make sure it doesn¡¯t. Be safe, you two.¡± The highway patrol officer gave the two one more once over before turning and walking back to this cruiser. Jason then shot Jillian a look that could kill. She shrank into her seat, quite embarrassed and finally quiet. Luckily, they dodged a ticket and just got a warning for swerving. Jason gave Jillian the silent treatment for a bit as they drove. She eventually mumbled out a sheepish, ¡°Sorry,¡± without even looking up, and let out a big sigh. Jason felt relieved as they got off the highway and headed into town. He was more than ready to get out of the car. ¡°Just...don¡¯t freak out like that while I¡¯m driving, okay?¡± he said gently as they neared home. Jillian nodded, but stayed quiet for the rest of the trip. When they arrived at his mom¡¯s house, Jason parked the car, grabbed their bags, and headed inside. Finding the front door locked, Jason raised an eyebrow. ¡°Weird, it¡¯s locked,¡± he thought aloud. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Should we head to my parents¡¯ place, then?¡± Jillian offered. Jason shook his head. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve got a key. It probably just means mom isn¡¯t home.¡± He fished out a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Jillian¡¯s mind started racing with thoughts of what could happen next. When Jason entered and took off his shoes, he called out, ¡°Mom!?¡± but there was no answer. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s not here,¡± like he figured, heading to his room with Jillian right behind him, wearing her usual mischievous grin, looking lost in thought. He dropped his purchases next to his suitcase at the foot of his bed, while she only had her small bag with the skimpy track clothes in it. He turned to her and managed a half smile. ¡°Do you need a lift home?¡± He offered, even though it was just a short walk away. Jillian¡¯s smile vanished when she was offered a ride. ¡°Oh... Uh, I mean, if you want me to go, I can. But I was hoping to hang out with you a bit more, if that¡¯s okay with you.¡± Jason looked a bit awkward from her request. This wasn¡¯t the Jillian he was used to. Normal Jillian would have said ¡°Nah, I¡¯m sticking around just to annoy you some more cause I''m bored,¡± or ¡°Good luck trying to get rid of me, big guy.¡± Her shyness always threw him off. ¡°It¡¯s your call,¡± he said as casually as he could. ¡°I was thinking of checking the fridge for something to eat or maybe ordering takeout.¡± At that, Jillian¡¯s face brightened up. ¡°Hey, we should totally get pizza from this place Mika took me too one time. It¡¯s fuckin orgasmic.¡± Jillian couldn¡¯t help but bounce with excitement. Jason''s half smile broke into a full one and he let out a small cute laugh. Well, it was cute to her. ¡°Sure, why not? It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve had pizza. What¡¯s the name?¡± After Jillian filled him in, Jason quickly found the place online and ordered. They decided on a medium Hawaiian and a medium combo pizza, plus some breadsticks for good measure. The pizza would be at their door in about an hour. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m gonna change. Feel free to hangout in the living room or whatever; we could watch some TV or something,¡± Jason suggested, picking out an old baby blue shirt that was clearly loved a lot. It appeared to have a faded picture of a superhero on it ¨C at least, Jillian thought it might be a superhero. She couldn¡¯t be sure, but just nodded, but didn¡¯t move. He was about to strip when he noticed Jillian giving him those puppy dog eyes. He sighed loudly, ¡°What now?¡± Jillian started doing a weird thing where she touched the tips of her index fingers together, and stuck out her bottom lip, trying to look as cute as she possibly could. Jillian complained, ¡°I don¡¯t have anything comfy to change into, and I don¡¯t want to head all the way back home for clothes...¡± She trailed off, and Jason groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°Alright, just pick something. . . from my closet,¡± he added quickly, especially when he caught her eyes going straight for his hamper. She gave him a pouty look, but at his stern gaze, she huffed, ¡°Fine.¡± Then she marched over to the closet, a bit dramatically, to see what she could find. Meanwhile, Jason shook his head, changed out of his polo into the softer, well-worn t-shirt, and unbuckled his belt. Feeling eyes on him, he turned to see Jillian staring with a cheeky grin the whole time. Rolling his eyes, he took a pair of new shorts he¡¯d bought and headed for the bathroom. ¡°You''re no fun!¡± Jillian complained loudly as he left. Swiftly changing and putting on some deodorant, he ran a comb through his hair a few times for good measure. He wasn¡¯t sure why he was bothering to clean up his appearance, but it felt like the right thing to do. Looking at himself in the mirror, the man looking back at him¡didn¡¯t look too bad, he looked kinda happy even. Not even realizing that he had been smiling this whole time. ¡°How long has that been there?¡± Whispering to himself. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Jillian was right there waiting for him in a large black DIO shirt that went to her knees. As his gaze dropped, he noticed her legs were bare. ¡°I¡¯m gonna assume there are shorts under that,¡± Jason commented, trying to keep his tone annoyed despite the strange rush of excitement he felt. ¡°Sure are. Wanna check just in case?¡± Jillian teased with a sultry grin, grabbing the shirt and lifting it to the middle of her thick thighs. ¡°No, no, I believe you! Just making sure, that¡¯s all,¡± Jason replied quickly. She giggled a little, letting the shirt fall back down as they made their way down the hall to the living room. His stomach rumbled in anticipation of the food they¡¯d ordered. Rushing ahead, Jillian leaped onto the love seat in front of the big TV, patting the spot next to her, inviting Jason to sit there. Despite rolling his eyes, a smile broke through his face. He grabbed the TV remote, and settled next to her, but away slightly, leaning against the armrest. Jillian shot him a playful pout, as they were back to their usual antics, even after their intimate moment in the changing room. She figured she¡¯d wait it out for now, curious if he¡¯d make a move. Meanwhile, Jason was channel surfing until he stumbled upon a movie. ¡°Hey, Back to the Future, nice,¡± he grinned, dropping the remote on the end table. ¡°Oh, I actually like this movie,¡± Jillian chimed in, shifting her focus to the screen. They¡¯d missed the first thirty minutes, but it didn¡¯t really matter to them. After all, the good part started halfway through. The movie kept Jillian interested for only about ten minutes before she found her attention back on Jason again. He was lounging back on the couch, hands resting behind his head and grabbing the back of the couch, looking a bit spaced out and caught up in the movie. Jillian figured she had to make her move before the moment passed and she¡¯d have to start from scratch. Slowly she moved closer and closer to where Jason was sitting. Before long, she was nearly pressed into him. While Jason was distracted, Jillian seized her opportunity. She skillfully swung her leg over his, positioning herself right on his lap so she was straddling him. ¡°What the hell Jill? This is the best part!¡± he protested, trying to peek over the curls obstructing his view. Jillian gently grabbed his face, directing his attention back to her. ¡°Jason,¡± she said, her voice so soft and sweet, it captivated him. Once his eyes were locked with her bright blue ones, thoughts of the movie vanished. ¡°W-what is it?¡± he stammered, suddenly very aware of the soft butt pressing into his legs. A wave of nervousness washed over him. Jillian, trying to keep the moment serious yet sweet, opened up with a bold statement, ¡°I want to teach you how to kiss.¡± She really didn¡¯t want Jason to think she was poking fun at him, especially after the awkward kiss earlier. Jason¡¯s eyes almost popped out of his head at the sudden declaration. Jillian could tell he was on the verge of freaking out, probably replaying that awkward moment in the dressing room. Acting quick to try and keep him calm, she spoke before he could get a word out, ¡°Jason, Jason, hey, listen, I¡¯m not upset at you about earlier or anything. I just...¡± She paused, biting her lip, still staring deep into his eyes. Her thumbs lightly ran along the stubble on his jawline that was just poking back through now. ¡°I just want you to know how amazing a proper kiss can feel.¡± Both of them were now buzzing with anticipation, hearts racing with excitement and nerves. Jason was quiet for a bit as he mulled the proposition in his head. ¡°You¡¯re¡ not going to mock me over the earlier kiss?¡± he asked softly, worry flashing across his eyes. It was obvious it had been bugging him a lot. It was strange seeing such a strong-looking man act this way. But that was just a part of his charm for her. It told her that even with his handsome new appearance. Deep down, he was still the same timid boy she met that day in science class that struggled to look directly at her. Jillian just smiled broadly and shook her head. ¡°I might later, but not now.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but tease him a little; it was just her nature. ¡°No, Jason, I¡¯m not going to make fun of you. Just let me show you how it¡¯s done. I promise you won¡¯t regret it,¡± reassuring him the best she could, thumbs still stroking his cheeks. Jason still looked a tad uneasy, but finally relaxed enough to close his eyes, focusing on the soft hands on his face. ¡°Alright...¡± he mumbled, and Jillian¡¯s smile grew even more. ¡°Okay!¡± Jillian gently pulled her hands away from his face, grabbed the remote, and muted the TV. She wasn¡¯t about to teach a lesson in making out with Christopher Lloyd exclaiming, ¡°Great Scott.¡± She reached over and coaxed his arms down from the top of the couch. ¡°Alright, I want you to forget everything you think you know about kissing. No puckering up like you¡¯re about to whistle, and definitely no loud smooching sounds. Just keep your lips relaxed. When it comes to kissing, starting off simple is usually the way to go and the harder you try the worse it is,¡± she explained. Jason had always been very studious. He nodded in understanding. Even if the lesson was so far removed from academia. Jillian¡¯s smile never faltered as she spoke. ¡°Honestly, there¡¯s not a lot to explain. Learning by doing is the best way. So, I¡¯m gonna kiss you first, and all you need to do is sit back and enjoy. Oh, and you know how they say it¡¯s rude to stare? That goes for kissing, too. Close your eyes once we start. If you close them too early, you might end up with a kiss on the nose at best or a busted lip at worst.¡± Watching Jillian step into this teaching role was odd, but he had to admit she wasn¡¯t bad at it, breaking it down in a way he easily understood. ¡°Got it. So, I just stay put and close my eyes once you kiss me,¡± he recapped, and she gave him an encouraging nod with her smile. ¡°Ready, ready?¡± Jillian asked sweetly. Jason gave her a firm nod, his expression shifting to a more serious one. Jillian tried not to laugh as she moved closer, keeping eye contact for as long as possible. ¡°Tilt your head forward a little,¡± she whispered, tilting her head back a little. Following her instruction he tilted his forward. In the next moment, amazingly soft lips pressed against his, and they both closed their eyes for just a moment before she pulled away. Jillian opened their eyes and smiled at him. ¡°So, how was that?¡± She was eager to hear his thoughts. Jason¡¯s eyes were still closed as she pulled back. Feeling like he was in a bit of a daze, the warmth on his lips lingering for longer than he expected. Gently sucking on his own lips for a moment, his eyes opened to see her smile. ¡°It¡ wasn¡¯t bad.¡± Jillian giggled softly. ¡°Ready to try something more complex, then?¡± With a surprising lack of hesitation, Jason nodded. She explained the next step. ¡°Good, it¡¯s pretty much the same as before, but all you need to do is just open your mouth just a little and press back against my lips,¡± she instructed. He once again dutifully nodded, absorbing her every word. ¡°Then let¡¯s not waste another moment.¡± Licking her lips, they both leaned in this time, their lips parting and pressing together gently. In that moment, as they shared their first real kiss, everything else faded away. The kiss lasted for several more seconds than originally intended. His lips took a more active role, moving and pushing against hers, prompting a soft whimper from Jillian. As they pulled apart, the soft sucking sound of their separation lingered, and Jason quickly said something, breaking the silence. ¡°Sorry, was that sound too loud? I kinda just copied what you were doing. Was that the wrong move?¡± Jason seemed overly anxious, fearing he had fucked up again. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but giggle at his concern. ¡°No, no, you did great, promise. A little bit of sound is normal, but if it¡¯s more of a pop, then use less suction, haha.¡± This made them both chuckle a little, easing the tension between them by a tremendous amount. ¡°This time, no instructions. Just try to follow my lead, okay?¡± she instructed, and once more Jason nodded like the eager student he was. As they leaned in again, their lips met once more, starting off similar to the last time. However, soon, Jillian opened her mouth wider, her full lips enveloping his as she softly sucked on them. Jason was tempted to open his eyes, but he just barely managed to keep them shut after getting a peek of light. Trying to follow Jillian¡¯s lead as he was told, Jason opened his mouth, but instead of meeting her closed lips, hers stayed open and they engaged in a deep, open-mouthed kiss. They both vied for dominance for a few seconds as she scooted closer, pressing her body against his. Her hips started rocking against his lap uncontrollably. When they finally parted, a loud smack echoing between them. Despite the break, she stayed close, her hot breath pounding against his wet lips. Noses lightly brushing against each other. ¡°B-better?¡± she said as her hands trailed up his chest and shoulders till her nails ran along the bare flesh of his neck.Jason couldn¡¯t speak. All he could do was nod yet again, their lips brushing against each other as he did. ¡°Good,¡± she whispered. ¡°Now, I want you to hold my head with your hands. Use them to keep me as close to your lips for as long as you desire. Don¡¯t let me pull away for any reason.¡± She felt her arousal intensify as she let out little gasps, just imagining what was coming next. Jason¡¯s hands swiftly moved up to her face, enveloping her head in his firm grip. ¡°Now, fucking kiss me, Jason. Don¡¯t you dare make me wait any longer,¡± she growled in a desperate tone, looking like she was drunk just from his touch. He pulled her face towards his own and they shared the most passionate kiss yet. Incorporating everything he had learned in the last few minutes about the art of kissing. In response, Jillian wrapped her arms around his neck and let out desperate, pleading whimpers into his mouth. The coarse fabric of his shorts against her crotch fueled her desire, causing her to rock her hips back and forth even more. ¡°Mmmm¡ ¡®ason¡ ple. . . se.¡± Jillian moaned and whined into his lips with every slight pause. Jason shifted his head to different angles as he kissed and sucked on her lips like he was trying to find which felt the best. It all felt amazing, he couldn¡¯t decide. Unable to contain herself to simple kissing anymore, she thrust her warm wet tongue into his mouth, searching for his. Once she did, hers quickly entwined with it. His eyes shot open in surprise, and he pulled away. Jillian¡¯s eyes shot open as well as the kiss ended. ¡°Sorry!¡± She started, still panting desperately for air. ¡°I just got carried away¡¡± ¡°It¡it just surprised me. I wasn¡¯t expecting it.¡± Jason admitted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry... did you¡ want to keep going?¡± She asked, nibbling on her slightly swollen bottom lip. Her eyes locked on his lips in a hunger he could almost feel. He obviously didn¡¯t need anymore lessons. The question was now. ¡°Do you want to kiss just for fun?¡± It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but he couldn¡¯t resist the burning desire inside him that demanded more, so, so much more. ¡°Yes please¡,¡± he whispered. Jillian smirked. ¡°Then go ahead, Jason. Show me what you¡¯ve learned.¡± Her fingers ran through his hair as he pulled her closer. ¡°Take what you want.¡± She whispered just before his lips clamped down on her lower lip pulling it back as he sucked, leaving Jillian grinning from ear to ear. The two lost themselves in another passionate kiss, with Jillian teasingly sliding her tongue into his mouth. Inexperienced but eager, Jason met her halfway, their tongues dancing in a playful battle. She was getting so worked up from just kissing, she kept one arm around his neck while her other hand ventured down his body. She quickly slipped her hand under his shirt, tracing along his abs and chest with her nails, enjoying the feel of his skin and chest hair on her fingers. Jason was just as aroused by the kissing. Slightly spreading his legs, ensuring his erection didn¡¯t press against Jillian¡¯s groin. ¡°You turn me on so much. I¡¯m fucking soaked,¡± she moaned against his mouth before shoving her tongue back between his lips, which caused his cock to twitch. Their lips met again, creating noisy, wet smacking sounds. He groaned with pleasure, ¡°Oh... yeah?" He seemed more than a bit awkward in this position. But the over stimulated red head couldn''t care less at this point though. Jillian leaned in for one more kiss before pulling away again. Grabbing one of his hands and pulled it down from her face. ¡°Let me show you,¡± her voice a sultry whisper. She dragged his hand down her body, letting out small gasps as they passed over her chest. To give him a better view, she scooted back a little on his lap. His expression was stiff, while watching her almost clinically, like he was trying to figure her out, as she moved his hand down and pulled up the oversized shirt she was wearing. Looking down, Jason saw it, in all its glory, her glistening exposed lips. Hairless and beautiful, his breath caught in his throat as he was unable to look away from it. He could feel the saliva pool in his mouth as an urge he''d never felt before came over him. ¡°You¡ you said you had shorts on.¡± Grinning wickedly, Jillian giggled. ¡°I lied.¡± In the next moment, she pushed his hand into her folds. His fingers were instantly covered in a slick, warm, wetness as the softness of her labia parted, his fingers delving into her valley. ¡°Look what you did Jason, you¡¯ve gotten me so wet I can¡¯t control myself anymore, Ahh!¡± she moaned loudly as she moved Jason¡¯s hand a little to rub against her most sensitive areas. ¡°Oh god, Jason. Your fingers feel so good! Ngh yes!¡± Jason was a bit entranced at this point. Letting her guide his fingers he explored the delicate folds and ridges of her soaked valley. He could feel his dick throbbing with arousal under her, just begging to be free. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± she yelled, sucking in a deep gasp before leaning in to kiss his lips again a few times. ¡°Please,¡± she spoke in between kisses, which Jason had started returning without a second thought. ¡°I want.¡± Their lips smacked hard against each other, his middle finger starting to push into her tunnel. ¡°You to, ah!¡± she yelped in pleasure as the pad of his thumb hit her clit. ¡°Fuck me ple-!¡± ¡°DING DONG!¡± went the sound of the doorbell being rung. ¡°Oh, god FUCKING damn it!¡± Jillian nearly screamed at the top of her lungs. Chapter 19: And to Think I Used to Get Excited When the Pizza Man Arrived. Jillian and Jason turned their attention to the front door. Jason felt a bit dizzy after so much had happened and all the blood from his head had gone south. ¡°Was that¡ the doorbell?¡± he asked, as he withdrew his hand from Jillian¡¯s crotch, causing her to let out a mixed sound of pleasure and annoyance. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s probably the pizza,¡± Jillian grumbled, climbing off Jason¡¯s lap, annoyed to no end. If she had to choose between getting laid and pizza, she wouldn¡¯t have complained if the pizza never showed. She walked over to the door, muttering under her breath, ¡°Why does it always have to be something? Can¡¯t things just go smoothly for once? This pizza had better be the best fucking thing to enter my mouth in a long time!¡± She doubted it would beat Jason¡¯s tongue. Jason watched Jillian move from his lap, heading toward the front door. Glancing at his hand, he stared at the soaked digits. As he spread his fingers, thin strands formed between them. Mouth watering with the desire to know what she tasted like, sitting there in a trancelike state debating on sampling her flavor. The thought that entered his head after that made his fading erections surge back to life. He imagined just how it would taste if he sampled it straight from the source. Standing up from the couch, he rushed to the bathroom. He needed to get his wallet for the pizza as well from his room. Jillian swung the door open with a scowl, and her jaw felt like it hit the floor. ¡°What the fuck are you doing here?¡± she blurted out, shocked at the sight of her younger brother, Reese. He glanced up from his phone, double-checking the address as he waited for the door to open. With the sight of his sister, dressed in nothing but a large t-shirt, he was equally taken aback. ¡°What?! I¡¯m delivering pizza. Why are you here? And why are you dressed like that?¡± he shot back. Then, spotted Jason walking behind her into the hall, Reese quickly looked away after seeing a bulge in the man¡¯s shorts. ¡°Who was that? Was that the guy you were making out with in the park?¡± Reese asked his sister. ¡°The fuck?¡± Jillian looked at her brother, totally baffled. ¡°First off, I haven¡¯t made out with anyone at the park. Second, why the fuck are you spying on me, you little pervert?¡± She was more confused than mad, even though Reese had just ruined everything. ¡°Yes, you were! You were even under that tree everyone calls the Makeout Tree!¡± he insisted. Jillian just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. ¡°That¡¯s a stupid fuckin¡¯ name, but no, I wasn¡¯t kissing anyone.¡± Scowling at him for peeping on them while they were at the park. ¡°Well, you were doing something,¡± He grumbled, still pissed about how his mom bitched him out last night. There was no way he would wear glasses. Jason used his clean hand to open the bathroom door, locking it behind him. Washing his hands, he quickly noticed the massive tent in his pants. ¡°Shit¡ I walked right by the pizza guy like this, didn¡¯t I.¡± Feeling a moment of shame, he tried to push it out of his head. ¡°maybe if I give him a good tip, he won¡¯t say anything.¡± Talking to himself as he turned off the faucet and dried his hands. Looking up at his reflection, he saw his lips had a pink sheen to them. Narrowing his eyes, he leaned forward to see that his lips and the skin around them were smeared with pink lip gloss. Images and sensations of their kissing coming back to him. His tongue wet his lips, and the taste of strawberries coated his tongue. The arousal that was fading surged back to life yet with his metal images. ¡°Damn it¡¡± He eventually got back to his room and grabbed his wallet from the pants on the floor. Grabbing some cash, he took a deep breath and made sure that his erection was completely gone. The stubborn bastard had just faded, and he didn¡¯t want another minute for it to go back down. Walking out of his room, the sound shouting filled the house. ¡°God why do you have to be such a bitch!¡± Reese nearly shouted. A rather strange sensation filled Jason suddenly. He had called Jillian a bitch more times than he had said her actual name in his life. Yet hearing someone else call her one¡ It made him kinda mad. ¡°She kinda is a bitch¡ but why do I wana knock him out for it?¡± He thought to himself, looking down at his clenched fist. Jason walked back around the corner just in time to hear Jillian¡¯s response after she had stopped to laugh sarcastically in his face. ¡°A bitch, huh? You have yet to see bitchiness yet. Just wait till I tell mom about that girl you snuck into your room last week.¡± Reese¡¯s eyes bulged in fear, not expecting that response. ¡°W-what girl?¡± he tried to lie, horribly. At least now everything made sense to Jason. They were related apparently. The urge to punch the handsome teenager lessened, if only slightly. ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s just calm down.¡± Both of them turned to look back at Jason. Jillian pouted slightly. ¡°He called me a bitch, are you seriously defending him?¡± she wholly expected him to take her side. ¡°Well, were you being a bitch?¡± His question made Jillian¡¯s mouth gape slightly, but she didn¡¯t have a response. ¡°It was like thirty something, right?¡± Jason asked a rather stunned Reese, not expecting his sister¡¯s¡boyfriend maybe, to actually take his side. ¡°Oh uhh, yeah.¡± Quickly taking out the pizza¡¯s and the breadsticks from the insulated bag. The scent of the food made Jason¡¯s stomach grumble in anticipation, and all thoughts of anything else vanish. ¡°Here¡¯s a fifty. Keep the change.¡± Reese was shocked yet again as he was handed the single bill. ¡°Whoa, thanks man!¡± grinning from ear to ear. Money was still the easiest way to a teenager¡¯s heart. ¡°Pfft, he doesn¡¯t deserve a single friggin¡¯ cent.¡± Jillian growled as Jason took the food. ¡°Oh, fuck you Jill.¡± Reese said with a glare. ¡°You probably stole a slice and tried to smush the rest together to hide it.¡± She accused her brother. The rage of being cockblocked by him still burned red hot, and she wanted to make him suffer. ¡°As if! You can check it yourself if you want! I¡¯m getting outta here before you blame me for some other bullshit.¡± ¡°Look Jason, he is trying to run away now. He¡¯s totally guilty. You should¡ Jason?¡± Looking over at where Jason was supposed to be. Reese quickly closed the door while his sister was distracted rushing back to his vehicle. Jillian turned around to look for Jason, but he had vanished. ¡°Jason!?¡± she called out, scanning the area before heading back to the living room. She saw him at the kitchen table, already having finished a whole slice of pizza. Despite how pent up she was, she couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile at the sight of him enjoying the food. It was just so him. Things had gone from sexy to mundane so quickly. I felt like every time they got close, something stopped them from crossing that finish line. Her thoughts drifted back to their conversation in the dressing room. There was something in his eyes back then, a mystery she was determined to solve. Casually walking behind the couches and towards the kitchen table, flashing him a smile. ¡°How¡¯s the pizza?¡± Jillian asked, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. Jason, finishing the last bite of his slice, looked over at Jillian and nodded. ¡°Mm... it¡¯s really good,¡± swallowing, and reaching for a breadstick. While she began searching through the cabinets. ¡°Where does your mom keep the plates? We can eat and watch the rest of the movie.¡± Jason had already shoved half the breadstick in his mouth, so he pointed at one of the cabinets. He loaded his plate with four more slices and a couple of breadsticks, while Jillian was much more conservative with two slices and a single breadstick, though she was doubtful she could finish more than one of her slices. They made their way back to the couch, unmuted the tv, and settled in. As the movie played, they tossed comments back and forth about which actors they liked or disliked. ¡°Christopher Lloyd is such a gem.¡± Jillian said with a smile as she nibbled on a breadstick. ¡°I was frozen today!¡± Jason blurted out in his best impression of the actor. She just looked over at him like he was crazy, staring at him with a raised brow. ¡°What!? It¡¯s from a movie he was in. It was this awful B movie, but the line stuck with me.¡± He tried to explain, but her gaze never changed. ¡°I don¡¯t have to explain myself to you!¡± He grumbled, but smiled as he took another bite of food. It was all simple, comfy, un-sexy conversation. ¡°When do they ride the hover boards?¡± ¡°That¡¯s part two, not one.¡± He corrected her. ¡°Oh¡ right,¡± for some reason, she felt slightly embarrassed for not remembering every little detail of a movie that was over thirty years old now. It was all stupid conversation but made her smile. Jillian took her time with her food, barely making a dent in her second slice and the breadstick, while Jason had cleaned his plate in no time. Once she couldn¡¯t eat anymore, she stood up and kindly took Jason¡¯s empty plate. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said in appreciation, which got him a warm smile in return. ¡°No problem, you want something to drink?¡± she offered sweetly. ¡°Uhh, water¡¯s good for me, thanks,¡± he replied, returning the smile, the chipped canine making a surprise appearance again. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Jillian stared for just a moment before she hurried back to the kitchen, put the plates into the sink, and gave them a quick rinse. As she opened the fridge to grab a bottle of water, her eyes landed on a six-pack of fancy beer bottles. ¡°Well, hello there,¡± she grinned, examining the label. ¡°He-hef...Hey Jason!¡± she called out. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± he yelled back. ¡°Ever heard of Hef-hefe-we-sen?¡± she attempted to pronounce the unfamiliar German word. ¡°You mean hefeweizen? That¡¯s my favorite beer. Are there some in the fridge?¡± ¡°Yeah, want one?¡± Jillian asked. After a brief silence, Jason yelled back, ¡°Sure, why not?¡± She quickly grabbed a couple of bottles and rummaged through the drawers for a bottle opener. Once she found one, she popped them open and rushed back. ¡°Hope I didn¡¯t miss the bit where George saves Lorraine,¡± she said, handing Jason a bottle and taking a sip of her own. ¡°Nope, it¡¯s about to happen. Thanks,¡± he replied, taking the bottle. Jillian plopped down beside him, leaning back against his chest, while Jason was leaning against the sofa arm with his arm draped over the back. ¡°Pretty good for a wheat beer. I usually don¡¯t like them,¡± Jillian said. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re actually better than most. My mom probably got them because I mentioned they¡¯re my favorite.¡± Jason glanced down at Jillian, realizing how easy it had become to simply let her get close. ¡°Oh, watch this part!¡± she exclaimed like he wasn¡¯t already watching, playfully swinging her fist through the air just as George punched Biff in the movie. Jason chuckled, amused by her enthusiasm. ¡°Nice punch, but you could use a little practice,¡± he teased gently. ¡°Coming from you, I¡¯ll take that as a compliment,¡± she replied, looking up at him with a smile, their eyes meeting in a funny but sweet moment. Jason casually shrugged and took a hearty sip of his beer. ¡°I¡¯m nothing special,¡± he said modestly, never one to brag to others. Jillian let out a soft laugh and snuggled closer to him, the back of her head resting comfortably on his chest. ¡°This is¡Nice,¡± her voice a loud whisper. Jason stayed quiet for a few moments, watching Marty race the Delorean down the street. ¡°Yeah¡¡± he whispered back Smiling softly as she nuzzled back into him. It wasn¡¯t much, but she would take it what she could get. As the movie wrapped up, and their beers ran dry, Jillian sat up and flashed him a warm smile. ¡°Want another beer?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Jason agreed, knowing well that a couple more beers wouldn¡¯t even get him tipsy. Besides, their plan for the evening was pretty much to relax and watch TV. As Back to the Future Part II started playing, they both found it more than acceptable. Settling in again, clinking the necks of their beers together, ready to enjoy the rest of the night. Jillian dashed to the bathroom during a commercial. It had been ages since either had watched cable and not a streaming service. It was such an old person thing now-a-days. Not that he thought his mother was old. Jason took the moment to stretch out a bit. He¡¯d been sitting in the same spot for too long and was feeling a bit cramped. He pulled his legs up onto the couch, made himself comfortable laying his head against the armrest, and finished his second beer. When Jillian returned, she noticed he was taking up the entire couch, but didn¡¯t mind one bit. She jumped back onto the couch, landing in his lap. ¡°Oof.¡± Instinctively wary of his crotch while she laid down on top of him, and snuggled into his chest. Jason didn¡¯t protest and even handed her half-finished beer back, and they both settled in to continue watching the movie as it resumed. It was another small victory for their relationship. Jillian slowly felt herself grow more and more anxious as the day went on. She turned her head to look up at Jason. He had a slight smile as he watched the movie, looking rather content. She was definitely enjoying the small buzz she had along with his warmth. It definitely helped loosen her tongue. ¡°Hey Jason?¡± she began, catching his attention. ¡°Hmm?¡± he responded, not looking at her yet, waiting for her to continue. ¡°About earlier...¡± The word earlier could have meant a bunch of things at this point, which made him a little uneasy. He looked down at her with those words. ¡°About what went on in the dressing room... You said you didn¡¯t want to talk about it there¡ so, here we are¡not there.¡± Jillian felt she didn¡¯t need to elaborate any further. There was a moment of silence between them. ¡°It¡¯s... a difficult question to answer,¡± Jason finally admitted, as he avoided her gaze, clearly uncomfortable. Gathering her courage, she decided to just get it out. ¡°Are you afraid of what might happen? Is it because... you¡¯re still a virgin?¡± She could feel her heart racing, expecting him to get upset. Jason looked like he just got blindsided, a mix of surprise and confusion on his face. He didn¡¯t speak for a long moment, as if he was trying to wrap his head around what Jillian had just said. ¡°I¡¯m not a virgin,¡± he finally responded, his gaze sincere. Jillian¡¯s reaction was more confused. ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± she whispered, barely audible. He nodded firmly. ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Then... how come... I mean, if you aren¡¯t, how do you not know how to kiss, or what, are you just pretending to be so na?ve? Have you just been toying with me?¡± The thought made her feel a little betrayed. Jason just shrugged when Jillian asked him the personal question. ¡°I¡¯ve never really kissed anyone, not romantically at least, and fuck you, I¡¯m not na?ve. I just don¡¯t have a lot of experience mainly cause I don¡¯t trust women thanks to some bitch back in highschool.¡± They were both sitting up now and separated. Biting her thumbnail. It didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. ¡°Well, then... Can you tell me about your first time?¡± she asked hesitantly, trying not to anger him anymore. He glared at her, searching her face for any sign that she might be joking. But she was dead serious. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and looked away. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to know that, and I don¡¯t want to tell you,¡± he said, shifting further away from her. ¡°Look, I can tell you¡¯re upset. I promise I¡¯m not making fun of you. I¡¯m trying to help you!¡± Jillian begged, reaching out as if to place her hands on his face. But Jason leaned his head away from her reach, pushing himself up from the couch. ¡°Help me? That¡¯s rich coming from you, of all people,¡± he said, frustration mounting in his voice. Jillian could see he was panicking. ¡°I am! I fucking told you I don¡¯t want to be the person I was anymore. That I want to be a person you can trust! I can help, or at least try, but you have to let me in!¡± she protested. But he interrupted, ¡°You think three days of being somewhat civil are enough for me to trust that you actually care? That¡¯s a fuckin joke.¡± With that, Jason turned off the TV, throwing the remote into the couch, and headed towards the hallway. Jillian jumped off the couch and chased after him, grabbing his arm. ¡°I have known you a lot longer than three days, Jason! Do you think I would even be here right now if I didn¡¯t care?! I know you don¡¯t trust me, because of what I did to you. I get it, I do, not a day goes by that I don¡¯t think about the shit I have done. But that¡¯s who I was, not who I am now. It wasn¡¯t even the real me back then!¡± Jason glanced back, annoyed, and yanked his arm away. ¡°Oh yeah? Well then, who the fuck are you? Some convenient saint here to solve my fucking problems cause I¡¯m your type?¡± he snapped, continuing down the hall. Jillian, equally frustrated, grabbed the back of his shirt, but he kept moving, practically dragging her with him. ¡°What the fuck does that even mean?!¡± She tried to pull him back, but he was far too strong. ¡°It means you¡¯re just another stupid, shallow bitch that thinks she can just take¡ª¡± Suddenly, the air was filled with the loud sound of fabric tearing. Jillian let out a yelp as she fell backward, landing on the floor with a thud. Luckily, it was carpet this time, but her still bruised tailbone stung badly from the impact. As she was about to reach back and rub her sore tailbone, she realized she was still clutching onto some fabric¨Ca lot of it, actually. The bottom seam of the shirt dangled from the remains of the destroyed top. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason, I¡¯ll buy you¡ª¡± She started. ¡°You can¡¯t just buy me another one!¡± Jason suddenly erupted with an infuriated shout, causing Jillian to flinch. ¡°W-what?¡± she asked fearfully, looking at Jason, who was now staring at the tattered threads hanging from his torso. ¡°Just... Grab your shit and get out. I¡¯m done. Just leave me alone. I don¡¯t need your help or your pity,¡± Jason snapped. He turned away from her, stomping into the bathroom, where he slammed the door so hard that the entire wall shook like an earthquake. Jillian flinched again, then stared at the door with a dumbfounded expression. What just happened? How did things go from cuddling on the couch to full-blown conflict in less than a minute? Why was he so worked up about a stupid shirt? It didn¡¯t look expensive. She had so many questions, but the only one with answers was now locked in the bathroom. She struggled to stand up from the floor, then made her way to the bathroom door, speaking softly. ¡°Jason, please, I¡¯m sorry I just...¡± ¡°I said leave!¡± Jason¡¯s voice screamed through the door, causing her to back up in fear. That fear quickly started to morph as she scowled deeply at the door, feeling the familiar rage building up inside her. Rising to protect her from the sadness. ¡°Fine! Fuck me for trying to care about you. If this is how you want to live, wallowing in your own bullshit, go ahead! See if I ever give a fuck about you again!¡± With that, she stormed into Jason¡¯s room and quickly changed back into her previous outfit. Snatching her purse and phone, she glared at the bag holding the outfit he¡¯d bought her. With a swift motion, she chucked it into the small wastebasket by his desk. ¡°Fucking, piece of shit, asshole, mother fucking dickhead,¡± she muttered every curse she knew under her breath over and over, slamming the front door behind her as she left the house. Quickly walking down the street toward home, her anger drowned out the rest of her emotions, burying them beneath a thick layer of rage. She was done wasting tears on Jason. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I thought things could work out. Kissing lessons, what kind of stupid fucking idea was that!? Am I really that desperate now? Jesus Christ, Jill. Stop being a fucking idiot and wake up. Nothing ever really changes!¡± Ranting and raving at her own stupidity. Just as she was settling into her anger, another irritation popped into her mind. Jillian grabbed her phone and opened her text messages, finding Katia¡¯s chat. Katia: ¡°Hey Jillian... I know this might sound odd, I don¡¯t want to upset you and I might come off as weird here, but are you into my son?¡° Jillian. ¡°Umm. . . Well I am definitely not not attracted to him haha.¡± Katia: ¡°Haha, that¡¯s good to know. I am actually glad. So. . .l will probably get in a lot of trouble for this but¡ My son is¡ Well, he is basically a virgin. I really shouldn¡¯t be telling anyone. So I hope you don¡¯t think less of him for it. I know how sweet you are, but I just wanted to explain why he acts so awkward around you.¡° Jillian: ¡°WHAT!?!!11!? Are you joking?!?¡± Katia: ¡°Unfortunately no. He has had really bad experiences with women from what he¡¯s told me. He said he likes you, though.¡± Jillian: ¡°Oh well. . .I¡¯m honored, I guess.¡± Jillian let out a frustrated growl as she read the text messages, gripping her phone tightly. She quickly fired off a response to Jason¡¯s mother, her anger evident in every keystroke. ¡°Why did you fucking lie to me, Katia?! If me getting screamed at was your plan all along, then well played, bitch. Should have figured you were fucking with me when you said I was sweet. Guess I¡¯m the dumbass for believing you.¡± With a huff, she hit send and shoved her phone back into her purse. Why did it feel like everyone was turning against her? Hadn¡¯t she already dealt with enough? Was it just her fate to constantly suffer in some way? Rushing into the house, she slammed the door behind her. All she wanted was to hide away in her room, to scream into her pillow. As she was storming up the stairs, she heard her mother call out to her, ¡°Jillian Eris Lins, since when do you slam doors and stomp up the stairs like a Neanderthal?¡± Jillian whirled to face her with a deep twisted scowl as she shot back, ¡°Since I had to start dealing with stupid fucking men who can¡¯t accept help when they obviously fucking need it! And they pretend like you didn¡¯t just spend the last five hours together and everything was great. You try to be understanding and supportive, but still get pushed away and screamed at. Then everything just falls the fuck apart over a stupid fucking shirt. And you get thrown away like you are trash to them when you try to ask one simple question.¡± Jillian then sucked in a deep breath, and her bottom lip began to quiver, as it usually did, before tears fell. Her face red as she fought back those tears she promised not to shed. Ginny stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching her daughter explode in a rant of pain and misery. ¡°Jillybean...¡± she started, but Jillian just turned and stomped up the stairs and into her room. Ginny sighed deeply. She couldn¡¯t leave the younger kids unattended right now, and bringing them up to the room was probably a bad idea. So, with a sad glance at the second floor, she pulled out her phone and texted Katia. ¡°Looks like there¡¯s trouble in paradise.¡± Chapter 20: The Road to Recovery is Rarely Traveled Alone. Last Night ¡°Mom! What kind of question is that to ask your son?!¡± Jason said with a bit of a flush in his cheeks. Katia looked down awkwardly, playing with her fingers. ¡°Well, you said she has gotten closer to you than any other girl has. So, I was just wondering...unless you¡¯ve, you know, been with her...doesn¡¯t that mean you haven¡¯t been with anyone?¡± She tried to explain her logic. He let out a sigh and buried his face in his hands. ¡°I get how you arrived at that conclusion. But I meant to say emotionally close.¡± Katia gave Jason a suspicious look, able to tell that he was hiding something. ¡°Well, humor your mother then, tell me the name of the last girl you slept with?¡± Her smile was sweet and innocent, contrasting harshly with the question she just asked. He was clearly uncomfortable with how this conversation was going. He grabbed his beer and chugged it down in a few gulps. ¡°I will drive us home, so you can have a few more if you¡¯d like, hun,¡± Katia said, thinking the alcohol would let him relax a bit more. ¡°I... I never got her name,¡± he admitted, scanning the room for the waiter, exhaling in mild frustration. His mom, ever curious, pressed on. ¡°So, you had sex with a girl without even getting her name?¡± The question made him let out another embarrassed groan. ¡°Mom, please!¡± he quietly shouted. ¡°What? Just because I¡¯m old doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know how things are when you are young,¡± she retorted with a chuckle. Jason was mortified and he couldn¡¯t believe he was having this conversation with his mother. ¡°You aren¡¯t old, mom, but can we please talk about something else?¡± He still remembered his manners but kept pleading for a subject change. Thankfully, the waiter returned just in time to take their orders, and Jason welcomed the distraction by ordering another beer. Katia didn¡¯t let up with her invasive questions. ¡°So, what¡¯s your type if Jillian¡¯s butt doesn¡¯t do it for you? Ya know, your father loved mine. Would have thought you might be like him.¡± Jason winced physically and mentally, burying his face in his hands. ¡°Mom¡ please never bring up which part of you was dad¡¯s favorite ever again. I have enough mental scars already. But I haven¡¯t met anyone that is my type. So I don¡¯t have one.¡± He seemed to cringe a little when talking about what his type was. Katia couldn¡¯t quite grasp how her son was talking this straight, yet had such a guilty look. She wondered if he was used to dodging this particular question. Jason finished his latest beer with a small burp. ¡°I¡¯m gonna use the bathroom before the food gets here, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± he said, standing up. Katia shared a smile with her son before he disappeared around a corner. Pulling out her phone, she quickly shot a text to Ginny about the rumor of them kissing in the park being false. Then a few to Jillian, the two exchanging messages back and forth. She was just finishing her last text when Jason suddenly came back and startled her. ¡°Who are you texting?¡± he asked, sitting back down across from her. ¡°Oh, just chatting with Ginny, telling her how lucky I am,¡± she said, laughing off her surprise. ¡°I also ordered you another beer.¡± He thanked her and took a long drink. Chatting away, they caught up on more about work and whether he¡¯d be stepping into the boxing ring again soon. Katia really didn¡¯t like the thought of her son being hit repeatedly, but she could see the fire in his eyes when he talked about boxing¡ªthere was no way he was hanging up his gloves anytime soon. Jason knocked back another four beers over dinner and was definitely feeling it by the end of their meal. ¡°Jason, honey?¡± she called to her son, who was busy finishing his latest beer. ¡°Yes, mother?¡± He responded, a tipsy smile on his face. ¡°You love me, right?¡± Jason gave her an exaggerated nod. ¡°Of course. I love you more than anything, I love you more than¡ a lot! Like so much,¡± he declared, a bit too loudly as he laughed. Katia giggled softly at his antics. ¡°I love you too, sweetie. You trust me, right?¡± verbally prodding her son, who at this point had a bit too much to drink. Thanks to his size, he wasn¡¯t completely wasted, but very buzzed. ¡°You¡¯re the only woman I trust. Like I¡¯m sure no one else can be like you, and stuff,¡± he replied, pointing his empty beer bottle at her. He wasn¡¯t making a whole lot of sense as he reached for his mother¡¯s hand, missing on the first try before grabbing it and giving it a squeeze. ¡°So, will you tell me how you lost your virginity?¡± she asked, hoping his current state might lead him to open up more. It made her feel scummy trying to pry information out of him like this, but she reminded herself this was all for his best interest. After all, how could she help if she didn¡¯t know what was going on? She was his mom, and everyone knew that mothers knew what was best for their children, right? Jason¡¯s smile disappeared, turning into a deep frown. ¡°Mmmm... I don¡¯t like that question, ask something else.¡± he said, waving his hand like he was trying to bat away the question. Trying to take another drink of beer, but the bottle was still empty, so he looked around for a waiter, hoping for another. ¡°Jason, even if it¡¯s a tough question, I want you to open up to me. Please, I¡¯m your mother. I¡¯m here to help and support you, but I can¡¯t if you won¡¯t let me in,¡± Katia urged, gripping his hand firmly. At this point, it felt like there was something very wrong and she needed to know, for the sake of her son. Jason scanned the crowd, clearly uncomfortable, like he was on the verge of shutting down. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go home? We can talk more in the car,¡± she suggested, giving his hand a reassuring pat before they got up to leave. It wasn¡¯t really the place to be having such a heart to heart, anyway. After leaving the restaurant, Jason stumbled a bit as they headed for the car. Katia helped him get into the passenger seat before she got behind the wheel. Once they were both buckled up, she started their drive them home. Once on the highway, Katia spoke up again. ¡°Sweetie?¡± She asked, glancing over at him. He had laid the seat back completely, more than a bit out of it. ¡°Hmmm?¡± He answered, sounding like he was just barely awake at this point. ¡°Are you still a virgin, Jason?¡± She tried again. His response was rather unexpected and unpleasant. ¡°No¡ but it wasn¡¯t really¡. My choice,¡± he said between yawns. ¡°Your choice? Are you saying that the person you slept with the first time wasn¡¯t your first choice?¡± She asked, confused. ¡°Psshht, you can say that,¡± he almost sounded slightly amused, if not for the heavy sigh and scowl that followed. ¡°They fuggin¡¯ stole it.¡± Katia glanced at her son, shocked. ¡°Stole it?!¡± She repeated loudly, desperate to know more but Jason only groaned softly, like he was on the verge of passing out. Her gaze darted between him and the road rapidly. Jason took a long, deep breath and mumbled something unintelligible. ¡°Who stole it from you? H-how¡ did they s-steal it?¡± Katia asked loudly to try and keep him awake. ¡°This crazy fuckin¡¯ bitch¡I think she put¡ something in my¡.¡± he trailed off, feeling like he was slowly sinking into his seat while his vision spun beneath his eyelids. The motion of the car made him dizzy. Katia¡¯s heart started racing, and her breathing quickened. ¡°Y-you were drugged?¡± she asked, voice trembling. ¡°Mmm, think so¡ Woke up with a condom on¡ in a strange room.¡± Katia had to cover her mouth with a hand to stop herself from retching in pure disgust at what he was telling her. These words were nothing short of a nightmare. She could barely fathom the trauma of waking up in such a situation. His hatred for women was all so clear now, she finally understood. She tried to fight back tears, but her vision was quickly blurring. ¡°I am so sorry, baby,¡± she whimpered out, but he had already passed out. She was at least relieved he wasn¡¯t awake to see her this way. She pulled over at an empty gas station to take a moment. Even if the child is an adult, how does one deal with knowing they were raped for their first time? With her peacefully sleeping son next to her, Katia let the tears flow freely, feeling like she was going to vomit. Her heart broke for her son. The pain was near unbearable. Present Day Katia tried to keep herself busy, needing to distract herself from the events of last night. She had already broken down a couple of times today. Her only relief was that Jason seemed to have forgotten about telling her. She really wasn¡¯t ready for this, regretting how she pressed so much. But at the same time, now that she knew, she could help him come to terms with his trauma. She just needed some time to think of how to best approach the subject. And figure out how to keep her own emotions in check. So, she spent her day ticking off errands and grocery shopping ¨C stuff she¡¯d been avoiding for a while. It turned out to be a rather productive day. As she was wrapping things up, strolling through an art supply store, her phone buzzed in her purse. When she checked her phone, she saw a text from Jillian that made her heart sink. The message was so harsh and every word seemed to be filled with pain. She scrolled up to their text history, and was shocked when she saw the messages she forgot she sent last night, and the tears welled up quickly once again. She had been so distracted by trying to figure out how to best help with Jason¡¯s trauma, she forgot all about what she told Jillian. Rushing out of the store, her hands trembled as she tried to unlock her car. Once inside, she pulled her knees to her chest and let out a long, painful scream, filled with all of her frustration and regret. She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯d messed things up this badly. Her phone buzzed again, but she was too scared to look at it this time. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Katia sat in her car, lost in her own thoughts and misery for what felt like forever, when her phone buzzed again. Through her red, swollen eyes, she glanced at her purse, dreading the possibility of another angry message from Jillian. Taking a deep, shaky breath, she reached for her phone and saw she had missed two messages. Opening the first one, she saw it was from Ginny, telling her what she already knew. Ginny¡¯s playful text hopefully meant she was still in the dark. It made Katia feel guilty, but also a bit relieved Jillian hadn¡¯t shared the texts. ¡°Now I¡¯m keeping secrets from my best friend. God, what a mess you¡¯ve become, Katia,¡± she chided herself, sniffing loudly and wiping her nose with a tissue. Katia moved on to the newest message, which was from Jason. The main person she felt she was failing. ¡°Hey mom, just wanted to check to make sure you¡¯re okay. I haven¡¯t seen or heard from you almost all day and it¡¯s getting pretty late. I love you. Be safe.¡± Jason¡¯s message, full of concern, made her tear up again. Trying to see through her tears, she quickly replied, ¡°Sorry sweetie, got a bit delayed doing the shopping. I will be home soon. I love you so, so, so much, Jason and I want you to know that I will always love you, no matter what.¡± Her emotions seemed to just pour out as she typed. Taking deep, calming breaths, she wiped her eyes and tried to regain control of herself. Glad she¡¯d skipped the makeup today, knowing just how badly that would have been. Katia¡¯s phone vibrated as Jason¡¯s next text came in. ¡°I know Mom and I¡¯ll always love you, too.¡± His words brought a sad smile to her face. She took another moment to compose herself before starting the car and heading home. The drive across town gave her some time to think about what she¡¯d say to Jason. Once home, she parked in the garage and entered through the connecting door. ¡°I¡¯m home...¡± Her voice trailed off as soon as she stepped into the kitchen, still holding her shopping bags. Katia quickly saw Jason at the kitchen table, demolishing what appeared to be what was left of an entire pizza. ¡°Oh, hey sweetie,¡± she greeted him with the best smile she could manage. She noticed the top box was nearly empty, then looked back at him. Jason swallowed his bite before speaking. ¡°Hey, Mom.¡± And just like that, he was back to stuffing his face. She stared at her son for a few moments as he sat at the table. He looked alright, all things considered. ¡°Did you really eat all that by yourself, hun?¡± she asked, putting the groceries on the counter and moving a bit closer. Jason glanced up, still chewing, and shrugged. ¡°Yeah, kinda,¡± he said with his mouth half full. Katia stared in disbelief at the pizza boxes with just two slices left. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, how could he eat so much? It was one of the first times she¡¯d really paid attention to his food intake. Frank was always on the move for work, and burned so many calories that she got used to preparing giant meals where there were rarely any leftovers. She wondered if he inherited that trait from his father, or was it just another mistake she made raising him? Her self doubt weighed her down even more. ¡°Want a slice?¡± Jason suddenly asked, snapping her back to reality. ¡°Oh, uh, no thanks, I¡¯m fine, thank you though, sweetheart,¡± Katia replied, apprehensive about what might happen next. Jason was showing no signs of stopping. So Katia walked over and gently rubbed his back. That¡¯s when she felt the familiar fabric of his shirt, sparking a wave of nostalgia. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re wearing your dad¡¯s old¡ª¡± she began, her voice warm with memories. But her expression changed as she noticed the large rip in the back of the shirt. ¡°Oh dear, did you accidentally rip your shirt, hun?¡± Concern tinged her voice. Jason, seemingly unfazed, continued to devour the last of the pizza, but his pace quickened slightly. After finishing his slice, he finally responded. ¡°She¡destroyed it.¡± Katia didn¡¯t even need to ask who she was.. She gave Jason a look of worry and understanding. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart,¡± she soothed softly, hugging him from behind and resting her head on his. ¡°I understand why you¡¯re upset...but, it¡¯s just a shirt, hun. I know it was your father¡¯s, but accidents happen. It¡¯s not the shirt that is important, but the memories that go with it. Nothing can take those away.¡± She couldn¡¯t see it as anything other than an accident, and wanted to remind him of what was truly important. He took a deep breath through his nose, and focused back on his food, not saying a word. ¡°Hun?...Come on, talk to me. What¡¯s bothering you?¡± She tried to get him to open up, but he cut her off before she could finish. ¡°Mom¡ for the rest of my vacation¡¡± Jason started in a stoic tone. ¡°Please, no more dinner parties, no more friends coming over, no going out with other people. I just want to relax, stay in, and spend time with you before I have to leave.¡± Jason kept his voice stable, while his request made him seem anything but. Katia paused, frowning slightly behind his back. ¡°Anything you want, sweetheart.¡± Leaning in, she kissed his head softly. After dinner, Ginny finally got Calvin down for bed. As far as she could tell, Jillian hadn¡¯t left her room at all. Plus, there was no word back from Katia, even though Ginny¡¯s message was marked as read, which worried her a little. It wasn¡¯t like her friend to go silent like this. She made her way upstairs and paused outside her daughter¡¯s door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked lightly. There was a scramble, and a muttered curse from inside. ¡°Jillian... Honey, is everything okay?¡± Ginny asked, opening the door slowly. Jillian hurried to hide something under her pillow. When Jillian had gotten back home, the first thing she did was flop onto her bed, feeling a storm of anger and sadness rage inside her. ¡°All I wanted was to help. Why did he get so angry at me for a stupid question? He¡¯s the one in the wrong, not me. It¡¯s not like a guy¡¯s virginity means shit anyway, and who gets so upset about some dumb old shirt, anyway?¡± She tried to convince herself he was wrong here and she shouldn¡¯t feel bad, but it was no use. Just below the surface, she felt like she¡¯d ruined everything, and now they weren¡¯t talking again. Turning over, she saw the pillow she had zipped Jason¡¯s tracksuit jacket around. She hadn¡¯t even gotten the chance to fall asleep cuddling with it yet, and now it was tainted by that terrible moment. Jillian got to her knees and started wailing on the pillow like it had personally offended her, growling and grunting all the while. She didn¡¯t stop her assault on the pillow until she was completely gassed, collapsing forward, gasping for air. That was when she got a nose full of the scent from his jacket. A deep frustrated groan slipped out of her lips as the familiar rush of desire filled her. ¡°Damn it, what have you done to me?¡± Defeated, she laid there, eyes shut tight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡¡± she whispered, her voice cracking a bit as tears slowly leaked from her eyes. Hugging the jacket-wrapped pillow close, she quickly fell asleep. Jillian woke up feeling just as bad as when she fell asleep. She was sick of waking up by herself. Sick of being taunted with the chance she might wake up next to someone she cared about. Someone that cared about her. Only for it to be ripped away every time. She grabbed her phone and in her groggy anger started scrolling through her contacts until she saw one that was named, ¡°DO NOT CALL! DELETE ME!¡± and yet for some reason, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to delete it. It had synced from her old phone to her new one. To her, it was a last-resort, a safety net. If everything else went south, she knew this number was her backup, even though it was more like a trap she was constantly tempted to walk into. Jillian frowned as she tapped the contact name. Awful memories flooded back. He didn¡¯t even let her have a phone when they were together. He had stripped her of everything that she might use to be self reliant. Saying things like, ¡°You don¡¯t need a phone, I will take care of everything, just ask.¡± and ¡°Why do you need a car when I can have a limo pick you up?¡± And she was dumb enough to believe him¡ because she had loved him. That love vanished in the following years she lived with him, well it had felt like living at first. The way he treated her and manipulated her. The things he forced her to do, the things she willingly did to try and make him happy. Jillian blamed herself at first, changing almost everything about herself just to suit his tastes. Now she was haunted by those memories, haunted by her past. When Jason mentioned she had called out for Papi in her sleep, it hit her hard. It made her realize a part of her was still stuck in that awful house as his plaything. It felt impossible to move on from that kind of pain. But she was going to try as hard as she could, damn it. Just as she was about to switch back to her home screen, a knock on the door startled her. With him still fresh in her mind, the sudden sound sent a wave of panic through her. Her whole body jolted like an electric current had just shot through her. Like she half-expected him to bust through the door at any moment until she heard her mom¡¯s voice. ¡°Shit!¡± Jillian grumbled as she looked down at where she had dropped her phone. She quickly scooped it up and hid it under her pillow. Looking up, she saw her mom stepping into the room and couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°What, mom?¡± snapping more than she meant to. But her mom just gave her a gentle smile and came closer. ¡°Just wanted to see how my best eldest daughter was doing,¡± Ginny said, sitting on the edge of the bed and placing a comforting hand on Jillian¡¯s arm. ¡°You know by that logic it also makes me the worst eldest daughter. Everything I touch gets worse. I am just one big fuckup. You know it, I know, everybody knows it!¡± Jillian blurted out. But Ginny¡¯s smile never faded, reaching up and softly stroking Jillian¡¯s hair, undisturbed by her daughter¡¯s words. ¡°You aren¡¯t a fuckup, Jillian. I think you¡¯re doing just fine. Everyone makes mistakes, and I wouldn¡¯t trade you for the world,¡± Ginny whispered. Letting the curse words slide for now as she pulled her daughter into a tight hug. Jillian instinctively melted into her mom¡¯s chest, wrapping her arms around her waist. Jillian¡¯s bottom lip quivered again, and the tears flowed once more. ¡°Why is everything so hard, Mom?¡± she whimpered, catching her breath between sobs. ¡°I really tried this time. I thought I could make a difference... but it all just fell apart right in front of me.¡± She held her mom tighter. Ginny stroked her daughter¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetie. Sometimes, no matter how much we want to help, some people just aren¡¯t ready to accept it. ¡± she whispered into her ear. Even though Jillian hadn¡¯t mentioned him, Ginny felt sure it had all been about Jason. Jillian sniffled loudly. ¡°But... how do you know when someone is ready?¡± she asked, looking up at her mother. Ginny sighed softly, shaking her head. ¡°That¡¯s the tricky part, hun. You¡¯ll only know when they know... Maybe give it a few days,¡± she suggested. They had been spending a lot of time together lately. If they were already getting into these huge arguments, it was probably best if they both got some space. Jillian took a deep breath and was silent for a moment before slowly nodding her head. ¡°That¡ that might be good,¡± she said, thinking about how much time they had spent together lately. Not exactly sure if she could stand seeing Jason anytime soon, anyway. ¡°I¡¯ve been neglecting June. She is probably mad at me as well,¡± Jillian grumbled, making her mother smile softly. ¡°She is not mad at you, hun, but you two spending some extra time together sounds like a nice idea. Maybe in a few days, if everything is calmer, you can...¡± Ginny paused, glancing over at the pillow dressed in a jacket. ¡°Um, is that¡Jason¡¯s?¡± She asked curiously. Jillian sniffled a bit more and sat up on her knees, glancing over at Pillow Jason. ¡°Yeah... I took it from him,¡± she admitted without much hesitation, wiping her eyes. Ginny stared at it for a moment before turning her gaze back to her daughter, clearing her throat. ¡°Yeah, I think a few days apart will do you good, sweetheart,¡± Ginny said nervously, reaching out to caress Jillian¡¯s cheek. ¡°Thanks, Mom. Love you,¡± Jillian said, leaning in to give her mom one more big hug. ¡°Love you too, Jillybean.¡± The two held each other for a moment before parting. ¡°There¡¯s some leftover food if you¡¯re hungry.¡± Ginny smiled as she stood up from the bed. Jillian nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be down in a little bit.¡± She smiled back as her mom left. With the room quiet now, she heard what sounded like faint voices. She tracked the voices over to her pillow, where the sound seemed to come from, lifting it up. The phone screen lit up automatically, and her eyes widened in fear as she saw the name slowly scrolling across the top: ¡°DO NOT CALL! DELETE ME!¡± There was an active call that had been running for a few minutes already. Her breath caught in her throat, and terror gripped her heart. A heavy Hispanic accent came through the phone. ¡°Helloooo. I heard your voice Mami, speak to me, Roja. Come back to Papi. Don¡¯t you dare make me come get you, mi amor. I won¡¯t be as gentle if I have to come fetch you¡. ANSWER ME YOU FUCKING WH-¡± Jillian quickly reached over and ended the call as he screamed at her. She quickly tucked herself in the corner of her bed against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest. Her whole body shook with fear as she wrapped her arms around herself, eyes shutting tight as the sound of her personal devil still echoed in her ears. ¡°Oh god¡What have I done?¡± Chapter 21: Being So Close Yet Feeling Miles Apart When she didn¡¯t show up for dinner, June brought some food for Jillian up to their shared room. Trying to hide her worry, Jillian forced a smile for her sister. ¡°Hey Junebug, what¡¯s that?¡± Jillian said, pushing herself up in bed to see her sister better. June handed over the plate of food she was holding. It was lasagna and steamed veggies. Jillian¡¯s absolute favorite. She suspected her mom must have made it to try to cheer her up. ¡°Thanks, Junebug. I¡¯m not super hungry, but I¡¯ll try to eat some later,¡± setting the plate on her nightstand, she gave her little sister a big, long hug. Once their embrace was over and June was gone, so was Jillian¡¯s smile. She spent the night tossing and turning, haunted by the voice from her phone. One she never hoped to hear again. Now he had her new number, and she was sure that if she hadn¡¯t already blocked him and unknown numbers, her phone would be blowing up with threats and demands for her to come back, or worse. She kicked herself for not being brave enough to delete that stupid fucking number. She knew from the beginning he wasn¡¯t a safety net but a pit waiting for her to fall into after she had already struggled so much to climb out of it. Jason had devoured the leftover pizza and didn¡¯t stop until the breadsticks were history, too. Washing it all down with two beers and a few scoops of ice cream. Not surprisingly, he felt like complete shit afterwards and went lay down in his room. His stomach gurgled and groaned at him. It had been ages since he¡¯d overeaten so badly like this. Laying in bed, he clutched his distended belly, trying to ride out the discomfort. But this physical pain was a mere nuisance compared to the torment of his thoughts about Jillian and the mistakes he made. In a way, the pain was a welcome distraction. He figured if he could just endure the discomfort a little longer, sleep would eventually take over and he would be free. Eventually would unfortunately never come as he felt a wave of intense nausea welling up within him. Jumping out of bed, Jason sprinted to the bathroom, covering his mouth with a hand. Scrambling to get the doors open in his rush. Quickly dropping to his knees on the floor and expelling the contents of his stomach into the toilet. The searing burn of stomach acid on his throat and his chest and stomach contracting painfully was his punishment. Hearing the commotion, Katia rushed into the bathroom to see what was happening. ¡°Oh no,¡± she whispered, moving closer, trying to soothe her son by rubbing his back. ¡°It¡¯s okay baby, just get it all out,¡± feeling guilty for not stopping him from overeating when she had the chance. It just felt like another way she was failing him. Seemed like that was all she could do lately was fail the ones she loved. Jason spent the next fifteen minutes hugging the toilet as his body continued to convulse. When it finally seemed he was truly finished, he rolled away and just sat there on the bathroom floor, leaning back against the sink counter. Breathing heavily like he had just run several miles. The sick feeling persisted, though not as bad. The pain had faded, at least. So he closed his eyes and tried to calm his mind and, hopefully, his stomach. His mom stayed right there with him, trying to comfort him where she could, rubbing his arm and lightly brushing her fingers through his hair. Still wearing his dad¡¯s old, now torn shirt. He wasn¡¯t ready to let it go just yet. It had been an item of comfort for so long and it felt like taking it off would mean saying goodbye, and he wasn¡¯t ready for that. As the nausea slowly faded, all the awful thoughts he¡¯d fought off crept back into his mind without hesitation. He pulled his knees to his chest, folded his arms across the top, and pressed his forehead to them. ¡°Mom...¡± he mumbled. ¡°Yes, dear?¡± Katia spoke softly, her hand running up and down his back again. ¡°Did I screw everything up? Is it all my fault¡ am I the problem?¡± He asked in a shaky tone. Katia gave her son a serious look, torn between reassuring him and the truth. ¡°Jason, you know I love you more than anything, right? And I¡¯ll always be there to support you. But that means I may have to give you the hard truth at times.¡± She scooted over to sit closer to him, giving his arm a comforting hug. ¡°I get why you¡¯re upset, but deep down, I think you know Jillian didn¡¯t mean to hurt you. And I can see that you regret your part as well. I don¡¯t know the whole story, and I won¡¯t force you to tell me. But I would like to know, so I can understand and maybe help you, sweetie. But later on, I think¡ªsaying sorry might be a good step forward.¡± She planted a quick kiss on his arm, then leaned the side of her head against his shoulder. Jason didn¡¯t move as he was lost in thought, grappling with how upside down his life had become recently. He took a deep breath, trying to muster the courage he knew he needed. Opening up about his life, his real life. Not just the cherry picked moments for her. Was probably the toughest thing he¡¯d ever done. But when he finally opened up to her and they really talked, the weight on his shoulders lightened, slowly but surely. It was like the words started spilling out of his mouth uncontrollably. They spent over an hour sitting there, talking about big things, small things, and everything in between. At one point, he even circled back to the night before, somehow ready to share more. ¡°About last night, mom, before we left the restaurant¡ you asked me some questions, I never thought I could ever answer.¡± Jason paused, taking another deep breath to steady himself. Katia felt her anxiety build. She didn¡¯t want to hear it again. To be reminded of the awful things he told her about last night. But she knew Jason needed to open up while he was sober. Being drunk and forgetting your progress helped no one. ¡°That¡¯s what started the fight with her¡with Jillian.¡± Just saying her name again felt like a step forward for him now. ¡°She brought it up?¡± Katia leaned back to look at her son better, her own thoughts going back to the painful text message Jillian had sent. Jason just nodded and sighed deeply. ¡°She asked how I lost my virginity and said she just wanted to help, but I couldn¡¯t do it. I couldn¡¯t even tell you. How could I tell her?¡± he admitted, taking another shaky breath. ¡°I knew she wouldn¡¯t understand. And I¡¯m scared that you won¡¯t either, mom. I can¡¯t explain why, but¡I felt so disgusted, angry, and¡ scared. I felt so powerless, and it scared me.¡± His hands were balled into trembling fists. ¡°It¡¯s alright hun, breathe, just talk to me. Go slow and speak when you are ready. Let me help you, Jason.¡± She felt her eyes brimming with tears just thinking about it. Katia¡¯s words sounded so much like Jillian¡¯s did, which only made Jason¡¯s guilt worse. Though coming from his mother, they had much more of an impact. After a moment, he gave a small nod, knowing deep down that she was the one person who would get it without question. She was his mom, after all, and she would always be there for him. Jason took a deep breath before steeling his nerve to tell his mother what he remembered from that awful night. ¡°See ya on Monday, homie.¡± Marco said with a wave, grinning as he walked out of the bar with a woman a few inches taller than him, a thin frame and obviously fake breasts. Jason just shook his head as he turned back to the bar and his half empty glass of beer. Looking up at the TV behind the bar, he watched the most recent soccer game that was playing halfway across the world. He didn¡¯t like the sport, but it was better than nothing. Finishing his drink, he was about to get up from his stool when a smooth, feminine voice sidled up next to him. ¡°Buy you a drink, stranger?¡± Turning his head only slightly, he saw what many men would consider a very attractive woman. Black hair, brown eyes, full lips and a rack that had to be at least D+ in size. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Jason said coldly. His cold shoulder was met with warm giggles as she leaned further against the bar and smiled at him so he could see her just out of the corner of his eye. ¡°Come on now, there is no harm in accepting someone¡¯s gracious offer, is there? Billy, get the man another drink, will you?¡± The bartender looked at the woman for a long moment, then over at Jason. He nodded at the woman before filling another glass and putting it on the counter for Jason. ¡°I said, no thanks,¡± his tone angrier, but was once again met with nothing but humor. The call of a bigger buzz was too tempting when dealing with pushy women. The drunker he got, the ruder and more honest he usually became. A big group of what looked like frat boys came flooding into the place shortly after. From the face paint and jerseys, they seemed fresh out of a football game. So on top of dealing with a woman that didn¡¯t take no for an answer, he had to deal with annoying college age brats that were sure to partake in the Karaoke machine after a few drinks. Reluctantly taking the free beer, he took a sip when one of the boys bumped into his back and made him splash his face a little. ¡°Hey, watch it kid!¡± Jason turned to glare at the young man, wiping his face with a bar napkin. ¡°Whoa, sorry dude, chill.¡± The frat guy said half laughing, holding his hands up for a moment before continuing to follow his friends. Jason turned back, grumbling. ¡°I swear the frat boys in this part of town are dumber and consistently drunker than I ever want to be.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re funny and sexy. Mmm, just my type,¡± the dark-haired woman giggled with a grin. ¡°Oh yeah, well, who the fuck asked what your type is?¡± Jason said in an even colder tone, reaching out and grabbing his beer, failing to notice the bubbles slowly rising from the bottom of the glass. Taking several large gulps, he set it back down with barely a quarter of the liquid remaining. The bartender quickly grabbed the glass and topped it off. ¡°Hey! I did I ask for another fuck face! In fact, cash me out. I am getting the hell out of here. This place is sketchy as hell.¡± He fumed, enraged by no one listening to him. By the time Jason got his card back from closing his tab, something felt very off and when he tried to stand up, the entire world felt off. Jason¡¯s last clear memory was walking out the door, and the sensation of the world tilting on its axis. ¡°Whoa there, friend, looks like you could use a hand.¡± The same smooth feminine voice said as he felt someone wrap their arm around his waist and helped him walk. He was certain he didn¡¯t drink enough to feel this out of it ¡ª just a couple of beers that were spaced out. It was like he couldn¡¯t comprehend just what was going on around him anymore. The sensation he was moving but a numbness that made the world feel full of static. What happened next was a mystery to him. He woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling in a small motel room, his head pounding like it was trying to break free of his skull. He took a moment, just lying there, trying to gather himself. It took quite a white for him to regain control and when he finally felt able to move his head. He looked down and found that he was completely naked, lying on a bed with his lower legs dangling off the edge. Then he saw the condom wrapped around his flaccid dick. Jason couldn¡¯t even fathom what had happened at first. All he knew was he had to get out of there. When his head was clear enough to realize just what had happened, he was beyond livid. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He quickly got dressed in his clothes that were left on the floor and stormed off to the front desk, wanting a name, a phone number, anything at all. It turned out they had charged everything to his name and credit card, and vanished without a trace. He may have let the lady at the front desk take the brunt of his anger, definitely more than she deserved. Jason and Jillian weren¡¯t all that different in the way they let anger mask their true feelings. When that anger fades nothing remains but an unbearable sadness that makes you wish you could tear your heart out. He¡¯d been drugged and sexually assaulted, his virginity ripped from him by force. It was a nightmare turned reality. He couldn¡¯t even tell anyone what had happened. There was no way anyone would believe him. This didn¡¯t happen to guys like him. Even if they believed him, he figured they would just mock him or tell him some stupid shit, like he was lucky. No, he couldn¡¯t tell anyone, couldn¡¯t risk it. He had to hold on to this pain alone. He swore he would take it to the grave and he would never let anyone get close to him again. For the next couple of days Jason simply laid in bed, trying to push the images of that night out of his head. Almost losing his job over the sudden absences. He refused to answer his phone or let anyone into his apartment during that time. He felt more alone in those few days than he even thought possible. ¡°I couldn¡¯t just tell her mom, I just couldn¡¯t. What would I even say? That some crazy bitch fucking date raped me? That I was too weak to stop her from having her way with me?¡I just¡ I just feel so pathetic and worthless even talking about it,¡± he said through gritted teeth. Katia¡¯s tears had started falling halfway through his recounting, only growing as he continued. She had her arms wrapped around him tightly, offering silent support the entire time he spoke. Katia had been worried she might not take the news properly, hearing it for the second time. But it hit her just as hard, if not harder, than the night before. It felt so much more real now that she knew everything. Jason wrapped his arms around his crying mother, trying to comfort her as well. Even though he was the one who had gone through the trauma, it didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t hers as well. He let her cry as much as she needed, holding her close as she wept into his chest. Katia slowly calmed down and lifted her head to look at him with bloodshot hazel eyes. ¡°I am so sorry, Jason. That never should have happened. It didn¡¯t deserve to happen to you, or anyone. No matter how big or strong you are, being taken advantage of doesn¡¯t make you worthless or pathetic.¡± Katia said with so much emotion in her voice, reaching up and holding Jason¡¯s face in her hands so he looked her in the eyes. ¡°I understand why you¡¯ve kept this to yourself, and you didn¡¯t have to share. But I¡¯m so thankful you trusted me with this. Jason¡ I need you to know that your feelings are valid. What you went through was just so wrong on so many levels. You may think you are weak for what happened. But talking about it. Being able to move on and be happy. That shows just how strong you truly are, sweetheart. I love you so much, and I¡¯ve never been prouder of you,¡± Katia said, trying to smile through her tears. Jason looked down at his mom, his jaw clenched tight as his vision blurred with tears that began to spill over his eyelids. ¡°M-mom,¡± was all he managed to say before he hugged her tightly, holding her close. For the first time since his father passed, Jason let himself cry, releasing all his built-up emotions and pain that had been mounting up since. Time flew by. First one day, then another, and just like that, a third was almost over. Ginny and Katia had a small chat over the phone, agreeing it was best for the kids to spend some time apart to cool off. Both moms were relieved to hear they were on the same page, any fears of the other not agreeing gone. They promised to keep each other posted on any big updates and said their goodbyes for now. Jillian tried really hard not to stress about the phone call she had accidentally made. Desperate to keep herself busy, she spent most of her time with her little sister, getting more involved in her homeschooling. They would sometimes go out for some fun or shopping, which was also fun. June helped Jillian keep her mind off the two men who often popped into her thoughts, though thinking about one of them was a bit less troubling, just a bit. Jason ended up doing what he said he wanted to, for the most part. Staying at home with his mother, and just trying to relax. It was nice, but admittedly, a tad dull. By the third day, cabin fever started hitting hard. Eager for a change of scenery, he jumped at the chance to go shopping with his mom. He threw on a simple white tee, a breezy overshirt with geometric-patterns, some comfy well-worn jeans, and his old sneakers. Not bothering to fuss with his hair, leaving it a scraggly bed head. In an outfit that screamed, ¡®I don¡¯t give a shit about how I look today¡¯. Along with a beard that was growing out nicely, it was all so bad that it became good again in that weird kind of way. Katia¡¯s outfit was much simpler, wearing a pair of mom jeans, a flowing white blouse and some flats. They ended up at a department store, a short trip away. Wandering around, as he mostly just was there to keep his mom company and stretch his legs outside of his usual runs. Jason strolled along next to his mom¡¯s cart, boredly glancing around and replying to questions here and there. She¡¯d ask his opinion on this or that, or if he thought something would suit her. Especially as they browsed through the clothing aisles. A shout from a few racks over suddenly grabbed Jason¡¯s attention. ¡°Ha, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m putting that on. You gotta be joking!¡± Jason heard someone exclaim with a laugh, drawing his attention away from his mom, who was busy looking at bras. He really didn¡¯t want to stick around for that shopping experience. ¡°Hey, Mom, I¡¯m gonna go explore for a bit while you pick out your... boob holsters,¡± he joked, getting a chuckle from her. ¡°I¡¯ll find you when I¡¯m finished, you big goof,¡± she replied, her smile bright as she returned to her shopping. Jason smiled back and walked a little away, hearing the voice again, now closer. ¡°So, do I look fabulous or what? I¡¯m ready for my turn on the catwalk,¡± the voice said, full of playful joy. Jason wandered through the racks of clothes until he stumbled upon two redheaded girls having a bit of fun with some oversized hats and coats, pretending to be celebrities or something. He paused a short distance away to watch their antics, feeling mildly amused by them. June was laughing a bit as she signed to her sister. When she turned to grab another article of clothing, she caught sight of a looming figure in the background. Pausing, June focused on the tall figure and froze when she saw who it was. The other redhead in the hat was mid sentence when she suddenly paused, seeing June staring at something. She turned to follow her sister¡¯s gaze. At first, all she saw was the bottom half of a tall figure in wrinkled clothes, the face obscured by her large hat. Curious, she looked up and her eyes went wide upon spotting Jason watching them. She was so surprised that she just froze, mouth slightly agape. Jason and Jillian found themselves locked in a moment, staring into each other¡¯s eyes, both caught off guard. It took June¡¯s gentle nudge for Jillian to snap back to reality. ¡°Huh?¡± She glanced at her sister. ¡°Oh, sorry, June. Yeah, let¡¯s go,¡± she mumbled, not wanting to leave her sister behind. But that wasn¡¯t why June nudged her. She had other plans. With a shake of her head and a smile, she turned Jillian towards Jason. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she whispered. And then June shoved her sister forward. ¡°J-June!?¡± Jillian exclaimed, surprised, as she stumbled towards Jason, stepping on the large faux fur coat she was wearing and tripping forward. Jason was quick to react, reaching out and catching her by placing his hands on her arms before she hit the ground. She peered up at Jason with warm cheeks from under the hat, then glanced back at June. With a smile, the teenager gestured as if opening a book with her hands, then waved goodbye, heading off to the book section, leaving the two in an unexpected situation. Alone. Jillian was shocked as she watched her sister walk away. Did she really just push her into Jason like that and leave? Especially when Jillian hadn¡¯t said a single kind word about Jason in the last three days. But it seemed June knew something she didn¡¯t. ¡° Um...¡± Jason began, snapping Jillian back to reality. She quickly pushed herself away from him and craned her head back again to look up at him. When their eyes met, he seemed to lose his nerve for a moment. ¡°I, uh... like your hat?¡± he finally said. It wasn¡¯t the conversation starter she expected, but at least he was trying to make conversation at all. Her thoughts quickly started to racing. ¡°Wait, do I want this? Do I want him to talk to me again? Oh god, say something. You look stupid just standing there!¡± ¡°T-thanks¡¡± Jillian mumbled, but quickly shook her head. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯m still mad at you!¡± she blurted out suddenly. ¡°Huh?¡± Jason questioned, a little blindsided by the comment. ¡°Yeah, you jerk. I was just trying to help you, and you screamed at me and kicked me out,¡± she said, picking up their conversation right where they left off. He frowned at her, a hint of sadness in his expression. ¡°You¡¯re right¡ I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly. ¡°And another thing, I don¡¯t care if you... Wait, what?¡± Jillian was ready to start another argument to keep her emotions at bay, but he didn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°I don¡¯t... but.. wait.. Y-you are?¡± she stammered out, clearly stunned by his response. Jason let out a heavy sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve had a lot of time to think. I talked with my mom a lot... about the way I reacted, why I reacted like I did. Even if I had my own reason, I am sorry. I should¡¯ve at least explained what I could.¡± His words were calm and sincere. Jillian stared at him, dumbfounded. While she¡¯d been stressing over things she couldn¡¯t control, he seemed to have grown as a person during the brief absence from her life. A flash of jealous anger surged through her, but his soft, slightly sad expression washed it away. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again. Reaching up, she removed her hat and held it in front of her, fiddling with the edges and biting her lower lip for a moment. ¡°Thanks...¡± Jillian murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It, uh, means a lot to me...¡± she admitted, a small smile finally breaking through, even though she couldn¡¯t make eye contact anymore. ¡°Well, I said what I needed to say. So I won¡¯t bother you anymore. Sorry for interrupting you and your sister.¡± Jason said simply, then turned away. Jillian¡¯s head snapped back as she watched him walk away. Her chest tightened. Something told her she couldn¡¯t just let it end like this. ¡°Hey, hold on a sec!¡± She called out, taking several quick steps towards him. To her surprise, Jason stopped almost immediately and turned back to face her. Finding herself closer to him than she planned, she cleared her throat nervously. ¡°Um... well, uh...¡± she stammered, feeling flustered as her thoughts were thrown into chaos. She was so used to him challenging her on everything, so when he simply did as she asked, she didn¡¯t know how to respond. ¡±This feels so weird,¡± she frowned slightly at the thought. Jillian quickly gathered herself and spoke up. ¡°I am sorry for ripping that shirt on accident. I hope it wasn¡¯t too important¡ There I said what I needed to say as well¡ Do¡you want me to leave you alone as well?¡± Jason furrowed his brow at her, uncertain how to respond. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke. ¡°Yeah¡ it was pretty important to me¡ but I came to terms with it. And¡. well¡¡± Jillian felt her heart racing, torn between emotions. What did she want him to say? ¡°Do I want him to say he wants things to end here? Or do I want him¡ to want me¡Like I want him? Oh god¡ I still want him!¡± Her own thoughts made her heart beat loudly in her chest. ¡°I¡Wouldn¡¯t mind seeing you again, if you want to see me.¡± Jason said finally, and she could feel her face heat up at his words. ¡°But¡I still don¡¯t think I can answer the question you asked me last time properly.¡± With that, she frowned slightly. He still wouldn¡¯t explain anything about his first time. The secrecy of it all left her feeling a little uneasy. ¡°Could you at least tell me why you can¡¯t?¡± she asked softly, hoping for some clarity. The women¡¯s clothing section of the store wasn¡¯t exactly the ideal place for a deep conversation, but they had to make do. Jason ran his hand over his four-day scruff, his nails lightly scratching his face. Jillian secretly wanted a turn. After a brief pause, he let out a heavy sigh and met Jillian¡¯s gaze. ¡°Because it was a very unpleasant experience for me,¡± he admitted. Her eyes widened at his words, confirming her suspicions. She knew it was more than just a bad lay from the way he spoke. ¡°I understand. And I won¡¯t pry any more... I appreciate you telling me that much, Jason. So¡ I¡¯ll text you later, okay?¡± Her words were a little awkward, but she offered him a gentle smile, reaching out for his hand. He hesitated for a moment before returning the handshake. ¡°Alright, sounds good,¡± he replied, before their hands parted. Jillian waved goodbye to Jason. She popped her hat back on and started walking away with a grin. ¡°Hey, Jillian?¡± Jason¡¯s voice caught her attention, and she turned to face him. ¡°Yeah?¡± she asked, feeling a bit flustered, wondering what he might say next. ¡°Are you really gonna buy the hat and coat?¡± Jillian glanced up and down at her oversized fluffy coat and goofy sun hat, feeling her cheeks flush from embarrassment. Hastily, she removed the hat and tossed it onto a nearby rack, followed by shedding the coat. ¡°S-shut up!¡± she exclaimed, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance in her tone. Jillian shot him a final glare, but Jason responded with a rare smile. She turned and stomped away in a huff, though her expression softened into a smile as she sought her sister in the book section. Jason watched Jillian until she disappeared behind a shelf. Taking a deep breath, he gathered himself before returning to his mom, who had gathered a few more items in the cart. She smiled when she noticed him and that he was smiling. ¡°Hey sweetie, find anything interesting?¡± she asked. He nodded slightly. ¡°Yeah, you could say that... I uh bumped into Jillian.¡± His mom¡¯s expression turned concerned for a moment. ¡°And?¡± she inquired, but Jason just let out a small laugh, thinking about how Jillian was about to walk off in the goofy coat and hat, earning a bright smile from his mother. It seemed things between the two former enemies weren¡¯t quite over just yet. Chapter 22: Sometimes When the Limelight Is in your Eyes, You Become Blind to the Truth ¡°Hnnnggg! Yeah, take it all. You know you love it!!¡± Luis groaned out, his dark tan skin glistening with sweat. With one last thrust, he released inside of Jillian before collapsing onto the slender redhead beneath him. He wasn¡¯t by any means in the best of shape as he gasped for breath. Overweight, with a slight paunch that squished against her. Warm breath blew against the pale, freckled skin of her neck as he panted. Her fiery orange curls fanned out around her head as she lay beneath him, her sunken eyes gazing up at the mirrored ceiling. Looking at the large man atop her, her scrawny arms and legs splayed out as she let Luis have his way with her for the first time in weeks. In her eyes, she resembled a skeleton, and he was a boar that rutted against her when he decided he had the time. Luis placed a few rough kisses against her neck. ¡°You always get me off so quick, baby. You must really love my cum,¡± he murmured with a heavy chuckle, his accent heavily Hispanic. It used to be so charming. It was bullshit. She didn¡¯t even move, and all she got was about two minutes of him grunting and groaning atop her before he finished. As he sat back on his knees, admiring her overly slender frame, he couldn¡¯t help but compliment her while sweat dripped from his forehead. His fingers traced along her thighs and hips that had retained the last bit of fat she had on her body. While her tiny chest would barely fill an A cup, and the skin was sunken between each rib. One of the most disturbing about her was her horribly concave stomach. ¡°Mmm, I can never get over how sexy you always look.¡± He smiled with perfectly straight teeth that shone through his thick, slightly graying black facial hair. Moving off the bed, he took some wipes from the bedside table. Promptly cleaning his shaft, then started getting dressed. ¡°Are you seriously leaving right away again?¡± Jillian asked, rolling over. Her expression was a grimace that hadn¡¯t changed since his arrival. A few years ago, she would have been all smiles each time she saw his face. Now he was only a reminder of who and where she was. Luis chuckled lightly. ¡°Si, unfortunately. I¡¯ve got a meeting in half an hour, and then a bunch more plans after that. It¡¯s a busy day, chica. I will be by tomorrow.¡± He said with a smile Jillian knew all too well. It had become the norm for him to abandon her while giving empty promises. The solitude had finally led to her growing some backbone. She scowled even deeper at him. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit, Luis! You promise that every time you leave! Just like you¡¯ve been promising for the last six months that you¡¯d take me out! I¡¯ve been stuck in this... this prison! For almost a year, and you barely drop by once or twice a month anymore. If you don¡¯t want me around, just give me some cash and let me leave! I know you have other girls! Just¡ let me go.¡± The redhead was now sitting up on her knees, anger creasing her tired looking features. Luis wasn¡¯t too happy they were having this conversation, again. ¡°Come on now, what kind of prison comes with your own chef, a pool with a hot tub, any dress you could dream of, and all amenities a woman like you could want? You¡¯re sounding pretty ungrateful again, chica,¡± he retorted. The last time they had this conversation she wasn''t prepared for his response, but now she had all the fuel she needed to keep it going. ¡°A chef who only makes what you approve, dresses I can¡¯t wear anywhere because I¡¯m stuck here, and no internet. You are right, this isn¡¯t a prison. This is a fucking insane asylum and I¡¯m the only patient! Is this what you call love, Luis? Because to me, it feels a lot more like¡ª¡± Jillian was stopped before she could finish. He had reached out and grabbed her face, squeezing her jaw. Luis¡¯s grip tightened around her, his voice cold and threatening. ¡°You seem to have forgotten who you are, bitch. You belong to me, and I can do whatever the fuck I want with or to you.¡± He sneered, pushing her back with such force that she fell back onto the bed, letting out a small cry of surprise. ¡°You think the outside world is so great? Just what skills do you have to offer, hmm? Do you think anyone would give two shits about you the moment you step outside these walls? You are just some used up woman that can barely care for herself and have nothing left of value. You¡¯re nothing without me, Jill. Nobody would look twice at you if you were a corpse on the street. You¡¯re beautiful to me, so I keep you here, chica. But living here is a privilege, and I can make your stay as pleasurable or as miserable as I want. Any. Time. I. Want. You¡¯d do well to remember that Roja,¡± his tone made it perfectly clear. He wasn¡¯t exaggerating at all. Jillian looked into his cold eyes, eyes that told her he would sooner have her dead than let her go. Despite the chilling threats, Jillian still glared at him, her eyes blazing with defiance. But Luis just smirked back. ¡°This is why I can¡¯t get enough of you, chica. You¡¯ve always got that fire in your eyes, always ready to snap back, no matter how much I try and break you. I¡¯d love to stick around and try again, but I do actually have a meeting this time.¡± He leaned in as if to kiss her, but she turned away, dodging his lips. Luis was not amused. Grabbing her face, he forced her to look at him, and planted a forceful kiss on her lips. Jillian tried to push him off, but she was far too weak. When Luis pulled away, Jillian bared her teeth at him and gave him the hardest slap she could. It didn¡¯t even make him flinch, but his retaliation was instantaneous. With a heavy backhand that sent her reeling, she let out a wail of pain, falling back down to the bed. She held her cheek, the intense sting and ache in her jaw. Luis stood up from the bed, fixing his clothes, and gave her a heated glare. ¡°Maybe some solitary for a while will make you open your fucking eyes, bitch. Wake the fuck up. It¡¯s been years. You should be used to this, but it¡¯s always something with you. Next time you decide to bite the hand that feeds you, perhaps I will simply take yours. Maybe then you will learn.¡± With that last threat, he turned to leave. Luis headed to the door, but paused to look back at the woman. ¡°I still love you, baby. Remember that I¡¯ll always be your Papi,¡± he said almost sweetly. ¡°Whether you like it or not.¡± He left the bedroom and quickly made his way out of the house. There were always two guards on duty, monitoring the large property with their schedules constantly changing. The rule was strict: if one messed up, both would face consequences. Luis wasn¡¯t just harsh; he was incredibly clever, too. He knew other men couldn¡¯t be trusted around his property, especially his women. After the first time he caught one of his guards trying to run away with one of his girls, he made sure none of them were left without another person to watch the other. Disposing of bodies was always such a hassle. When he didn¡¯t have time to prepare, at least. Jillian was lying on her side, tears rolling down her cheek while her face throbbed with pain. It felt like he had dislocated her jaw with his strike. She laid there for about an hour before finally managing to sit up and get out of bed. She walked over to the large sliding glass door that led to the backyard. A reflection of herself in the glass showed she had a large red mark that covered almost half of her face that was already swollen badly. The bastard didn¡¯t hold back at all with his backhand. The entire property was enclosed by a 12-foot stone wall, topped with razor wire¡ªa recent addition since her last attempt at escape. It had been months since she tried to get away last, but she was determined that this next time would be the last. She was resolved to get out, no matter what, or she would finally take the easy way out¡which had been so tempting lately. Three nights later, the moment Jillian had been waiting for finally came. Peering out the front window, she recognized the two men starting their shift at the entrance gate. Jillian had packed her bag with everything she could carry, including a bunch of jewelry that would be her escape funds. She¡¯d carefully wrapped it in a shirt to avoid having it rattle together. She¡¯d forced herself to throw up every dinner since Luis¡¯s last visit. So she was in a constant state of hunger, though she was more than used to the pangs of an empty stomach. For a long time, she suspected Luis had been having her food spiked, making it difficult for her to stay awake for more than an hour past dinner. He had crossed too many lines, too many times, and this time, she was ready and just waiting for her moment. In the middle of the night, she quietly slipped out of the bathroom window. It was a tiny rectangle that was almost too small for a person to get out of. Every other window and door had alarms tied to them. Her lithe frame was just barely able to climb through. Her bag had a harder time fitting than she did. Dressed in all black, she made her way to the front gate, her tight clothes hugging her bony curves. Barely peeking up at the guard shack, she found one fast asleep, head slumped forward and feet up as he sat in his seat. The guard seated next to him, who was probably meant to stay awake while they took turns napping, was quickly fading as well. It wasn¡¯t much longer before he, too, was asleep. After waiting for ten minutes to be sure, she approached the gate. Like with the bathroom window, it didn¡¯t seem possible to squeeze through the narrow bars of the gate. She couldn¡¯t fit through them when she first moved in. Now though, she was only momentarily stuck, before she wriggled through. Squeezing her bag through as well, she quickly made her way down the hilltop community, passing by several lavish mansions. Jillian made her way into the city, deliberately avoiding the first few gas stations she came across. In the past, she sought help from the clerks there and it had backfired miserably; she¡¯d been duped into believing the police were on their way, only to find herself being driven straight back to the compound. A different attempt. She managed to get on a phone and call the cops. That attempt turned out even worse as the responding officers were on Luis¡¯s payroll, as well. After being roughly arrested under false charges and a night in a cell, she ended up right back where she started. It felt like Luis had thought of everything to prevent her escape. She couldn¡¯t understand his motives; he treated her like garbage, yet held on to her with an iron grip, refusing to let her go in any way. She couldn¡¯t even talk to her friends or family since she had been with him. Jillian finally escaped the city and had been on the run for nearly a week, doing everything she could to stay off the radar. She had kept details about her family a secret from Luis. It was the one caveat to their relationship that she kept out of his greedy hands. He knew she was from Colorado, but that was about it. He paid for her to travel to wherever while he was still playing the nice guy and didn¡¯t get too much information out of her when they would talk online. It was partly out of shame that she never shared with or about her family. She didn¡¯t want them to know the depths she¡¯d lowered herself, just to please him. After a long arduous journey, she finally ended up back at her childhood home, with only a single piece of jewelry and fifty bucks to her name. The anxiety that coursed through her as she stood there made her tremble. For years, Luis had convinced her that her family would never welcome her back because of the things she had done, what she had become. She didn¡¯t even know if her family still lived in this house, which only increased her anxiety. Now, as she stood at the doorstep that used to welcome her every day, her body and clothes worn-out. She was about to discover if all the things Luis had told her about how her family would feel were true or just another lie he told to keep her obedient. Her hand approached the door slowly, shaking uncontrollably before finally knocking.

¡°Jillian!¡± someone yelled, snapping the conked out redhead awake. With a loud snort, Jillian sat up and blinked herself awake, mumbling, ¡°Hmm, huh, wha?¡± She scanned her surroundings with sleepy eyes. ¡°You dozed off while helping June with her math. She couldn¡¯t wake you up, so she came to get me. Everything alright, hun?¡± Ginny asked, peering down at her daughter who was pushing herself up from the table she had been sleeping on, while trying to wipe the grogginess from her eyes. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m okay. Just some weird dreams keeping me up at night lately,¡± Jillian yawned loudly. ¡°How about you go take a little nap? I¡¯ll take over here. You¡¯ve been a big help lately, sweetie. You¡¯ve earned a rest,¡± her mom suggested, planting a kiss on Jillian¡¯s head. She was feeling pretty spaced out as she stood up from the kitchen table, thanking her mom. She even managed a quick hug for her little sis before struggling upstairs. Once in her room, she flopped onto her bed, and shut her eyes. But nope, sleep just wasn¡¯t happening anymore. ¡°Why is it that I can fall asleep at a table but not my bed?¡± She grumbled. Grabbing her phone, she started scrolling through social media. Jillian couldn¡¯t have her own real account, so she lurked on fake ones just to keep up with what people were posting. But even that got old fast. Sighing, she wondered what she could do to entertain herself. Like a lightning bolt, an idea struck her. Quickly opening her messages, she found the message she¡¯d sent to herself from Jason¡¯s phone. With a smile, she started texting him. ¡°Hey there, how are you?¡± Jillian kept it simple for now. She didn¡¯t want to seem too eager. There she was, lying in bed, staring at her phone, watching the time tick by, hoping he¡¯d reply soon. After what felt like forever, little typing bubbles finally popped up. Anticipation slowly bubbled up inside of her. This was their first real text chat, and she really had no clue how he¡¯d come across in messages. But when his reply finally came through, Jillian remembered one very important thing about him she¡¯d somehow overlooked: He was a guy. Jason: ¡°I¡¯m doing well.¡± Jillian facepalmed, realizing she shouldn¡¯t have expected anything different. Lowering her expectations, she replied to his text. Jillian: ¡°Well, that¡¯s good, I guess. What¡¯re you up to now?¡± Jason: ¡°Working out.¡± Jillian: ¡°Oh, are you at the gym?¡± Jason: ¡°Nope, in my room.¡± Jillian: ¡°You have weights at home? I must¡¯ve missed them.¡± Jason: ¡°Nope, I don¡¯t need weights.¡± Jillian: ¡°Hmm, sounds weird. How does that even work?¡± She sent this message with a mischievous grin. Jason: ¡°It works just fine, thanks.¡± Jillian: ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re just being cheap or lazy by not going to the gym. If that¡¯s the case, just say so.¡± Jason¡¯s typing bubble came up and down multiple times as he seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say. She giggled slightly as she watched it, before the bubble finally just stopped. Raising a brow, she wondered if he really wasn¡¯t going to respond. Or maybe something even better was coming instead. About ten minutes later, Jillian¡¯s phone pinged with a new video, and that same mischievous grin spread across her face. ¡°God, you are so easy, Jason,¡± she chuckled, licking her lips as she tapped on the play button. Jason had propped his phone up against the wall on the floor to film himself. Backing up from the phone after pressing play. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m gonna show you how you can get muscle mass without weights or fancy, overpriced gym equipment,¡± he announced in the video. Jillian quickly muted the sound, not really interested in the preamble he¡¯d prepared. It left her to simply enjoy the view of him, shirtless and already glistening with sweat. He wasn¡¯t lying when he said he¡¯d been working out. His muscles were shining under the room light. He lowered himself to get into the first position, still talking mostly, it seemed as he tried to show her the proper way to do everything. ¡°Mmmm, fuck,¡± she murmured, her hand trailing down her body absentmindedly. She waited until Jason finished explaining and started doing push-ups before unmuting the video. ¡°Two sets of ten. One, two, three...¡± Jason¡¯s grunts accompanied the increasing numbers as she started teasing her body in time with his movements. Jillian groaned as her hand slipped under her waistband and panties. Her fingers pressed against her clit, rubbing in slow circles. As he continued counting higher, his grunting became longer and more pronounced with each rep. Jason suddenly switched to different exercises as she watched. ¡°Keep going, don¡¯t stop.¡± Jillian encouraged, like he could hear her. The pace of her breathing increased as she continued to rub at the sensitive pearl. ¡°Now, two sets of ten mountain climbers,¡± Jason announced in the video. ¡°Oh yeah, baby, let¡¯s climb that mountain. I¡¯m almost at the peak!¡± Jillian cried out softly, pushing her fingers harder against her drenched slit, gasps growing more desperate as she did. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and really went for it, rubbing vigorously. Just as she was about to reach her climax, the video abruptly ended as he finished the small set of workouts and his grunts had stopped. ¡°Shit, fuck!!¡± she exclaimed, fumbling with the phone, trying to restart the video with one hand while trying to keep herself on the edge with the other. When another text popped up from Jason. ¡°If you want help getting into shape, you know where to find me.¡± Jillian let out a groan and a small whimper of defeat. "Later," she quietly reminded herself. She knew the workout she was actually craving at the moment. It was surprising how quickly her feelings shifted from anger and sadness to longing to cuddle on the couch with him again. Just with less beating around the bush and fighting, of course. It seemed like something always interrupted her from getting off when it came to Jason. He really hadn¡¯t been on her mind much lately. Between worrying about Luis and keeping busy with June, it kept thoughts of him at bay. She pulled her hand from her pants and quickly replied to his text. ¡°I think you got enough muscle for the rest of us, but thanks for the video. ;)¡± She would be putting the video to good use soon enough. She just needed to figure out how to make it repeat and cut out some of that pesky talking. Jillian put her phone down and cleaned her hand with a tissue. She took a deep breath, trying to relax, thinking that was the end of their conversation. But her phone buzzed again. ¡°You really should try to fit some light exercise into your day.¡± She raised an eyebrow at his message. ¡°I¡¯m actually trying to gain weight, not lose it,¡± she responded. ¡°Muscle is heavier than fat. No better way to gain than to work out. I bet you¡¯re just lounging around in bed right now anyway. There¡¯s plenty of daylight left to get some work in.¡± His message hit a little too close to home for her to simply ignore it. Jillian growled a little and sat up, ready to get this texting match on the way. Jillian: ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ve been helping around the house a ton and with my little sister¡¯s homeschooling.¡± Jason: ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re doing that right now?¡± Jillian: ¡°I just finished, so I¡¯m taking a break. I don¡¯t have to explain myself to you.¡± Jason: ¡°Are you lying down in bed?¡± Jillian: ¡°None of your business!¡± Jason: ¡°That¡¯s a yes.¡± Jillian growled at his persistence. Jillian: "Not everyone¡¯s obsessed with working out. Some of us are just regular people that live NORMAL lives. Why don¡¯t you go do more of your stupid exercises instead of bugging me?" She tried her best to send a glare through her phone screen. Jason: ¡°Done with that. About to jump in the shower,¡± Jillian couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. Jillian: ¡°Pics or it didn¡¯t happen.¡± She watched the little typing bubbles pop up and disappear a few times. When Jason didn¡¯t reply after five minutes, Jillian figured she¡¯d teased him enough and settled back, planning to watch the video he had sent her again while in the tub after trying to nap again. As she was getting ready to drift off to sleep, her phone buzzed again. With a frown, she absentmindedly unlocked her phone, still on Jason¡¯s messages. She was greeted by a photo of Jason standing in front of a bathroom mirror, wrapped in a towel low on his waist. His skin looked fresh and moist, hair still damp. The following message read, ¡°Is this what you meant?¡± Jillian couldn¡¯t help but giggle as she stared at the picture for a moment before replying, ¡°Mmhmm, I certainly believe it happened now. Thanks.¡± She added a winking emoji then rolled over, grabbed Pillow Jason and fell asleep with a smile on her face. ¡°Was that too much? Maybe I came on too strong too soon? Why did I feel so compelled to send that and why did it feel exciting to do so!?¡± Jason fretted as he laid on his bed, still wrapped in just a towel. Finally, Jill texted him back, followed by the winking emoji. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit underwhelmed. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± he thought, disappointed, furrowing his brow before closing his eyes for a moment. Since talking with her earlier that day, his thoughts had been consumed with the memory of the time they¡¯d spent on the couch. The sensation of her lips on his, the way her tongue felt in his mouth¡ªit was all he could think about anymore. He needed to talk to someone about it or he was going to lose control and end up making a fool of himself. Opening his phone again, he quickly hit Marco¡¯s contact and his friend¡¯s number was dialed. The phone rang a few times before it was picked up. The sound of shuffling papers was all he heard before Marco¡¯s voice spoke up. ¡°Marco here.¡± He sounded a bit annoyed. ¡°Sup dude, is everything good?¡± Jason asked, trying to be cautious. ¡°Oh shit, it¡¯s you Jason. Haha thank god, my bad. Thought you were someone else trying to make me stay late again. Angie¡¯s always pulling that last-minute bullshit. What¡¯s up, homie?¡± Marco¡¯s tone was much lighter now. ¡°Not much...¡± Jason said shortly. There was an awkward pause before Marco chimed in again. ¡°Allllll-right, if you don¡¯t have anything else, I¡¯m gonna hang up and try to focus on getting the fuck outta this place,¡± he said, laughing a bit at his friend¡¯s hesitance. ¡°Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s cool, man. I won¡¯t hold you up, sorry.¡± Jason said weakly. ¡°Haha, dude, the fuck? I¡¯m just messing with you. You sound like you¡¯ve got a lot on your mind. Don¡¯t worry, I can dodge through the rush and talk,¡± Marco said, trying to lighten the mood as he picked up the stack of papers from his desk and shoved them in his bag. Jason let out a held breath before speaking up. ¡°I was actually hoping to get some more advice from you.¡± ¡°Ah, more advice for your lady friend, eh? Did you try any of the other things I told you last time? Accidentally bumping into her and then acting like it didn¡¯t happen? What about promising her anything she wants?¡± ¡°She is not my lady, and no, I didn¡¯t do the bumping thing. That sounded too stupid. I did the other, though.¡± Jason remembered how that idea did technically work. Though when he was asking for advice, he was really looking for a way to simply stop fighting so much with her. Now he was possibly hoping for a completely different outcome. ¡°Haha, what did she ask for when you promised her whatever she wanted?¡± Marco asked, eager to hear the details. ¡°She made me give her a ride at the park.¡± Marco was silent after Jason spoke, trying to figure out if there was a second meaning to that. The awkward silence was broken when Jason decided to simply move on. ¡°It actually ended alright, really. We both fell asleep under some tree and she was in my lap when I woke up.¡± ¡°Very nice, very nice.¡± Marco added. ¡°Yeah, but she was saying another guy¡¯s nickname in her sleep when I woke up.¡± There was another long silence, as he could almost feel his friend cringing on the other end. ¡°Puta Madre, you just can¡¯t catch a break, can you?¡± ¡°Eh.¡± Jason tried to brush it off, but he remembered the awful feeling when he heard her say it. ¡°Oh, but as we were going home, she almost broke down when I told her that she was saying it in her sleep and that she basically hated the dude. After that though she¡ she made me an offer¡¡± ¡°Oh? An offer you say? Do tell, girlfriend.¡± Marco said with a chuckle. Jason told his friend about the deal Jillian had offered and everything about it. Marco gave a small whistle. ¡°Wow, so you two are fuckin¡¯ now¡ wait, why did you need advice again?¡± His voice taking on a confused tone. ¡°We are not as you say fuckin¡¯. I didn¡¯t accept her offer, I-¡± Jason was quickly cut off. ¡°You didn¡¯t accept the offer!?¡± Marco stopped to mumble a few swears in Spanish, maybe a few prayers for his idiot best friend. ¡°Why exactly? Was this not about you wanting to sleep with this girl?¡± Jason grit his teeth, he was trying to be serious for once and his best friend was devolving his feelings into lust. ¡°No Marco, it was never about that. If you would just stop and think with something other than your dick for fucking once, you might understand!¡± Jason snapped suddenly. A long silence filled the line and regret started to set in. ¡°Marco, I didn¡¯t mean.-¡± ¡°No¡ you are right, I¡¯m sorry man¡I haven¡¯t been taking this seriously. You are my best friend and I will help you anyway I can. Please, continue.¡± Marco¡¯s heartfelt words made Jason pause again. ¡°I am sorry too. I have just dealt with a lot in the past few days and my anger got ahead of me.¡± The two talked a bit more. If nothing else, neither of them wanted to lose the other as a friend. It made making up a quick process. ¡°So¡ we good?¡± Jason asked. ¡°Haha, yeah, we good, homie. Drinks are on me when you get back. But tell me, what happened? I am listening for real now.¡± With Marco bringing them back to the topic at hand, Jason let out another heavy sigh. ¡°So a bunch of shit happened, I told her I would think about the offer, I didn''t refuse or accept. Things were going pretty well¡ Until,¡± Pausing again, he groaned and rubbed the back of his head.¡°We ended up getting into a really bad argument a few days ago. She asked me something a bit too personal and¡ well, I didn¡¯t handle it as well as I could have,¡± Jason tried to explain. Marco thought for a moment in silence. ¡°Okay, so what? Things are super awkward now? If things are that bad and you are still fighting, it would probably be best just to cut your losses. Might save you some grief,¡± Marco suggested. ¡°I¡ well¡¡± The two words were all his friend needed to hear. ¡°Ahhh, heh I fuckin¡¯ knew it. You really are into this girl, aren¡¯t you?¡± The shit eating grin on Marco¡¯s face was obvious in his voice. ¡°Fuck you, dude! I¡Uggh, okay, so maybe I just find her more interesting than other girls, so sue me.¡± Jason tried to defend himself, but Marco just laughed some more. ¡°Yeah, mmhmm, real interesting, I¡¯m sure. Haha, it¡¯s all good, man. I am honestly happy to hear you are finally coming to your senses. I was starting to worry you were smooth like a ken doll.¡± Jason pinched the bridge of his nose, not sure why he was still talking to a sex crazed idiot. Even after their little heart to heart, it didn¡¯t change who Marco actually was. ¡°So, how far did you two go? What was it you two fought about?¡± Marco said, unaware of how anxious Jason was about sharing more details about that night. Jason took a moment to regain his courage before diving back into his story. ¡°So we were just hanging out on the couch and watching a movie.¡± ¡°Oooo, movie date, did you pretend to yawn and put your arm over her?¡± Marco cut in with a laugh, leaving Jason to let out a frustrated groan. ¡°Dude, shut up, just let me finish. Things were going surprisingly smooth, and it was really calm and comfortable. We had just got back from doing some shopping and that wasn¡¯t too bad either.¡± Marco was finally leaving the office, quite confused by his friend¡¯s constant flip flopping with this girl who less than a week ago he hated, but kept quiet this time. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re on the couch, and next thing I know, she is on my lap and we start making out,¡± He left out the whole, learning to kiss part. This caught Marco off guard and nearly causing him to stumble. ¡°You made out with her?! Do you even remember how to kiss? Haha how was it, man?¡± Unaware of Jason¡¯s backstory, Marco was mostly joking. He figured his friend was just picky when it came to women, but he had every right to be selective about who he slept with. ¡°Fuck you, Marco. See if I help you the next time you get crabs.¡± Jason spat back defensively. ¡°Ouch¡Dude, not cool. You brought a bazooka to a knife fight. I was just joking. I am seriously happy for you.¡± Jason let out a sigh and scratched his neck, feeling a little bad again. ¡°Sorry¡ But, well, it was...¡± Jason paused, knowing this was his one shot to get it off his chest. ¡°It was fucking amazing.¡± He confessed, eliciting another round of laughter from Marco. ¡°Haha, atta boy! The Florida girls here just don¡¯t cut it for you, huh? Had to go back to the old bone zone to get back into it,¡± Marco exclaimed, laughing loudly, much to the annoyance of a few others around him, though he couldn¡¯t give two shits about who he was annoyed at this point. His best friend had just got some for the first time since he knew him. ¡°Once again Marco¡ not about sex. Now shut the hell up, it¡¯s not even that big of a deal,¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the absurdity. ¡°So, then what?¡± Marco prodded eagerly. ¡°So she¡¯s on my lap while we are kissing, she just dives in with her tongue and grinding her hips into my lap. She''s moaning and.-¡± Jason continued, but Marco interrupted once more. ¡°And thennnn? Handy, BJ, Vag¡aaaanallll perhaps? Come on, spare me the girly shit and spit it out,¡± Marco demanded, laughing, but his joke got some disgusted looks from people nearby. ¡°Really, dude? You¡¯re fucked in the head. We were in the living room of my mom¡¯s house. Haha but we didn¡¯t do anything past kissing,¡± Jason said, leaving out what happened with his hand. For some reason, thinking about sharing those details made him feel oddly possessive. ¡°Whaaaaat? After all that teasing and grinding, nothing happened? What is the world coming to? Or more like not coming.¡± Even with the dirty joke, his voice was full of disappointment. Jason was only a little surprised that Marco was saying all this so loudly in public. He was pretty sure he heard the sound of a checkout scanner in the background. ¡°The pizza delivery guy showed up and the mood just disappeared,¡± Jason explained. Marco let out a sigh. ¡°Man, that¡¯s sooo fucked. She could¡¯ve at least given you a handy while you played with her tits or something?¡± Suddenly, an old woman¡¯s voice came over the phone. ¡°Excuse you!¡± she exclaimed, sounding upset. Unperturbed, Marco turned and promptly responded to the old lady, ¡°Fuck off, ya old bitty, I¡¯m on an important call!... Sorry, go on?¡± he said, smoothly coming back to the conversation. Jason was cringing badly at the last fifteen seconds he heard over the phone. Marco was¡ well, Marco was Marco. There was no other way to put it. ¡°Well, as I was saying, the moment was gone, so we just went back to hanging out on the couch and watching TV. But then she asked me about some stuff that I don¡¯t think I can even tell you and I just wasn¡¯t ready to explain¡I got all worked up, too worked up, and I kinda overreacted. She left super angry, and I didn¡¯t see her for three days after. Then just today I bumped into her again. She texted me a little while ago, but it still feels kinda tense,¡± Jason said, finally getting to the point the entire conversation had been leading too. ¡°So now you¡¯re wondering how to deal with this situation?¡± Marco tried to clarify. Jason murmured in agreement, giving Marco a moment to think. ¡°Well, it depends. Do you actually like like this girl, dude? And I mean, actually like her. Not just with your dick?¡± Marco¡¯s tone was unexpectedly serious despite the casual words. ¡°I¡¯m not sure... I mean¡ honestly, I have never really liked a girl in this way before. I can at least say that I would like to see her again¡ Maybe even kiss her if it feels right?¡± Jason felt his face warm, he couldn¡¯t believe he actually admitted that aloud. Trying to make sense of Jason¡¯s feelings, Marco took a moment, before suddenly getting an idea. ¡°I got it. I think I know how you can figure everything out, and make all that pesky tension go away,¡± barely containing his excitement as he spoke. ¡°Alright, what¡¯s the plan then?¡± Jason asked, his curiosity piqued. ¡°You¡¯re gonna love this. It¡¯s simple but genius. Ready? Mini-golf!¡± Chapter 23: Some Advice Is Good, Some Is Bad, Though the Best Advice May Be None at All. ¡°Mini-golf?¡± Jason echoed back over the phone, disbelief in his voice. ¡°Yep, mini-golf,¡± Marco confirmed, undeterred. "Care to elaborate on that one?" "Nope." ¡°Well, if you¡¯re not going to help, I¡¯ll just see how things work out on my own,¡± Jason said with a sigh. ¡°Hey, I am helping! Trust me on this one, man. I wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this, especially now...Like I might bust your balls a bit, but I wouldn¡¯t purposely steer you wrong. Have some faith, homie,¡± Marco reassured him. Jason was very skeptical, to say the least. ¡°I just don¡¯t see how mini-golf is going to fix anything,¡± he remarked. ¡°Listen, you¡¯ve gotta trust me on this. And just so we¡¯re perfectly clear, I mean you should take her with you. I swear at this point I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you called back complaining about how you went by yourself, and it didn¡¯t work,¡± Marco teased, poking fun at his friend¡¯s past mistakes. ¡°Oh like you¡¯ve never messed up before,¡± Jason bantered. ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever made a mistake quite like-¡° ¡°Gabby,¡± Jason interrupted, making Marco wince. ¡°Ouch, why ya gotta aim those insults at my dick so much. I can¡¯t control the fucker,¡± Marco grumbled, but Jason just chuckled. ¡°Haha, serves you right. Anyway, I¡¯ll give your idea a shot, but if it blows up in my face, I¡¯m coming after you when I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°And when it works, I expect you to bow down and call me Master Don Juan Big Schlong,¡± Marco laughed. ¡°Anyway, Good luck bro. I gotta grab some meds for my Abuela then take her to her doctors appointment.¡± ¡°Thanks dude, give her my regards. I¡¯ll swing by next time she makes her empanadas.¡± After exchanging goodbyes, both hung up. Jason was still lying in bed, idly scrolling through his phone, when he did a quick search for the nearest mini-golf center. Turns out, there was one not too far from town, nestled in a little touristy spot. The place looked alright, with an outdoor course and a black light version indoors. Was he seriously considering asking Jillian out? To fucking mini-golf, of all things?! Summoning whatever courage he had left, he copied the link to the fun center. Finding Jillian in his contacts, he pasted the link and spent the next twenty minutes crafting messages, some short and some way too long. Finally, he settled on a simple ¡°Wanna go?¡± and hit send, immediately feeling a pang of regret. ¡°She¡¯s gonna think I¡¯ve lost it. She¡¯s probably reading it right now and laughing at me,¡± he groaned to himself. Meanwhile, Jillian¡¯s phone buzzed with a text from Jason, but she was out cold, snoring softly as she rolled onto her side, the pillow version of Jason now shoved between her thighs. While real Jason spent the next three hours worrying about why she hadn¡¯t replied, Jillian enjoyed a good nap without interruptions for once. She gradually woke up when her little sister came in, getting ready for bed. Jillian let out a groan and slowly came to her senses. Blinking slowly, she saw June slipping into her pajamas. Smiling at her little sister, Jillian yawned and rolled onto her back, freeing the pillow from between her thighs and smacking her lips sleepily. She reached for her phone to check the time. It was still pretty early, but there was a text waiting for her. Unlocking her phone, she lazily scanned the message. ¡°Huh... What¡¯s this... a kid¡¯s play place?¡± she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. Jason¡¯s simple message, along with the context, left much to the imagination. Jillian wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about going to an arcade or whatever it was, but Jason seemed to want to go, so she figured, why not? It would be their first outing after their biggest fight to date. Maybe something more casual was just what they needed. She tapped the link he sent her and called her sister June over. ¡°Hey June, wanna check out this place tomorrow with me and Jason?¡± she asked, showing her the details on the phone. June shrugged and nodded in agreement. Jillian smiled and texted Jason back, ¡°What time?¡± Almost instantly, Jason replied, ¡°They open at noon on weekdays, so I was thinking we could head there around 12:30 or 1?¡± She smirked at his quick response. ¡°Sounds good, but only if we can grab lunch first.¡± She threw in a winking emoji for good measure and Jason replied promptly, ¡°Deal.¡± Jillian let out a small smile, setting her phone aside once again. It took a moment, but then it hit her. ¡°Wait, was that Jason¡¯s way of asking me out? Like on a date?¡± she wondered silently. It sure sounded like his style alright, suggesting a date at some kids¡¯ fun center. She mentally facepalmed at her oversight. With her little sister already invited, she couldn¡¯t just back out now. Taking a deep breath, she realized she needed to shift her perspective. She¡¯d been so focused on chasing Jason like he was a prize to be won before, but she really enjoyed just hanging out with him. Of course, she couldn¡¯t deny the fact she wanted to give the monster in his pants a ride around the block, either. It had been months since she had any kind of intimacy; past her recent exploits with Jason. The night she spent in his bed next to him awoke a desire she had thought was lost. That evening, Jason sat down to eat with his mom. Since the pizza incident, Katia had been serving smaller portions, which Jason noticed but didn¡¯t comment on. ¡°So, I¡¯m taking Jillian out tomorrow,¡± he mentioned as casually as possible between bites. Katia looked up from her plate with a small smile. ¡°Really?¡± she asked, pleasantly surprised. Jason nodded, stuffing more food into his mouth. ¡°That¡¯s great, sweetie. I¡¯m proud of you for taking that step,¡± Katia said, reaching out to squeeze his hand. It felt strange to receive praise for something like this, but not entirely bad. That is, until his mother asked, ¡°So where are you two going?¡± Jason suddenly found himself frozen with a mouth full of mashed potatoes. At Jillian¡¯s, she was helping her mom with some last-minute laundry while trying to keep her little brother, Calvin, from causing chaos. Her way of fixing that little problem was to put him under a laundry hamper with a few toys and sit on it to keep him contained. But being the mischief-maker he was, kept trying to grab clothes through the large holes in the hamper. Despite the chaos, Jillian and her mom continued to fold clothes and chat, with the TV providing some distraction. Midway through, Jillian casually dropped the news about going out with June, thanks to an invitation from Jason. Ginny looked surprised. ¡°Oh, he invited the both of you? I didn¡¯t realize you were back on speaking terms with him,¡± she remarked. Jillian blushed a bit. ¡°Uh¡ not exactly, but yeah, we are.¡± She confessed, feeling her cheeks warm slightly for some reason. The next day rolled around, and the morning flew by quickly. Jason had almost finished his longest run ever when he received a text from Marco. He paused, catching his breath, and fished out his phone to check the message. ¡°Forgot to mention, make sure you rub one out before you go Mini Golfing. It would be a shame to go in with a loaded gun.¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes at the text before continuing his run. Meanwhile, Jillian was getting ready, helping her sister with her outfit and hair. She enjoyed dressing up her little sister but opted for a more simple look for the outing. Wearing a simple white sundress that had stenciled patterns of flowers all over it that stopped mid thigh and black leggings underneath. While the two stood in front of the tall mirror in their room, Jillian couldn¡¯t help but look at herself. The progress of her recovery became more evident every day, especially when compared to her first day back home. Her appearance had really turned around. Before, it looked like someone had sucked the life out of her, but now she had color back in her cheeks and her eyes weren¡¯t all sunken in anymore. While her ribs were still visible, she definitely had a bit more meat on her bones. Her stomach was the most noticeable change; it used to be so concave you could almost see her spine through it when she sucked in, but now there was just a small dip. Maybe even a little bit of a bulge, depending on when she last ate. Jillian¡¯s hips and butt had slimmed down a lot during the time she was away, but of course was the first area to perk back up. Lins women had a strange genetic issue where most of the weight they gained went to their hips and thighs first and the rest after. The chest area didn¡¯t need to be mentioned. Getting to this point had taken a long time and had been a slow process, over six months of constant struggle. Even now, there was this nagging voice in her head telling her she should stop eating. That had been the first hurdle she had to get over. Simply telling herself that eating when she was hungry wasn¡¯t a bad thing. But thanks to therapy and her family¡¯s support, she had been able to push back against that voice pretty successfully. After Jillian finished June¡¯s hair, putting it in a French braid, she took one last glance in the mirror. She was dressed in a thin, long-sleeved purple shirt that had a cowl collar that hung slightly, paired with snug stretch jeans that, of course, accentuated her plump bottom. She attempted to tame her unruly curls, which cascaded past her shoulders, when her phone chimed. It was a text from Jason: ¡°Ready for lunch in about 30?¡± Jillian quickly texted back, ¡°Yep, sounds good!¡± ¡°Cool. Any preferences on where to eat or what to have?¡± This prompted Jillian to turn to her little sister, who was sitting back on her bed, absorbed in a book already. ¡°Hey, what sounds good for lunch?¡± she asked. June looked up, contemplating for a moment, then mimicked chopsticks with her hands. ¡°Chinese or Japanese?¡± Jillian asked for clarification, to which June signaled with a hand in the shape of a ¡®C ¡¯. ¡°How about a Chinese buffet?¡± Jillian texted Jason again, she figured since he liked to eat so much, a buffet would be perfect for him. ¡°Sounds good to me. If you¡¯ve got a spot in mind, let me know.¡± Putting his phone aside, Jason finished getting ready as well. He air-dried a bit from his shower before drying off with a towel, then threw on some new casual clothes he¡¯d picked up while shopping with his mom ¨C a basic gray tee and some boot-cut jeans that were a tad snug on his muscular legs. As he searched for his missing sock, he lifted his pillow in desperation and was met with a surprising sight: a pair of red lace panties lying on his bed. With a gulp, he lifted them up, and unfolded the panties Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As he gazed at the wide expanse needed to contain Jillian¡¯s ample backside, his heartbeat picked up speed. Marco¡¯s text replayed in his mind. It had been weeks since he last touched himself, and with how easily Jillian seemed to be able to turn him on, it was a disaster waiting to happen. Plus, being away from her for a few days probably weakened his resistance even more. It all made too much sense to ignore. The last thing he needed was to get randomly turned on while playing mini-golf. With a deep breath, he glanced at his bedroom door. He got up from his bed and locked it, then glanced back. His missing sock had been right where he had been sitting. ¡°Typical.¡± Holding the panties in his hand, he swallowed nervously. He lifted them to his nose, taking a deep breath, and unbuttoned his already tight pants. Jillian and June were hanging out in the living room, waiting for Jason to give them the heads-up that he was on his way. June tried to get Jillian¡¯s attention away from her phone, waving and miming as if she had a watch on, asking how long it had been. ¡°He said thirty minutes, but it¡¯s been about forty. Not sure what¡¯s up, he isn¡¯t really the type to be late,¡± Jillian pondered, equally confused. Another five minutes ticked by before they finally got a text: ¡°Sorry, got held up. Outside now.¡± Smiling, Jillian stood up. ¡°He¡¯s outside waiting. Let¡¯s bounce.¡± They both headed out the door, spotting Jason parked at the curb. ¡°Let¡¯s ride in the back together.¡± Jillian suggested. June gave her sister a strange look, then shrugged. Hurrying to the car, Jillian opened the back door and hopped in. ¡°Hey there! Thought you forgot about us for a sec,¡± she teased as June got in shortly after. ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. I... Wait, us?¡± Jason initially felt confused why Jillian was getting into the back seat, but as he glanced back, he spotted two redheads instead of one. He stared at June for a moment, who seemed to grow a bit uneasy under his gaze. ¡°Yeah, I thought it¡¯d be fun for June as well, so I figured it¡¯d be a good way to get her out of the house... You¡¯re cool with that, right?¡± Jillian asked cautiously. How he responded was probably more significant than anyone realized. Both June and Jason looked over at Jillian. June shot her sister a hard stare. The fact he didn¡¯t invite her and her sister didn¡¯t even tell him she was coming made June feel super awkward. He was a little surprised, but not upset by the unexpected guest. ¡°Of course. She¡¯s more than welcome to come with us,¡± His words were surprisingly genuine, like he actually wanted her to come. Truth was, her presence helped eased the tension between them. It felt less like a date now and more like just friends going out for some fun. Jillian returned the smile, feeling relieved. If Jason had reacted badly, she might have had some choice words and told him to fuck off. ¡°She says thank you for having me along,¡± Jillian translated June¡¯s sign language. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like speaking, so I can translate for you,¡± she said, offering an explanation. ¡°You¡¯re welcome June. And yeah, I remember, we talked about it the other day when I came over for lunch,¡± smiling at them before turning back to drive. ¡°Oh¡ right.¡± She had totally forgotten. Those days were such a blur while she had been so distracted by everything going on between them. ¡°I am sure you are more than happy to talk for two today,¡± he said with a smirk. She narrowed her eyes at him before catching what he meant. ¡°I don¡¯t talk that much!¡± She argued, but looking over at June, her expression clearly said, ¡°Yeah, ya kinda do.¡± Jillian just folded her arms and pouted. ¡°Oh screw you both.¡± The other two laughed as they all headed out of town. Heading to the only decent Chinese buffet in town, the three of them hopped out of the car and headed inside to get a table. On the way in, Jason accidentally bumped into Jillian. ¡°What the¡¡± She thought, giving him a weird look behind his back, but not much else. They were led to their seats while Jillian took the lead, suggesting Jason and June get their food first while she stayed to order the drinks. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine with water,¡± Jason said, while June nodded in agreement. With their drink orders sorted, the pair headed off to load up their plates. Meanwhile, Jillian stayed put, scanning the room out of boredom. Mid-scan, she noticed a man across the restaurant shooting glances her way. Trying to be polite, she gave him a little half-smile in return. His bald head shone with light from the window. Small amounts of wispy strands were all that was left of the man¡¯s hair. Fortunately, the waiter came over to take their drink orders. Jillian ordered water for the table, then quickly left the booth to grab some food for herself. Jason returned to the table with two plates loaded with food, accidentally brushing against Jillian once more on his way. Still not saying a word after. This time, she shot him a glare. ¡°If he does that one more time, I swear I¡¯m gonna kick him in the shin.¡± She tried to shrug off the annoyance when she noticed her sister taking her time selecting her food. ¡°How are you this indecisive? They have Chinese food and hot dogs with toothpicks in them for some reason. I know how much you love those!¡± she teased, grabbing a few items herself while June stuck her tongue out at her. Buffets were always a bit of a challenge for Jillian since she didn¡¯t eat much, but she didn¡¯t want to go back with just 4 noodles and an almond cookie. The two sisters made their way back to the booth and took their seats opposite Jason. He¡¯d practically demolished one of his plates already while they were still getting theirs. Which was just typical for him. But that wasn¡¯t what caught Jillian¡¯s attention. Her gaze drifted to the man who had been eyeing her earlier. ¡°I swear he was farther away last time I looked¡¡± Jillian frowned, feeling her appetite fade away. She hated being stared at, especially now that she had to worry about Luis again. It was all so nerve-wracking. Just then, she felt a light tap against her calf. Glancing down, then up at Jason, she stared at him for a moment. When he didn¡¯t look up from his food, her eye twitched slightly. Jillian struggled as hard as she could to make a dent in her meal. When June gave her a small pat on the arm, she glanced over and her sister who motioned towards Jason. He was busy polishing off his second plate of food with ease. ¡°How the hell do you manage to stay in shape eating like that? I mean, sure, you work out a lot and all, but¡ just damn, I can see why there are starving children in China.¡± Jillian said bluntly, as Jason wiped his face clean. ¡°Huh? Oh no, I don¡¯t eat this much usually.¡± Jason replied, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m in vacation mode right now. I still eat a lot, but it¡¯s more portion controlled and protein. My coach would flip out if he saw me eating all these carbs. I usually have to double my road work because my buddy Marco constantly brings over alcohol.¡± ¡°Uh huh¡¡± The sisters just stared at the man as he finished every last morsel on his plate. Jason got up again, and Jillian tried to eat a bit more. As he passed, she felt his hand lightly bounce off her arm. She tensed up, dropping her fork that clattered against the plate. ¡°That¡¯s. It,¡± she fumed angrily. Her patience had run out, and she was going to teach him some manners. As she was moving to get up, she noticed the strange man was just a few booths away now. He had pasty white skin that looked like he hadn''t seen the sun in years. She could see the stains on his heather gray sweats and ratty blue university sweater. She shot him a fierce glare, but his gaze remained directly on her, undeterred by her anger. Something was definitely off, and she didn¡¯t like it one bit. She was scared. Sitting back down, she frowned deeply at her picked at plate of food. She wished Jason would hurry up and come back. Even if he was going to bump into her again. When Jason returned with two more plates, without bumping into her. She stood up quickly. ¡°Jason? Can we¡ can we please switch seats?¡± her request, prompting confused looks from the other two. He quickly set down his plates. ¡°Uh, sure, but why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain later, but please¡ just switch for now?¡± she pleaded with him, trying to tell him what was going on with her eyes. He looked into her bright blue eyes that were filled with unease and fear. It was obvious how she was scared, but he didn¡¯t know why. So he nodded and took a seat next to June, and Jillian took his. June seemed a little uncomfortable sitting beside the large and imposing figure. Sitting next to him made her feel even smaller than she already was. June looked over at her sister, feeling a bit betrayed. Jillian signed an apology, urging her to let it slide for the moment. Soon enough, Jason was busy eating again when he glanced up and caught sight of a mostly bald guy leaning out of his booth slightly, trying to sneak glances at the now mostly obscured redhead. She had scooted as far in as possible, trying to avoid him. Jillian hoped he would notice the creep, her own discomfort growing as she felt his gaze lingering on her again. Jason quickly collected every set of unused chopsticks on the table, clenching them in one fist. His knuckles were rough and scarred from so much use. She hadn¡¯t paid much attention to them before, but now they seemed rather imposing, maybe even a little scary. Jason let out a loud cough, catching the attention of the creep. Then, with a satisfying CRACK! that startled the girls a bit, he had effortlessly snapped the chopsticks using just his thumb, like snapping a pencil. The two men locked eyes for a long tense moment. Jason¡¯s stare was hard and cold, clenching his jaw a little to make the vein in his neck pop slightly. The strange man scowled, not showing fear but annoyance, then getting up from his table and trudged out of the restaurant. ¡°Why people think it¡¯s okay to stare like a creep is beyond me,¡± Jason muttered, shaking his head before diving back into his meal. He also despised being stared at, but that was mostly due to his social anxiety. There had been more than his fair share of people who gawked at him like he was some kind of exhibit. Women especially had very little restraint when it came to staring at him. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but grin at his less than a subtle show of strength that made the unwanted observer retreat. Meanwhile, June had a different response altogether to his chopstick-breaking prowess. She slipped under the table and crawled out of the booth, and pulled out several more pairs of chopsticks from the container by the utensils. Rushing back to the table and holding them out to Jason. ¡°She¡¯s uh, asking if you can do it again.¡± Jillian translated hesitantly. The rest of their time at the buffet, June kept handing Jason more and more chopsticks until he failed to break them all at once. ¡°I just can¡¯t get a good grip on them with so many. They keep slipping out,¡± he said with a laugh. She seemed a little disappointed by the outcome, which somehow inspired Jason to try harder. Taking a deep breath, he let out a groan of effort and gritted his teeth, gripping the stack as hard as he could. His thumb pressed against the large stack of chopsticks, his hand shaking with tremendous effort. With one last effort, the sound of cracking started filling the air. He had managed to crack, but not break most of them. Despite this, June clapped excitedly, as if he had done something really impressive. Jillian, on the other hand, simply leaned on the table and covered her eyes in embarrassment. ¡°We can never come back here.¡± She murmured with a sigh. June and Jason were really starting to connect as they sat there. The small mute girl becoming much more comfortable with the large man. Jillian still helped translate most of June¡¯s words, but Jason was catching on and understanding things pretty quickly. She also tried to teach him along the way, and he picked up a lot quickly. It was just like him to take something he¡¯d never even thought of trying before and immediately get the hang of it. ¡°Um, I think the fastest I¡¯ve scored a knockout was around a minute thirty. I landed a solid smash to the guy¡¯s liver. There was no getting back up after that. I honestly felt kind of bad afterward,¡± trying to stay as humble as possible. June gave him a puzzled look and signed her question, confirming that the hit wasn¡¯t to his opponent¡¯s head. Jason smiled and shook his head. ¡°Nope, getting hit directly in the liver is one of the quickest and most painful ways to end a fight. It''s a small target but super effective. That¡¯s why I feel the orthodox stance is better than southpaw. It¡¯s quicker to protect the liver with the back-loaded arm.¡± He demonstrated by moving his arms into an orthodox boxing stance while still seated. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s no joke.¡± The younger redhead nodded, understanding at least most of what he was saying and deciding to take his word for the rest. The three had long eaten their fill and were mostly just talking by the time they decided to head out. Jason took care of the bill, teasing Jillian that she could pay him back later. She frowned slightly, but agreed. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to contribute. Her mom had given her some money since she was bringing June along. It just felt odd having him cover everything, bringing back memories of when Luis was courting her. All the gifts he sent her and the fancy dinners they went to. She would take a small town buffet over a five-star restaurant any day. As they made their way to the car, Jason once again lightly bumped into Jillian, with no apology. She stopped in her tracks and put on a sickly sweet voice. ¡°Hey Jason?¡± She flashed him a sweet smile. ¡°Hmm, what¡¯s up?¡± Jason said, stopping and turning to her. She motioned for him to come closer, and he obliged. ¡°Could I maybe see your hand, please?¡± she still sounded as sweet as ever. Jason glanced over at June, who was watching, and shrugged, unsure of what Jillian was up to. Jason reluctantly extended his hand, and Jillian gingerly took hold of it. But before he knew it, her innocent smile shifted into a snarl. She quickly brought his hand to her mouth and chomped down hard between his thumb and index finger. ¡°Ahhh! What the fu-dge Jillian!¡± Jason exclaimed, barely stopping himself from cursing in front of June, pulling his hand back quickly. ¡°Now stop fuckin¡¯ bumping into me!¡± Jillian snapped, shooting him a stern glare. ¡°Alright, alright, sorry, sheesh,¡± Jason muttered, inspecting the deep teeth marks on his hand. That was the last time he¡¯d take Marco¡¯s advice. He was tired of getting bit, now feeling very concerned about this whole mini-golf outing. June couldn¡¯t contain herself as she doubled over in laughter. Her laughter was surprisingly loud and infectious. Usually, she only let out small titters of laughter, but this was a full-blown belly laugh. Jillian seemed particularly pleased to see her sister laughing so openly, as if she was witnessing something magical. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± Jillian exclaimed, back to a rather cheerful tone as Jason rubbed his injured hand and followed suit, all of them getting back into the car. ¡°Hope you¡¯ve had all your shots,¡± he mumbled quietly. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± he said quickly and started the car. Driving off, they headed for the amusement center. Chapter 24:All is Fair In Love, War, and Miniature Golf The two sisters lounged in the back of the SUV while Jason drove them to their destination. His hand still throbbed a bit from Jillian¡¯s bite¨C-she really didn¡¯t hold back. He knew bumping into her like that was a dumb idea. He was already planning to give Marco an earful later. It was just another fifteen minutes from the restaurant to the massive amusement center. The parking lot was surprisingly full for a weekday. ¡°Well, here we are, ladies,¡± Jason said as he pulled into a spot near the front. Opening the doors, the distant roar of gas-powered go-karts filled the air. ¡°Man, it¡¯s been, like, at least ten plus years since I¡¯ve been to a place like this,¡± Jillian remarked, squeezing her sister¡¯s hand. June made a few playful hand gestures, causing Jillian to roll her eyes. ¡°Pfft sure, very funny,¡± she said, unamused. Jason glanced over at the sisters. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± he asked casually, his hands tucked in his pockets. ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Jillian replied, striding up to Jason with her sister in tow. ¡°Just Miss Smartass over here, basically calling us old.¡± Jason chuckled, glancing at June with a soft smile. She blushed and looked away, waving her hand dismissively while nodding towards Jillian, trying to show that she was just teasing her sister. ¡°It¡¯s alright, June, I get it. You don¡¯t have to worry about upsetting me. I can take a joke.¡± He reassured her as Jillian looped her arm through his. ¡°Enough chit-chat, let¡¯s head inside,¡± Jillian suggested cheerfully, glancing between them and receiving nods in response. The three of them stepped inside and were immediately bombarded with the sounds of different arcade machines blaring off around them in a chaotic mix of noise and music. There were a few younger kids milling about, as well as some older teens who were probably either ditching or maybe on lunch from the local highschool a few miles down the road. As they strolled through the arcade, June seemed to cling a bit closer to her sister as they passed by a group of teenage boys, covering her ears as they shouted at each other. Jason noticed, but pretended he didn¡¯t. ¡°So, what do you two wanna do first?¡± he asked curiously before they approached the cashier stand. ¡°What? We have to decide? You brought us here, so...¡± Jillian said, feigning offense, but June cut in before her sister could finish her snarky remark, eagerly pointing at the list of activities. Jillian sighed as her plan to tease Jason was interrupted. ¡°What¡¯s up now?¡± She asked, glancing at where June was pointing. ¡°Ugh really? But it¡¯s so boring,¡± Jillian complained about her sister¡¯s choice. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± she quickly relented, with just one look from her. ¡°June wants to play mini-golf.¡± ¡°Thank you, June,¡± Jason thought to himself, nodding and smiling. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that bad. Do you want to start inside or outside first? We can do both if you want,¡± he said, turning to smile at June. Seeing her simply point down for inside first, Jason nodded again before heading up to the counter. Jillian already seemed bored at the thought of golfing. But he bought them all a round of black light mini-golf anyway and the three quickly picked their ball colors and clubs. They all went to the entrance of the indoor mini-golf where everything white on their clothes lit up purple under the black light. It had a pirate theme and was surprisingly a little spooky, but goofy enough to not freak out little kids. ¡°Mmmk, this isn¡¯t too bad. It¡¯s interesting, at least,¡± Jillian said as they kicked off their game. They weren¡¯t exactly pros, far from it really, but there were some fun moments. Like when Jason smacked the ball so hard it rebounded off the wall and hit a pirate robot in the head, almost hitting his own as it flew back. All while the girls cackled wildly. Or when Jillian got increasingly frustrated after missing an easy putt many, many times. And June? Well, she was taking it way too seriously. When Jillian tried to sneakily nudge her ball out of a tight corner, June got upset, stomping and pouting at the cheating. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll put it back, chill out, little girl,¡± Jillian said, trying not to crack up at the tantrum, as she moved the ball back to where it was before. As the three made their way through the courses, Jason and Jillian found themselves waiting for June to finish one of the longer ones. She was stuck and struggling. Her ball landed in a pit that required some skill to get out of. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but laugh at her sister failing over and over again. Meanwhile, Jason¡¯s attention shifted to the curly-haired redhead beside him. He still wasn¡¯t convinced that this whole golf outing was doing him any favors, but it wasn¡¯t exactly a terrible way to spend his time. Glancing back at June, who was still struggling and getting increasingly frustrated, he felt Jillian lean against him. She rested her back against his chest, the scent of her shampoo filling his nose. ¡°Honestly, I was a little iffy about coming here, but it¡¯s not too bad so far.¡± Jillian remarked softly. There was a brief pause between them before he chimed in, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s decent.¡± Just as he gathered the nerve and was about to put an arm around her, June finally managed to sink her ball into the hole and started jumping with excitement. Jason adjusted, running his hand through his hair instead, while Jillian pushed off him to celebrate with her sister. ¡°So, what was that, like thirty or forty strokes?¡± Jillian teased June, and Jason let out a small sigh. They only had about twenty seconds together before being broken apart. He was even more doubtful that mini-golf was truly the genius solution that Marco said it was. Though he was pretty sure Marco intended for them to have some alone time. It was tough for any actual progress to be made while Jillian¡¯s sister was around. But he knew that if June wasn¡¯t there, things would probably be just as awkward as they were in the store yesterday. Not that he didn¡¯t like June; the opposite really, she seemed like a sweet kid. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder the reason June refused to talk. She seemed capable of laughing, so her vocal cords were fine. But he was too polite to ask openly. After all, she could have had trauma like him that kept her from speaking. That thought alone was enough for him to keep his questions to himself. The memory of the two years he barely spoke at all back in highschool coming back to him. The group reached the final hole, a short but hard course where your ball would disappear once you took your shot, whether or not you made it in, ending the game for you. June decided to keep her light blue ball and stashed it in Jillian¡¯s purse. Jason and Jillian didn¡¯t really care. They took their shots, missing the target, and watched as the balls vanished into a hidden pit. ¡°Well, that was fun,¡± Jason remarked, slinging his club over his shoulder as they left the course. ¡°Yeah not too bad.¡± Jillian said nonchalantly After returning their clubs, they hung out in the arcade for a while. They wandered around, trying out different games that caught their eye. Not surprisingly, Jason was pretty good at most of them. His days spent playing games as a teen finally paid off. Jason was by himself playing a random fighting game while the two girls went to the restroom. June suddenly dashed over to him, looking way too excited. She grabbed his arm, quickly trying to pull him along. ¡°Haha, what is this?¡± he asked, walking with June and glancing over at Jillian, who was waiting a short distance away. ¡°We found a game we want you to play,¡± Jillian explained with a smile, making Jason raise an eyebrow. ¡°Okay sure, I guess. What¡¯s the game?¡± he asked, tagging along as June eagerly continued pulling him past a few rows of arcade machines. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Jillian said, still smirking. And see he did when they reached their destination, where a bunch of teenage boys were taking turns on a punch machine. ¡°Ahhhh, I see,¡± Jason said, nodding, a small smile on his lips. June¡¯s eyes widened, and her smile vanished quickly seeing the boys hogging the machine. Quickly retreating behind her sister. The three of them stood a little way away from the machine, waiting patiently for their turn. The group of teenage boys saw them but mostly ignored them, engrossed in the game. They continued to swipe their play cards over and over, refusing to let anyone else play. Jason, hands in pockets, observed as the group took swings with wild abandon, relying on wide swings for all their power. It wasn¡¯t surprising that they didn¡¯t know any better, but he quickly grew bored watching. So he took a step forward, only to feel small hands wrap around his arm. Jason looked back at June, who was trembling in fear as she held onto him, shaking her head vigorously. Jillian quickly stepped in to comfort June, pulling her back. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Nothing bad will happen. You don¡¯t have to go closer; we can stay here. Jason can handle it, don¡¯t worry,¡± she whispered reassurances to her sister. June moved to cling to her sister, still visibly shaking. Jillian looked up at Jason and nodded that they would be alright. Jason wasn¡¯t sure why June was overly fearful of the boys. But he felt a surge of desire to protect the smaller sister. After locking eyes with Jillian for another moment, he approached the group of teenagers, trying to be friendly. ¡°Want some help?¡± Jason asked with a confident smirk. His form fitting gray t-shirt wrapped around his broad chest while the sleeves hugged his muscular biceps. The teenagers looked at him in confusion. ¡°Help? Like how to throw a punch or improve the score?¡± One of them questioned. Jason shrugged and walked over to the punching machine, swiping his play card. ¡°Both, I guess.¡± He said pulling down the punch ball. He¡¯d seen these machines before; it was like a magnet for fighters to show off. But he knew it wasn¡¯t even close to the most accurate way to measure punching power. Especially machines like these, cheap children¡¯s toy versions that weren¡¯t even bolted to the ground. The teenagers glanced at each other, exchanging light chatter, but most were eager to see what the bigger man could do. ¡°Do you do MMA? Have you ever fought before?¡± Jason let out a sigh. MMA had become so popular it was always the go-to assumption. Boxing seemed to belong to an older generation now, at least in the USA. Past whatever publicity stunt celebrities and youtubers were doing. ¡°Nah, but I¡¯m pretty good at throwing punches,¡± Jason replied casually. He glanced back at Jillian, who was rubbing June¡¯s back as the younger red-head leaned into her sister, peaking out at him. Both their eyes were locked on him. Jason waved at them with a smile before turning back to the machine. ¡°The way you guys are throwing your punches, it¡¯s like you are playing slap fight,¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°Sure, you¡¯ll get some momentum, but it¡¯s too easy for anyone to just block your swing and throw a cross into your face.¡± Jason went on explaining the technique, emphasizing the importance of hip rotation and foot positioning for a more powerful punch. However, it was clear that the majority of the audience wasn¡¯t exactly interested. ¡°So, you line up your lead fist with the target, usually with a jab, and that¡¯s your range. When the bag comes into my range, I load up on my back foot and...¡± he said, more than happy with the current lack of enthusiasm. It made the next moment all the sweeter for him. Jason inched closer to the punching bag until it just brushed his extended fist. With a swift twist of his hips while pivoting his back leg and foot, Jason¡¯s right overhand punch connected with the bag, letting out a thunderous crack, startling Jillian, June, and several others nearby. The onlookers watched as the machine wobbled back and forth like it was about to tip over before settling. Unable to fully register the force of the blow, the points on the screen rose slowly. Despite the impressive display, he only scored in the midrange, much to everyone¡¯s confusion. ¡°And to break the high score on this POS, all you gotta do is this.¡± Jason casually yanked the punch ball down again and smacked the machine¡¯s underside with his palm. The score shot up to max almost instantly. The teenagers laughed and began excitedly talking among themselves, drawing a small crowd. Jason found himself bombarded with questions. While all the attention was focused on Jason, June felt comfortable enough to separate from her sister. When suddenly she was approached by a boy who had been standing nearby. After mustering up some courage, he finally caught her attention with a small wave. She was instantly wary and moments from retreating back to her sister when something interesting happened. ¡°Hello, my name is K.y.l.e,¡± said this new boy to June, but he wasn¡¯t speaking. He used sign language to speak and spell out his name. June glanced at him, feeling a mix of surprise and concern. He seemed about her age, with medium length blonde hair that just grazed his ears. ¡°Sorry, if I startled you. I saw you using sign language earlier and got curious if you¡¯re deaf as well,¡± he signed, way more fluently than June, his hands moving rather quickly. She eyed him cautiously, noticing the tubes in his ears. Eventually signing back, ¡°No, but I prefer signing.¡± ¡°So you can understand me when I talk?¡± Kyle asked, his voice a bit broken as he did his best to articulate each word. It was incredibly hard to master speech when you couldn¡¯t hear yourself speak. June nodded slowly, feeling her nerves settle slightly. Kyle¡¯s words caught Jillian¡¯s attention. When she turned and saw the blonde teenage boy talking to June, her eyes lit up with intensity. She swiftly moved in front of June, like a momma bear with her cub. ¡°Excuse me, can I help you with something?¡± she asked in a harsh tone, folding her arms and shooting a stern glare at the boy who was nearly her height. Startled, he quickly took a step back. ¡°Oh, sorry, I was just trying to say hi,¡± he said, his speech rushed and sloppy this time, accompanied by hand signs. Jillian blinked in surprise, not expecting Kyle¡¯s speech or sign language. She signed back to him, using only gestures to communicate this time. ¡°Sorry, but my little sister isn¡¯t comfortable around boys. Can you please leave?¡± Kyle looked a little shocked and hurt, but nodded in understanding, not wanting to cause any trouble. ¡°Yeah, of course, sorry.¡± He said before turning around and walking away. June quickly pushed her sister aside and gave her a glare. ¡°What? I¡¯m just trying to help,¡± Jillian replied defensively, while June rolled her eyes. June hurried to catch up with Kyle and gently tapped on his shoulder as he was walking away. Then introducing herself, ¡°My name is J.u.n.e. Sorry about my sister back there. She¡¯s super protective.¡± She kept her back towards her sister to hide her hand signs. This caused Jillian to scowl. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. After Jason finished with the crowd, answering the teenage boys¡¯ questions and offering some minor coaching, he walked back to the girls. Confusion spread across his features, seeing June with a teenage boy and Jillian looking rather sour. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He asked. Jillian grumbled like she was ignoring him at first before she finally snapped back. ¡°She¡¯s talking... to a boy!¡± she exclaimed, never taking her eyes off her sister as her tone portrayed some grand tragedy going on. Jason just gave her an odd look. ¡°Okay... and?¡± he said, wondering why it was such a big deal. Jillian looked up at Jason, seemingly angry with him for not being more upset. Realizing he didn¡¯t know the whole story with June, she let out a heavy sigh, then gestured for him to come closer. He gave her a very clear look of suspicion, trying to gauge if it was safe to come close. She rolled her eyes at his reluctance. ¡°I¡¯m not going to bite you, you big wuss. Just don¡¯t start bumping into me again.¡± Jason felt embarrassment flood through him at this, feeling rather stupid about his earlier behavior. ¡°Yeah, I know. I won¡¯t do it again,¡± he said with a sigh, shaking his head in embarrassment. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later. Just come here already,¡± she urged, reaching up and grabbing his shoulder. She pulled him closer. ¡°Look, June went through some really hard times with some bullies in middle school,¡± Jillian began, noticing Jason¡¯s incredulous expression, as if he couldn¡¯t believe she was going to talk about June being bullied. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on him, but he wasn¡¯t happy that it happened to the poor girl. ¡°This is all secondhand, but apparently June was constantly harassed by this group of boys who kept telling her to shut up and things like nothing she did or said would ever matter. She¡¯s always been pretty quiet and really shy, so she was an easy target that never reported them. Doesn¡¯t sound too crazy at first, but it got bad fast. They started trailing her around school, hurling insults at her one after another, calling her names and mocking how she spoke. I¡¯m sure it was worse than just simple insults, though. One day, June came home with her backpack torn up and most of her books had the covers ripped off. From that point, she didn¡¯t say a word to anyone. She stopped getting up for school. And she hasn¡¯t spoken a single word to anyone since, not even mom,¡± Jillian said, recounting June¡¯s trauma. Jason looked on sadly at the young girl, feeling a pang of empathy, having gone through almost the same thing. Being bullied into simply refusing to speak, though, June didn¡¯t have the strength of will or reason to come back from such trauma. Jillian watched Jason¡¯s expression darken, like he was debating on something unpleasant. A sudden and intense fear coursed through her in that moment. ¡°J-Jason,¡± she quietly tried to get his attention, her words getting caught in her throat for a moment. He looked back down at her, a small angry scowl on his face from his thoughts. Jillian could feel her heart thudding loudly in her ears as she felt his hard gaze pierce right through her, her eyes glistening slightly with unshed tears of panic. The fear that he might take what was most precious to her. ¡°Um, a-are you going to tell my sister how I used to bully you? I-I know it¡¯s your right, but if you can just give me some time I-¡° she started to stammer, trying to plead with him. The thought of her sister finding out and looking at her in disgust, the way she was imagining, made her feel sick. ¡°No,¡± Jason¡¯s voice cut her off before she could finish. ¡°No?¡± Jillian echoed, needing confirmation. ¡°No, Jillian, I¡¯m trying to make peace with the past. Not bring more pain to those that don¡¯t deserve it,¡± he explained calmly, his face shifting to neither a smile nor a frown, just his usual stoic demeanor. ¡°Don¡¯t¡. I¡ deserve it, though?¡± She asked, fear wracking her small frame as she gazed up at him with glassy blue eyes. Jason took a long, slow breath, her words swirling around in his head for a moment. ¡°Perhaps¡ but June doesn¡¯t. I¡¯ve come to realize that I don¡¯t enjoy causing pain, emotionally at least. And I don¡¯t want to hurt June¡ And I don¡¯t want to hurt you, Jill.¡± His words hung in the air, and she looked up at him, their eyes locking together once more. ¡°He called me Jill¡¡± He had already leaned down a little so when Jillian suddenly grabbed Jason¡¯s collar she easily pulled him in closer. Before he knew it, their lips were pressed together in a deep kiss. Once the surprise wore off and the pleasure started coursing through him. He reciprocated the kiss as she taught him, closing his eyes and parting his lips slightly to move with hers. All the chatter from the people around them and noises of the machines seemed to fade away as they kissed. His arms quickly wrapped around her waist and he pulled her tight against him. Their lips smacked softly against one another over and over again. Pure bliss engulfed the pair, lost in their deep kiss. Though it felt like an eternity, it actually only lasted a few seconds before Jillian pulled away slightly, taking deep breaths like hers had been stolen. Her warm breath panted against his now moistened lips. When their eyes opened, they were still only an inch apart. ¡°Thank you,¡± Jillian whispered softly to him. Jason sucked in his lips slightly, feeling like they had fallen asleep from how much they tingled. He just barely nodded to her before she let go of him and he reluctantly removed his arms from around her. As Jason straightened up, he looked around them, seeing several teens watching with strange fascination and a few parents who weren¡¯t too thrilled about the PDA they just witnessed. When they turned to look back at June and Kyle, both of them were staring. June had a mischievous grin that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. She had expected this to happen sooner or later, and she didn¡¯t seem displeased by the sight. Kyle, on the other hand, looked like he was frozen in place, his face flushed a deep red. ¡°Uh, excuse us,¡± Jason said, clearing his throat, then took Jillian¡¯s arm and led them over to the teenagers. Jillian recovered quicker than he did and resumed glaring at the blonde teen as they walked up. ¡°Are you going to introduce us to your new friend, June?¡± Jason asked with a small smile for the both of them. June glanced at her sister, who seemed less than eager to translate at the moment. So, she gestured for Kyle to introduce himself. The blonde boy stepped forward, extending his hand to Jason. ¡°Hello, my name is Kyle,¡± he said in his slightly broken speech. ¡°I can read lips, so you can speak to me normally,¡± he added. Jason took Kyle¡¯s hand and shook it firmly, relieved that the teenage boy seemed to actually have some manners. ¡°Nice to meet you, Kyle. My name is Jason and the grumpy one next to me is Jillian,¡± he said, earning a growl from Jillian. ¡°I can introduce myself, jerk,¡± she snapped at Jason before turning back to the teenager. ¡°That¡¯s my little sister you are messing with, so if you so much as touch a hair on her head, I will chop your¡ªmmph!¡± Her words were cut off as Jason covered her mouth with his hand. June rolled her eyes at her sister and grabbed Kyle¡¯s attention. She signed something to him that Jason couldn¡¯t decipher, but Jillian¡¯s eyes widened in understanding. She struggled against Jason even more, who had his arm around her now. Desperately, she tried to pry the hand from her mouth. ¡°Relax, and I¡¯ll let go,¡± Jason reasoned with the annoyed redhead in his grip, trying to keep her from biting him again, mostly. She groaned, rolled her eyes, then reluctantly nodded. Jason released his hand, and she snapped at it as it moved away. ¡°Hey, you promised you weren¡¯t gonna bite me again!¡± he exclaimed in mock offense. Well, maybe some real offense as well. ¡°She invited him to go golfing with us!¡± Jillian announced, sounding like it was something terrible. ¡°That¡¯s what you were all worked up about? What¡¯s the big deal? He seems like a good kid, and it¡¯s just a round of mini-golf,¡± Jason argued. Kyle was a bit shocked by the offer, glancing at his friends still goofing off by the punching machine. He looked over at Jillian who was busy arguing with Jason. ¡°Won¡¯t that upset your sister?¡± he signed to June, who waved it off casually. ¡°No, don¡¯t worry about it. She¡¯s all talk, no action. Plus, I think Jason will keep her occupied.¡± June paused, making sure her sister couldn¡¯t see her signs. ¡°Truth is, she has a huge crush on him, but won¡¯t admit it. I¡¯m also pretty sure he¡¯s been trying to get closer to her all day, but failing. So, I¡¯m betting they¡¯ll be too distracted to care one way or another.¡± June¡¯s words once again surprised Kyle, carefully glancing over at Jason and Jillian. He honestly thought they were already a couple. They certainly made for an interesting pair, but seemed close, especially after seeing them kiss. He quickly signed back, ¡°Well, if it¡¯s really alright, yeah, I would love to.¡± Kyle blushed and waved his hands a bit, embarrassed. He¡¯d used the wrong gesture for the word love. There were several ways to say love in ASL and he used one that was more for romantic purposes. June giggled softly as he continued, ¡°I¡¯d really enjoy going out with you. I mean, joining you,¡± he hastily corrected himself in a mild panic. She simply smiled and nodded, feeling oddly at ease around this new boy who seemed just as shy as she was. It was a very intriguing sensation, one she¡¯d never felt before and couldn¡¯t help but want to explore further. June and Kyle waved the two adults to come join them. Despite Jillian¡¯s grumbling, Jason took her hand and dragged her along. The feeling of him holding her hand helped tremendously. The four of them went back to the counter and bought a round for the outdoor mini-golf course this time. As they headed outside and started to play, the weather slowly continued to get worse and worse. It wasn¡¯t too bad the first few holes, but as they progressed through the course, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped considerably. June started shivering, so Kyle took off his blue zip-up hoodie and offered it to her. June blushed deeply at the gesture but accepted the offer, zipping up the hoodie around her, desperate for the warmth. Jason smiled slightly at the old-fashioned gesture. The boy had barely known June for an hour and he was already showing what kind of man he was. Jillian, on the other hand, was fuming at the sight, partially from protectiveness and partially because she was jealous she didn¡¯t have a jacket. So she stood there, shivering in anger. Jillian turned to Jason, who didn¡¯t seem too bothered by the cold. ¡°I n-n-need your s-s-shirt,¡± she said, teeth chattering. Jason looked confused at first. ¡°Uhhh, no? I¡¯m not giving you my shirt,¡± he said, eyebrow raised at the strange request. ¡°J-j-jerk, you b-b-rought me here so k-k-keep me w-w-warm,¡± Jillian countered, pressing herself against him for warmth. That¡¯s when it all started to make sense to him. The true charm of mini-golf. Jillian had to let go for either of their turns, but when it wasn¡¯t, she almost ran back to him and spent most of the time with her arms wrapped tightly around him for warmth. It didn¡¯t take very long for him to wrap his arms around her each time she sought his warmth as well. She would sigh happily as he did. It was crazy that this seemingly benign idea of Marco¡¯s was actually working. He was so not looking forward to granting his friend the obscene title he wanted. Then again, he ended up getting bitten following Marco¡¯s other advice. So he decided they would call it even. Jason glanced over to see June and Kyle engaged in lively conversation with their hands and exchanging laughs. He couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased that their outing was turning out to be quite the success. Despite Jillian¡¯s grumpiness due to the cold and her sister actually communicating with a boy her age. June¡¯s instincts seemed to be spot on when it came to boys, almost innately learning she could actually trust Kyle. Despite her trauma, or perhaps because of it, her radar was finely tuned to sense people¡¯s intentions. Jason just hoped that Kyle was as genuinely nice as he appeared. ¡°Uggghh, this fucking wind!¡± Jillian groaned, clearly annoyed by the weather. Before Jason could stop it, she tugged at his shirt and slipped underneath it to escape the biting cold. Her frozen fingers snaked around his body, making his whole body tense and his skin crawl in displeasure. ¡°Ah! Your fingers are like ice! What the hell are you doing!?¡± he exclaimed, arms out in bewilderment. ¡°Shh, I¡¯m getting cozy. It¡¯s not too bad here, really. It smells nice too. Maybe I¡¯ll hang up a ¡®live, laugh, love¡¯ poster and move in. I wonder if my dresser would fit in here?¡± she joked from beneath his shirt. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely nuts, you know that,¡± he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her despite his complaints. He wouldn¡¯t admit it out loud, but this really wasn¡¯t the worst spot to be in. The only semi-issue that popped up was, even through her bra, he could feel her hard nipples poke against his midsection. Feeling himself getting aroused quickly, he chimed in, ¡°Hey, Jillian, knock knock. It¡¯s your turn now,¡± hoping to get a moment to contain himself. ¡°I give up, I¡¯m not playing anymore. It¡¯s too cold, I¡¯m staying right where I am,¡± she announced without a second thought. They were almost at the last hole, and the wind wasn¡¯t helping. He had to admit he was getting pretty uncomfortable. Kyle and June weren¡¯t faring any better, visibly shivering. ¡°How about we call it here and head inside? The last hole isn¡¯t worth freezing for,¡± Jason suggested. Everyone agreed with a nod. He even felt Jillian rub her face up and down against him as she nodded. They all went inside, but Jason found walking to be a challenge, with Jillian tucked under his shirt. To say that he felt embarrassed as people stared while he waddled along with her was underselling it. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re indoors. You can come out now,¡± he said, trying to coax her out as people stared at the pair. Jillian grumbled and shook her head. ¡°Nah, I¡¯m good. I think it¡¯s nap time, actually, pick me up.¡± Jason sighed in annoyance. The novelty was officially gone, and he wanted her out. Shortly after they entered, a voice called out, ¡°There he is!¡± It was the same group of teens from the punch machine. ¡°Dude, what the hell, Kyle? We were about to leave your ass! If we didn¡¯t need you for gas money we would have,¡± one boy, wearing a snap-back hat with a sticker on it, exclaimed. ¡°Just because you¡¯re deaf doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re retarded!¡± the angry boy added. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve got to get back to school before the final bell rings.¡± Jason and June exchanged concerned looks. The whole situation had taken an unexpected turn. So, the boys were really skipping class. It appeared Jason had overestimated Kyle¡¯s maturity if he was ditching school to play games like this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just¡ª¡± Kyle began, but before he could finish, the boy in the hat interrupted, mimicking Kyle¡¯s speech. ¡°Im sowwy i juss durr.¡± Though Kyle couldn¡¯t hear the tone, he caught on to the mockery. ¡°Just shut the fuck up and let¡¯s go, moron,¡± he spat, with more than a hint of irritation. Kyle¡¯s head dipped a bit in shame as he was told off right in front of June. Jason couldn¡¯t help but let a growl build in his throat before speaking up. ¡°Watch your mouth, you little twat,¡± Jason shot back at the boy in defense of Kyle, his patience already gone. This grabbed the rude teen¡¯s attention, turning to face Jason. He was about to shout back when he noticed a strange Jillian shaped protrusion in Jason¡¯s shirt. ¡°What the fuck is that?¡± the teenager said, confused. Kyle took advantage of the commotion to turn to June, who was visibly frightened by all the sudden yelling and insults. The presence of the group of his friends made her body shiver only with fear this time. He signed rapidly, almost as if his life depended on it, but then he remembered she could hear. ¡°June, I promise I¡¯m not actually friends with these jerks. They just drag me along because my family¡¯s well-off, and I have free periods. I am basically getting extorted. Please, you¡¯ve got to believe me.¡± June still looked very unconvinced. Kyle¡¯s heart ached seeing the look of fear she gave him. He quickly backed up a little to give her some space, which seemed to ease her nerves slightly. ¡°Are you telling the truth?¡± she signed slowly, still afraid and not entirely convinced. He panicked a little, trying to think of what might convince her. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet. Among a few credit cards and more cash than a teenager should probably have, he retrieved his student ID. It showed that he was a junior at Grove High and had free periods punched out for sixth, seventh, and eighth. June eyed the chaotic scene before her, then looked back to Kyle and his ID, who was still trying to prove that he wasn¡¯t actually friends with the others. But June frowned and shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t¡ If there is even a chance they are around¡. I¡¯m sorry,¡± she signed in slow, sad movements. She unzipped Kyle¡¯s hoodie and handed it back to him. He looked severely dejected as he accepted the hoodie back, draping it over his shoulder, and tucked his wallet away. His fists clenched tight as he groaned in frustration before making one last-ditch effort. ¡°I promise I will do everything I can to get these jerks to leave me alone. But I have never been able to talk to someone so comfortably like this before. I don¡¯t want it to end here, June, I am sorry if I am being too forward but¡ can I maybe have your number or something to contact you again?¡± he asked as clearly as possible, his phone already in hand, desperation burning in his eyes. June hesitated, torn between the rowdy backdrop of Kyle¡¯s friends still being pressured by Jason and her own desire to not lose contact with the only boy her age that didn¡¯t make her want to run and hide. She looked on the verge of a panic attack, truly conflicted about what to do next. She hesitated for several more moments before she gave him a single, meek nod. His face lit up, and he started putting in her number as she held up fingers for each number. Jason was fed up with arguing with the group of bullies. They were way too confident in thinking he wouldn¡¯t kick the crap out of them just because they were teenagers. He reached down and pulled his shirt up, revealing the redhead wrapped around his midsection. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he carefully extracted Jillian from his person. ¡°Tell my mom to pay my bail. Cause I¡¯m gonna teach these little pricks a lesson they won¡¯t soon forget.¡± His expression was deadly serious, fists clenched tight, as a vein throbbed in his neck. He put on an impressive intimidation display. That was the moment the teenagers realized they had pushed a little too hard and ended up poking a sleeping bear that now looked ready to maul them. Like most bullies, their one weakness was someone who wasn¡¯t afraid to fight back, and they all started to back away from the new threat. ¡°Whoa there, hold on Jason. Its not worth it!¡± Jillian called out as she got in front of him to try and hold him back. ¡°Will you little bastards just get the hell out of here? I can¡¯t exactly hold him back.¡± She turned to growl at the group of teens. Her feet starting to slide as Jason took another step forward. One of the boys suddenly rushed over and grabbed Kyle¡¯s arm. ¡°Wait, no!¡± Kyle protested, feeling himself being dragged away. June got badly startled, flinching away as the other boy showed up. ¡°Just two more numbers!¡± he shouted desperately as he was pulled out of the door. The group of teens finally getting the hint and fleeing from the building. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked around, heart beating insanely fast. June¡¯s mind started racing with many thoughts, watching in a daze as Kyle was pulled away with the group retreating outside from a seemingly barely restrained Jason. Jillian was still holding him back in their intimidation display. But she didn¡¯t have time to think about that. It took her several long moments to decide what she wanted to do, what she had to do. Suddenly she dashed outside just in time to see Kyle struggling against the much bigger teenager who was pulling him away towards the front gates. It was hard to make out details from afar. There was no way he would see whatever she tried to sign anymore. He wouldn''t hear her either, but maybe someone would? June cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, ¡°Seven, Four!¡± with a voice that was somehow soft and meek even while shouting. She barely even recognized her own voice as it came out. Shouting those two simple numbers felt impossible. Until she actually did it. It was blurry but Kyle could see June putting her hands to her mouth like she was shouting. His eyes widened, planting his feet as he grabbed the other teen that was pulling him along. ¡°What did she just say?!¡± Kyle screamed at him. The larger teen simply scowled at him. Kyle groaned and rolled his eyes. ¡°I will give you a hundred dollars if you tell me!¡± He watched the stupid look on the other boy¡¯s face change to surprise. Seeing his lips move with the numbers seven and four, Kyle grinned. Turning to look back to June and shouting, ¡°Thank you!¡± before he was pushed into a large SUV with the group he was unfortunately with. Jillian came running outside shortly after, tears brimming in her eyes, shocked. ¡°June...w-was that you?¡± she rasped out, her shaky hands reaching over and gripping her little sister¡¯s. June took a long moment, but eventually nodded slightly. Jillian burst into a bout of powerful sobs. The overwhelming joy wracking her body. Hearing June speak, even just two numbers, were the first words she¡¯d heard from her since being reunited. She wrapped June up into a tight hug, crying happily. June had taken a brave step forward in taking her voice back from the bullies that stole it so long ago. Jason slowly walked out the front doors, watching the scene with the two sisters unfold. He was grateful to be able to witness such a moment. Even if his new shirt had gotten stretched out by Jillian, seeing the two so happy was well worth it. Chapter 25:Give and Take, Love and Hate, and Something About a Bird and a Bush? The three decided it was probably a good idea to head home at that point. There were staff standing nearby looking at the three with not the kindest of looks. So leaving before they made them leave seemed like the best thing to do. Climbing back into the car, they sat in the same spots, with Jillian and June in the back and Jason behind the wheel. It was getting late in the afternoon now. They had spent more time there than expected. Jason decided that the day was quite the success. Aside from getting bitten and almost having to beat some manners into those punks. The feeling of being so close to Jillian on the mini-golf course and the kiss they shared was stuck in his head. But mostly the kiss. It just felt so¡real and meaningful, unlike their time on the couch a few days prior. ¡°I really want her. Of all the people, I want Jillian Lins,¡fuck.¡± Just thinking those words sent a shiver down his spine. It wasn¡¯t something he should be feeling, but the desire inside him was undeniable. Maybe if it was just lust he felt, he could push it away, but it was more than that now. After all they had been through in the last week. The small voice in his head that had been screaming at him to push her away was now suspiciously quiet. Adjusting the rear-view mirror, Jason first saw June leaning against the car door, eyes shut, taking slow breaths. He was about to check to see if Jillian was asleep as well when he heard the click of a seat belt coming off. Next thing he knew, there was a petite redhead crawling into the front seat. Jillian sat down and buckled up. He stole a few glances at her as he drove wondering if she was going to say anything. She leaned over on the center console, staring at him intensely. His eyes kept darting back to her, struggling to keep his eyes on the road. ¡°Everything good?¡± he asked, mostly to break the awkward silence. ¡°Yup... Everything¡¯s great,¡± Jillian said, her voice soft and happy as she smiled at Jason, who returned the smile. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good...¡± He replied, immediately feeling stupid. ¡°Great addition, idiot,¡± Jason muttered sarcastically to himself, but Jillian just giggled sweetly. ¡°Thank you, Jason,¡± she whispered, still gazing at him. The desire to stop so he could actually look back at her was constantly tempting him. They would only be on the freeway for a little longer; he almost prayed for a traffic jam. ¡°You¡¯re welcome?¡± he said, unsure what he was being thanked for specifically. She just giggled again and reached over, stealing one of his hands from the steering wheel to clasp it between both of hers. ¡°Today wouldn¡¯t have been possible without you,¡± Jillian said softly, squeezing Jason¡¯s hand. He felt a heat creep into his face. ¡°Oh, please. I didn¡¯t do that much,¡± he replied modestly, a crooked smile on his face. ¡°Today was just the beginning.¡± Jillian¡¯s words made his heart thud in his chest. ¡°Y-yeah?¡± He said, clearing his throat. The earlier thoughts he had, coming back, making his throat suddenly dry. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see what comes next. I¡¯m so excited, I don¡¯t know how much longer I can wait.¡± Jillian beamed, giving his hand a firm squeeze. Followed by the sound of her adjusting in her seat. ¡°Is she going to kiss me again? But I¡¯m driving. Should I pull over? Maybe we can get away with just a quick one?¡± Jason¡¯s thoughts raced as his desire overflowed. He made sure the road was clear ahead of them for a good distance, and lowered his speed, setting his cruise control. His heart felt like it was slamming against his rib cage in anticipation. When he turned to accept his kiss with slightly puckered lips, he found Jillian was turned towards the back and gazing happily at her sister. ¡°I just know she is going to be back to normal soon.¡± Jillian turned back to look at Jason who was already staring back at the road again. ¡°I can feel it.¡± She finished. The realization that every single one of her words were about June. It hit him with disappointment and guilt. He was very happy for June. It was great that she made such a breakthrough¡ But there was a new and unpleasant feeling coursing through him. And he had to fight to keep the discomfort from his face. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s really great, I¡¯m happy for her,¡± Jason said, swallowing his emotions. The same ache that only seemed to happen when things were going sideways with Jillian soaked into his bones yet again. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, trying to fight the awful feeling. Jillian was too caught up in gushing about her sister said to notice anything off with him. At the very least, Jason found it much easier to focus on the road instead of Jillian now. ¡°I¡¯m so grateful that you took us out today, Jason,¡± she said looking at him for a moment in an overly cheerful tone before glancing into the back seat again. But heard his own version of what she said. Which was more like, ¡°I¡¯m so grateful that you taking us out lead to June speaking again.¡± It wasn¡¯t like he thought he was in the right, feeling like this. He knew he should feel good about being able to help. And in some small way, he did. He had only known June for a few days, and already he had a hand in helping her speak again after years. But instead of feeling pride, he found himself overwhelmed by what he could only describe as insane and illogical jealousy. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just a terrible person who only cares about myself. Have I become so desperate that all I can think about is kissing?¡± his thoughts made no sense to him. He couldn¡¯t remember ever feeling anything like this before. It just wasn¡¯t who he was. He didn¡¯t get jealous. This all needed to stop before he truly lost himself in his ache. His hands being the worst, like his nerves were constricting around the bone. ¡°I hate this, I hate this so much!¡± he internally screamed. Jason pulled his hand out from Jillian¡¯s grasp, returning it to the wheel. Her attention was quickly pulled back to him as he withdrew his hand so suddenly. ¡°Jason?... You alright?¡± Her voice carried confusion as she scanned his face for any hint of him being upset, but his usual stoic expression gave away nothing, but in some way, everything. That expression was and always had been his go to for hiding his emotions. The one she knew better than any other. ¡°Yeah, just trying to focus on the road,¡± he replied simply, though his answer set off alarm bells for her. Jillian scowled at him. Her initial reaction to start an argument halted by a moment of reflection thinking about what happened just a few days ago. ¡°Okay, Jason... But if you ever want to talk, I¡¯m happy to listen,¡± she offered sincerely. It took every ounce of her willpower to not say anymore. ¡°We are on a good streak. Don¡¯t fuck it up by digging too deep again, Jill,¡± she warned herself. The car ride dragged on in uncomfortable silence. Jason had basically shut down and Jillian was too afraid to pry any more. Once again, it felt like they were stuck. When they pulled up to the Lins¡¯ home, Jillian glanced at the still silent Jason, a small frown creasing her face, he hadn¡¯t made a sound the rest of the way home. Like a robot on auto pilot. She let out a quiet sigh and turned to her sister again. ¡°June, hey, we¡¯re home. Time to wake up,¡± reaching back and nudging her sister awake. June groaned a little, stretching as she looked around out the window at her home. With a sleepy smile she waved to Jason and climbed out of the car a bit too easy for someone that was apparently just in a deep sleep. Jillian followed suit, but she turned and gave Jason a warning look. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, I will be right back,¡± she instructed before closing the car door and heading into the house with June. Jason hesitated as he shifted into drive dispite her warning, watching her run up to the house. The temptation to count the day as a loss and just go home was so strong. But for some reason, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He put the car in park, turned it off and took a deep breath, rubbing his face roughly, trying to steady his nerves. In an attempt to relax, he closed his eyes and leaned his seat back, taking slow, deep breaths. The ache he felt the entire way home was just now fading. Until he heard the car door open again. His eyes opened, and he looked over at Jillian climbing back into the car, shutting the door behind her. She sat there for a long moment, taking a deep breath of her own, trying to prepare herself. ¡°Jason...¡± she began, speaking softly to break the silence. ¡°What?¡± he replied, quietly but with a slight sharpness to his tone. Jillian stared at Jason with her piercing blue eyes. ¡°I really like you... I really do¡¡± Her words lingered, filling the silence. ¡°But I can¡¯t do this again. If you are going to keep going silent and then suddenly explode¡ I just can¡¯t take it.¡± Her words were still soft and somber. But Jason interrupted her train of thought. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± There was a bit of offense in his voice. Jillian¡¯s face shifted to a pained expression. ¡°I am talking about what we always do! It seems like every time we¡¯re getting along great, something happens and you clam up and start acting like you want nothing to do with me. Then we blow up on each other. I¡¯ve tried to be patient, and I know I am not innocent in this, but¡ I¡¯m tired of feeling hurt.¡± Jason let her speak her mind, even though her words stung a bit. ¡°Jillian, I didn¡¯t stop talking because I want nothing to do with you,¡± he began to explain, but she gave him a skeptical look. ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it feels to me Jason. If it¡¯s something I did, just tell me!¡± Jillian¡¯s voice rose with her emotions. Jason hesitated, looking away and taking a moment to gather his thoughts before meeting her gaze again. ¡°Well, It¡¯s uh... I¡I just felt like¡I suddenly didn¡¯t matter¡ to you,¡± he admitted hesitantly. Jillian¡¯s expression turned to confusion. ¡°¡Huh¡W-what, why? Like during the car ride or the whole time? I¡¯m a bit lost here.¡± ¡°Hold on, let me explain better,¡± he huffed in mild frustration. ¡°I¡¯m just saying it just felt like we were really close for a while at the mini-golf place.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± she interjected. He groaned inwardly before finally blurting out his feelings. ¡°I am happy that she spoke again. Please don¡¯t think that I¡¯m not, cause I really am. It¡¯s just¡It felt like the moment June spoke, I went from part of the group to the guy holding the camera. Like I¡¯m there and I played a role, but get forgotten in the end¡¡± he trailed off, feeling incredibly stupid. Jason avoided eye contact with Jillian as he rubbed the back of his neck. His male brain kicked itself for putting himself out there and actually sharing his feelings. This wasn¡¯t how men were supposed to act. He was supposed to bottle everything up and keep it hidden until the feelings fester enough to explode like she said, right? Talking to his mother about them was one thing, but not someone he was interested in. He figured it would be a surefire way to make her lose any interest she had left for him. But she had asked, so he told her. It was on her now. Jillian stared at Jason, watching his face twist in self loathing for having shared how he felt. She continued to watch his expression for several moments. Deep down she knew he was serious, but the thought he was actually feeling left out was daunting to her. She really didn¡¯t feel like she had been ignoring him for June. And then the bad thoughts started to take over yet again. ¡°Well, what does he expect? My sister just spoke for the first time in years! Yeah, I¡¯m gonna focus on that.¡± Her mind quickly went into offense as that all too familiar anger started welling up in her. ¡°I am¡ not sure I should say what I feel right now, Jason¡¡± Even in her anger, she still didn¡¯t want to fight with him anymore. Jason nodded slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything¡¡± He didn¡¯t know what he wanted to hear from her. But what she said certainly wasn¡¯t it. He grabbed the steering wheel again, gripping it so hard it creaked in distress. If she wasn¡¯t going to say anything else, then he had to. ¡°Jillian, you... You¡¯ve completely fucked my head when it comes to women. I mean, I look at you and I see the person you used to be. And it pisses me off. But then I also see this beautiful woman who¡¯s turned my entire worldview on its head. Like my brain¡¯s been reprogrammed, and it¡¯s been driving me fucking crazy. I¡¯m constantly in a war with myself between wanting to push you away and wanting to never let you go. So yeah, I got kinda jealous on the ride home alright, happy now?¡± He blurted it all out. It seemed like the bottle that was supposed to store all his emotions had been shattered and could no longer hold more than a few drops. Jillian gave him a startled look, stunned by his confession. Her anger melted away, replaced by a warm sensation slowly growing in her stomach. She hadn¡¯t been expecting this out-pour of emotions from Jason. It was like she couldn¡¯t even comprehend what he was telling her. The usually stoic and silent man had let it all out, but her subconscious refused to see it for what it truly was. ¡°It¡¯s a joke¡ I get it.¡± She thought, coming up with her own translation. Jason slowly relaxed his grip on the wheel and let out a sigh.¡°I said it, fuck I can¡¯t believe I said it,¡± he thought, rubbing his forehead. There was a brief pause while Jillian stared at him. Eventually, she broke the silence again. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°You think I¡¯m¡beautiful?¡± she said simply. His gaze snapped back to her, a bit stunned that¡¯s all she took from his outpouring of disgusting feelings. ¡°Uhh yeah, you¡¯re attractive, Jillian. That wasn¡¯t the point though-¡± he said in a small voice, but was interrupted. She continued to tease him further, her grin widening. ¡°No, no, no, you said beautiful. You think I¡¯m gorgeous, you want to kisssssss me, you want to huuuugg me!¡± she teased in a sing-song tone, playfully nudging him and wiggling in her seat. Jason arched an eyebrow, not entirely sure just what she was getting at with this. ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡± he asked, a bit bewildered. Jillian looked at him incredulously. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯ve never seen Miss Congeniality?¡± Jason just shrugged, clueless to what she was talking about. ¡°Pfft, friggin¡¯ typical man, no taste,¡± she teased, rolling her eyes as her reference fell flat. ¡°So, you were upset that I was only focusing on June, and you got jealous because you thought that was the only reason I was happy? Is that about right?¡± She tried to simplify things. Jason felt himself cringe slightly at how she put it. ¡°Not exactly. Like I said, I am just as happy as you are that June is-.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± she interrupted, staring hard at him. He let out a sigh, but didn¡¯t fight her on that. ¡°Okay, not as much as you, but definitely happy it happened. And I am not saying I was throwing a tantrum because you weren¡¯t paying attention to me. Like I said, it¡¯s like I¡¯m the guy behind the camera. Like how nothing would have happened if I didn¡¯t drive us there. Important but completely replaceable¡¡± He scowled, but not at her, more at himself than anything.¡°I don¡¯t know. I have never felt like this, so I¡¯m trying to make sense of the situation. I¡¯m just being an idiot. Don¡¯t even know why I even let it get to me,¡± Jason finished, slumping back in his seat, staring up at the headliner. The shame he felt for his feelings stung badly. Usually, he prided himself on being a logical person. Yet when it came to emotions, it was like he was the slowest one he knew. He¡¯d lowered his guard and let her in, and he ended up hurting himself over what now felt like nothing. He wasn¡¯t sure he would ever let something like this happen again. It hurt too much. Jillian sat beside him, appearing somewhat lost in her own thoughts. Reflecting on his words, she tried to recall everything that had happened after they got back in the car to go home. She remembered taking the front seat once June had dozed off. Talking with Jason about how thrilled she was with June¡¯s sudden progress, and how she hoped it was just the beginning. She even thanked Jason for being a big reason for June¡¯s breakthrough. ¡°Okay, maybe I talked a bit much about June, but I didn¡¯t ignore you, I even thanked you. This is a significant milestone for June. I shouldn¡¯t have to feel guilty about being happy,¡± she said, folding her arms before trying to remember what happened between them at the amusement center. Jillian had a bit of a resting bitch face as she replayed the events in her mind. Absentmindedly biting her nail. It all felt a bit fuzzy to her. Most memories she could recall seemed to revolve around June. The moment she shouted was the clearest. It was like her brain had fixated on that moment and shoved everything else to the back. Her memories were filled with nothing but bits of her sister. June getting angry when she got stuck in the pit golfing. June getting excited when they found the punch machine and went to get Jason. June inviting that damn boy to join them. The only moments Jillian really recalled of just her and Jason was using his shirt to hide from the wind outside. And trying to hold him back from beating up those teenagers, which was followed by. Of course. June speaking. But that was about it. It hardly felt like anything significant happened between them. Jillian had a strange nagging sensation in the back of her mind, like she was forgetting something important. It had only been half an hour since they left, so why couldn¡¯t she remember? ¡°You shouldn¡¯t and I am not trying to make you feel guilty about anything...¡± Jason said, looking over at her. He even managed a small smile. ¡°Please, let June know I¡¯m happy for her, but I¡¯m gonna head back home.¡± Jason said, looking back out at the road, turning the engine back on. Out of time to think, Jillian nodded with a small frown, catching his not-so-subtle prod for her to get out of the car. She felt like getting out was the wrong choice. Every instinct told her not to do it¡ but she didn¡¯t know what other choice she had. So she quietly opened the door and stepped out of the car, then turned to face him again. ¡°See you later?¡± her words coming out as a question instead of a promise. ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Jason mumbled, unable to give her a firm answer or look back at her again. A frown fought to crack the stoic mask he already put back in place as she closed the door. Almost as soon as the door was shut, the car pulled forward, and she watched him drive away. Jillian stood there, watching Jason drive off for a few seconds, until he disappeared around the bend of the road. She let out a heavy sigh. Yet again, things somehow felt worse between them than before they went out. He had told her she was beautiful, and he wanted to hold her. And all she could manage to say in response was some old romance movie line and then tease him about it. ¡°What was I thinking? Why didn¡¯t I jump at that chance?¡± Before today, she felt like she would have attempted to fuck him right there in the car. She racked her brain for what the fuck had happened that she was forgetting. Wondering how she seriously got tunnel vision so bad it made her wipe out everything but her sister? Even now, all she could really focus on was working with her sister to get her back to normal. That was just how important it was and how much weight it held, not just for her, but for her whole family. ¡°Maybe¡ I just don¡¯t want him that badly anymore¡?¡± she whispered to herself. Feeling a weird knot in her stomach, Jillian gave the distance one last look before she headed inside. There, she was met by June. She greeted Jillian by turning around and wrapping her own arms around herself to make it look like she was making out with someone, making kissing noises. Jillian raised an eyebrow, very confused by her sister¡¯s behavior. ¡°Haha, what are you doing, weirdo?¡± she asked, laughing a little. June then signed that she knew about her and Jason kissing in the car outside. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the accusation. That was the past and would probably never happen again. Their time apart and this outing felt like it firmly locked them in the friend zone, if not less. June quickly stopped fooling around. Her expression turned more serious as she looked at her big sister with concern. ¡°Wait, so you guys just sat in the car that whole time¡ not kissing?¡± June signed, her expression incredulous. ¡°What?! Of course not, he barely even looked at me the whole time,¡± Jillian replied, her tone serious with a frown, not really finding the accusation funny. ¡°... Are you messing with me?¡± June asked, her sister¡¯s seriousness throwing her off. ¡°Why would I joke about that? He was upset that I was giving you all my attention, like a big baby.¡± Jillian said, her demeanor turning to anger and insults as she crossed her arms. June¡¯s jaw dropped slightly, simply stunned at how fast her sister¡¯s affection had done a 180. Now back to insulting the man Jillian had been basically attached to the latter half of their time at the amusement center. June¡¯s expression quickly shifted to one of anger as well. It felt she was taking crazy pills dealing with her sister¡¯s back and forth with Jason. ¡°Maybe because you two were basically stuck to each other most of the time we were there. I mean, you even kissed him in front of me and a bunch of people. I did my best to fall asleep so I could give you two some privacy. And now you¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t spend the last twenty minutes making out in his car?¡± June signed rapidly, her expression showing a mix of frustration and disbelief at her sister. Jason had been really kind and understanding to June, and she saw nothing that warranted her sister making fun of him like she was now. He had even scared off the boys that were making fun of Kyle and scaring her. Jillian looked at June like a deer in the headlights, completely baffled by her sister¡¯s words. ¡°We¡ kissed?¡± The memory slowly started to resurface in her mind. She had been so focused on June and Kyle that it had slipped her mind entirely.The words that Jason said to her, the ones that had driven her to kiss him. They finally came back to her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt June¡.Or you, Jill.¡± Just remembering his words made her feel that much worse. ¡°Yeah, you did. What¡¯s wrong with you? What are you trying to pull by denying it?¡± June signed, rather upset and frustrated. Jillian stared wide-eyed at her sister. ¡°June, I¡¯m not lying to you. I... I think¡no I did, I messed up¡badly.¡± she admitted, her face falling as she went a shade paler. June¡¯s expression softened quickly. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, signing slowly. ¡°We just¡ we talked in the car. He was upset because he was feeling like he was replaceable, unimportant. I didn¡¯t see it at the time, but¡ I think he was sad. I was just so caught up in what happened between you and that boy, and when you spoke... it was all I could think about. Fuck¡ I really am the worst,¡± Jillian explained, wrapping her arms around herself, digging her nails into her flesh. Jason sat in the driveway, feeling frustrated and emotionally exhausted. Covering his face with his hands, he let out a loud groan. He had poured his heart out to her, even admitting that he was more than just attracted to her. And all he got back was a movie reference he didn¡¯t know and basically mocked. ¡°What the fuck, man!?¡± he groaned loudly to himself, slamming his fists on the dash before slumping forward, resting his head on the steering wheel. She told him before, she wanted him to share how he felt, but he felt so hollow after that long conversation. He felt less inclined to open up than ever before. He thought they might have wanted the same thing. But she had simply dismissed everything they went through today and everything felt so uncertain now. Jason was almost certain he had stupidly confused her lust for something deeper. Just cause she wanted him to open up to her, didn¡¯t mean she wanted a relationship. He felt like such a fucking idiot. ¡°She probably does this shit with tons of guys. You aren¡¯t special Jason, stop acting like you are.¡± He knew he shouldn¡¯t be thinking about Jillian Lins in a romantic sense anyway, never should have even started to. He made such a fool of himself; he didn¡¯t know if he could ever face her again. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to go back to Florida¡I will have to apologize to mom,¡± he said to himself, closing his eyes. Jason spent the next ten minutes or so biding his time in his car before finally deciding to head inside. With a deep breath, he walked into his childhood home. The door closing caught his mom¡¯s attention, and she called out from the kitchen, ¡°Jason sweetie, that you?¡± ¡°Yeah, Mom. I¡¯m gonna go change real quick,¡± he shouted back. In his room, he shut the door and leaned back against it, contemplating what to tell his mother. He ran his hands up his face and through his hair roughly. ¡°I should pack up a little as well,¡± he mumbled to himself before proceeding to get changed. Dressing for comfort, he slipped on a dark green tank top and black shorts. Grabbing his suitcase, he lifted it onto his bed and started folding some clothes and putting them away. He felt numb standing there. The entire trip had been such an emotional whirlwind. Leaving was definitely the right decision. At least that¡¯s what he told himself. He then found the skimpy pair of panties that he used to masturbate earlier. It had been a struggle, but easier to finish than was normal for him. It still ended up making him late to pick them up earlier. With a sigh, he tossed them into the wastebasket next to his desk. He felt bad, throwing away someone else¡¯s clothes but giving them back just wasn¡¯t feasible. Just as he was about to step out of his room, he heard a familiar knock on his window. Jason spun around like a top, seeing the shadow by his window. Slowly walking over, he lifted the blinds, and of course, found Jillian standing outside. He gave her a small glare as he hesitated. ¡°Why the hell is she here? Haven¡¯t I been tormented enough for today?¡± But he opened the window to speak to her, intending to end the conversation quick. ¡°What are you doing? Why don¡¯t you just use the door like a normal person?¡± he asked, sounding a little indignant. ¡°Shut up and just listen,¡± Jillian shot back, causing Jason to blink back hard at her bluntness. ¡°Jason, I¡¯m sorry. Like, really, really sorry for not realizing just what went on between us today. And I mean us, not June, you and me. I think you¡¯re very sexy and I want to kiss your handsome face many more times as well.¡± She spoke rapidly, like she was trying to cover all her bases as quickly as possible. ¡°What the¡hell? That¡¯s not what I¡¡± Jason muttered, mouth slightly agape, utterly confused by her sudden confession. Jillian let out a huff. ¡°Look, if you¡¯re willing to give me one more shot to prove myself to you. I will show you just how much you mean to me. So leave your window unlocked tonight. Okay? I¡¯ll see you later.¡± With that, she abruptly took off and ran back towards her home. Jason watched as the redhead dashed down the street, feeling a bit shellshocked by the sudden bombardment of information he was hit with. He shook his head, closed his window, and was about to close the blinds. Glancing at the lock, he hesitated for a moment before absentmindedly flicking it back and forth, leaving it at what he thought was locked while he became lost in thought. ¡°I should just let it go. Things will only get worse if I let her back in¡sorry Jillian, I hope you can forget about me and focus on your sister. She needs you more than I do,¡± his thoughts wore heavily on him but he made his decision, he just hoped it was the right one. ¡°Jason, honey, dinner¡¯s ready,¡± his mom called from down the hall. He tore his gaze away from the window and headed to join her. Entering the kitchen, he was greeted by the sight of a modest plate of homemade fried chicken and a medley of veggies waiting on the table. ¡°Looks incredible, Mom,¡± he said, taking a seat. Katia smiled and joined him at the table. ¡°Thank you, sweetheart.¡± They ate in comfortable silence for a while, Jason making quick work of his meal as usual. ¡°So, how did today go?¡± His mom finally asked. Jason shrugged, which made Katia frown a bit. ¡°Did something bad happen?¡± she asked, curious and worried. ¡°No, it went fine. June came with us, though,¡± he explained, noticing his mom¡¯s surprise at that. He recounted most of what had happened, leaving out a few details. ¡°So then June actually yelled out some numbers,¡± he said, making Katia gasp in surprise. ¡°She actually spoke!?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°Mmhmm,¡± he confirmed with a mouth full of chicken. ¡°Oh my gosh, I bet Ginny is so ecstatic!¡± Katia said, smiling at the thought of that phone conversation. After dinner, they decided to simply relax on the couch and watch a movie together. His mom nodded off about thirty minutes in, her head resting on his arm, passed out. Watching her sleep for a moment, he couldn¡¯t help but remember his time with Jillian on this same couch. It made him wonder if his mom ever found someone after his dad that she liked. The thought of her being lonely made him sad. He hoped she had things to keep her occupied while he was away. Yet the thought of someone dating his mother made him feel a bit¡ itchy. It was the best way he could put it. He turned off the TV and gently tried to wake her. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s time for bed,¡± he said, even though it was only around eight. She almost always woke up early in the morning, as far as he could remember. Katia only whimpered and snuggled closer. ¡°Mmm, Frankie...¡± she murmured in her sleep, putting a hand on his leg. His hand moved at near the speed of light, grabbing her wrist before it could move any further up. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough of that, thank you very much,¡± Jason said, gently removing his mother¡¯s hand from his leg. Moving himself off the couch, he smoothly maneuvered his arms under her and lifted her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you into bed,¡± he whispered to her softly. Katia wrapped her arms around his neck as he walked down the hall. She hugged him tightly, face buried in his chest, mumbling his father¡¯s name again. With a heavy sigh, he entered his mother¡¯s room, being careful not to bump into anything as he carried her. Then attempting to lay her down on the bed. "Come on, it¡¯s time to let go,¡± he murmured softly as she still clung to him. ¡°Frank¡no¡don¡¯t go,¡± Katia sadly pleaded with him. Tears started escaping from the corners of her eyes, running down the sides of her face. ¡°Mom, please¡ I¡¯m not dad...Dad is- Frank is gone,¡± he mumbled, his own heart heavy with the reminder. His words seemed to reach her, and her arms slowly loosened, though the tears kept flowing drop after drop. Grabbing a tissue from the nightstand, he dabbed away her tears. Letting out another sigh and frowning. He gently comforted her, reaching out and softly stroking her arm, wishing he could do more to ease her pain. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom... I would trade places with him if I could,¡± he whispered with a small frown. Truly if it meant his father coming back, Jason would gladly give up his life. As he tucked her in, she hugged a pillow tight against herself. ¡°Goodnight, Mom, love you,¡± he whispered, before quietly slipping out and closing the door behind him. Jason threaded his hands into his hair, tugging at it slightly. What the fuck was he doing? His mother was suffering all alone for all these years, and here he was feeling sorry for himself over some girl that just wanted him for his body. Just like all the rest. Several thoughts raced through his mind in that brief span. The idea of quitting his job and moving back home came into his mind. Or maybe he should push his mom to move to Florida even harder? Should he tell Jillian he needed to focus more on his mom than her if she asks why his window was locked? Or should he just say fuck it all and keep living his life as he was? His head throbbed as he wracked his brain for the right answer. He eventually just let out a long drawn-out sigh and went back to his room. Quickly stripping off every piece of clothing, he crawled into bed and under the covers. Yet another day passed where he was uncertain about the future. How did he go from feeling so sure and confident about his life to this mess he called a vacation? Weren¡¯t vacations supposed to be relaxing and fun? Why was this one driving him fucking insane? Chapter 26: Whispers of an Angel, Kiss From a Rose, Throat of the GOAT. Laying in bed for over an hour, praying for sleep. Jason¡¯s mind was a flurry of thoughts until mental exhaustion finally overtook him and he drifted off to sleep. His dreams were anything but pleasant: His father¡¯s passing, his mother¡¯s grief, and almost all of high school. All of it came back to torment him. Haunted by ghostly figures of classmates who had nothing but eyes on their face, lined the halls as he walked through the school. They still somehow insulted and berated him, their words coming out as vicious screams. the worse part was the sound of his mother crying in the distance. The weight of it all pressed down on him. Trying to run faster only made the phantoms of Jason¡¯s past start laughing and spit even meaner insults at him. The desperate need to get out of that place driving him forward. He had to keep running. He needed to go faster, yet he was still going as slow as before. The harder he tried to run the more his body started swelling, becoming bigger, fatter. Quickly becoming a bloated, disgusting blob of flesh that jiggled and shook as tried to run, weighing him down more and more with each passing second. The laughter growing louder in his ears. Soon his flesh was dragging on the floor, slowing him down even further. A sudden flash drew Jason¡¯s attention to the end of the hall. He saw a figure was standing in front of a bright light that made him squint. It was near impossible to make out who or what it was due to the intensity. All the while, his body continued to swell. It was folding over his eyes now as he reached out for the figure. Somehow, he knew it was his only hope. But as he grew too heavy to move anymore, he fell forward. His mass of flesh pinning him to the floor. ¡°Help¡ please!¡± Jason cried out to the figure. It watched him with sad eyes, as he was slowly crushed under his own weight. He clenched his eyes shut and cried out in pain while the phantoms continued to mock him mercilessly. The lone figure slowly reached out, somehow so close to him now. The pale hand reached him easily and lightly caressed his cheek. His eyes opened wide, his vision no longer hindered, as all the excess fat and flesh vanished instantly. Jason gazed up at the figure from the floor, still cloaked in shadow. ¡°W-who are you?¡± He asked, feeling the soft, warm hand rest against his cheek. Everything had gone silent, the ghosts fading away before his eyes. There was a small giggle before the figure spoke to him softly. ¡°Let me help you.¡±

Jolting upright, Jason woke up with a heavy gasp, like he had been holding his breath. Drenched in a cold sweat, clutching his blanket tight. His eyes were wide with panic as he gazed into the blackness of his room. His whole body shuddering in fear. The dreams still felt so vivid, so real. ¡°Fuck¡ what a nightmare.¡± He mumbled to himself looking at his shaking hands still gripping his blanket. ¡°Jason, are you alright?¡± the same voice from his dream asked him. His head quickly turned to see someone sitting beside him in the dark on the bed. His first reaction was more fear, but as he saw the glint of eyes filled with concern looking back at him. The fear quickly faded. Jason blinked several times and rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision of watery tears. Eventually, the silhouette of Jillian sitting next to him became clear. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, its natural frizz poofing out at the end. She had her large hoodie on, obscuring most of her body. He stared at her in stunned silence for several long moments. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? Say something, please,¡± Jillian pleaded, frowning in worry. Jason hadn¡¯t said anything for almost a minute now. ¡°J-Jillian? What are you¡H-how did you?¡± he stammered, still catching his breath. She let out a small breath of relief when he finally spoke. Locking eyes with him, she gave him a small smile. ¡°I told you I¡¯d be here if you kept your window unlocked. But first answer me Jason, are you alright? You are soaked with sweat, and you were tossing and turning pretty violently. You almost gave me a heart attack when you woke up so suddenly, too.¡± A little fear tinting her words, but she was more worried than anything. Jillian reached out, and the familiar sensation of her hand pressing against his cheek. Flinching instinctively, he pushed her hand away. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡¡± his words were a little sharp. ¡°I-¡ I was just having some messed up dreams, that¡¯s all.¡± He muttered, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. Looking down at his hand, it was still shaking slightly, frowning deeply. Jillian frowned as well, but slowly got to her feet. Jason wasn¡¯t really paying attention to what she was doing at this point, plus it was dark. He felt a shiver run through him from the cold sweat on his body. She climbed onto the bed on her knees. ¡°Let me help you¡¡± Jillian¡¯s voice was soft and soothing. Watching her climb onto his bed, he peered into her eyes, one of the few things he could see clearly in the dark room. ¡°Help me? I don¡¯t need your help I... wait, why are you here again? I know you said you¡¯d be here, but why?¡± He argued, scowling at her, prompting her to let out a sigh. ¡°Because I messed up earlier,¡± she confessed, ¡°I got so caught up with everything that happened with June... I somehow forgot about us.¡± She crawled closer to Jason, reaching out to touch his cheek again. Jason tried to lean back, but he got trapped again the wall next to his bed. ¡°Us? There is no us Jillian.¡± he said defiantly. Jillian¡¯s hand reached his cheek, and her nails lightly dragged along his stubble. ¡°That¡¯s not true¡¡± whispering to him, as she got even closer. ¡°Please, Jason...Just let me make it up to you. Let me help you,¡± she pleaded. Those words and her hand against his cheek made his whole body shudder, but in a way that was surprisingly pleasant. His nightmare suddenly came back to him, and he half expected himself to swell up with fat, but he never did. This was no longer a dream. Still, remembering the voice and the hand that touched his cheek in his dream. It became clear that she had been the one in his dream. She had been the one salvation, the only one that looked at him with kindness. But he didn¡¯t understand why. It had been the complete opposite back in school. But it didn¡¯t change the facts. It didn¡¯t change how he still felt about her. Jason reached up and gently took her wrist, making her eyes meet his in worry. ¡°Jason?¡± her words came out scared with the fear he would send her away. She knew that if he rejected her this time. That was it. They would really be over and done with. Jason closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, holding it as silence filled the room. The dim moonlight framed his face through the blinds. His expression became a mask of serene calmness as he let his breath out slowly. A few strands of dark hair falling over his forehead, still damp with sweat. He finally opened his eyes again, letting the soft light reflect off the deep green orbs of his eyes. ¡°I... I want you. I don¡¯t know how or why, but I want you so fucking bad,¡± he confessed, bringing a soft smile to her face. ¡°But¡¡± He paused, and Jillian tilted her head, looking at him. ¡°I feel like¡ if we take this step...I don¡¯t know if I will be able to separate the physical...from emotional feelings.¡± His mask of calmness was now gone as he looked away, replaced by a look of embarrassment. Jillian¡¯s eyes widened at Jason¡¯s words. ¡°He¡¯s afraid that if we have sex¡ he will fall for me?¡± The thought made her face burn hot with so many different emotions. She told him before they could just fool around with no strings attached. And she had been fine with that. She thought she was still fine with that. But hearing that he might want more than just sex forced her to ask herself the question. ¡°Do I want that?¡± The two sat in silence for a long time, neither able to look at the other now. She hadn¡¯t planned on falling for anyone when she offered that deal to Jason. Yeah, she wanted to be someone he could trust¡ but a relationship. Her heart thudded hard in her chest, thinking about what they might become. ¡°Um, do you¡ not want anything more?¡± She bit her lip at the question. Not sure if she even wanted to hear his answer. He finally met her gaze again, a stunned look at the return question. ¡°Oh¡ well¡ I thought you¡ didn¡¯t want¡ that.¡± He said slowly, now unable to look away as they sat face to face on his bed. Jillian hesitated and sucked on her lips nervously. ¡°Umm, well I mean, Heh.¡± She paused after letting out the nervous chuckle, face hot with emotion. ¡°It¡¯s not something I expected to hear from you to be honest¡not that I¡¯m upset about it.¡± She said, a soft smile on her face. Though they couldn¡¯t see each other¡¯s faces clearly, there was this new tension between them as silence overtook them again. While the two remained quiet, Jillian seemed to come to a decision about what she wanted to do. She reached up and placed both hands on his shoulders. ¡°What are you¡¡± Jason started, but paused as she was suddenly in his lap, straddling him. Separated by only his blanket. Her hands gripped his shoulders tight. ¡°Jason...I¡I think I could be happy¡ being yours¡ but I don¡¯t think you want someone like me,¡± she suddenly confessed. ¡°Huh¡ what do you mean?¡± Jason asked as confusion set in, feeling her trembling slightly in his lap. ¡°The Jillian I show you¡that¡¯s just the small part of myself I allow you to see,¡± she paused, sniffing back tears. ¡°That day at graduation¡you were right, so right, it hurts.¡± Jillian leaned into him, burying her face in his chest. ¡°You aren¡¯t making sense. What about graduation?¡± Jason could barely remember that day anymore. All he knew was that it was the last time he saw her. One of the most freeing days of his life. Yet she was shedding tears thinking about it. She sniffed loudly before she continued. ¡°You told me how my life would be one big mess, that I would fail at everything¡ that I was going to suffer... and you were right¡ It all came true.¡± She whimpered sadly. She had replayed his words from that day so many times in her head, but this was the first time she said them aloud. She cried, she sobbed heavy, painful tears into his bare chest. All Jason could do was sit there as she gripped his shoulders tight, nails digging into his skin. There was really only one thing he felt he could do at this point. Jason gently wrapped his arms around Jillian¡¯s waist and pulled her against him. Jillian tensed up as Jason touched her, then relaxed a bit, her nails easing up on his skin. ¡°S-sorry.¡± She apologized. ¡°After high school I¡ I started talking with a guy online¡ I thought he would take care of me. And I didn¡¯t want to be a burden anymore, so I left my family for him¡ I never even said goodbye¡to anyone¡I just took what I could¡ and left,¡± her voice cracking at the end as tears fell in rapid succession. ¡°He took care of me¡ But once I gave up everything he asked me too¡He used me¡ He used my body for whatever sick and twisted pleasures whenever¡ however he wanted¡and I let him.¡± Jillian¡¯s grip on his shoulders tightened again as she sobbed. Jason just seemed to take it without complaint as he let her talk. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Jillian sniffed before continuing. ¡°I spent years simply obeying until I felt so fed up I tried to run away several times. He kept finding me and bringing me back. I barely managed to escape one night and finally made it back home this year¡ He is still probably looking for me¡I don¡¯t want to put you in danger or regret being with someone so used up and worthless.¡± Her hands lost their grip, sliding down to rest on his chest. Her small body still trembled in his arms. Turning her head, she rested her cheek against his chest. ¡°You deserve someone better, someone that isn¡¯t so broken. I won¡¯t blame you if change your mind¡ I am just thankful that you put up with me for this long.¡± She held onto him tightly, waiting for a response, but Jason stayed silent for what felt like forever. Slowly, she looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I upset you...I-if you want, I still don¡¯t mind if you use me just for sex... I just want you to know who I am,¡± she whimpered, closing her eyes as more tears leaked out, running down her face. When Jason finally spoke, it was in a shaky tone. ¡°Why¡Why would you offer me something like that? After all you have been through¡why?¡± he asked, his voice going quiet at the end with a deep scowl. ¡°¡what?¡± Jillian looked up at him, surprised at the question but immediately figuring he was grossed out by her now. ¡°I am sorry¡I can just go-¡± ¡°Thats not what I want!¡± He cut her off suddenly, arms tightening around her. ¡°B-but.¡± She stammered. ¡°Please, just answer the question Jill.¡± He was looking down at her now and it felt like his gaze was boring into her soul. Jillian took several moments before speaking again. ¡°Jason¡I¡¯ve barely had the courage to talk with any guys since I got back. Hell, I barely speak to the guys that work at Mika¡¯s¡Men¡ Men scare me.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like something she would say with how flirty she was with him. But the scared look on her face didn¡¯t seem the least bit fake. The scene at the buffet suddenly coming to his mind. The terrified look she had while that creep was staring at her. It made sense now. ¡°You¡you are the first guy that I have been close to in a long time¡¡± Jillian¡¯s arms slowly wrapped around his chest as much as they could. ¡°When we laid together that first night¡I had never felt so safe simply laying there with you. I wished I could feel like that every night¡I still feel that way, each time you hold me in your arms.¡° Lowering her gaze, she pressed her cheek back against his chest. There was a long silence after that. She had shared so much with him, so much pain, that he didn¡¯t even realize he had been clenching his fists nearly the whole time. His fists slowly relaxed as his large hands pressed against her back, pulling her close again. Jillian looked up at him once more. His face creased into a deep frown. ¡°J-Jason?¡± her voice was quiet and wary, yet with him holding her like he was, she felt just as she said. Safe. ¡°I want to tell you the truth about how I lost my virginity Jill¡¡± Jason said before he took a deep breath, steeling his nerves. The courage that Jillian showed him by telling him so much. It made the decision to share his own story easier. Jillian leaned back slightly, quickly wiping her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have too Jason¡ I understand,¡± she said, reaching up and placing a hand on his cheek, using her thumb to stroke it softly. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he shook his head. ¡°I want to¡Just¡ give me a moment.¡± He said, taking another quick breath. Jillian nodded at him. ¡°Take your time,¡± whispering sweetly to him, giving her full attention. He obviously didn¡¯t want her to leave, which tentatively meant there was something more between them still. ¡°I¡ I went to a bar with my friend. But when he left, some strange lady approached me. She kept flirting with me, and trying to buy me drinks. No matter how many times I told her no or was rude to her, she just kept pushing¡ I¡I didn¡¯t see it. But I know she put something into my drink¡¡± He paused when Jillian let out a small gasp, removing her arms from around his chest to cover her mouth with both hands. ¡°Y-you were...¡± she said in shock. Staring up at him with wide eyes. Jason nodded only once, slowly. ¡°As I leave, I suddenly feel like I had just had ten shots of whiskey injected into my veins. She is right there to basically catch me as it hits¡ And that¡¯s it.¡± Grimacing at the retelling. The second time wasn¡¯t any easier for him. ¡°The next thing I know¡I am waking up in a motel room¡Naked, still wearing a condom,¡± he said, biting the inside of his cheek as hard as he could, trying to contain his emotions. Jillian reached halfway for him, to comfort him with her touch, but then thought better of touching him at this point. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Jason...¡± Her words were soft and filled with sympathy, as she grasped why he had gotten so upset that day she pushed for him to share. She felt a wave of nausea, realizing that Jason¡¯s first time was literally raped from him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize¡ I don¡¯t even remember it happening, but you spent years suffering...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. Just because yours was less time than mine doesn¡¯t make it less painful.¡± She interrupted, scowling at him for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s not a competition Jason¡ But thank you for telling me. It means a lot that you told me.¡± She tried to give him a smile, but it ended up being bittersweet. ¡°You¡ don¡¯t think I¡¯m pathetic or weak?¡± He had to ask, but all he got was a glare in return. ¡°Of course not! You were drugged, for christ¡¯s sake. If anyone is pathetic, it¡¯s that stupid bitch who did it.¡± There was an anger in Jillian¡¯s tone that was almost comforting to hear. Jason could feel his heart thud in his chest once more. There was a brief hesitation before he reached up and placed a hand on her cheek. It was second nature for Jillian to lean into his touch. Her gaze still locked on his. ¡°Jill, you¡you drive me crazy, but I don¡¯t think you are broken. A broken person couldn¡¯t come back from the depths of hell you endured and still be so alive.¡± He wasn¡¯t the best at emotional conversations, but he tried at least. ¡°While I am being honest, I need to get this out¡ I can¡¯t get you out of my mind, you are all i think about anymore. Every morning I wake up and you are my first thought. Before I fall asleep, your face is the last thing I see. It¡¯s driving me insane. You drive me crazy and I just¡can¡¯t stop thinking about you.¡± He let out a deep breath, feeling rather embarrassed. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but bite her lip and smile at him. Staring up at him as a rush of longing coursed through her. ¡°I love it when you say that,¡± she responded in a quiet, sultry tone. ¡°You drive me crazy,¡± Jason repeated, that same charming smile she adored so much finally coming back to his face. ¡°Mmm yeah, say it slower,¡± Jillian said, giggling softly. The two shared a moment where they just gazed at one another, both feeling a million times lighter with all the weight off their shoulders. Without another word, Jillian slowly leaned in, closed her eyes, and tilted her head back with overly puckered lips, not unlike how Jason had kissed her that very first time. She wasn¡¯t quite tall enough to kiss his lips on her own from where she was sitting. Thankfully, Jason was ready and waiting. Tilting his head forward, he met her halfway, their lips coming together in a rather loud and puckered kiss. The two opened their eyes and shared a small laugh. Now close enough to see the other¡¯s eyes clearly in the darkness. Simply smiling at each other in the silence. There were no more words needed. They both knew what the other wanted. And they shared the same desire. Closing the short distance between them. Their lips came together again in a slow collision, and the two were soon locked in a deep, passionate kiss. Jason¡¯s arms were wrapped tightly around her, one hand trailing up her back, finding its way into her hair, pulling her even deeper into the kiss. Jillian¡¯s arms quickly moved to wrap around his neck. As they melted against each other, the sounds of their kissing filled the silence of the room. A pleasurable groan escaped him as she sucked in a breath through her nose and pulled herself up. Her tongue slipped past their lips and into his mouth. Jason welcomed it, his tongue reciprocating with enthusiasm. Their tongues danced together in a tantalizing rhythm. Jillian let out a desperate moan as his tongue swirled around hers before he moved to suck on her lower lip, dragging his teeth along it lightly. Her whole body shivered, the heat in her abdomen burning so hot, her hips moved on their own, grinding against his lap. They eventually broke apart after several minutes to catch their breath. ¡°Wow... You¡¯ve gotten a lot better,¡± Jillian panted out, her lips still tingling from the kiss. Jason laughed a little in response, breathing heavily as well. ¡°Thanks, I had a good teacher,¡± he said with a grin, leaning in for another kiss as she giggled softly. ¡°Well you were a good student,¡± she admitted as they parted once more. They gazed into each other¡¯s eyes for a long moment before her expression changed slightly. ¡°Are you sure about this, Jason? Sorry but... I just want to be sure you¡¯re really okay with¡ someone like me,¡± Jillian said softly, sounding like she was shy of all things. Jason couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little. ¡°Are you trying to talk me out of it?¡± he teased, to which she quickly shook her head. ¡°N-no! Not at all...well maybe I am a little, I want it¡I really, really want it... I¡¯m just not used to¡ all of this,¡± she said, nervously biting her lower lip. ¡°This?¡± Jason questioned. ¡°Just¡ Having a guy treat me like¡ like I am more than just my body. That doesn¡¯t make me feel bad for who I am. Yeah, we fight a lot, but the fact that you are still here, that you still want me¡ for more than just sex¡¡± she explained, her breath quickening. ¡°I¡¯m... happy... like stupidly happy. I am afraid this happiness is all just a crazy dream and I am going to wake up alone in that hellhole¡ But even if it is, and my days are numbered before I wake up¡ I want to spend them with you Jason,¡± she finished, leaning in to kiss him again, softly and sweetly. Parting once more, she could barely see the slightly stunned look on his face. ¡°Jill, I... I hated you... I hated you for so, so long. You unknowingly dictated my life with the things you did¡ But only recently, I realized I only hated the thought of you, the person who only lives in my memories now. Her words, the things she did, who she was,¡± Jason confessed, seeing her visibly shrink at his words, obviously ashamed of her past actions. But something in his words and the way he spoke caught her attention. ¡°But the Jill I know now... She¡¯s obsessed with protecting her little sister, loves her friends and family deeply, and is loved by them. She owns up to her mistakes and apologizes for them¡eventually. Even if that first apology was kinda lousy,¡± Jason said with a teasing smile. Jillian lowered her head and fiddled with her hoodie strings, looking up at him with a playful glare and sticking her tongue out. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°But honestly, I see who you are now, and I admire that woman tremendously. All the work you¡¯ve done to try and be better and do right by your family. It all...¡± Jason¡¯s voice trailed off as he reached up and cupped her cheek, lifting her gaze to his. Gently caressing her freckled cheek with his thumb. ¡°It all made me realize I can¡¯t deny how I feel any longer. I¡¯ve been trying to fight off these feelings, but I just can¡¯t anymore. I want this, Jill¡I want you.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure how he managed to get all that out, but the words just seemed to come to him one after another. The two gazed at each other in the dim light, silently observing one another. Tears welled up in Jillian¡¯s eyes once more. It felt like nobody truly understood her for who she was. People always reduced to her superficial traits: red hair, small chest, large butt, mean, selfish, moody. If more people looked a bit closer, maybe they¡¯d see what he saw. Her complexity, her bitterness, her frustration with the unfair world around her. ¡°Thank you,¡± Jillian murmured weakly to Jason, before reaching out and grabbing his face. They both leaned in for a deep kiss. Happy tears continued to streak down her face as their lips met. The soft, smacking sounds seemed so loud now. It didn¡¯t take long for them both to feel the burgeoning arousal between them. Breaking the kiss, Jillian held up a finger, signaling for Jason to wait. She quickly moved off Jason¡¯s lap and bed, walking over to the window and pulling open the blinds fully to let in more moonlight. She wanted him to see what came next. Jillian looked outside for a moment, smiling and taking in the beauty of the stars looking down on her. She turned back to Jason, wiping her face of tears with her sleeve before reaching down to grab the hem of her hoodie. Slowly lifting the fabric. First, a pair of skimpy purple lace panties were revealed, followed by a matching see-through bra that clung to her chest. Then, a piece of sheer fabric that hung over the outfit fell to just barely hide her body as she stood there in the negligee. In the moonlit room, Jason could just barely make out the outlines of her hard nipples under the bra that was more for show than support. The lacy panties were a size too small, and they hugged her wide hips, the string waistband sinking into the plump flesh of her hips, turning him on almost instantly. Pulling out her hair tie and running her fingers through her hair, she let it fall loosely around her. The pale glow of her skin caught the moonlight as she stared at him like a predator. Jason sat there, completely awestruck by Jillian¡¯s appearance, as his cock surged to life under the blanket. She looked absolutely stunning standing before him. He never once imagined finding himself in this situation, yet here he was, sitting naked under the covers while Jillian Lins stood in front of him in sexy underwear. His desire was undeniable, evident by the way the blanket tented in his lap. She cleared her throat softly, breaking his trance. ¡°So... do you like it?¡± she asked a hint of shyness in her voice, but a small smile flashed on her lips as she glanced down at his erection. Not bothering to explain that she borrowed the outfit from her mother, like most of the fancy clothes she wore for him. He could only nod dumbly at first, blinking hard as he tried to get control of his senses. ¡°Uhhh.¡± Clearing his throat, he lifted his knee to hide his arousal from showing under the blanket. ¡°I do¡you look... really good," was all he managed to say. Jillian raised an eyebrow at his response, her lips giving a small pout as he hid his erection. ¡°Just good?¡± she teased, giggling as she moved closer to the bed. ¡°No, I mean yes, but not just good. You look awesome. No wait! Fuck.¡± Jason fumbled his words badly. All the elegant prose from earlier gone as the blood that helped his brain function was directed to a different head at the moment. Jillian just giggled cutely at his reaction and flashed him a smile. ¡°Relax, it¡¯s alright, I like good, I can tell you like it in, mmm other ways. Now, why don¡¯t you show me rather than tell me?¡± She cooed, stepping forward, reaching out and slowly pulling the blanket away from his lap. It was clear that the time for talk was over. Her hungry eyes moved from his face to his lap. At first, he held onto the blanket but gave it up after the second tug, letting the blanket slide off his lap. His crotch was slowly exposed, and his girthy cock fell back as it was freed from the covers. She let out a light gasp when she saw he wasn¡¯t wearing underwear. "Oh, fuck¡¡± her words were full of lust as she wet her lips, staring directly at his dick. ¡°Well, look at that... Were you naked waiting for me?¡± she teased, tossing the blanket aside, leaving Jason fully exposed. Climbing onto the bed, she locked eyes with Jason. ¡°Ummm, actually I¡¡± He paused, debating in his head for a moment as she looked at him with an adorable look of curiosity. ¡°Should I tell her? Fuck, she is so cute right now¡I have to be honest, though.¡± Even in this situation, Jason was still his same awkward self. Clearing his throat, he continued. ¡°I thought¡ I had locked the window.¡± His words made Jillian freeze for a moment. ¡°You thought you kept the window¡locked.¡± Part of her felt a bit hurt at this news. ¡°Why would you tell me that?¡± She asked, frowning slightly. Jason did as well. ¡°It¡ didn¡¯t feel right hiding it from you. I don¡¯t like secrets, and I hate lying.¡± He explained, and Jillian sat back on her calves between his legs. ¡°If it means anything, I am truly thankful that it ended up not being locked.¡± He said softly, reaching a hand out for her to take if she still wanted it. Jillian looked down at his hand, and after a moment passed, she started laughing. ¡°That is¡ just so you, Jason.¡± She grinned up at him. ¡°I am a little hurt you locked it, but I think I can figure out a way for you to make it up to me.¡± She said with a wink. Leaning forward, she placed her hands atop of his thighs. Looking into his eyes, she licked her lips again. ¡°I want to show you what I can do for you, Jason. Will you let me?¡± She asked with some modesty. She didn¡¯t need to explain to him what she wanted. The way her eyes kept flicking down to his exposed erection like it was a magnet she had to pull her eyes away from made everything clear. Jason nodded only once, feeling his heart beating so hard it was almost painful. Jillian''s grin widened, letting her hand slide up his thigh. Reaching his crotch, she slowly started to trace the ridges and veins of his shaft. The soft pads of her fingers ran up his length until she reached the tip of his penis. His whole body flinched slightly as the finger traced the flange of his tip. Moving her other hand in to explore his cock, running up and down the soft yet hard length. Wrapping both hands around it, both of her hands stacked on the base didn¡¯t even reach his tip. Her breathing started to quicken as she felt him throb with excitement in her grasp. ¡°God Jason... I have been dreaming about this day. It¡¯s such a nice shape and size, my heart is beating so fast.¡± She nearly moaned out, lowering herself as she laid down on her stomach between his legs as she played with him, looking fascinated. Meanwhile, he was more than struggling to maintain his composure. ¡°So I guess that means you ngh¡ like it?¡± he said, letting out small grunts as the effect of her touch caused him to twitch like crazy. The way her fingers were teasing each one of his sensitive areas was like magic. It was so much different compared to when he touched himself. Her hand slid down to the base of his length, moving to gently grasp his balls. ¡°Ah!¡± Jason suddenly let out a small yelp in surprise. Jillian pulled her hands away suddenly and looked up at him. She saw him clenching jaw slightly. ¡°Sorry, I tried to be gentle. Do you want me to stop?¡± she asked, concerned. He shook his head quickly. ¡°No... they are just¡ sensitive.¡± He almost went into an explanation of how he had taken a few low blows during a fight once. And how they have been overly sensitive ever since, but it seemed like a bad time. Jillian nodded in understanding, slowly bringing her hand back to his shaft, making a mental note of that little detail for later. ¡°How about I just get to it for you?¡± she asked playfully. ¡°Would you like to watch me struggle to fit your big fucking cock down my tight little throat?¡± Jason blinked, a bit caught off guard by her sudden dirty talk. ¡°Uh yes¡I mean, if you want?¡± he said awkwardly, feeling immediate regret at his words. Smacking his forehead, he leaned his head back against the wall. ¡°Sorry¡¡± he replied, a bit disheartened as he was ruining the moment. It really wasn¡¯t much of a surprise; Jillian knew he didn¡¯t really have any experience in this kind of situation. Honestly, she found it kind of cute, how this big buff man could be so awkward when it came to sex and intimacy. ¡°Jason, it¡¯s okay, just try to relax,¡± she reassured him. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one that¡¯s going to enjoy this, I promise. I wasn¡¯t lying when I first offered my mouth to you. I really love doing this.¡± She flashed him a grin, pushing herself up to rest her arms on his thighs. Her backside popped up like two smooth, freckled mountains, the lacy underwear straining to contain them. Jillian moved her face closer to his crotch, her small hand wrapped around the base of his erection, guiding it to stand straight. Softly pressing her face against his length, taking in a deep breath through her nose. Her lips rubbed softly against the underside, her eyes never looking away from his. The overpowering scent of musk and pre-cum sent waves of pleasure through her body. ¡°Oh fuck...ah¡± she moaned, closing her eyes as her warm breath against his sensitive flesh caused Jason to shudder. Jillian opened her eyes again and looked up at him. Her face was still lovingly pressed against his cock. ¡°Jason... I want to please you. I want to service you, to show you just how much I crave you. Let me be your real first for everything.¡± She said earnestly. The anticipation alone was making Jillian¡¯s pussy drip with her arousal, soaking the lace panties. There wasn¡¯t much to them, so they were quickly drenched, clinging to her labia. Jason was gripping the sheets of his bed, trying to keep from blowing his load prematurely. There was just so much happening, and he was quickly overwhelmed by new sensations. Jillian¡¯s hand pumped gently at the base, tenderly working the shaft while she pressed loud, smacking kisses to his frenulum and down his erection. His head was already swimming with pleasure when he finally realized what she said. ¡°Wha- you... want to be my first?¡± he asked in a daze. She nodded, making her lips graze his tip a few times. ¡°Yeah... Y-you can be my first, Jill, Nngh¡± he groaned, still clenching the sheets of his bed, not sure where to put his hands. Jill smiled brightly. ¡°Thank you, Ja¡ª¡± She paused, considering his nickname since he had called her Jill. ¡°Thank you, Jase... Oh, and if you need to cum, just go ahead anytime. I want your first time to be an explosion of pleasure right away. And don¡¯t worry about where or when it happens,¡± she instructed, wetting her lips after she finished talking. At that moment, Jason couldn¡¯t help but wonder what he¡¯d gotten himself into. The hunger she was looking up at him with was a little scary, but also the sexiest thing he¡¯d ever seen as her lips pressed a kiss against the very tip of his dick. She was taking her time, enjoying teasing and worshiping his cock. Jillian pushed herself up a little more and extended her tongue from her half open mouth and let it oh so slowly run around the edges of his tip. She stopped only so she could focus on teasing the most sensitive area on the underside. His whole body tensed as he sucked in a sharp breath, his cock twitching in her grasp. The head swelled as a large bead of pre-cum dribbled out, which was quickly lapped up by her tongue. His unique flavor spread through her mouth, and she shivered in a strange pleasure as the taste and scent filled her senses. Not wasting any time, she teased his opening with her tongue, wriggling against it like she was trying to coax out another bead of pre-cum for her to devour. She wasn¡¯t disappointed as more slowly seeped out with a twitch as she serviced his dick with her tongue. Pausing for just a moment, she placed her lips over the very tip of his cock. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand from the bed suddenly. Surprised, he opened his eyes to look down at what was happening. Letting go of the sheet, she moved his hand up to rest on the back of her neck, her lips never moving from his dick. Giving him a wink, she stared up at him as she very slowly and sensually let her plump lips slide over his girth, quickly wrapping over his entire cockhead. Giving him a firm suck, she eagerly lapped away another drop of his pre-cum. ¡°Oh fuck!¡± Jason breathed out hoarsely, his other hand still clutching the sheet as Jillian began to work her magic on him. The suction, combined with the assault of her tongue attacking his head mercilessly, was enough to drive him crazy already. She let out a muffled laugh at his expression, her lips still wrapped around his large head. With a pop, she pulled off his dick and looked up at him with a mischievous grin, licking all his flavor from her lips. ¡°I love how you taste,¡± she said in a sultry comment. Pulling his cock back a little, she extended her tongue and licked it from base to tip, like she was proving she wasn¡¯t lying. Jason sucked in another sharp breath, leaning his head back against the wall, trying his best not to cum too early, even though she told him to do it whenever. The man inside him still resisted, even though he was more than ready to blow his load at any moment. ¡°That¡¯s... good to hear, I guess,¡± he managed to say between breaths, the hand on the back of her neck, lightly pulling her head against his shaft as she licked. Exactly how she wanted him, too. ¡°Mmm, but now I want to show you what I can really do. You ready?¡± Jillian asked sweetly, wanting to take it slow for him, but she was champing at the bit to get his cock back in her mouth and down her throat. ¡°Sure, whatever you want, I guess,¡± Jason replied, a bit breathless, his continued uncertainty catching her attention. ¡°Jase, baby, I know this is all new for you, but you don¡¯t have to be afraid to ask for what you want. This is a team effort, and I want you to be comfortable. I don¡¯t mind teaching for now, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll figure it out as we go along. I know you are a fast learner,¡± she reassured him with a sweet smile. Her mind suddenly wandered, wondering where she could get a sexy teacher¡¯s outfit. Jason nodded, but the first thought that went through his head was. ¡°Baby?¡± The pet name caught him unprepared. He understood her efforts to help him along, and he was grateful for it. He¡¯d never experienced pleasure like this before. It was so far beyond what he could give himself. Back in college, he¡¯d been scared off by a study he read about frequent masturbation lowering testosterone levels. Since then, for about six years, he hardly touched himself¡ªmaybe once or twice a month, if at all. Even when he did, he found masturbation very difficult. Along with his poor body image, it just made him feel guilty like he could be doing something more productive instead of debasing himself for a fleeting moment of pleasure. Porn had been a fleeting interest. Being a male, he enjoyed the eye candy, but going back to his other issue, it only served to frustrate him more. Now that he had a beautiful redhead treating his cock like some sacred object that she was in love with, he found himself overly sensitive. His balls swelled with unspent cum, just waiting to be unleashed at the right time and stimulation. Jillian was carefully watching his every expression as she teased him. She was desperate to know exactly what made him feel the most pleasure. ¡°I¡¯m going to suck your cock for real now, Jason,¡± she warned with a playful smirk before sliding her lips over Jason¡¯s head again, slowly taking the thick length deeper and deeper. ¡°Mmmph,¡± she let out a desperate moan as she attempted to push him down past the entrance of her throat. Unlike the man she was with before, this cock was big and thick, much more than she was used to. Still, Jillian was anything but a quitter and quite skilled at giving head. As she forced herself down further and further, feeling the pulsing girth stretch her throat. She managed to take him over halfway on her first try to accommodate his dick. She could feel her juices running down the inside of her thighs as her pussy reacted to the sensation. ¡°Ahh, fuck, Jill!¡± Jason moaned, gripping his sheet tightly, and the hand on the back of her head trembled as he tried to resist pulling her down on reflex. As she went further down on him, his hips bucked lightly. The tight warmth squeezed his tip like a fist. She got down just a bit more till she reached a point where her body convulsed, rejecting the foreign object in her throat, making her gag hard. Suddenly, all thoughts of sex vanished from his mind, and concern flashed in Jason¡¯s eyes from the sounds and her reaction. ¡°Shit, are you alright?¡± Jason¡¯s tone was full of worry for her. Quickly pulling her mouth off his cock, Jillian gasped for air, chest heaving, trying to catch her breath. Thick strands of saliva coated his cock and a large glob dangled from her lips. ¡°Fuck¡ it¡¯s so huge,¡± she exclaimed, still trying to catch her breath. ¡°Jill, please be careful, don¡¯t force yourself for my sake,¡± Jason intervened, but she shook her head slightly and gave him a hard, determined stare. ¡°No fucking way, I¡¯m not giving up that easily. You¡¯re sweet, but I promise I¡¯m alright. More than alright really, I love this, I¡¯m just out of practice,¡± she grinned at him, saliva clinging to her lips and chin, making her lips look glossy. Gathering up the thick strands of spit, she quickly covered his shaft with it. Using the saliva as lube, she stroked his entire length from tip to base. Her hand rotated and slipped so smoothly up and down. Jason let out a long groan as the intensity of her hand teased his overly sensitive glans. ¡°Mmm, you sound so sexy when you moan.¡± She teased slightly, winking and making a kiss noise. When she had his cock sufficiently coated, she grinned. ¡°There we go, nice and lubed up.¡± She wasted no time in placing her mouth back on the tip of his cock. Her lips wrapped around and slid down his length lovingly again. Sucking and bobbing up and down a few times for good measure. Jason let out more moans of pleasure as her wild red curls bounced with her head movement. As she opened her throat once more, his cock swiftly disappeared from view. He could feel the tightness of her throat enveloping him as she made every effort to take him deeper. Despite the resistance, she persisted, emitting moans of pleasure mingled with sounds of her gagging from the attempt. The tightness lovingly squeezing his cock, caused him to let out another strained groan. His whole body clenched as he barely resisted cumming down her throat. Her legs shuddered in ecstasy as she managed to take about three-quarters of him this time. Just that much felt like he was fucking her stomach already. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her body started to convulse again as she eased him out this time. The underside of his dick grazed against her throat and past her saliva coated lips, eliciting another sharp intake of breath from him. ¡°I need your help, I can¡¯t do this alone,¡± she said suddenly, gasping for air. Tears had started to stream down her face from the effort, it was quite a sight as she looked to Jason for support. Her face had become a ragged mess of ecstasy and saliva. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± Jason asked, glancing down at her, his own expression rather twisted by the pleasure. ¡°Just push to the back of my head when I start struggling,¡± she explained, making his eyes widen at her request. Did she really want him to push it even deeper? ¡°That¡ sounds kinda intense. You don¡¯t have to go that far for me, I have already almost cum several times. it¡¯s unnecessary,¡± he protested. ¡°You don¡¯t get it! I really fucking want to take the whole thing,¡± she insisted, a crazed look in her eyes. ¡°I want to feel your cock all the way down my throat. My lips wrapped around your base, my nose buried in your crotch. Nngh, fuck, just thinking about it gets me so wet. Please, Jason. Also, I thought I told you to just cum whenever.¡± She pleaded, then scolded him. One of her hands was still pumping his slick, hard shaft expertly as they talked. ¡°Okay ahg¡ fuck that feels good¡ I don¡¯t think I will last another attempt, anyway. I felt like I was about to cum when you were pulling off last time,¡± he warned, but she just grinned at him. ¡°Perfect, if you can, shoot your load down my throat,¡± she said with a wicked grin, licking his flavor from her lips. Jason just couldn¡¯t understand what was going through this girl¡¯s head right now. ¡°As long as she is happy I guess,¡± he thought. Once she caught her breath, Jillian eagerly went back to shoving his cock down her throat. She took him into her mouth again, sliding up and down a few times like before. Then roughly shoved him halfway down her throat which seemed to be acclimating to the feeling after so long. It made him groan loudly as she brought Jason to the very edge of his climax. She then pushed even deeper, this time without as much trouble. Her piercing blue eyes looked up at him the entire time. As she reached the point where she struggled to go further without his help, her watery eyes silently begged for help. If he wasn¡¯t so focused on holding back his orgasm, he would have hesitated more. But he did as he was asked and reached his other hand down to grab the back of her head and pulled her head down. Initially, there was a bit of resistance, but she quickly adjusted and was finally past the last barrier. Her face was buried into his trim pubic hair, emitting muffled moans of intense pleasure. Shoving her free hand down between her legs and under her panties, she attacked her drenched lips. Thighs already sticky from how much she had leaked out. She found her clit with ease, swollen and hyper sensitive as it was. Her legs trembled as her tongue extended and lapped against his balls as much as she could. Jason tangled his fingers in Jillian¡¯s vibrant red curls, pushing her down even harder and making Jillian¡¯s eyes roll back in her head. Releasing an unintentionally prolonged groan of pleasure. ¡°Ahhhg fuck, I¡¯m cu-...¡± His words trailed off as the sensations of her mouth, throat, and tongue sent waves of ecstasy through his body. His balls tightened against his body and he grit his teeth in agonizing bliss. Sensing his impending climax, Jillian pulled back a little before shoving her mouth back down on him. It was all Jason could take. His release exploded deep inside her. Hot, thick ropes of stored cum pulsed out straight into her stomach. Jason grit his teeth, trying not to let his voice get too loud as he moaned in ecstasy. With each spurt he gave, it sent tremors through her body, accompanied by delighted moans of pleasure as her legs quivered. Teasing and pinching her clit, she felt her whole body pulse as her pussy let loose a torrent of girl cum that spilled from her quivering entrance. She quickly started to withdraw, wanting to catch the tail end of his release. He delivered a few more final spurts of cum, which she openly and eagerly accepted into her mouth. Letting the pearly white fluid coat her tongue, playing with it in her mouth. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she gazed up at him giving his tip one last hard suck, trying to get every drop of the precious seed out. She then tenderly kissed his cock, closed her eyes and let out a loud gulp. Every last bit of his seed slipped down her slender throat. She out one last sigh of contentment, smiling happily as she did. ¡°Mmm, thank you.¡± She murmured, licking her lips clean, savoring the moment. Jason leaned back against the wall, breathing heavily after being completely drained by Jillian¡¯s skillful mouth and throat. When she said that she wanted him to finish down her throat, he assumed she was doing it to avoid the taste. But she pulled back intentionally to take some into her mouth and derived a strange pleasure from sucking the last of his cum into her mouth. He felt himself twitch in arousal at the image, even though he had just spent every drop he had saved. ¡°Fuck¡I have never cum that hard¡ in my life,¡± he murmured, unable to articulate much else as he closed his eyes and relaxed his grip on her hair, letting his hands fall to the side. Once he regained some senses he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle a little. ¡°Did you really thank me for sucking my dick?¡± he asked with a smile, opening his eyes to look down at her again. She was still lightly caressing his slowly softening dick. ¡°Absolutely,¡± she answered with a cheeky grin. ¡°I appreciate you for opening up to me and giving me a chance.¡± Her hands moved from his dick and traced along his legs. She pushed herself up, moving to straddle his lap once more. The sticky feeling of her thighs against his wasn¡¯t the most pleasant, but he overlooked it for now. He was in a very accepting mood right now. Their eyes met as she sat up on her knees to get more on eye level with him. ¡°For accepting me for who I am¡ And letting me be your first,¡± she added teasingly, but her tone tinged with sincerity. ¡°Jill...¡± He whispered. ¡°Yeah?¡± She replied softly, leaning in and planting a few kisses on his neck. He was about to say something but then stopped himself. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things. Just be happy for a fucking second, you idiot!¡± Jason scolded himself inwardly, shaking his head at her. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s a stupid thought. But honestly, that was amazing. I came... a ton.¡± He expressed and Jillian giggled a little, nuzzling and pecking his neck a bit more firmly. ¡°Mmmhmm, I came as well when you shot down my throat.¡± Her words hummed against his neck. Pausing, she moved closer and whispered in his ear, ¡°Want to feel how soaked you made me again?¡± Giving his earlobe a playful nibble, sending a shiver down his spine. Tonight was full of new sensations for him. Swallowing loudly, Jason barely responded, ¡°mmhmm.¡± ¡°Then go ahead, feel how soaked you got, my pussy.¡± Jillian let out a soft moan as she ran her tongue along the edge of his ear before sucking gently on the top. His arms slowly reached around her and moved between her legs, finding her sticky thighs, sliding it between her legs. The warmth and wetness that greeted him as he touched the completely drenched panties was honestly shocking. ¡°Holy fuck¡did you spring a leak?¡± he remarked, and she giggled softly again. ¡°Haha, shut up, It¡¯s all your fault anyway. You did this to me,¡± she moaned again as his fingers pushed the panties aside and two fingers slid in between her thick labia for just a moment. When he suddenly pulled his hand away, much to her displeasure. ¡°Hey what gives? Why did you stop?¡± she asked with a pout, leaning back to look at him. ¡°I was too nervous to try it before¡¡± he admitted quietly, bringing his fingers up to his mouth and sucking her juices off his digits. Jillian looked at Jason, a bit stunned, as she watched his mouth suck the remnants of her juices off his fingers. She felt heat in her cheeks, and her abdomen grow at the sight. She spoke up again with nerves evident in her voice. ¡°Well... how is it?¡± She had showered at home before she came over, but she still couldn¡¯t shake the worry that he wouldn¡¯t like how she tasted. ¡°Does it even matter!?¡± her mind panicked a little as it continued to race. ¡°Fuck, I hope he likes it.¡± She wanted him to like everything about her. Which she knew was impossible, but still hoped for it. Jason took his time before answering, finally saying, ¡°It tastes like¡you. That¡¯s the best I can describe it.¡± Jillian gave him a puzzled look. ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ll take that as a compliment?¡± They both chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. There really isn¡¯t much flavor to begin with, and it¡¯s unique. It feels like one of those flavors. The more you have it, the more you like it,¡± Jason added with a smile. ¡°Then I guess I will have to let you taste it more often.¡±She teased giggling a bit. With her worries vanished, she leaned in to kiss his cheek before resting her head on his shoulder. ¡°Hey, Jase?¡± ¡°Yeah, Jill?¡± he responded softly to her whispered question. There was a moment of hesitation before she asked, ¡°Is it okay to feel this happy?¡± Her words were tinged with a hint of worry. Jason paused for a moment, pondering what to say. ¡°I¡I think so. Everyone deserves a shot at happiness, don¡¯t they? At least once in their lives. But if you are asking me, I feel happy¡knowing that you are¡is that weird?¡± He said, rambling a little. Jillian nestled closer to him, burying her face in his neck. ¡°You are... happy, because I am?¡± There was a long pause before she answered his question. ¡°No¡ It¡¯s not weird.¡± Her voice suddenly trembled slightly. Feeling her shake slightly, he turned to look at her, but she was basically hiding her face in the crook of his neck. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked quietly, rubbing her back softly. Jillian nodded her head against him. ¡°I just¡ really hope I don¡¯t wake up if this is a dream.¡± She sniffed a little like the tears had come back suddenly. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is a dream, but if it is, I am glad we got to share it,¡± Jason said, wrapping his arms around her. ¡°I just feel really¡content right now... Nervous about what¡¯s to come, but I still want to know what does,¡± he murmured, continuing to gently stroke her back and thigh. ¡°Me too. I¡¯ve got this mix of nervousness and excitement that I can barely contain¡ umm, would it be alright to sleep here again tonight?¡± She asked uncertainly, as if unsure of his answer. Jason just laughed. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t have it any other way,¡± he replied promptly, eliciting a soft giggle from her. ¡°Thank you,¡± planting a big, noisy kiss on his cheek before slipping off his lap and out of bed. Jason gave Jillian a strange look as she moved off the bed. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked, curious and maybe a little worried. ¡°Was she just joking about staying over?¡± The thought quickly shot through his brain. She glanced back at him with a soft chuckle. ¡°Relax big guy, I am gonna go to the bathroom then get some water. My throat feels like it¡¯s coated in glue, thanks to someone,¡± she said with a grin and a wink. His eyes widened at her remark. ¡°Oh... um, right, I mean, I could go get it for you,¡± he offered. But she waved him off with a smile. ¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be quick,¡± she assured him, winking again before slipping out of his room. Jason let out a sigh and fell back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He lay there completely naked and feeling more physically relaxed than he could ever remember being. As he closed his eyes, all he could see was her face¡ªevery expression, from cute to sad to angry to happy, then the most recent one of her eyes watering as she looked up at him, her lips wrapped around his cock flashed before his mind''s eye. The lust drunk look of happiness she gave him burned into his brain. He felt himself become completely lost in thoughts of Jillian. Opening his eyes, he realized just how hooked he was on this girl. ¡°I¡¯m in trouble.¡± Chapter 27: Itéˆ¥æªš Always Peeping Tom, No One Ever Talks About Peeping Moms. Katia jolted awake, panting heavily as she bolted upright in bed. She scanned her empty room before looking down at her clothes. Taking in deep breaths, she tried to calm herself. ¡°What a nightmare,¡± she whispered, wiping the sweat from her forehead and curling up, hugging her knees close. Images of her late husband haunted her mind, and she was unable to hold back the soft sobs that followed. After allowing herself a rare moment to feel, Katia gathered herself with a deep breath, sniffing loudly. ¡°Alright, Katia, you¡¯ve got this. Keep it together,¡± she murmured, giving herself a small pep talk as she rubbed her face and reached for a tissue, blowing her nose. Suddenly, Katia heard a strange noise coming from inside the house. Glancing towards her door, she stared for a moment, trying to listen for it again. ¡°Jason must still be awake. I must have dozed off on him during the movie and he carried me to bed. Sure sounds like me at least,¡± she muttered, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Slowly rising out of bed, she shed her day clothes and made her way to the closet. Standing in just her underwear, she looked through her pajamas. Her ample bosom strained against the bra she wore. Opting for a set of comfy pink silk jammies, she set them on her bed, then unhooked her bra with a sigh of relief. As her breasts were released, they landed with a heavy thud. She frowned down at her own chest. ¡°Uggh, they droop so much now,¡± she lamented. She slid her hands beneath her breasts, giving them a slight lift. They had sagged a bit over time, but not as dramatically as she was imagining. They still had a subtle perkiness in reality. Despite this, she couldn¡¯t shake her poor self-image. ¡°Frankie would probably be grossed out by me now,¡± she thought, her frown deepening as she scrutinized her body. Having Jason home had made her acutely aware of her age. Being almost forty-five felt more like a century. Shaking her head, she pushed those negative thoughts away for now. There was nobody left for her to impress, anyway. Glancing at the wedding ring she still wore every day, memories of her late husband flooded back. Deep down, she knew Frank was the type who would still adore her body, flaws and all. Leaning her head back, Katia fought the urge to cry again. Clenching her teeth, she struggled against the emotions, allowing only a single tear to escape. ¡°Keep it together, Jason might still be awake¡ Maybe I can make him a snack before he goes to sleep?¡± she said, trying to distract herself. Spoiling her son had been, and always was, the best way she found to keep her grief at bay. And there was very little that the boy liked more than food. Glancing at the alarm clock on her bedside table, she saw it was only about ten PM. It seemed more than plausible that Jason might still be awake at this hour to provide the distraction she desperately needed. Once she had her silk pajamas on, she made her way out of the room and peered down the hallway. The only illumination came from a small night light in the kitchen, ensuring it wasn¡¯t completely dark for anyone navigating their way to the kitchen. ¡°Odd...¡± Katia said standing still for a moment, she heard muffled voices. ¡°Maybe it''s burglars!?¡± With her imagination running wild, a tinge of fear crept into her heart. She needed Jason even more now. Her big, strong son would scare them off for sure and keep her safe. She knew she lived in a safe neighborhood, but anything could happen. As she neared Jason¡¯s room, the voices became clearer. Her fear vanished quickly as she realized the voices were coming from inside his room. Still, she slowly approached the door. ¡°What are you doing, Katia? Are you seriously planning on listening in on your son? Shame on you!¡± Katia ignored the inner self scolding her and pressed her ear against the door. There were definitely two voices in there. ¡°God, this feels so wrong, so wrong, so...¡± Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden awful noise that sounded like someone gagging or choking. ¡°Oh god, he¡¯s choking!?¡± Panic seized her mind. Hand on the knob, she was about to open the door, only to hear a distinctly feminine voice call out breathlessly. ¡°Fuck¡ it¡¯s so huge,¡± it said, followed by heavy, labored breathing. Katia froze, her hand instinctively flying to cover her mouth as she realized her error. Jason had company in his room, and judging by the sounds, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what was happening. With utmost caution, she stepped back from the door as silently as possible, her heart racing. Her thighs clamped together, she glanced down at her trembling legs. ¡°Tea, I need tea,¡± she silently whimpered. Racing down the hallway, she darted into the kitchen, rifling through the cupboards until she found a box of nighttime tea mix. Katia hurriedly put a pot of water on the stove, hoping to distract herself from the noises she had just heard coming from her son¡¯s bedroom. Despite her best efforts, her attention starved body reacted with a strange tingling sensation in her loins she hadn¡¯t felt in ages. ¡°Come on, boil faster,¡± she pleaded with the water. Finally, it reached a rolling boil, and she poured some into her mug, adding two tea bags. She hoped that if she could just fall asleep, she wouldn¡¯t have to dwell on what was happening with her son. After steeping her tea for a short period, she blew on it a few times before taking a sip. ¡°Ow!¡± she recoiled after burning her lips and tongue on the still scorching-hot liquid. She let out a small whine, frustrated by the undrinkable tea before her. Moving to the fridge, Katia got an ice cube from the freezer to put into her tea, hoping to speed up its cooling process. Cup in hand, she settled at the table. ¡°He is his father¡¯s child, after all,¡± she muttered, letting out a groan as unsettling thoughts flooded her mind. Covering her face with her hands, she slumped forward, trying to shake off the mental images that plagued her. Katia needed something, anything, to distract from her current thoughts. Even if it made her sad, so she focused on what she thought of most. Her late husband, Frank. He was a ruggedly handsome man with jet-black hair, a physique honed by military discipline, and a strong work ethic. Despite a slight gut from indulging in his wife¡¯s cooking, he carried himself well. His thick beard was always neatly trimmed, and his dark gray eyes resembled storm clouds, both unique and captivating. ¡°Why, why, why!¡± she grieved, gripping her head for several moments. ¡°If Frank was still here, I wouldn¡¯t even be in this situation!¡± Eventually the images of Frank won out, much to her relief. But now she had another problem. Katia let out a soft groan as memories of her husband flooded her mind, recalling how he looked when he was still healthy. Thoughts of their frequent trysts in the bedroom, of his delightful size and shape. Just thinking about it made her bite her lip, a mix of longing and sorrow washing over her. She missed him so much that every day without him was an unwinnable struggle. The year leading up to his passing had been incredibly tough, witnessing his gradual decline from the strong, capable man he once was, to stuck in a hospital bed that he would never get out of. He poured every ounce of energy he had left into his family before passing. Even now, almost thirteen years later, the pain still lingered, sharp as ever when it came to her mind. Katia grit her teeth, as she attempted once more to push back the waves of sadness and loneliness that had plagued her for so long, but it was a battle she could never seem to win. Tears welled up in her eyes, trickling down onto the table. Suddenly, the sound of the fridge opening in the kitchen caught her attention, and she sat up in a surprised jolt. ¡°Jason?!¡± she called out instinctively, thinking it was her son. ¡°Holy shit!¡± the mysterious figure said as they jumped with a surprise when Katia spoke up suddenly. Even before they turned around, it was clear they weren¡¯t Jason sized. ¡°Katia?!¡± a feminine voice asked, approaching slowly and becoming more visible in the dim light. ¡°Jillian?!¡± Katia exclaimed in return. They locked eyes, both caught off guard. ¡°Uh, sorry. Didn¡¯t expect you to be awake... I just came out for a bottle of water, and... I uhh...¡± Jillian started to ramble nervously. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Katia reassured her, wiping her tears quickly with her pajama sleeves. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for scaring you dear,¡± she said, trying to smile at the red-head Jillian stood there, feeling super awkward. She hadn¡¯t expected to bump into Jason¡¯s mom so late at night. Looking back over at her, even in the dim light, she could see Katia¡¯s eyes were a bit puffy. ¡°Umm are... you okay, Mrs. Merris?¡± she asked, gazing at the woman sitting at the table. Katia tried to give a reassuring smile. ¡°Oh, yes, I¡¯m okay. I just couldn¡¯t sleep, so I thought I¡¯d make some tea to help me drift off.¡± The air was filled with the strong scent of chamomile and spearmint. ¡°I see,¡± Jillian replied, not wanting to pry. ¡°That¡¯s a lovely nightgown you¡¯re wearing, by the way,¡± Katia said, trying to change the subject. Looking down, Jillian first saw her nipples standing at attention from the cold, barely hidden by the sheer fabric and lace bra. She quickly folded her arm over her chest and chuckled nervously. ¡°T-thank you. I actually stole it from my mother, to be honest.¡± Katia giggled slightly at Jillian¡¯s confession. ¡°That does seem like Ginny¡¯s style.¡± The two shared a small smile before Katia spoke up again. ¡°Would you like some tea?¡± There was a brief silence between them before Jillian answered. ¡°Umm... sure.¡± Some warm tea sounded a lot better for her rather sticky throat than cold water at this point. ¡°Please sit down. The water should still be hot, so it won¡¯t take long at all.¡± Picking up her mug, Katia walked over to the stove and grabbed another mug from the cupboard above. Jillian nodded and awkwardly settled into her seat, relieved that the dim lighting softened her appearance. She felt like she might scurry away if the lights were on, like a startled cockroach. At least Katia didn¡¯t seem too angry at her. With the memory of their text exchange coming back, she realized they hadn¡¯t exactly parted on friendly terms. Now she was caught basically fooling around with her son! She glanced down, fidgeting with the hem of her top. ¡°Why the hell didn¡¯t I grab my hoodie before leaving the room? Katia isn¡¯t so dense as to think I am dressed like this for a friggin¡¯ slumber party. Ugh,¡± she chided herself silently. It was a lesson learned the hard way, one she wouldn¡¯t easily forget. Soon, Katia placed a mug in front of Jillian. ¡°Here you go, sweetie,¡± she said, settling into a seat nearby with her own mug of tea. They sat quietly for a while until Jillian spoke up, still sounding a bit formal. ¡°Mrs. Merris...¡± She paused, as Katia was taking a sip of her tea. ¡°Yes?¡± Katia said eventually, curious about what was on the young woman¡¯s mind. Given that it was pretty obvious she had been in Jason¡¯s room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the message I sent you... I was angry and not thinking clearly.¡± Jillian¡¯s words caught Katia off guard, and her mouth fell open slightly in surprise. ¡°What? Why are you apologizing, dear? It was my mistake that caused such a misunderstanding in the first place. I should apologize to you,¡± Katia blurted out, causing Jillian to look back at her in mild shock. ¡°Mistake?¡± Jillian asked, confused slightly. ¡°I never should have been saying stuff like that in the first place, and then I made the mistake of not clearing it up with you before you two had that big fight!¡± Katia blurted out all her feelings about it right then and there. Jillian just sat there, listening until she was finished. ¡°I did think it was a little strange that you would tell me all that, then say nothing the next day,¡± she chuckled a little, taking another small sip of her tea, the warm liquid soothing her sticky and bruised throat. Katia blushed and glanced away, letting out a slight sigh. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, dear. I just saw how well you two were getting along and I felt like I could help in some way. It was so foolish of me to overstep like that. I discovered more painful memories that night as well¡ I wish I could explain more, but I don¡¯t think Jason would forgive me if I did,¡± she said sadly, staring down into her tea with a frown. Jillian quickly caught on to what she was implying, understanding just what painful memories she was talking about. ¡°I am glad to see that things seem to be better now, though. I was a little worried. He seemed a bit off at dinner,¡± Katia said, trying to smile again, but her face refused. Her thoughts were back on the awful things that happened to Jason. Jillian just gave a small nod as a question came to mind. ¡°Katia... Can I ask you something?¡± she asked the older woman suddenly. ¡°Huh? Well, of course, sweetie,¡± Katia replied, finally smiling at Jillian with the change of subject. ¡°If Jason and I started dating... would you be angry?¡± Jillian¡¯s question caught Katia off guard. ¡°What? Why would I be angry? Jillian, dear, you¡¯re wonderful, you would be a...¡± Katia started, but Jillian raised a hand to stop her. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°I appreciate your words¡ but. There¡¯s something you should really know about me.¡± Jillian took a deep breath, not sure how to start this conversation. ¡°Hehe, oh Jillian, I understand. You two are consenting adults, and I won¡¯t interfere with whatever you¡¯re doing,¡± Katia quickly interjected, cutting Jillian off before she could respond. ¡°Huh?¡± Jillian asked, perplexed by Katia¡¯s sudden remark. ¡°Um well you see I... I, uh... I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to overhear you two. I was just walking down the hall and when I passed by Jason¡¯s room, I...¡± Katia trailed off, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she looked away. Jillian blinked a few times, trying to make sense of what Katia was implying. When it finally dawned on her, she felt her own cheeks grow hot. ¡°Oh... um, that...¡± She decided then, that this definitely wasn¡¯t the time to confess that she was Jason¡¯s highschool bully to his mother, especially now that it sounded like she overheard her sucking him off. Jillian covered her face in shame, wondering just how much Katia had heard. Katia reached over and placed her hand on Jillian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Oh, sweetheart, I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to make you feel uncomfortable or shame you for it. I¡¯m not upset, I promise.¡± She tried to comfort the redhead sitting beside her, scooting closer and draping an arm around the petite woman. ¡°I know. It¡¯s just really embarrassing having you hear us like that. I¡¯m sorry, Katia, I was probably too loud.¡± Jillian apologized, letting out a sigh as she lowered her hands from her face and took a longer sip of her tea. ¡°Please don¡¯t be, dear. It¡¯s natural for people your age to show they care for each other that way. It''s just hearing you two, it made me a bit¡ well it kind of reminded me of my late husband. And well¡ ¡° Katia said, still trying to comfort Jillian by rubbing her back softly. Jillian looked over at Jason¡¯s mom with a soft smile. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure my mom and dad¡ Well, my dad for sure would never look me in the eye again if they had heard what you did,¡± she laughed weakly, and Katia joined in. ¡°You know, Ginny can be quite the character sometimes. She once told me this crazy story about her and Damon...¡± Katia began, but Jillian quickly interrupted with a raised hand. ¡°Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but please, I¡¯d rather not dive into my parents¡¯ sex life. Living with them gives me more exposure than I prefer being a few doors down from them.¡± Jillian gave Katia a weary smile, who chuckled softly. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it. Those two seem like quite the active couple. I think it¡¯s sweet,¡± Katia said with a smile, removing her hand from Jillian¡¯s back. ¡°So, what about you, Katia? Any special someone in your life that we don¡¯t know about?¡± she asked innocently, but immediately regretted it as she saw Katia¡¯s expression darken with sorrow. ¡°I...¡± Katia paused, withdrawing her hand from Jillian¡¯s back. She nervously toyed with her wedding ring, a nervous habit when she was forced to deal with her own intimacy issues. The ring seemed to repel most men, except for a few unwanted advances. Anyone willing to pursue a married woman wasn¡¯t her type in the first place. So the ring only kept away the men she might be interested in, creating a cycle of loneliness. ¡°No, I can¡¯t say there is,¡± she admitted softly. Jillian glanced at the busty, beautiful, mature woman beside her. If someone like Katia was single and struggling, something was very wrong. ¡°I know it¡¯s not really my business, but... Is there something holding you back from putting yourself back out there?¡± Katia frowned deeply, her fingers twisting the ring even more. ¡°First off, you don¡¯t have to respond to this if you don¡¯t want to, but I have to say it ¨C you¡¯re fucking gorgeous, Katia. I would kill for a body like yours, instead of whatever funhouse mirror I stepped out of. Seriously, you could have any guy you wanted,¡± Jillian said in a completely serious tone. She only then noticed the faint sparkle as tears welled up in Katia¡¯s eyes at her words. ¡°I don¡¯t want any guy... All I ever wanted was my Frank,¡± Katia confessed, her voice trembling with emotion as barely contained memories flooded back. Jillian¡¯s expression softened, and she gently pulled Katia into a comforting hug. She returned the embrace, finding some solace in Jillian¡¯s warmth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for getting so emotional. It¡¯s not fair to burden you with my feelings. It¡¯s been so many years, and here I am, still the same old mess,¡± Katia apologized. ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t have to apologize for anything,¡± Jillian reassured her. ¡°Even if it¡¯s been years, that doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t hurt. Grief doesn¡¯t have a timeline. You obviously loved Frank deeply. It makes sense that you would take much longer to move on. I am sure you won¡¯t ever truly forget. I think grief is just part of how we remember those we lost.¡± Her rant went on for a bit, but Katia nodded in agreement. She still couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of guilt for grieving, especially when Jason was home. ¡°You know, Katia, it¡¯s okay to fall in love again. I didn¡¯t know Frank, but if he loved you half as much and you love him..I think he would want you to be happy,¡± Jillian offered gently. ¡°You¡¯re still young and sexy. Girl¡you are wasting your po-ten-tial,¡± she said with a light clap of her hands between the syllables. Katia couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Oh, well I guess if a young sexy girl is saying that I am, then maybe I should start taking it seriously.¡± They shared a laugh before Jillian continued. ¡°That¡¯s right you should! You don¡¯t look a day over thirty, if that. Honest to god,¡± the young redhead leaned back, meeting Katia¡¯s gaze. ¡°I think one of these days, you, my mom, my friend Mika, and I should have a girls¡¯ night out. We grab some drinks, hit the dance floor, and drive some boys crazy,¡± Jillian said, sounding serious with a smile. Katia chuckled softly at the idea. ¡°That does sound nice. I haven¡¯t danced in ages. Ginny and I have been talking about going out for a while now. But it''s so troublesome getting someone to watch your youngest siblings.¡± Katia said, still smiling as they discussed the plans to go out. ¡°How does next weekend sound? We can rope Jason and June into babysitting at our place,¡± Jillian suggested with a mischievous grin. The two newfound friends chatted away about their upcoming girls¡¯ night out, gossiping like they were old girlfriends. When they finally started wrapping it up, Jillian threw a curveball at Katia. ¡°Hey, promise me something? Start trying to leave your wedding ring off from time to time. Just to get used to it and to see who¡¯s out there. I¡¯m not saying you need to date anyone. Just see who is interested. I think you will be surprised,¡± Jillian said with a small smirk. She knew Katia needed that push. As far as she learned tonight, Katia¡¯s heart still belonged solely to Frank, the only man she¡¯d ever been with and slept with. He¡¯d swept her off her feet when she was young and he was a loyal and hardworking man, unlike many that were around these days. Jillian was a bit surprised when Katia said how young she was when she and Frank started dating. There was no way their relationship would have worked in this day and age. Especially considering how things could easily blow up with social media being what it is today. But Frank was old fashioned and had been upfront and honest about courting her, with the intent to marry. Never once did he stray from that goal. It didn¡¯t keep Katia¡¯s family, who was rather well off from getting super pissed, though it did little to stop their love for one another. ¡°Alright¡ I will certainly try,¡± Katia said, agreeing to at least try to go without it every so often. ¡°That¡¯s all I am asking and if it ends up going poorly, nothing is stopping you from putting it back on.¡± Jillian said, smiling as they continued to sit and talk. With their tea finished, they were both feeling a bit drowsy, especially considering it was now past midnight. Jillian let out a big yawn before speaking up. ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s time for bed.¡± Katia nodded in agreement, stifling her own yawn. ¡°Mmhmm, that tea certainly helped,¡± she barely mumbled out. It wasn¡¯t until that moment that Jillian came to the realization that it would be incredibly awkward to walk back into Jason¡¯s room with Katia awake. ¡°I, uhh, suppose I should¡ head on home then.¡± She got up from the table, smiling at Katia weakly. Still glad they got a chance to talk one-on-one and clear the air. She wasn¡¯t actually going to leave, planning on simply sneaking back in through Jason¡¯s window. Katia looked up at Jillian, her eyes wide with surprise. ¡°Is Jason not letting you stay over? After what you two did?!¡± She seemed almost offended at the idea. Jillian hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. ¡°I... um...¡± She paused, trying to think of the right words. Taking her hesitation as confirmation, Katia stood up, anger burning in her eyes. ¡°How rude! I¡¯m going to have a word with that boy right now!¡± But Jillian quickly interjected, raising her hands and placing them on Katia¡¯s shoulders to stop her from going anywhere. ¡°No, no, he didn¡¯t tell me to leave! The opposite, actually. When I asked if I could stay, he said he wouldn¡¯t have it any other way! It was very sweet, I promise,¡± Jillian said in a bit of panic. Katia¡¯s anger quickly seemed to dissipate, and she blushed slightly. ¡°Oh... Well, why did you say you were going home then?¡± Jillian laughed nervously. "Haha, I¡¯m sorry, it was just a bit awkward. I was a little worried you would be upset if you thought I was sleeping over," Jillian said, while Katia shot her a look that screamed, ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Jillian, you¡¯re always welcome to stay here whenever you want, no matter what Jason says. We can just have a sleepover if he has an issue,¡± Katia joked with a small giggle, making Jillian laugh as well. ¡°Thanks, Katia, that¡¯s really sweet of you, but, uh...¡± Jillian started, but Katia cut her off with a raised hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I understand. I¡¯m just glad Jason¡¯s got someone like you in his life now. Maybe now I won¡¯t have to hear him bad mouth women anymore. He constantly tells me how annoyed he gets with some of the women he works with,¡± Katia said, with a soft laugh. Even though she understood why Jason did, it was painful being a woman herself and listening to him rant sometimes. Jillian knew all too well how blunt Jason could be with women he didn¡¯t like. She had no intention of going back to dealing with that side of him. Though hearing that he was being harassed by the women he worked with made her eyes narrow slightly, she might have to make her presence known the first chance she got. ¡°Those skanks better not even think of touching my man.¡± Growling internally, Jillian tried to keep a calm expression for Katia. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, but I won¡¯t tell him to stop saying things that will keep the other girls at bay. Maybe give him a new excuse, though,¡± Jillian said with a smirk. The two hugged tightly and exchanged cheek kisses before saying their goodnights. ¡°Sleep well, Katia,¡± Jillian said as they parted ways at Jason¡¯s door. ¡°You too, dear, good night,¡± Katia replied before walking into her own room and closing the door. Jillian stood outside Jason¡¯s door, wondering if he was still awake. She¡¯d been chatting with his mom for a lot longer than she planned. She slowly opened the door, and peeked into the room more and more till he came into view. There he was, sitting on the edge of his bed, hunched over, clutching her hoodie. He stared at it like it held all the answers. ¡°Fuuuuuuck,¡± she groaned silently. ¡°He probably thinks I lied to him to sneak out,¡± She bit her nail, watching him, looking all cute and pitiful like a sad puppy. She couldn''t deny that he looked adorable right now. Though the hint of anger on his face scared her a little. Jason lay in his bed, lost in thought about Jillian. As time went on, anxiety slowly crept into his brain. After nearly an hour passed, he decided he was done waiting. Something felt wrong and he couldn¡¯t just lay there anymore. He threw on some boxer briefs and left his room. The hallway was dark and quiet, with no sign of Jillian. His first thought was that she might be in the bathroom, so he made his way across the hall and knocked on the door softly. There was no light under the door, but he called out quietly, anyway. ¡°Jillian, are you in there?¡± There was no response, and Jason¡¯s heart suddenly felt like it fell into his stomach. That familiar feeling crept back in, making his bones ache. She was gone. He clenched his teeth, trying to hold back his emotions, and took a deep, shaky breath. Roughly pushing through the door, he entered the bathroom. Splashed his face with cold water several times before staring up at the mirror, the room lit by only a small night light. Abandonment, guilt, shame, the feelings finally making sense to him. He couldn¡¯t put a finger on them before, but now it just made so much sense. They were feelings he had almost become used to at this point. Not that it made it any more pleasant. He flexed his hands, trying to work out the ache in his joints. Staring at himself in the mirror, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the next wave of emotions wash over him. ¡°Why are you sad, you idiot?¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°You dodged a bullet. She was nothing but trouble and left before things got too serious. You even got a blowjob out of it before she ran off. You should be feeling relieved, dumbass,¡± he talked to himself in a weird, self-soothing manner. But the frown on his face remained solidly in place. ¡°So why do I feel so fucking terrible then¡¡± Lowering his head, he grit his teeth and clenched his eyes shut. ¡°Damn it¡. I didn¡¯t even want the stupid fucking blowjob¡¡± he admitted quietly to his reflection. ¡°Why would she open up to me so much, then leave? Was it all a lie?...I even told her what happened to me¡.¡± His frown turned into more of a scowl as he straightened up and grabbed a towel to dry his face. Exiting the bathroom, he stomped back to his room, feeling even worse than before. Somehow, he resisted the urge to rip the door off its hinges as he walked in. He sat down on his bed and slumped over, staring blankly at the floor. He then saw something on the floor, reaching down, he picked it up. His scowl deepened even more as he held Jillian¡¯s hoodie. His fists clenched around the fabric. Jason couldn¡¯t help but think about the last time Jillian left it behind. Did she expect him to return it to her again? Was that the game she was playing? Was he just a dog to her, one she could play with and tease whenever she got bored? The mix of anger and sadness swirling in his mind was almost enough to make him scream. He brought the hoodie up and buried his face in it. letting out a long groan of frustration into the fabric. He sat there in silence, trying to think of a reason she would do this. ¡°Jill...Why? Did I do something wrong? Did I miss something? Please, just tell me! I just want to understand why you left after everything you said. After what we shared, why would you leave?¡± Emotions beginning to overwhelm him, he let out a loud sniff. His lips twisted into a scowl, anger quickly replacing his emotions. But he wasn¡¯t even angry at her, he was more angry at himself for letting himself feel like this. Jason used the hoodie Jillian left behind to wipe his face. ¡°I¡¯m pathetic.¡± He hated himself. Jason sat on the edge of the bed, switching between checking his phone and glaring at the hoodie in his hands. He waited anxiously for answers, but as another half-hour slipped by with no response, he felt his mind growing weary from overthinking. His eyes were dry from staring for so long, and he was on the verge of giving up. ¡±Fine, if that¡¯s how you want to play it, Jill. Then..." he murmured, trailing off as he realized he had nothing more to say. A strange emptiness settled inside Jason, and he slumped forward, looking at the hoodie with half-lidded eyes. ¡°Umm, Jase?¡± A gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°J-Jillian...¡± he whispered back at the hoodie. Great now he was losing his grip on reality and imagining a piece of fabric was talking to him. ¡°I¡¯m fucking losing it.¡± He whispered, placing a hand on his face and letting out a groan. ¡°You aren¡¯t real, she¡¯s gone, snap out of it Jason,¡± he told himself. ¡°Are you alright?¡± the voice said again, sounding so real that it was almost comforting. Closing his eyes tightly, he attempted to banish the auditory hallucination he was experiencing. He refused to let Jillian be the one to break his sanity after all this time. Clenching his jaw, he dropped the hoodie and covered his face with both hands. ¡°Jase, please talk to me?¡± Jillian pleaded. She slowly moved in front of him and kneeled down in front of him. Her hands grabbed his wrists in an attempt to pull his hands away. His eyes shot open at the touch. ¡°Come on, please. You¡¯re starting to scare me,¡± Jillian whimpered, her frown deepening. Jason let her pull his hands away from his face. Her blue orbs, just barely visible in the fading moonlight, stared into his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re... you¡¯re back,¡± he stammered in disbelief. ¡°Jason¡ I never left. I ran into your mom in the kitchen, and we talked for a lot longer than I expected. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t think to tell you sooner,¡± Jillian¡¯s voice carried genuine regret at seeing how distraught he had become when he thought she had ditched him. It was obvious he¡¯d started to assume the worst while she was away. ¡°My mom?¡± Jason raised an eyebrow, a bit puzzled by the explanation. ¡°Mmhmm, we kinda got lost in our conversation and time got away from me. Honestly, I didn¡¯t mean for it to happen. It was a mistake and I¡¯m really sorry, I can make it up to-¡° Jillian pleaded, trying to move closer to him. Jason interrupted her by placing a hand on her shoulder and moved her back to an arm¡¯s length away as gently as possible. ¡°Jason¡why?¡± Fear crept into Jillian¡¯s eyes as she searched his face for a clue why he was stopping her. ¡°Fuck,¡± was the only thought that came to her as she felt like she was about to cry. Chapter 28: Forgiveness Is Something Not Just Given, but Earned by Those That Deserve it Jason raised his hand, signaling for Jillian to pause before she could speak further, her worry bubbling up even more. ¡°Just¡ hold on for just a second... I need to gather my thoughts,¡± he said gently. She frowned deeply, but nodded. ¡°Okay¡ sorry¡ take your time,¡± she said, moving back slightly. She tried to be understanding. He took a long, deep breath and leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. She grabbed her own arms, holding herself. Seeing Jason break down like this showed Jillian how emotionally fragile the man was. Sure he could put up a cold front and easily dissuade people from getting close. Which made the number of people that truly knew him, countable on one hand. It really made her look at her current position and how rare it probably was that he let someone in so close. It put a spotlight on how her actions affect those around her. She spent so much time not caring about the world around her, or if the world cared about her. It made her choices in life easy, do what felt good and that¡¯s it. They had bounced back from worse, so she hoped this would be the same. ¡°Every time something happens between us it¡¯s like I realize just how weak I truly am,¡± Jason said, his voice full of frustration. Jillian, her voice barely above a whisper, replied, ¡°I am sorry¡ But you aren¡¯t weak, Jase¡¡± Silence hung heavy in the air. Jason exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as he finally looked up at her. Worry and sadness was plastered on her face. She was still clutching her arms, her nails leaving faint imprints on her skin. ¡°You can sit down,¡± he spoke softly. Nodding, she quickly took a seat beside him on the bed, leaving a small gap between them. In the dim of the night, they both sat shrouded in darkness. Jason¡¯s words came out slowly. ¡°I was worried...I thought you left and my brain started panicking. But it wasn¡¯t the fact that you were gone that hurt¡ What hurt was that it felt like you were just toying with my emotions¡ like everything you told me was a lie to get me to tell you my secrets¡¡± With a small pause he swallowed a dry lump in his throat. ¡°I thought you might take those secrets and hold them above me.¡± Jillian¡¯s expression turned to one of horror at his words. ¡°I-I would never¡ I could never do that to you¡,¡± she tried to defend herself, but Jason¡¯s gaze silenced her. She could almost see that he was still struggling to separate her from her past at this point, so she simply hung her head with shame. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t... I swear¡ I don¡¯t want to be that person,¡± she whimpered, feeling her chest tighten. Jillian felt a hand gently taking hers from her arm. Looking up, she saw Jason drawing nearer, his fingers intertwining with hers. ¡°Jason?¡± she whispered, and he responded in kind, his voice barely above a murmur. ¡°Jill¡ Tonight¡ It¡¯s been such an insane, emotional journey for me¡ When I couldn¡¯t find you and thought I was going to be alone again¡It killed me, I tried to tell myself I was better off, but I couldn¡¯t lie to myself. I wanted you back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll always come back,¡± she replied right away, the words instinctively coming out before she even had time to think. They felt right, and she meant them. As they drew closer, Jason¡¯s hand found its way into her hair, eliciting soft gasps as she tilted her head back, her lips parting slightly. He stared down at Jillian, the way she just sat there staring at him with those bedroom eyes. Her soft pink lips agape just begging to be kissed. It made it very tough to stay composed. ¡°Kiss me,¡± she whispered, her eyes half-closed, her whole body exuding a burning desire as she squeezed his hand tightly. Jason felt himself losing control as he leaned in slowly. Her warm, soft breaths brushed against his lips, heightening the anticipation. Pausing just an inch away, he gazed into her eyes. ¡°Please...don¡¯t make me beg,¡± she weakly pleaded, her hand reaching up to gaze along his stubbled chin. After another moment of hesitation, he leaned in and lightly moved his lips against hers, grazing against one another. Jillian let out a pathetic whimper as Jason teased her mercilessly, their lips never pressing against each other fully. ¡°Nnnnngh, whyyyyy!¡± she complained. Her hand slid from his face to the back of his neck in a futile attempt to pull him closer. Yet he remained stubbornly, just barely out of reach, and she let out another frustrated groan. ¡°Jaaaase, please, fuck, this is torture and you are doing it on purpose!¡± she complained, pounding a fist against his chest, feeling like she was losing her mind, being denied her satisfaction over and over again. ¡°I am,¡± Jason replied. The firm grip he had on her red curls held her in place, keeping her from closing the distance herself. Jillian shot him a glare, muttering, ¡°I friggin¡¯ hate you, you jerk,¡± but despite her words, she couldn¡¯t deny the overflowing need for him that once again coursed through her. ¡°I¡¯ve created fucking a monster,¡± she muttered to herself, even as she felt herself getting more turned on by the second. Being denied the gratification and the sensation that he was in control lit a fire in her belly, soaking her panties once more. After what felt like forever to Jillian, Jason finally had enough of the teasing himself, and their lips met in a slow, soft collision. She let out a sigh of relief, pleasure surging through her. The whole teasing game had been driving her crazy, but also turned her on in a way she hadn¡¯t expected from him. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had been doing some research. Truth was Jason wasn¡¯t plotting to create this tension; he just wanted to torment her for a bit, to get back at her. It was pure chance that it ended up being so sexy. Jason enjoyed kissing her, and he assumed she enjoyed kissing him as well. Armed with this knowledge, the idea of delayed gratification to torment the woman worked exceptionally well. The couple lost themselves in the kiss, his hand was still tangled in Jillian¡¯s hair as they held each other close. Their lips smacked together in furious attempts to get deeper and deeper as she pushed herself as close as she could to him. Tongues began dancing together once more, her moans and whimpers of pleasure filling his ears, making him rock hard again. Her hand trailed down from his neck and chest to his crotch, fingers stroking and tracing the hard bulge beneath the pesky underwear. As the kiss slowly ended, they both sucked in big gulps of air, trying to catch their breath. Jillian leaned in closer to Jason, tilting her head forward to rest her forehead against his lips. Instinctively, he started peppering it with small kisses. ¡°Jase... I¡¯m not trying to complain or anything, but I¡¯ve noticed I¡¯m usually the one doing all the touching. Other than hugging me, you usually keep your hands to yourself unless I tell or ask you to do something. ¡do you.. Not want to touch me?¡± She pulled away a little to look up at him, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Jason looked a bit shocked at her sudden concern. ¡°What? No, I mean, yes, wait I mean¡¡± His words fumbled as he tried to gather his thoughts. ¡°I just... didn¡¯t want to overstep. Of course, I want to touch you.¡± He tried to make his desires clear, since they were under scrutiny now. Jillian¡¯s voice softened, tinged with a mix of shyness and desire. ¡°Well¡ then touch me. Explore all you want, it¡¯s all for you. My chest is a good place to start... I promise, it¡¯s okay. Just don¡¯t be rude.¡± She ended with a warning carrying a clear message of: ¡°Don¡¯t you dare make fun of my boobs!¡± Jason glanced down at her chest, still covered by the sheer purple top. In the darkness, he could just barely make out the outline of her nipples poking through. He caught himself stealing glances at her body like he wasn¡¯t allowed still. She watched his gaze dart downward several times. With a huff and without hesitation, she reached down, pulled the top over her head, tossing it aside, revealing her bare chest. The pink, hard nubs that sat atop the small perky hilltops were beautiful. "I always hated how small my chest was. They just never seemed to grow at all. But if you want, I won¡¯t stop you from¡ª¡± Her sentence was cut short by her sharp surprised moan as Jason¡¯s large hand enveloped one of her tiny breasts. The rough skin of his palm against the sensitive nub made her writhe under him. ¡°Ah, Jase!¡± she cried out, quickly grabbing onto his arms, nails digging in. Jason had moved his hand down from her hair to grope her small breast. It wasn¡¯t his first encounter with a breast, but it was probably one of the few times he did so intentionally. The combination of a highly confident woman, too much to drink, and an imaginary challenge to prove their breasts were real had happened more than once. This was nothing like that awful situation. His hand covered her breast completely. He shifted it slightly, to cup what flesh he could. His thumb brushed over her nipple a few times, watching in fascination as her body reacted, twitching several times. ¡°Is it sensitive?¡± he inquired, pressing down on it and rotating his thumb lazily. ¡°Nnggh¡ no shit, AH!... Sherlock,¡± she squeaked as his thumb toyed with the nipple, her body trembling in response. ¡°I was just curious. Settle down, settle down,¡± Jason quipped with a roll of his eyes, though a small grin betrayed his mock annoyance. Licking his lips, he stared down at the neglected breasts, simply heaving with her deep breaths. Gently pushing her backward, he eased her petite frame onto his bed. ¡°What are you doing now?¡± she asked, her tone more curious than concerned, watching as his large frame hovered over her. Instead of telling her, he showed her by leaning in, his mouth almost enveloping her entire breast. ¡°Oh fuck, mmnnn yeah, suck on my¡ª¡± She let out a surprised gasp as Jason put his new kissing skills to work on her sensitive nipple. He eagerly sucked on Jillian¡¯s bare breast, his tongue quickly started swirling around the hard nub. Jillian¡¯s hands instinctively found their way to the back of his head, gripping his hair tightly. ¡°Oh god, Jase. It¡¯s too much, Mmmm fuck too much!¡± she whimpered, as his mouth and hand tormented her hyper sensitive breasts. Despite her protests, she held his head against her chest, biting her lip and letting out a pitiful whimper of desire. ¡°Jase, please... Touch me more!...Play with my pussy, baby!¡± she gasped between waves of pleasure. ¡°I¡¯m so close!¡± She whined loudly. With his free hand, Jason slowly slid his hand down along her smooth skin. The rough pads of his fingers ran down her tummy, stopping to trace her cute little belly button that elicited another reaction from her. ¡°H-Hey!¡± He guessed he found another sensitive spot from her cry of protest. Eventually, his fingers found the tiny waistband of the lacy panties she was wearing, sliding down the front of her mound until he reached the damp fabric covering her entrance. ¡°Rub my clit, baby! Ahnnghh just a little lower, oh fuck-fuck-fuck,¡± Jillian¡¯s tone was almost frantic, her head tilting back as Jason followed her guidance, applying pressure against the small protrusion he felt beneath her panties. She was already on the edge, and the gentle friction from his touch on her clit sent shivers down her spine. Trying to stifle her moans, Jillian¡¯s body arched and trembled under his touch. The sensation of his fingers and his tongue still attacking her aching nipple was too much. ¡°Ah!-¡± Her scream went silent as her climax sent a gentle gush of fluid from her quivering cunt and through her panties, leaking down her plush ass cheeks and onto the sheets. Jillian eventually collapsed back onto the bed, her body twitching as she rode the waves of her powerful climax that left her nearly breathless. While gasping for air, she struggled to compose herself. Jason¡¯s lips left her breast with a soft pop. He glanced up at her, slight concern evident in his eyes. ¡°You okay?¡± She had been acting like she suddenly got possessed, the way she writhed under him. ¡°Me? Oh never better,¡± she chuckled between deep breaths, still recovering. ¡°Just completely worn out, thanks to you.¡± She smiled at him as he pushed himself up a bit so he was hovering over her. Eventually, he rolled to the side and sat up, but still looked over at her. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°We should probably get some sleep,¡± Jason suggested, reaching for his phone to check the time and seeing It was almost one in the morning. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s really late already,¡± he confirmed, setting his phone on the nightstand. Jillian frowned deeply. Sure she was tired, but they hadn¡¯t even reached the main event yet. But her exhaustion was winning, and she felt like she was one long blink away from passing out. With a grumble of discontent, she nodded. ¡°Yeah I guess¡well I¡¯m gonna go get cleaned up again¡ I promise no more distractions this time. I will be right back.¡± She quickly promised. The lesson had been learned and there would be no more late-night adventures for tonight. She sat up and scooted out of bed, standing up she stretched a little, her body bare aside from her panties. Glancing over at Jason, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes glued to her butt. With a mischievous grin, she slowly bent over to grab her hoodie from the floor. The view of her oversized rear-end waggling before his eyes had his eyes moving with it. Even in the dark it was a sight to behold. Yet, to her disappointment, he didn¡¯t move. With a sigh, she straightened up, feeling a bit annoyed with him. Arms crossed, she turned and shot him a disappointed look. ¡°You know, it¡¯s rude to refuse a gift right,¡± she said, scolding him. He looked confused for a moment, his gaze shifting from her lower half up to her face. ¡°Huh?¡± He said with a blink. ¡°I was bending over just for you, yet you did nothing but stare. We just talked about you touching me more right? You know what they say. If you don¡¯t use it, you lose it.¡± Jillian reached out and poked his forehead. ¡°If you don¡¯t start treating me like I¡¯m yours, then you might just lose me,¡± she teased him with a sly smile. ¡°We¡¯ve got a long road ahead of us and you still have a lot to learn.¡± She left the room swaying her hips in an exaggerated fashion, leaving Jason feeling a bit bewildered about what had just happened. Once Jillian was in the bathroom, she flicked on the lights, wincing at the sudden brightness. She turned on the shower and glanced down at her twice soaked panties, peeling them off and tossing them onto the sink for now. She stepped into the shower once warm and pulled her hair back into another ponytail to keep it from getting wet. The words Jillian said slowly sunk in for Jason as he sat on the bed. ¡°Did she want me to spank her or what?¡± he mused, lost in the internal image of how much her butt might jiggle if he had spanked her. He kicked himself for missing such a chance, knowing that he needed to step up his game and be more engaged. To touch and show her how much he enjoyed her body, instead of just being on the receiving end or waiting for instructions. Jason fell back on the bed, jolted slightly when he felt something cold and wet. Sitting back up he looked down at the spot on the bed. It didn¡¯t take him long to figure out what it was from. Sucking in his upper lip, he remembered the taste from his fingers. His mouth watered slightly at the memory. Quickly getting up from the bed, he swiftly removed the sheets and opened his top dresser drawer, where his mom had put spare sheets since he was a kid. They had a pattern on them, but he didn¡¯t pay it much mind. Sheets were sheets, and anything was better than sleeping on a wet spot. Jason was well accustomed to living alone, expertly changing the sheets in just a minute. He threw the blanket and pillows back on the bed before laying down, stretching and letting out a big yawn. The only thing keeping him awake at this point was the slight worry that Jillian might not come back, which gnawed at the back of his mind. Thankfully, Jillian kept her promise, strolling back into the room with her oversized hoodie hiding her body again. Jason sat on the edge of the bed, idly scrolling through his phone until he noticed her enter. His smile greeted her warmly as she approached. She had a mischievous grin on her face as she effortlessly plucked the phone from his grasp. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked as she set his phone to the side and moved into his lap. ¡°Nothin¡¯, just wanted to be close to you,¡± she replied, draping her arms lazily around his neck. ¡°I like being close to you, feeling safe in your arms,¡± she softly cooed to him, leaning in and nuzzling her nose against his. Jason chuckled softly, unable to fight back the smile that appeared at her sweet words and gestures. He didn¡¯t mind her cat like nature; in fact, he rather liked it. It was just Jillian being Jillian, and he found himself perfectly content with that, somehow. Jason wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. ¡±I like being close to you as well.¡± His lips grazed against hers affectionately. When she was pulled closer to him, it made her bare bottom slide out of her hoodie, but she just grinned at him with a smile too big for her face. She leaned in the rest of the way and planted a few quick kisses on his lips before pulling back to gaze up into his eyes. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t so late, I would¡¯ve givin¡¯ you the ride of your life.¡± She licked her lips, a glint of mischief in her eyes. She pressed her cheek to his and whispered into his ear. ¡°I left my panties off, just in case you wake up and want the rest of me,¡± she said, peppering his jawline with kisses. Jason''s cock twitched with life, but he was pretty sleepy, so it faded quickly. ¡°I appreciate the¡ umm invitation, but there¡¯s always tomorrow. I don¡¯t want to rush this,¡± he said, trying to stifle a yawn. Jillian giggled, finding his answer acceptable. "Well, I¡¯m here if you want me sooner. I just hope you want me just as much tomorrow,¡± she said. Leaning into him, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Jason stroked Jillian¡¯s back through her thick hoodie, feeling uncertain about what to say next. They had spent so much time at odds with each other that being so affectionate with each other was still a bit jarring. Yet, he couldn¡¯t deny not just the pleasure she brought him, but the surprising happiness that he felt just having her near. He was more than willing to give that happiness a chance to grow at this point. ¡°It feels good¡ when you want me.¡± Her heavy sigh blew a warm breath out across his chest hair. ¡°I¡really do Jill. I don¡¯t know what kind of curse you put on me but¡I really, really want you,¡± he whispered softly as she nestled her face against his neck, a wide grin on her face. ¡°I¡¯m gonna keep you up all night if you keep saying such sweet things to me,¡± Jillian teased, though a yawn betrayed her exhaustion. ¡°Mmm, you are so warm¡¡± As much as she wanted them to stay awake and whisper sweet nothings to each other all night, she was seriously about to drift off right there in his lap. With another yawn, she reluctantly moved off his lap. ¡°You like sleeping by the wall, right?¡± Jason said, remembering where she preferred to sleep. Jillian smiled at the thoughtfulness. It truly was the little things that mattered. She nodded sleepily, then crawled onto the bed, slipping under the covers. Using the hoodie as her pajamas, she patted the bed for Jason to join her. He chuckled, stood up for a moment, then slipped under the covers next to her. Almost immediately, Jillian latched onto him like a leech, snuggling herself between his arm and chest. ¡°This is still okay right?¡± she murmured, already feeling herself starting to drift, her head propped up on his chest, nuzzling against him. ¡°Yeah,¡± He said simply, his arm wrapping around her waist and holding her close. She couldn¡¯t help but smile at the warm embrace of his arm wrapped around her ¡°More than okay,¡± Jason said almost silently. Jillian¡¯s tiredness vanished suddenly as she felt a burst of energy with a powerful urge to talk about the future and what it held for them. She wanted to ask Jason about his thoughts and plans for tomorrow and the days after. She wanted to know it all. But just as the words were about to leave her lips, she felt his hand on her waist go limp. When she looked up, she saw him already fast asleep, his head tilted away from her. She couldn¡¯t help but giggle softly before snuggling against him to get comfortable. ¡°Good night, Jason.¡± The same feeling of being so safe washed over her. It was only seconds before her eyelids grew heavy once more, and she drifted off to sleep beside him. Both of them found the same comfort that had made sleeping so easy the first night they shared a bed. Only this time it was even easier and there was nothing but warm happy feelings to lull them to deep, restful sleep. The next morning, Jillian slowly opened her eyes to the bright sun glaring through the window, its blinds left up. She let out a long groan, moving her pillow to cover her face. It took her several moments to remember that she definitely didn¡¯t fall asleep using a regular pillow. As she slowly woke up, she realized there was something pressed against her chest, and her butt was being grabbed. Removing the pillow, she looked down to find Jason¡¯s face nestled against her bare chest, her hoodie pushed up so his face could nuzzle against her skin directly, his arms wrapped around her waist and his hands were... well they were firmly grasping her ass. The sight was hilarious at worst and adorable at best, even if his stubble was scratchy. ¡°Oh Jase¡ time to wake up, helloooo Jaaaassseeee.¡± Jillian ran her fingers through his hair, speaking softly, trying to be gentle at first. But Jason just kept on sleeping like the dead. Sure, she enjoyed his affections, but it really wasn¡¯t the most comfortable position, and she wasn¡¯t sure how long his hands had been grabbing her. Her butt felt a little sore. ¡°Okay, rise and shine, I¡¯m ready to get up now. Earth to Jason, release the buttox and you¡¯ll be spared my wrath,¡± she said, now tugging a bit harder at his hair. But the man was as stubborn in his sleep as he was awake, refusing to budge. She resorted to pulling on his ears while she growled slightly. ¡°Alright, starting to get annoyed now.¡± Jillian placed her hands on Jason¡¯s shoulders and started pushing herself up out of his grasp. ¡°Rrrgg, what. The. Fuck. Jason!¡± she groaned as she slowly tried to wriggle her way out of his hold. Finally breaking free, she panted heavily, feeling like she¡¯d just had a morning workout. ¡°What the hell, you weren¡¯t this hard to wake up last night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ¡®cause I wasn¡¯t asleep,¡± He said suddenly, making her jump slightly. ¡°The fuck?¡ You mean you were awake this whole fuckin time?¡± she asked, looking down at him with sheer disbelief as he pushed himself up with a yawn. ¡°Yup,¡± he said, stretching his arms out a bit before Jillian smacked him several times mercilessly. Katia had been up for a bit, just relaxing at the kitchen table, scrolling through articles on her phone while sipping her coffee. It wasn¡¯t until a message flashed on her screen that she finally put her cup down and picked her phone up from the table to check Ginny¡¯s reply to the text she¡¯d sent last night. Katia: ¡°Guess who¡¯s sleeping over tonight?¡± Ginny: ¡°Is that where she disappeared to last night!?¡± Katia: ¡°They ended up spending the night together in his room.¡± Ginny: Sent several shocked emojis followed by hearts. ¡°Did they actually sleep together or just, you know, sleep together?¡± There was a long pause, with no response from Katia. Ginny: ¡°Kat, you can¡¯t drop a bombshell like this and then ghost me, girl!¡± Katia: ¡°From what I overheard, I think it¡¯s the former.¡± Ginny: ¡°You heard them!!!???¡± Katia: ¡°It was an accident, I swear! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Ginny: ¡°Oh Kat, don¡¯t apologize. They¡¯re adults. I¡¯m just surprised they were loud enough for you to hear. Jason strikes me as the quiet type that tries to hide things.¡± Another long pause followed, with Katia still silent. Ginny: ¡°Everything alright?¡± Katia: ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just¡ Ginny, I gotta be honest... Last night, I heard some weird choking noises from Jason¡¯s room and freaked out, but Jason wasn¡¯t choking.¡± She then sent a dozen embarrassed emojis. ¡°That¡¯s how I found out Jillian was over. God just remembering makes me feel so ashamed!¡± Ginny: Sent a wide-eyed emoji ¡°Oh my god! Sooooo, grandkids for sure?¡± Katia: ¡°Ginny! it¡¯s not funny!!!¡± Ginny: ¡°Are they awake yet?¡± Katia: ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Ginny: ¡°I just need to get Lonnie over to a friend¡¯s house and I will be right over!¡± Katia let out a big sigh as she set her phone down and rubbed her face. Last night was so full of emotions. She finally made peace with Jillian, which was a relief, then found out that things between her and Jason were moving faster than she realized. It was surprising to see them so close after the huge blowout they had a few days back. It seemed they¡¯d patched things up and it ended with them closer than ever. There were still parts of the night she wished she could erase from her memory. She¡¯d been bottling up her urges for so long, and after talking with Jillian, she felt like she was on the brink of losing control of herself. Before long, there was a knock at the door. Katia got up from the table and walked over to open the front door, where she found Ginny holding Calvin in her arms. ¡°Hellooo! Here, have a baby,¡± Ginny said, extending Calvin towards Katia. She chuckled and took the toddler, holding him close. The little boy immediately grasped onto Katia¡¯s much larger chest like they were fascinating. ¡°Haha, come on in. There¡¯s coffee on the counter if you want some.¡± The two moms returned to the kitchen, and Ginny poured herself a cup then joined Katia at the small table where she lightly bounced Calvin on her knee as he started to playfully smack the top of her chest. ¡°I swear that boy is obsessed with those big ol milkers of yours.¡± Katia rolled her eyes at Ginny¡¯s comment while she was continually assaulted by the toddler. ¡°So spill it! I want to hear ev-re-thing. Don¡¯t you dare leave out any juicy details,¡± Ginny said with a mischievous grin, taking a sip of her coffee. Katia shot Ginny a deep frown, then sighed, giving her all the details she could muster, not holding back on the dirty stuff. By the time she finished, Ginny seemed satisfied. ¡°I think a girls¡¯ night out would be great! My daughter¡¯s right, Kat, you¡¯re a total knockout. You¡¯d turn heads for sure if you just let loose once in a while,¡± she said, laying it on thick for her friend, though she meant every word. ¡°Haha, oh, come on, you don¡¯t have to butter me up. I said I was already up for it. But thank you, dear,¡± Katia said, smiling across the table at Ginny. Calvin let out a loud yell, yanking on Katia¡¯s silk PJ¡¯s. She just cooed to the little boy, bouncing him a little more. Just then, their attention shifted as Jillian casually sauntered into the kitchen in nothing but her hoodie. Hair disheveled every which way, lured to the kitchen by the smell of coffee. Jillian¡¯s eyes widened as she spotted her mother and Katia casually sipping coffee¡ plotting menacingly. ¡°Uh, what the fuck is going on here?¡± she asked, standing there in disbelief. Both Ginny and Katia smiled at her, but had a warning glare about her language. Her mother motioned for Jillian to come closer. ¡°Come join us, sweetie. Katia was just telling me about the girls¡¯ night you two talked about last night.¡± Ginny said sweetly. Jillian hesitated, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. This had ¡®trap¡¯ written all over it. With a quick turn, she darted back down the hall and into the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it behind her. ¡°What was that all about?¡± Katia said, a bit stunned by her reaction, while Ginny chuckled, unconcerned. ¡°I bet she thinks she¡¯s going to get in trouble or something. She¡¯s always had a pretty good sense for these things,¡± ¡°But she¡¯s not, right?¡± Katia said, a bit confused still. ¡°Not at all. But the situation probably looked like we were setting her up to grill her about last night. She must¡¯ve gotten spooked or something, haha,¡± Ginny laughed, with Katia joining in this time. Chapter 29: Sometimes Surprise Parties Are More Surprising for the Guests Than the Person Itéˆ¥æªš For. ¡°Jillian, what the hell?!¡± A voice called out to Jillian as she rushed into the bathroom. She spun around to find Jason covering his crotch with his hands.She shot him a quizzical look. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, eyeing his crotch skeptically. ¡°What does it look like? I said I was going to take a shower. Why are you in here?¡± he retorted, glaring at her, the sound of water filling the room. ¡°Well, go ahead and shower. I won¡¯t stop you. But both of our moms were in the kitchen, waiting to ambush us. So I decided to hide out here.¡± He looked very surprised at this. ¡°Oh shit... did they see you?¡± She nodded yes. ¡°Shit, that¡¯s gonna be awkward,¡± he said, muttering to himself. ¡°What if we...¡± Jason began, but he noticed Jillian still staring at his crotch. ¡°Jill, snap out of it!¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, sorry, what were you saying?¡± she said, blinking a few times. Jason sighed at her dazed expression. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just hang out in my room while I shower? It¡¯s just as unlikely anyone will come in there as here.¡± His hands still barely covered his sizable manhood; sure, they¡¯d fooled around a bit last night, but now they were in a brightly lit room, and he felt very exposed. Jillian chuckled softly. ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t mind waiting here and keeping you company,¡± she said, not even bothering to ask if he was okay with her staying. Jason scowled and reached over to grab a towel, wrapping it around his waist to maintain some modesty. Jillian¡¯s expression quickly shifted as she only then realized he wasn¡¯t joking. Frowning, she finally looked up at his face. ¡°Oh... you¡¯re serious,¡± she said, surprised by the sudden change in behavior from last night. ¡°Yeah, I am. I¡¯m not comfortable being naked¡¡± he said, his words trailing off. Seeing the sadness creeping onto her face, he felt compelled to explain. ¡°It¡¯s not you Jill¡sorry,¡± Jillian sighed at his words, but nodded, understanding his hesitance. ¡°Be patient, just cause you pried him open once. Doesn¡¯t mean he stays open all the time.¡± Her thoughts helped her see reason. ¡°I get it, I do... But, just so we¡¯re clear,¡± she said, before grabbing the bottom of her hoodie and lifting it up over her chest. Jason¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he was unexpectedly flashed by Jillian¡¯s nude form. Her slender waist and visible ribs, with small breasts perched atop her chest. The powder pink nipples that remained almost constantly hard stood out. His gaze traveled down to her nearly hairless mound, with light pink lips peeking out of her slightly puffy labia-majora. A hint of red hair peeked out of her mound, like she had shaved a few days prior. Just as quickly as she had revealed herself, she covered up again. ¡°I don¡¯t mind you seeing me naked,¡± she said with a sweet smile. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you at least appreciate it,¡± she teased, chuckling at his stunned expression and the slightly tented towel. ¡°I will be a good girl and wait for you,¡± Jillian said, cooing softly. She stepped closer to rest a hand on Jason¡¯s chest, her fingers softly running through his chest hair. ¡°You never gave me a good morning kiss though. not sure how patient I can be without one,¡± she said, giving him a small pout. He met her gaze and nodded quickly, leaning down. Their lips met, but this time, Jillian kept her eyes open, wanting to see his expression as she pushed her lips against his. A smile played on her lips throughout the kiss as she reached up to the back of his neck, deepening it. Jason didn¡¯t object as they adjusted their position, prolonging the kiss for a few more seconds before parting with a wet smack. Jillian flashed him a toothy grin as she traced along his jawline while pulling her hand away from him. ¡°Do you enjoy kissing me?¡± Jillian already knew the answer, but it was always nice to hear it again. ¡°I do,¡± Jason said, and unfortunately didn¡¯t know when to stop. ¡°You, at least. I can¡¯t speak to anyone else right now. I don¡¯t really have any desire to kiss anyone else, and since I haven¡¯t¡ª¡± Jillian cut him off by placing her hand over his mouth. ¡°A simple yes would have sufficed,¡± she laughed and gave his cheek a playful pat. ¡°I¡¯m gonna dash home and grab some clothes. So, I¡¯ll just sneak out your window. Hit me up when you¡¯re free,¡± she said, a smile still on her face as she turned to leave. As one last parting gift, she grabbed the front of her hoodie and pulled it up just enough so it revealed a glimpse of her plump, freckled peach of a butt. His eyes instantly glued to the sight, his towel tenting even more as she walked away. The ample curves of her butt bouncing with each swaying step. She was a temptress at best and a succubus at worst, and Jason was all too mesmerized by her to even respond. Jillian reached the bathroom door and glanced back over her shoulder, catching him staring at her ass just like she wanted. ¡°See ya in a bit, big guy,¡± she said with a smirk, pulling her hoodie back down to cover up. Jason snapped out of his daze, blinking up at her. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll uhh text you soon,¡± he said with a slight verbal stumble. Still grinning, she opened the door and left the bathroom. She headed back to Jason¡¯s room. He stood there shaking his head and muttering to himself. ¡°Fuck, why do I become a drooling pervert when she teases me like that? Have I really lost control of my life that badly?¡± With a sigh, he ran his hands through his hair. ¡°This is all your fault,¡± he scowled, blaming his fading erection for the struggle. By now, sneaking in and out of Jason¡¯s window had become second nature. She checked around to make sure no one was nearby before slowly vaulting over the windowsill, being extra careful not to trip this time. Walking home barefoot wasn¡¯t exactly enjoyable, but her feet were pretty tough from years of wearing flip flops and spending time by the pool without shoes. As she made her way home, Jillian entered the house to find an unusual silence for it being a weekend. She closed her eyes and took a moment for herself to just breathe, a smile crossing her face, feeling like things were actually going to be okay. All the recent bad experiences seemed to fade away, letting her enjoy the fleeting moment of peace. Jillian must¡¯ve seemed pretty silly just standing there in the entrance-way, smiling with her eyes shut tight. Giggles from nearby pulled her from the trance. When she opened her eyes, her sister June was laughing softly with a book tucked under her arm. But Jillian wasn¡¯t bothered; if anything, it made her smile even wider. With a vicious grin, she suddenly pounced on June and playfully planted big, sloppy kisses all over her face. June cried out in alarm, desperately trying to push her sister away, dropping her book in the process. After she separated herself from her sister, she demanded to know why the hell Jillian did that, wiping the spit from her cheeks, making faces of disgust. ¡°I¡¯m just so grateful to have such a clever and wonderful little sister. I wanted to show my appreciation for setting me straight,¡± Jillian said, her grin never fading . June was a bit confused by her sister¡¯s words, piecing together the basics when she didn¡¯t come back home last night. It seemed clear how things had unfolded. Back when Jillian was in highschool, Ginny became increasingly aware of how promiscuous her daughter was. This had ensured all following children were well-informed about human biology and sexual education. It wasn¡¯t about condoning these actions, but rather equipping them with knowledge of how to navigate such matters safely. The last thing she wanted was for her children to fall to any pressures or be tricked into having sex. June, unlike her sister, had very little interest in romance or intimacy, although she did recall a peculiar dream from the night before that she wanted to discuss later with Jillian. Hastily, she began signing a barrage of questions to her sister. ¡°What happened? Did you two spend the night together? Does this mean you¡¯re officially dating? Are you wearing anything underneath that?¡± Though she wasn¡¯t interested in relationships herself. It didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t interested in her sisters. Jillian laughed as her sister fired off questions, clearing her throat to respond to them one by one. ¡°Well, first off, we talked a lot. But yeah, we ended up sharing a bed,¡± she said, not going into the details. ¡°As for what we are... maybe something more than friends? I mean, he hinted he has feelings for me, and I admitted I do as well. So we sort of agreed on that... though nothing¡¯s official yet,¡± she explained the uncertainty of their situation. Were they officially together or just fuck buddies with a side serving of emotions? Normally, she¡¯d be fine with the latter. There had been plenty of those back in the day. But with Jason Merris, though, her former cute chubby classmate that she had bullied mercilessly? He was certainly more handsome than cute now. Looking back on the days she bullied the boy, she knew it was more of a fucked up crush that was overruled by anger. Things felt very different now, more serious. She shook her head, getting lost in her thoughts for a moment. ¡°So, you finally admit that you actually like like him? Also, you didn¡¯t answer my other question,¡± June signed again, catching her sister¡¯s attention once more. Jillian felt her cheeks flush at the directness of the question. It felt a bit awkward being asked so directly, like she was back in highschool getting one of those letters that had the words. ¡°Do you like me? Yes or no?¡± ¡°Well yeah, I guess,¡± she said, writing ¡®maybe¡¯ on that imaginary letter. Jillian tried to gather her thoughts. ¡°He¡¯s handsome and nice enough without being a pushover all the time. Sure, he can be a little straight-forward, super dense and clueless sometimes, but it¡¯s endearing and kinda cute, I guess? I mean, can¡¯t really blame the guy since he¡¯s basically a Virginnnnnnnnian... those folks from Virginia... total weirdos... and you¡¯re not buying this, are you?¡± She poorly tried to cover up her slip about Jason being a virgin. Her follow up probably only put more of a spotlight on it. Just like that, Jillian realized she¡¯d messed up yet again. ¡°Fuck.¡± At least it was only to her little sister, who was shaking her head in response with wide eyes at the revelation. Jillian sighed and rubbed her face with both hands, clearly irritated at herself. ¡°Okay, this is a super sensitive topic, so please, please, pleeease, don¡¯t tell anyone? I trust you, June, but I mean it, don¡¯t breathe a word of this to anyone, not even mom. In fact, especially not mom!¡± June nodded eagerly, already firing off more questions. ¡°So, he¡¯s never done it? I wouldn¡¯t have guessed someone like him was one. Wait, does that mean that you guys didn¡¯t... you know...do it last night?¡± Her hands danced in rapid gestures before Jillian reached out to stop her. ¡°June, come on, I want you to swear that you won¡¯t talk about it anymore. Let¡¯s drop the topic now please... And no, that didn¡¯t happen last night.¡± It felt way too awkward discussing this with her little sister, even though June was already old enough to have her own thoughts on the matter. June raised an eyebrow as her older sister swore her to secrecy. Giving Jillian a nod, she promised to keep quiet on the subject. With how her sister was talking last night before she left, Jillian seemed to be on a mission for Jason¡¯s body. So hearing that the two didn¡¯t have sex was a bit of a surprise. She just hoped it meant the two were taking things slow, well slower, and it meant they really liked each other by doing so. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°I won¡¯t say anything, I promise. I just want you to be happy. So I¡¯m happy if you are,¡± June signed with a smile as they wrapped each other up in a sisterly embrace. ¡°I think I will be, if this all works out, I am trying to be optimistic.¡± Jillian felt her cheeks warm with a blush, thinking about a real relationship that wouldn¡¯t end with her being a glorified prisoner. ¡°I love you so much Junebug,¡± she said, squeezing her tight. Jillian was so grateful for her sister¡¯s support and what happened next made the moment even sweeter. ¡°I love you too.¡± Those words were pretty typical in most of this family, except this time they came from June. Jillian jerked back so fast she almost gave them both whiplash, staring at her little sister as if she¡¯d sprouted a second head. ¡°June, you just...¡± Jillian¡¯s voice cracked, sounding like a nervous, pubescent boy. June shied away slightly, looking a bit embarrassed, as if she¡¯d committed some kind of mistake. Jillian then pulled her sister into a tight embrace, ugly crying for the next few minutes in uncontrollable happiness. After stepping out of the shower, Jason wrapped himself in a towel and walked out into the hallway. He could hear his mom and Ginny chatting loudly. Entering his room, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand, unlocked it, and checked his messages. Unsurprisingly, the top one wasn¡¯t from Jillian, as he expected. The preview from Pests text did not seem good. Opening the messages, his eyes widened in near horror. ¡°Oh God... it can¡¯t be... How could I have forgotten?¡± his voice shuddered in horror Jason opened his calendar app and found the event that made his blood run cold. ¡°DAY OF RECKONING,¡± was marked ominously on today¡¯s date. His eye twitched as he hurriedly texted Jillian. ¡°We need to talk ASAP! Come over as soon as you can please,¡± Taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself, he started typing his response to Pest. His concentration was momentarily broken by the slam of the front door. Peering out his still uncovered window, he saw Ginny with Calvin in her arms and his mom trailing behind, rushing down the road as fast as they could without actually running. This left him rather confused, but he had much more pressing matters at hand, so he pushed it from his mind. Jillian was still sniffing from her cry session and just finished texting her mom about what had just happened, much to June¡¯s embarrassment. She didn¡¯t really want the attention, and her speaking again had put a spotlight on her. The two sisters talked for a bit once Jillian had regained control of her emotions. Though June still preferred to sign. She explained how it felt like she could talk, but there was this overwhelming anxiety and fear that kept her from speaking, especially loudly. She admitted to having a bit of a panic attack after yelling those numbers the other day. Whispers being the much easier and preferred method of speaking at this point. Of course, Jillian understood her sister¡¯s anxieties, praising her for what she had already accomplished. She knew that once June had broken the seal on her voice; it was only a matter of time before she was talking like normal again. The thought of being able to chat with her little sister again made her tear up all over again. Not that she had complaints before, but there was just something special about hearing June speak again after so long that made her incredibly happy. Jillian felt her phone vibrate on the couch beside her where the two sisters sat together. Today was already shaping up to be such an amazing day. She was about to dive into something new and exciting with Jason. The tension with Katia had been lifted, and her little sis was freaking talking again. Nothing could wipe that smile off her face... until she read Jason¡¯s message. ¡°We need to talk...?¡± she said, her smile dropping quickly. Those words never meant anything good. So why were they popping up on her screen now? This wasn¡¯t part of the plan, damn it. Couldn¡¯t she catch a break for just one day? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± June said in a whisper. Looking up at June, her smile returned before it faltered a bit. ¡°Jason just hit me with the, we need to talk text,¡± Jillian said sadly. June switched back to signing at this point. ¡°Maybe he just misses you?¡± she guessed, trying to put a brighter spin on the message. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but laugh at that; her sister was so innocent and sheltered from the world of ambiguous texts. ¡°Unfortunately, ninety-nine percent of the time, this means bad news or an impending breakup. I should probably go¡ª,¡± Jillian was cut off as the mom squad burst into the house, with Calvin quickly being set down to roam free. Ginny rushed up to June, a bit out of breath. ¡°Sweetie... you spoke... again?¡± she asked, taking a few big gasps between breaths. June looked over at her mother and Katia, who smiled back at her with a small wave. The extra people weren¡¯t really helping her nerves, but she nodded her head yes. Ginny quickly leaned over and gave her youngest daughter a tight squeeze. ¡°I am so proud of you, baby!¡± She said in a quivering voice. ¡°Thank you?¡± June managed to squeak out as she was tightly embraced, making her mother squeal in joy at finally getting to hear June speak again. Followed by, of course, the same reaction that Jillian had, where Ginny proceeded to ugly cry for several minutes. Jillian grinned at the scene before her. The cool breeze coming from the open door reminded her she was still naked under her hoodie. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m just going to change real quick,¡± she said, hopping off the couch and making a beeline for her room. She was relieved that June had diverted the attention away from her. But just as she was about to vanish upstairs, a voice stopped her in her tracks. ¡°Oh, Jillian?¡± Ginny said, sniffing a little as she called to her eldest daughter, and Jillian¡¯s heart sank like a stone into the pit of her stomach. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to return my lingerie, washed, dried, and neatly folded.¡± Ginny flashed a sinister smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. Jillian felt muscles she didn¡¯t know she had tense up at the hidden message in her mother¡¯s words. She simply nodded, then hurried up the stairs, leaving Katia and Ginny laughing together softly. Jillian burst into her room, letting out an annoyed groan at her mom catching her. She swiftly pulled the bunched up lingerie from her hoodie pocket, then ditched her hoodie all together and threw on a black long-sleeve shirt adorned with an old rock band¡¯s logo. The whole limited wardrobe situation was seriously getting on her nerves. With a sigh, she slipped into her last pair of clean yoga pants, a vibrant shade of red this time. She gave herself a once-over in the tall mirror to make sure everything was in place. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t even have the usual grimace when she looked at her reflection ¨C a habit that usually came naturally whenever she faced that damned mirror. Yet, even with the ominous text, she felt pretty good about herself for once. Still remembering the desire and admiration in Jason¡¯s gaze when he looked at her. Jillian finally replied to Jason¡¯s text, asking what was going on and asked why it had to be in person. He messaged back almost immediately. He said he''d much prefer it if they discussed everything in person, mentioning that it was a bit complicated to explain over the phone. She was thrown off a bit by this; it didn¡¯t seem like the usual drama most normal relationships had. Then again, their relationship was anything but normal. He obviously wanted to show her something to help explain, but it didn¡¯t seem like it was something she did wrong. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be over soon then!¡± she texted, adding a kissy face emoji to the text before slipping her hoodie back on and heading downstairs. The trio were still chatting in the living room when Jillian called out to them. ¡°Going to see, Jason. Be back later! Love you, bye.¡± Ginny and Katia exchanged grins, amused that she was already going back to see her man after barely half an hour apart. Jillian walked in through the front door of the Merris home this time, like a normal person would. She kicked off her shoes at the entrance and called out, ¡°Jason, I¡¯m back!¡± Jason¡¯s voice called out from the study, ¡°In here!¡± She followed his voice and found him sitting on the small couch, wearing a tank top and basketball shorts, looking stressed as he stared at his phone. Frowning, she walked over to him. ¡°Hey Jase, what¡¯s up? I know you missed me, but I didn¡¯t expect you to call me over so soon?¡± She said, teasing him a little. Her hand moved to his neck and started to rub and run her nails along his skin and through his hair. Jason let out a heavy sigh. Her fingers felt nice, but it didn¡¯t fix his problem. He rubbed his temples with one hand. ¡°Just¡ start from the top, and I¡¯ll answer your questions after,¡± he said, offering the phone to her. She nodded and took the phone with both hands to read the text chat he had up. Pest: Get ready, future Mr. Kilpatrick! (Daddy thought it¡¯d be best if you took our name, hehe.), guess who¡¯s outside the office waiting for youuuu! <3 Pest: Don¡¯t worry, I will get Daddy to excuse your absence today, so come down! Please hurry, I have a full day planned for us! Pest: Jase, I know you can see this. Don¡¯t make me come up there. You wouldn¡¯t ignore me on today of all days. I have your schedule on my phone, so I know you are here. Pest: Alright, fine, if that is how you want to play it, I¡¯ll just make you walk out with me in front of everyone then. It''s good for them all to learn that you are mine anyway. <3 Pest: Jason¡ Pest: JASON!!!!!!!!! Pest: Jason, why is your office locked? LET ME IN!!! Pest: Fine, I¡¯ll just talk to that creepy guy who¡¯s been following me since I walked in. Greg or something, wasn¡¯t really listening. Maybe I will flirt with him a little to make you jealous. LOLJK he¡¯s gross. Pest: WHY AREN¡¯T YOU HERE, JASE?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHAT THE HELL! ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE FROM ME! Pest: ANSWER ME OR I¡¯LL MAKE YOU REGRET IT, WE HAD A DEAL JASON! Jason: I¡¯m in Colorado visiting my mom. I took a short notice vacation since my PTO was about to expire. Pest: What!? ON MY BIRTHDAY! How could you Jason! T_T Pest: It¡¯s okay, I understand, sweetie. <3 This is just another test of our love. I¡¯ll have Daddy charter you a private jet, so you can be home in a few hours and we will still have the evening to enjoy. Jason: I¡¯m not coming back for at least another week. I am not wasting my PTO. Pest: So cruel! Pest: Then I will come to you! I¡¯m not a monster. I wouldn¡¯t tear you away from your mother. Just checked the flight time, and I can be there in a few hours! I can¡¯t wait to meet your family! Jason: Lina, I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you something. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t say it sooner, but I¡¯ve met someone. Our deal is off. Pest: Hahaha, oh Jason, you can¡¯t fool me like that! Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t expect something like this. There has been no one in your life that even comes close to a girlfriend. I have been keeping an eye on you. So I¡¯m counting on you to keep your part of the contract, my love. Jason: I¡¯m serious Lina. I¡¯ve reconnected with a girl from high school, and things are getting serious. Pest: That¡¯s the worst excuse you could have come up with Jase. Haha! Pest: I know all about your high school days, Jason. I¡¯ve seen your records. I know everything about you, and I know we¡¯re meant to be together. The only girl that it might be is married. So, stop trying to break your promise before I get really upset! Jason: I¡¯m not breaking anything, Lina. I¡¯m telling you the truth. If you know me so well, you know I don¡¯t lie. Pest: I do know you, Jason, better than anyone ever will! That¡¯s why I can¡¯t believe what you are saying right now. It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll find out soon enough. I¡¯ll be there in less than four hours. Pest: Love you! Mwah! Jillian¡¯s face twisted in disgust as she finished reading the texts. ¡°What the fuck did I just read?¡± Confusion and hurt filled her as she read. A weird mix of emotions swirled inside her when she saw Jason claiming they were dating. ¡°Is she some kind of stalker you made a promise to marry or something? How could she say all those¡¡± She couldn¡¯t even find the words, handing the phone back before wrapping her arms around herself, nails digging into her arms again. Jason quickly set the phone down before standing up and placing his hands on her shoulders. ¡°Jill, I swear, I didn¡¯t think she would hang on this long. I never actually felt anything for her. I¡¯ve told her as much. It was this dumb promise from over a year ago that got blown way out of proportion. I didn¡¯t think there was any way it would go this far, but now... things are¡ ugh such a fucking mess,¡± his expression was troubled. His hands gripped her shoulders for a moment before going slack, barely hanging on. ¡°I just wanted to be honest with you... This is a lot to take in and you don¡¯t deserve to deal with this unnecessary drama and trouble. So¡ I understand if you want to leave. You gave me the option to leave last night, so I wanted to give you the same. I promise I won¡¯t hold it against you¡ you won¡¯t hear from me again.¡± The ache that he only felt with Jill wracked his bones again. Jillian gazed long and hard at Jason, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. Though she wasn¡¯t fully aware of the situation he was in, it was clear he wasn¡¯t lying. The texts told her he was at least a partial victim in this mess. Whoever this Lina chick was, she had some serious obsession with Jason going on, and the cash and or influence to summon private jets like they were a fucking Uber. It was a very dangerous combo. The first image she got of Lina was basically a female Luis, making a shiver run down her spine. A fear quickly sunk in, worrying about her family¡¯s safety, mostly. The logical move would be to step aside and let the tornado pass her by without getting caught in the crossfire. At that point, Jillian thought about the last few days. Just how much had she cried and fought with Jason, only to end up basically teetering at the edge of being in a relationship? ¡°Nah, fuck that.¡± Jillian wasn¡¯t about to back down now. She¡¯d worked and suffered hard for what little she had, and she would not let some rich bitch try to snatch the dessert off her plate. Nope, no fucking way was that happening. Watching her internally debate with herself, Jason felt like the only right situation was to simply accept that he fucked up and let Jillian go. He would face the Lina situation one way or another. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. ¡°I will text her back and let her know that I''m....¡± taking her hesitation as her resignation. He still couldn''t finish his sentence. Jillian¡¯s eyes narrowed in a determined stare. ¡°You need to tell me everything¡Now!¡± she demanded, her words ablaze with a fiery resolve. Chapter 30.1: Promises, Promises, Knowing She Would Believe. Part 1 About two years ago, in a fancy rooftop penthouse of a high-end hotel chain, a Christmas party was well on its way. It wasn¡¯t exactly a rager, as everyone there had a combined net worth that measured upwards of twelve figures. Jason was probably the poorest person there. He found himself at the fancy party solely because the CEO¡¯s son, who was also partially his boss, invited him. Well, not so much invited. It was more of a thinly veiled threat. ¡°Hey come to this party. I¡¯m gonna need some extra entertainment. You know what will happen if you don¡¯t.¡± The brat enjoyed having Jason around because he got a kick out of watching him effortlessly reject some of the supermodel-level women with little to no hesitation or regret. Jason wore a black tuxedo that fit like a glove that was a size too small for him. Despite the tailor taking his measurements, he felt like he was going to burst out the seams if he flexed too much or bent the wrong way. This wasn¡¯t the first time it¡¯s happened either. Each time he came to one of these parties, the suit that was delivered to him after getting measurements done was too small. At this point, he was pretty sure it was on purpose. Not that he could do much about it. As he leaned against a wall in a less populated area, gulping down his fourth glass of overpriced sparkling white wine, he lazily surveyed the party. It was full of ridiculously wealthy people and their spawn. The party was advertised as family friendly and parents were encouraged to bring their children, so it was a bit more rowdy than most he¡¯d been to. Some kids were young, some older, but a common factor was that most looked like they¡¯d rather be anywhere but here. Almost all of them had an uptight, arrogant look to their expressions like they were looking down on everyone else. Taught that they were superior to the common rabble, they thought they were special little bastards. Even at a party like this full of millionaires and some billionaires, they looked down at others. Jason couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how spoiled most of these kids were. They all needed a reality check if anyone asked him. Not that any of them would care what some salary man thought. Jason was slowly letting his mind drift into a half-drunken stupor until a voice broke through the haze, calling out to him as they neared. ¡°Hey Jason, there you are, buddy! How are you enjoying the festivities?¡± A young man with sun-kissed blonde hair and eyes that resembled the color of autumn leaves walked up to him. His sharp, handsome face was framed by a wisp of cigar smoke. The aura of mischief was almost visible around him. Jason glanced over at him with a small scowl, only deepening when he saw he had his arm wrapped around the waist of a voluptuous blonde. The woman had a figure full of voluptuous curves with a tiny waist. Her proportions were borderline unrealistic. ¡°Fuck¡ here we go again, you piece of shit, Vince,¡± Jason growled silently. ¡°Oh, you know me, I always have fun at these get-togethers. I love being around a bunch of rich bastards who could have me dragged out into the middle of the street in broad daylight, shot in the back of the head execution style, and then laugh it off while discussing the artful splattering of my brain in their mansions, as the cops pour their drinks,¡± Jason paused to finish his wine. ¡°So you know, just peachy,¡± his words dripped with sarcasm. The woman¡¯s expression twisted into sheer horror at Jason¡¯s words, while Vince burst into hysterical laughter. He pulled the cigar from his mouth, leaning over and placing a hand on his knees, eyes watering as he coughed from laughing too hard and inhaling some of the smoke. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s funny cause it¡¯s true! Jason, ya gotta warn me first. My chest hurts now haha, oh man,¡± he said, still chuckling. Slowly regaining his composure, Vince continued, ¡°Anyway, anyway, I wanted you to meet my new friend here. Carmella, meet Jason. He¡¯s a good friend of mine,¡± he said, giving her an overly friendly smack on her butt that was probably fake the way it barely moved from the strike. ¡°So be nice to him, alright?¡± The woman barely flinched from the smack and shot a glare at him but refrained from saying anything. ¡°Vince¡ come on man,¡± Jason groaned with pure annoyance in his voice. ¡°Oh, come on now! Give her a chance; I¡¯m sure you two will hit it off. Why don¡¯t you tell her about how your boxing career is coming along?¡± Vince said with a wink, while Jason rolled his eyes and nodded begrudgingly. ¡°Alright, well, I¡¯ll leave you both to it. See you two very soon,¡± Vince said casually. With another puff on his cigar, he strolled away with a grin that would make the devil jealous. Jason looked back over at Carmella, who was now eye fucking him as her gaze traced over every ridge caused by the slim-fitting tuxedo. Her desire was obvious as her eyes landed on the bulge of his crotch. Jason was the exact opposite, as he already decided he wasn¡¯t interested before he even heard her name. Jason pushed off the wall and started walking away. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Carmella said as she hurried after him. Jason sighed as he was followed. ¡°If I¡¯m stuck with you, I am gonna need a stronger drink.¡± The blonde woman¡¯s eyes flashed, but Jason wasn¡¯t even looking at her anymore. ¡°Excuse me? You¡¯re stuck with me?¡± she said with a scoff, her tone screamed offense, yet she continued to follow him. ¡°You¡¯re excused, and yes, stuck with you,¡± he retorted, rolling his eyes. She gasped, clearly offended. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that my family runs a multinational¡ª¡± Jason cut her off abruptly as they reached the refreshment table. ¡°Shut up. I¡¯m not drunk enough for you to start with the whole ¡®my family is this, we own that¡¯ bullshit. Yeah, you and literally everyone else here,¡± he spat back, the irritation clear in his voice. Jason casually poured himself a half-full glass of fifty-year-old scotch, nonchalantly sipping it as Carmella stared at him in disbelief. ¡°You aren¡¯t some special and unique snowflake. You are just some overly fake bimbo shoved on me by someone with more power and money than you.¡± He savored the taste of the expensive alcohol, unfazed by Carmella¡¯s rising anger. Jason easily slipped back from the swing of her arm as she tried to slap him. Not even spilling a drop of his drink. Carmella had fully expected to hit the man and over-committed with her swing. Her heels clattered as she stumbled forward. He could have easily caught the woman as she was falling towards him, but instead, he sidestepped her, and she fell to her knees. ¡°Ahhh! My fucking knees!¡± she yelled in pain as she landed on the floor. She struggled as she tried getting back to her feet, her ankles constantly twisting as her tall heels slipped on the smooth hardwood. ¡°You should really be more careful who you try to pick fights with, dumbass,¡± Jason remarked with a slight slur as he popped an olive into his mouth from the selection of garnishes. Carmella shot him a look that could kill, but her expression quickly changed as she realized everyone around them was staring and whispering. ¡°Isn¡¯t anyone going to help me? This man assaulted me!¡± Carmella asked, fear in her eyes as she saw the disgusted looks aimed her way. ¡°What is that woman doing on the floor?¡± ¡°I believe that is one of the escorts hired for tonight¡¯s entertainment.¡± ¡°At least take it into one of the rooms before getting on your knees, stupid whore.¡± Several loud unabashed whispers broke the silence, sparking a chorus of agreement from others. ¡°I¡¯m not! He is the one that...¡± Carmella protested, but it was too late. The damage was done, and she found herself ostracized in a room full of people who only ever looked out for themselves in the first place. Tears streamed down Carmella¡¯s cheeks as she struggled to stand up. An older woman suddenly emerged from the crowd and grabbed Carmella¡¯s arm, pulling her up. ¡°Get up, you stupid girl! You¡¯re making a scene and embarrassing your father and I,¡± she scolded. Carmella looked up at the woman, still crying. ¡°But, Mother, he...¡± Her sentence trailed off as she realized Jason was gone. ¡°H-he was just here, this tall guy...¡± she tried to explain, but a sharp slap across the face interrupted her. ¡°I don¡¯t care if it was the fucking president; people are saying we have a prostitute for a daughter. We¡¯re going home, now!¡± Carmella gasped, holding her cheek where her mother had slapped her. ¡°You struck me! You¡¯ve never hit me before!¡± Her eyes continued to spill shocked tears. ¡°Maybe I should have sooner! Now, if you don¡¯t move your ass, I¡¯ll make the doctor who gave it to you take it back!¡± ¡°Mom, please!¡± The two argued as they left the penthouse. The crowd quickly went back to their own conversations. The distant sound of a man¡¯s hysterical laughter rang out loudly. Vince couldn¡¯t contain himself, now doubled over at the hilarious scene that had just unfolded. ¡°Haha, that was one of the best yet! When she swung at him and missed, hahaha I almost pissed myself!¡± he gasped between laughter, struggling to catch his breath and coughing hard as he leaned on his knees. Meanwhile, Jason pushed open the door to one of the bathrooms, seeking refuge he hoped for a moment of peace. He walked up to one of the sinks, downing the rest of his drink, and placing the empty glass cup on the edge with a clink. He leaned forward on the counter, his stomach turned, and grumbled loudly. Not happy at the large consumption of alcohol, he had been putting in it with so little food. It was then that he was met with the unmistakable sounds of moans and gags coming from behind a door that led to the shower and toilet. He let out a heavy sigh, staring at his reflection and the bags under his eyes from lack of sleep.The stress of being forced to come to this stupid fucking party had been weighing him down the entire week before and left him running on less than a few hours of sleep in the last few days. ¡°Oh yeah baby, suck that cock!¡± a voice from behind the door shouted. Jason¡¯s fists clenched tight. It was the last straw. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and finally snapped. ¡°Shut the fuck up, you disgusting jackasses! There are children at this party!¡± he screamed his frustrations at the deviants behind the door. Quickly storming out of the bathroom, he muttered under his breath as the voice yelled back. ¡°Who the fuck-,¡± but that was all he heard as he left and made his way through the party, he would try his luck with the other bathroom located across the penthouse. Hoping he could die in peace there. ¡°Jason, hey wait up!¡± Vince¡¯s grating voice called out to him. ¡°Bathroom,¡± Jason replied simply, never slowing his stride. Luckily, Vince didn¡¯t follow. The sloshing of excess liquid in Jason¡¯s stomach churned like a blender of impending doom. When he finally got to the bathroom, he ignored the sign taped to the door that read lady¡¯s room. As he entered, the sound of crying filled his ears. He prayed it wasn¡¯t Carmella; he didn¡¯t know if she was still at the party or not, but he had zero desire to deal with her. His stomach grumbled and warned him what was about to happen. He grasped the sink¡¯s edge with an iron grip. The world spun as he felt sick and that alone made him sweat profusely. ¡°Fuck¡ fuck, just breath, just breath, just¡,¡± he groaned, feeling bile rise in his throat. ¡°Hello¡ Who¡¯s out there?¡± a soft, feminine voice called out, followed by a loud sniff, but Jason was too preoccupied to respond. He was only vaguely aware of the sound of the door opening and the click of heels next to him. ¡°A-are you alright?¡± the voice asked. ¡°Nope,¡± was all he managed before he leaned over and emptied the contents of his stomach into the sink. The only solid food he¡¯d eaten all day was a single olive, so the contents of his stomach were almost all liquid unleashed down the drain. ¡°Oh, dear!¡± the woman¡¯s voice exclaimed as Jason¡¯s body wretched and convulsed over the sink. As Jason¡¯s stomach grumbled with intense pain, feeling only half empty by this point, he felt a hand trying to comfort him by rubbing his back. The idea of a strange woman touching him did the opposite of comfort to him, but it was a kind gesture, even if it did little. He continued to unleash another torrent of previously consumed alcohol down the drain. Once Jason¡¯s stomach finally ran empty, he dropped to his knees, hanging onto the sink, closing his eyes in exhaustion. His body shook as his blood sugar crashed, panting heavily, and struggling to catch his breath. His chest continued tightening with frequent dry heaves. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t drink so much you throw up, it¡¯s not good for you,¡± the woman with her hand still on his back informed, her voice holding a surprising amount of concern. ¡°My dad drinks a lot, and all he does anymore is work and sleep.¡± Jason wasn¡¯t sure what this woman was trying to say, or why she was even talking to him, to begin with. ¡°It¡¯s a party. I have to drink¡ for my own sanity,¡± he rasped out, closing his eyes wearily. ¡°Drinking is always a choice. My father warned me about peer pressure,¡± the woman said in a matter-of-fact tone, like some know-it-all all teenager. He couldn¡¯t give two shits about the after-school special wisdom she was trying to impart on him. ¡°Whatever, I don¡¯t really care. Think what you want,¡± he said with a groan of pain as his chest tightened once more. His words took a moment to sink in before she finally reacted. ¡°You don¡¯t care?... That¡¯s funny,¡± she added with a small laugh. Jason groggily opened his eyes and frowned at the light laughter around him. It was just what he needed now, having to deal with another pain in the ass trust fund brat or an overly confident trophy wife waiting for her hundred-year-old husband to kick the bucket. ¡°Not sure how it¡¯s funny, I honestly don¡¯t give two flying fucks what you stuck up limp noodle, never worked a real job, soft-handed idiots with more money than brain cells think,¡± he said, mumbling groggily. ¡°Your thoughts on who I am or what I do matter about as much as the color of socks worn by the homeless guy on my street corner matters to me.¡± Using the sink for support, Jason slowly hoisted himself up. As he turned, he finally faced the person who had been speaking. To his mild surprise, he found himself staring down at a young girl, probably in her mid-teens. Her shiny wheat-blonde hair was styled in an elaborate way with bits sticking out here and there, matching her almost-golden shimmering dress. The fact that he had just cursed out a kid quickly sunk in. ¡°Shit¡this might not end well.¡± His thoughts raced for a moment before he saw her expression change. Surprisingly, the young woman wasn¡¯t frowning at Jason. In fact, she was smiling and laughing softly. ¡°So what color are they?¡± she suddenly asked as Jason stood there, a bit unsteady. He took in her facial features as their eyes met. Her eyes and cheeks were stained with mascara that had run from her earlier tears, yet most of her features remained flawlessly beautiful under it. Unable to stop his eyes from traveling down, he saw her figure, well, more like didn¡¯t see. Even for a teenager, her chest was very small, like a washboard, but that would be an insult to washboards, really. Not that it mattered to Jason at all. Even if he were interested in dating, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be with someone so young. Or with a figure that reminded him of painful memories. ¡°Huh?¡± Jason finally responded, still feeling a bit woozy from the alcohol. ¡°His socks, silly. What color are the homeless guy¡¯s socks?¡± she asked, still smiling at him. Jason ran a hand through his black hair, slicking it back out of his eyes after it got messed up from his bout of nausea. ¡°He doesn¡¯t wear socks... he¡¯s homeless. That¡¯s the point,¡± The girl pondered the answer for a moment. ¡°Ohhhh, haha, that¡¯s pretty good,¡± she said, giggling softly, covering her mouth with her hand. ¡°It wasn¡¯t meant to be funny,¡± he returned, rubbing his half-numb face. Just then, someone entered the bathroom. ¡°My word!¡± an older voice exclaimed from behind. Both Jason and the blonde girl turned to see who it was. An elderly lady literally grasped the large old-fashioned pearls strung around her neck and stared at them in shock. Seeing Jason¡¯s disheveled appearance and the mascara stains on the young girl¡¯s face, she gasped, making sounds of offense, before retreating out of the bathroom. Both of them were rather confused. ¡°What was her problem?¡± Jason asked aloud. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but you should probably get out of the women¡¯s bathroom,¡± she said, still smiling. Jason nodded at that and started walking out without saying another word. ¡°Hey, wait up!¡± the girl called out, hurrying to catch up as they left the bathroom. He had already started heading up a set of stairs to the second floor. ¡°Where are you going? I can¡¯t keep up in this dress and heels!¡± she asked, trying her best to keep pace with his long strides. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find a room without old perverts getting their rocks off in it. Why the hell are you following me?¡± Jason grumbled ¡°Ew, is that what people do at these parties?¡± ¡°Kid, you have no idea. Don¡¯t go in the other bathroom, by the way,¡± he warned, pausing to briefly listen at a door before moving on. ¡°My name is Lina Ki- well, it¡¯s Lina, not kid. I¡¯m sixteen already,¡± she said, trying to prove she wasn¡¯t a kid. ¡°Yeah, like I said, don¡¯t go in the other bathroom, kid,¡± he said, continuing onwards. Lina grumbled about still being called a kid, but she kept tagging along behind Jason like a lost puppy as he searched the rooms. ¡°I¡¯ve done plenty of adult things, probably more than you, Mr...¡± She paused, fishing for Jason¡¯s name. ¡°Just because you do adult things doesn¡¯t make you an adult. Hell, I doubt a lot of the people here are adults. And Mister is fine. Stop following me, kid,¡± he said, trying to shake her off as he pressed his ear to the next door. She scoffed at his words. ¡°Oh, and what exactly makes someone an adult? Vomiting in a sink at a party?¡± She shot back while leaning against the wall next to the door he was listening at. ¡°Shhhh,¡± he hushed her, still listening intently. She folded her arms in a slight huff, but the corners of her lips still curled into a smile. As annoyed as she was, she was still enjoying herself more than she had been. ¡°Finally,¡± Jason said with relief as he swung open the door, revealing a moderately sized bedroom with a queen-sized bed. Stepping inside, he glanced around before shutting and locking the door behind him. ¡°At last, some fuckin¡¯ peace,¡± he said with a sigh, relieved to have lost his tail. ¡°Totally the music out there is so cringy, even during Christmas, it¡¯s all old boring stuff,¡± Jason spun around to see Lina standing in the middle of the room, surveying the space. ¡°This room is tiny. Do people actually sleep in these rooms? I almost feel claustrophobic,¡± she said, prompting Jason to groan in response. ¡°Yes they do. My whole fucking apartment is barely bigger than this room alone,¡± he said, unlocking the door and holding it open for her to leave. ¡°Now, please get out, so I can rest and recover a bit.¡± Lina raised a brow at Jason¡¯s words and actions, laughing like it was some kind of joke. ¡°You are so funny, but no, I¡¯m not going back to that stupid party, especially not with that stupid jer-...uhh that awful music,¡± she was clearly hiding something, but Jason didn¡¯t give a single fuck at this point. Running his hand roughly down his face, he let out a long groan. ¡°I can¡¯t do this, I just¡ can¡¯t, please, just go. I¡¯ve been here for two hours, I threw up, and I¡¯m running on a total of three hours of sleep in the last two days. I¡¯m begging you Lina, please leave,¡± he pleaded, but Lina stood her ground, arms folded. ¡°I won¡¯t disturb your rest, but I¡¯m staying. And there is nothing you can do to change my mind,¡± she said, making her declaration. ¡°Fuck¡¡± Jason muttered, ¡°Fine, do what you want. I don¡¯t care anymore. But I am laying down and passing out for a while and doing my best to ignore you.¡± His head was pounding with a massive headache, he closed and locked the door, but quickly unlocked it again. Being alone in a room with a sixteen-year-old behind a locked door was way past his comfort zone. He shuffled over to the bed, shedding his tux jacket and tossing it atop of a dresser. Then undid several buttons on his undershirt, the upper ridges of his sculpted chest peaking out. Lina¡¯s eyes quickly darted away from the man, her cheeks warm while avoiding Jason¡¯s gaze. He didn¡¯t pay any attention to the teenager and simply collapsed onto the mattress and shut his eyes. She stared at the man on the bed trying to sleep, brain quickly coming up with questions she felt were important enough to interrupt his attempted nap. ¡°So, if you really don¡¯t want to be here, why did you come in the first place?¡± Lina sat down next to Jason on the bed, jostling him slightly. ¡°My dad drags me to these things all the time. He says that I need to be around others like our family to build up connections. Well, that and I thought my¡ a friend was coming, but turns out they¡¯re just a superficial jackass who cares more about looks than personality, loyalty, and¡ other stuff.¡± Jason¡¯s eyes slowly opened as Lina prattled on about a guy that he guessed broke up with her or something. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna stop talking, are you?¡± His voice was half muffled by the mattress. ¡°I mean, who just suddenly says something so hurtful out of nowhere?¡± Lina continued, ignoring his question. ¡°Why are people so quick to judge others based on appearance? Like, just because someone has smaller...umm feet,¡± Lina said vaguely. Clearly, not actually talking about shoe size. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re not amazing on the inside, right?¡± Not giving Jason a chance to respond. ¡°Just what I need, a disgruntled teen with body issues bombarding me with questions and complaints about the opposite sex¡Fuck my life,¡± he thought, just barely managing to keep his thoughts to himself this time. He just wanted a nap, maybe an hour to rest. Why did he attract all the crazies? Quickly giving up the ghost of a chance that he was going to get any rest he rolled over onto his back. ¡°If it¡¯s something you can¡¯t change naturally, it¡¯s best to accept it. I think it¡¯s much more attractive when someone is honest with themselves and others,¡± Jason said sleepily. ¡°And, you know, having small¡feet, shouldn¡¯t keep you from loving yourself. Some people probably prefer them.¡± He was not one of those people. The truth was that he disliked girls with small breasts, a hang-up of his, rooted in a deep-seated past trauma. Her boyish figure, on the other hand, leaned more towards flat than small chested. It was a small but meaningful distinction that kept his anger at bay. Lina gazed at Jason sprawled out on the bed, feeling a slight flutter in her chest from his words. She sucked in a deep breath to steady her nerves. ¡°Exactly. Nobody should be dumped over something as trivial as shoe size, right? I mean¡¡° she blushed as she basically admitted she was dumped. But it seemed like the conversation was far from over for Jason, as Lina dove back in with more questions. Jason let out a heavy sigh and glanced at Lina, really taking a good look at her. Yeah, she had a pretty face, but the front and back of her body were about as flat as those moronic theories about Earth. ¡°Lina, don¡¯t waste your time getting all worked up over guys who don¡¯t want to date you just because your butt and boobs aren¡¯t very big,¡± Jason was a bit too straightforward and Lina¡¯s face turned an even brighter red with shame and embarrassment as he pointed out the elephant in the room. ¡°W-who said anything about my boobs or b-butt, you creep!¡± she said defensively, glaring at him. Jason rolled his eyes at her comment. ¡°Just shut up and listen, there are always gonna be people who try to drag you down because of what you lack.¡± He tried to force himself to wake up a bit more to get a little more encouragement in his voice. ¡°But the real winners are those who take all the negativity in their lives and use it as fuel to better their own lives. So when someone insults who you are, you brush that shit off and show them how much it doesn¡¯t faze you. Piss them off by doing better than them. The best revenge is proving how wrong their insults were and rubbing it in their stupid faces. So stop being a whiny little bitch and prove just what a mistake your ex made.¡± At this point, he was just saying what he always hoped was true, not necessarily what was true. All in all, it was a pretty convincing story. Lina sat there, utterly stunned, as she listened to Jason speak. ¡°You... No one¡¯s ever spoken to me like this before,¡± she began, her words trailing off. He just shrugged, hoping she finally got so offended she would leave. ¡°So? I really couldn¡¯t care less if you¡¯re offen¡ª¡± before he could finish, she shouted, catching him off guard. ¡°You¡¯re so friggin right! I don¡¯t have to put up with that bull. I know I¡¯m a great catch, and I¡¯m not letting some self-important, egotistical, son of an oil baron jerk off dictate how I feel about myself! My eyes have never been so open! I¡¯m beautiful and smart, I deserve so much better! ¡± Jason removed his hands from his ears when she finally stopped shouting, wincing from his pounding headache he spoke up again. ¡°You know what else you should try?¡± ¡°Hmm, what¡¯s that!?¡± she asked eagerly, hanging on his every word. ¡°A little humility.¡± Lina froze at his words. There was a brief pause before her cheeks slowly warmed with color again. ¡°Oh¡ Right, sorry,¡± her voice was sincere, as she fiddled with her thumbs. ¡°Now you decide to act like an adult. Shit, couldn¡¯t have done that earlier, huh?¡± He said draping an arm over his eyes as he laid back on the bed. ¡°Wait, what?¡± She said, feeling a small glimmer of hope. ¡°Being able to take criticism without getting offended or upset is a part of being an adult.¡± Lina smiled softly at his words and glanced down at her hands. ¡°Thanks... will you umm... Could you maybe please tell me your name? I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone or anything like that.¡± She asked, trying to sound as sweet as possible. With a groan, he slowly sat up in bed and brushed his hair back, letting his fingers slip through the ebony strands of hair. ¡°Pfft, you think I care if these idiots know who I am? I figured out a long time ago who not to piss off. So my name means little to most of these hyper-rich jackasses.¡± Lina¡¯s face scrunched at the line about rich people. ¡°Okay, well then, why won¡¯t you tell me? I just wanna say thanks, and the thought of saying thanks, Mister, makes me feel like a child,¡± Lina confessed, still nervously playing with her fingers and avoiding eye contact. Jason let out a long, annoyed sigh. ¡°Look, I didn¡¯t tell you because I didn¡¯t want you to get attached to me. Or putting me in some revenge diary to get back at me later. I¡¯m just not into kids, and I never plan on being so.¡± Lina¡¯s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment as she looked over at Jason. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not a kid, and I wouldn¡¯t do that! I just¡¡± she said, arguing a little before pausing, her face warming slightly again. He just rolled his eyes and let out a heavy breath. ¡° You¡¯re an adult when you turn eighteen, legally, sure, but let¡¯s be honest. You have a lot of growing up to do before I would see you as one.¡± His words earned a scoff from Lina. She folded her arms over her chest, glaring at him. ¡°You act like I¡¯m dying to be with you or something. Get real, it¡¯s not happening.¡±. Jason looked at Lina with half-lidded eyes, pure disbelief in his gaze. She blushed slightly before confessing, ¡°Okay, maybe I like you a little, but it¡¯s not because I think you are hot or anything like that...¡± Her flushed cheeks and inability to keep eye contact said otherwise. ¡°Even if I did¡I think a break from boys would be best for me.¡± Even though Jason¡¯s words had provided some strange comfort, Lina¡¯s heart was still recovering from being unexpectedly shattered that night, and for the very complex that worried her the most. Just thinking about what happened earlier brought renewed tears to her eyes. They slowly spilled over her eyelids, and she quickly wiped them away as they rolled down her cheeks. He stared at her as she started crying, and let out another heavy sigh. ¡°Listen, Lina, I¡¯m not trying to hurt you, I swear. Put you off, yes, but not hurt. I know how to hurt people. I promise you I''m just trying to make sure you understand. I¡¯m not someone you should pursue. I am a terrible, broken person, and not the type you want to play your boyfriend,¡± he said in a deadly serious tone. He was trying to run some damage control, mostly for the sake of his own skin. Dealing with minors, especially wealthy ones, was a risky game to play. Lina shook her head and sniffled loudly. ¡°No, that¡¯s not why I¡¯m crying. Sorry it¡¯s just¡¡± she said, her voice choked up with emotion. She let out a heavy sob despite her desperate efforts to hold them in. ¡°I-I had a boyfriend at the start of tonight. I tried to find him right when I got here¡ but it was like he was trying to avoid me. Then I found out why he was.¡± Jason didn¡¯t want to hear her sob story about her breakup with her boyfriend. His massive headache was still protesting being awake. But if he left the sanctity of the room, he risked getting roped into another one of Vince¡¯s schemes. So, after a moment¡¯s contemplation, he decided to go with the lesser of two evils. Jason slowly rubbed his face roughly, trying to take long deep breaths. He turned to look out the window, trying to resist the urge to hurl himself off the penthouse roof to end the slow, painful death he was suffering here. ¡°We¡¯d been dating for almost a year, mostly long distance since he lives in Texas,¡± her voice wavered. ¡°We still saw each other at least once a month. Everything seemed...¡± she trailed off, struggling to keep her emotions down so she could speak. Tears got wiped from her face, only for more to take their place. Her hands were now smudged with black from her makeup. Watching this scene unfold, Jason furrowed his brow and let out a sigh, scanning the room. He rose from the bed and ambled over to the dresser, taking the box of tissues from the top. He brought them over to Lina. She met his gaze with glassy eyes, managing a feeble smile that quickly crumbled into heavy sobs. Her mascara-streaked face had become even worse now. Taking the box, Lina plucked a few tissues. ¡°The last time we saw each other, it all seemed so right... H-h-he even said he loved me,¡± she blubbered out between soba, dabbing at her eyes. Even Jason¡¯s scowl took on a new meaning at this. The guy sounded pretty scummy if he¡¯d professed his love one moment, only to break up with her the next. It all gave him a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach about what was coming next. He was just about to sit back down on the bed when Lina dropped a bomb she¡¯d been holding back. ¡°I know you probably don¡¯t care and that I am just a stupid kid and overreacting. But I thought the night we spent together was something special.¡± Jason¡¯s mind screeched to a halt as he practically hovered mid-sit. ¡°What do you mean, the night you spent together?¡± He eventually sat down next to her, his full attention now fixated on her, refusing to blink. Lina threw up her hands momentarily, conceding defeat, upset at herself for getting so worked up, like she was in the wrong. ¡°I know it''s childish to get upset over something like this. But I wanted to wait until we were ready. I thought we loved each other and it would all be perfect after¡ No wonder he stopped taking my calls after.¡± Her lip trembled as fresh tears leaked from her eyes. She looked up at the ceiling and sniffed loudly. ¡°Lina... Tell me what happened that night?¡± He asked, in the most sober tone he spoke tonight. Lina looked back at Jason, wiping her eyes with the tissue once more. ¡°I get it already. You see me as a kid, but you don¡¯t have to act so clueless. It might not mean much to someone like you, but...¡± Her voice broke as she stifled a sob. ¡°It meant everything to me¡ I¡¯m sorry, I know you probably don¡¯t care.¡± Jason was growing frustrated with her vague responses. ¡°What if I said I do care? What. Happened!?¡± he asked, emphasizing his last words. His expression was now deadly serious. ¡°Oh, now you care all of a sudden, huh? I don¡¯t even know your name and you want me to...¡± He cut her off abruptly. ¡°My name¡¯s Jason Merris. Now, what happened, Lina?¡± A strange sense of duty had suddenly surged through him; he needed to know. Lina¡¯s jaw dropped in disbelief when Jason suddenly revealed his name. ¡°Um...I...¡± He hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. ¡°Please, I¡¯d rather not say. It¡¯s embarrassing for me¡ I like your name though, it suits you,¡± she said, averting her gaze as she felt a blush rise into her cheeks. ¡°You don¡¯t have to share if you¡¯re uncomfortable. But if you do, I¡¯ll give you my full attention and support, I promise.¡± His words suddenly felt so sincere and kind as Lina found herself lost in his deep green eyes, her heart starting to thud in her chest. ¡°We, um, well...you know,¡± she said, stumbling over her words and trying to avoid admitting the truth. Her face flushed even more with embarrassment, quickly looking away from him. ¡°We were waiting until we were both ready,¡± she said nervously, biting her lip for a moment. Jason easily read between the lines. Her boyfriend at the time probably had been waiting and pushing for it a long time, but she was hesitant. ¡°We didn¡¯t want to rush.¡± She didn¡¯t want to rush. He probably wanted it right away. ¡°I remember when we talked about how special it would be to wait until our wedding night. She thought it would be special. He probably didn¡¯t care when or where they did it. He was almost completely sure of what happened by now, and it was making him furious. He still vividly remembered waking up in that hotel room a few months ago. The memory seared into his mind. ¡°Lina, please!¡± he said, shouting a little, unable to take any more of her rambling. Lina flinched slightly and scowled, but complied. ¡°We had sex okay, we took each other¡¯s virginity, happy now? You don¡¯t have to shout like that¡ H-hey, where are you going?¡± Jason had got up from the bed and headed towards the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to beat the crap out of that kid and probably end up in jail for the rest of my life or dead.¡± His voice was very serious. ¡°Wait, what?!¡± Lina exclaimed, rushing over to stop him and grabbing his arm, but she was far too small to stop him in any way. ¡°Jason, wait, please! It¡¯s not worth it. You don¡¯t even know what he looks like!¡± Lina protested as she was dragged along. ¡°He¡¯s probably the only teenager who showed up at a black-tie event wearing a bolo tie,¡± Jason said, leaving Lina stunned. ¡°W-what? How did you¡ª¡± she began, but Jason cut her off. ¡°Texas, son of an oil baron. Wasn¡¯t that hard to figure out,¡± he said, peering down from the second-floor walkway at the crowd below. ¡°Even so, don¡¯t do it. Why are you so worked up about what happened anyway?¡± Lina said, still trying to pull him back into the room. He scowled at her deeply, pulling his arm away effortlessly. ¡°Because it¡¯s fucking wrong! No matter how desperate you are, you don¡¯t just take something like that then act like it¡¯s no big deal, cause it might be a huge deal to the person you steal it from,¡± Jason ranted, consumed by anger. Lina watched how worked up Jason was getting over what happened to her. Her heart raced as she realized that he was truly upset. ¡±He actually cares¡about me.¡± She began to think more about that night between her and her ex. ¡°He¡ He said that he couldn¡¯t hold back his love for me anymore. How he needed to express it more physically,¡± she said, thinking aloud. Jason just growled in response as he continued to scan the party. It was all starting to make sense to Lina now. He didn¡¯t just have a sudden change of heart; he¡¯d planned this from the beginning. ¡°I bet he wasn¡¯t even a virgin, either!¡± She yelled as her sadness turned into anger the more she thought about it. Jason stormed off, fists clenched tight at his sides, pumping back and forth as he walked. Lina had big plans for her ex, but first. She needed to prevent this new guy from throwing his life away. ¡°Jason, wait! I have a better plan!¡± she called out, hoping he¡¯d listen. Even though they had just met, she found herself drawn to him even more now. At first, she just wanted to be kind and help him recover from drinking too much. Now, the way he seemed so real and genuinely upset about her situation warmed her heart. It helped that he was quite attractive as well. Jason slowed his pace and stopped to turn and look at Lina, his anger still clear in his expression. Lina smiled at him as he finally stopped. ¡°Listen, if you go beat him up, it¡¯s not going to erase what happened. I don¡¯t want to see you end up in jail, either. You made me realize now that he was probably just using me all along. I don¡¯t want him to feel pain just right now; I want him to feel it for the rest of his life.¡± She said with a viscous grin. Jason raised an eyebrow at Lina¡¯s words. ¡°And how do you hurt someone dependent on his father¡¯s money and support for everything?¡± She continued. The answer was pretty clear, and Jason understood well. ¡°Cut off that support,¡± Lina smiled mischievously and nodded at his answer. Jason delved into the world of the ultra-rich, more than once already, and he knew Lina was right. The only way to truly hurt these people was in their pocketbooks. He still felt like punching someone would at least give him more satisfaction. ¡°Fine, what¡¯s the plan then?¡± he said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. ¡°Let me handle it. First, I need to put on a little show for Daddy. Any chance you¡¯ve got a mirror handy? I left my purse in our private suite,¡± she said, holding a hand out. He shot the girl a skeptical look as if silently asking her. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and switched to the front camera, then handed it to her. She grinned broadly. Jason¡¯s gesture meant more to her than he knew. ¡°Haha, now I know for sure you¡¯re an outsider. No one else here would ever willingly hand over their unlocked phone.¡± Lina said, winking at him. The amount of trust he gave was not lost on Lina. She looked at herself on the phone screen. ¡°Yikes, I look like a trainwreck¡ perfect,¡± she said with an unwavering smile. Handing the phone back to Jason, Lina took a deep breath. ¡°Okay, just hang tight and enjoy the show. Let me get myself ready.¡± She tilted her head back slightly to stare at the light above her. Her lip trembled as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Sad puppies, sad puppies s-ad¡,¡± she mumbled before tears started flowing quickly. Moving down the stairs she brushed past Jason, whimpering softly, her golden hair and shimmering gown trailing behind her. He leaned over the railing on the second floor, looking down on her as she navigated through the crowd. Eventually, Lina reached an older gentleman who had a bit too much gray in his hair for someone with a teenage daughter. ¡°What is she planning?¡± Chapter 30.2: Promises Promises, Ones He Never Thought Heéˆ¥æª‡ Keep Part 2 Jason watched as Lina practically threw herself at her father in tears. To his credit, he immediately ended his conversation to attend to his distraught daughter. Even from a distance, the worry on his face was visible. Jason couldn¡¯t make out their exact words amidst the noise of the crowd and music playing, but it seemed like Lina was putting on an overly dramatic display. Her father¡¯s expression shifted from concern to a look of cold fury that made even Jason shiver slightly, he motioned for someone to approach, and a man who looked like he belonged to the Secret Service emerged, seemingly out of thin air. After a few words to the guard, Lina¡¯s father walked briskly through the crowd, leaving the bodyguard to take care of his daughter. She transferred to the new man seamlessly, hanging on them like she was so distraught she couldn¡¯t support herself. As soon as her father was out of sight, Lina straightened her posture, pushed the bodyguard away, and smoothed down her dress. A sly smile quickly spread across her face. ¡°Fuck¡ these kids are scary.¡± Jason muttered under his breath, mentally reminding himself to stay on Lina¡¯s good side, or at least off the bad. His eyes shifted to the scene unfolding below him: zeroing in on a large man clad entirely in gray, that stuck out like a sore thumb with his cowboy hat and a bolo tie around his thick neck which bulged out from the tight collar of his dress shirt. The man was practically broadcasting his identity to everyone around him, and that was just the way he liked it. Loudly bragging to anyone that would listen. Jason was unable to spot anyone that might be the man¡¯s son nearby. His wife, though, stood out just as much with her big, ginger-colored hair poofed up like she was channeling her inner Dolly Parton. Her gaudy, red, shimmering dress hugged her curvy trophy wife frame tight. Lina¡¯s dad stormed up behind the hefty man and tapped him on the shoulder. The would-be cowboy turned to see who was trying to get his attention, smiling like he was ready to show off to a fresh face. He seemed to perk up once he saw it was Lina¡¯s father, taking off his hat to reveal his mostly bald head, wisps of light colored hair plastered to his head with sweat. They seemed familiar with each other, which was not surprising since Lina had been dating the large man¡¯s son. ¡°What did I miss?¡± Jason turned to see Lina coming up the stairs, slightly out of breath but smiling. She stopped to lean against the railing beside him, holding what looked like a wet wipe stained with black, her face now free of running mascara. Her makeup-free face was just as pretty as he figured it would be. ¡°You just made it. I think your dad just started talking with that fat guy in the cowboy hat.¡± Lina grinned mischievously at Jason¡¯s words as she looked down at the crowd. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s Timmy¡¯s dad, Mr. Humphry,¡± she confirmed. ¡°Timmy Humphry?¡± Jason raised an eyebrow. The name seemed a bit odd for the son of an oil baron. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s starting,¡± she said, hushing him, her grin widening as she leaned over for a better view. The two leaned in, straining to catch every word of the conversation between the two men. Only the guy in the bolo tie seemed to be audible, his booming voice drowning out the rest. While Lina¡¯s dad spoke in a calm collected manner. The icy glare in his gaze still gave Jason the creeps. Like he was staring at a man that had seen the depths of hell and was ready to unleash it. ¡°Come now sir, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s not the case,¡± he chuckled nervously. But then Lina¡¯s dad jabbed a finger into his soft flesh, his face now twisted with anger. ¡°No, no, of course not, sir, I would never call lil¡¯ Miss Lina a liar. I¡¯m jus¡¯ sayin¡¯ there¡¯s got ta¡¯ be more to the story.¡± The fat man started to glisten with excessive sweat as his wife looked like she¡¯d seen a ghost. ¡°I¡¯m sure that there¡¯s ah good explanation fer¡¯ every thin¡¯. Woman, where is the boy? Please, sir Jus¡¯ let my son give his side of tha story. TIMOTHY!¡± The man practically shook the building with his overly loud voice. If they weren¡¯t the center of attention before, they definitely were now. Scanning the crowd, Jason spotted a rather chubby teenage boy dressed almost exactly like his dad, pushing his way through the crowd. He stared at the boy for a moment, then looked over at Lina. The two were like polar opposites. She was a rail thin blonde, while he was practically bursting the seams of his large suit. It did make him see Lina in a slightly different light. The fact she would even give a boy like that a chance spoke volumes for her character. Looking back, the overweight boy huffed and puffed as he made his way through the crowd. It was impossible for Jason not to relate a bit more than he¡¯d like to the teen boy. Not that he would give him any sympathy, especially after what he¡¯d done to Lina. The chubby teen finally reached the small group of people, and it was obvious he was shocked and more than a little scared to see Lina¡¯s dad. ¡°Boy, you go on an tell Mr.Kilpatrick here ¡®bout you and his lovely daughter Lina. How you two are jus¡¯ head over heels, fer each udder ain¡¯t cha?¡± Mr. Humphry¡¯s hefty fingers dug into the boy¡¯s shoulders, making Timmy go pale with fear. Jason vaguely recognized the last name Kilpatrick, but it wasn¡¯t quite coming to him why it was important. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t do sumthin¡¯ as foolish as ta¡¯ hurt her feelin¡¯s now, would ya?¡± His father¡¯s words were more of a threat than anything. Timmy muttered something quietly, and Jason worried he wouldn¡¯t hear what he said, but Tim¡¯s dad wasn¡¯t one to let something stay quiet for more than a few seconds. ¡°YOU HA-WHAT!?¡± His booming voice echoed through the penthouse in explosive anger. Mr. Humphry¡¯s face twisted in rage, his chubby neck bulging even more as his entire head turned a deep red. Face now resembling a ripe beefsteak tomato as he reacted to his son¡¯s words. ¡°You stupid lil¡¯ bastard! You broke up with the daughter of Liam Kil... You¡.¡± He was brimming with so much anger, and was so red in the face that it looked like he was about to pop at any second. He couldn¡¯t even articulate properly anymore, appearing on the verge of a heart attack. ¡°But Paw!¡± Timmy attempted to speak up, but his father wasn¡¯t listening as his thick hand smacked the teen across the face. ¡°I raised you better than that, you stupid, idiotic¡¡± Pausing as spittle shot out of his lips, he tried to think of more words to insult his child. ¡°You blind, deaf and dumb, moron. You ain¡¯t no son of mine! All you had to do was play nice for a few more years, and we¡¯d all been set for life, you fucking ijjit!!¡± The tirade continued, it seemed it was more than just the connection they were losing out on with the two breaking up. Lina¡¯s father interjected for a moment, saying something just as calmly as before, then adjusting his tie and walking away. Timmy was then promptly yanked away by his ear as the family made a swift exit, the crowd giving them a necessary wide berth to let them through. Jason¡¯s disdain for most of these people only grew stronger. The way Timmy¡¯s dad reacted wasn¡¯t because his son had used Lina; it was because he had lost out on her family¡¯s money and power. Any sympathy he had left for the family evaporated. ¡°I should go back to Daddy; he¡¯ll probably want to talk to me a bit more,¡± she said, her smile revealing she was rather satisfied with how the situation played out. He nodded and Lina hurried downstairs. He felt torn between feeling sorry for her and recognizing her manipulative nature. Jason decided to go back to the empty room, closing the door behind him. Placing his hand on the deadbolt lock, he grimaced. Somehow he knew that if he locked her out, things would not end well. With a heavy sigh, he released the lock and fell back onto the bed, his head still throbbed with a dull ache. He wondered how he even ended up in this predicament. Ultimately, he decided it was all Vince¡¯s fault for dragging him here tonight. As the door creaked open, he barely bothered to lift his gaze or even open his eyes. Suddenly, a weight slammed onto his chest, eliciting an ¡°Ooof,¡± from Jason. He opened his eyes quickly, feeling arms wrap around his torso, followed by giggles. ¡°Haha, we did it Jason!¡± Lina cheered, her golden hair nuzzling against his chest. Swiftly grabbing her under the arms, he moved her off him but her excitement remained undiminished as she grinned at him while he sat up. ¡°What do you mean we?¡± he asked, with a hint of confusion. ¡°Oh, come on, don¡¯t be modest. Without you, I¡¯d probably still be sobbing in the bathroom.¡± Her smile suggested there was more to come, and a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. ¡°Without you, I wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to go tell my dad about what happened. The way you were so ready to defend my honor. It was like you were a noble knight from a fairytale, riding in to save the day,¡± Lina said with a slight giggle, while Jason inwardly groaned. He had no desire to take the role of white knight. How could he tell her he wasn¡¯t trying to defend her honor or whatever, he just wanted to punish the bastard. ¡°Lina, please...¡± She stopped him from talking with a raised hand, ¡°I promise that you will be handsomely rewarded for your services to me, sir knight,¡± she said, still talking like this was a fairytale. ¡°I am so glad this is all over and I can move on to¡¡± pausing Lina¡¯s gaze traveled up and down Jason¡¯s body, then she giggled a little. ¡°Bigger and better things. I am sure daddy will be so happy that I found a boy, no, a man that will treat me right and protect me.¡± She swooned slightly, putting her hands on her cheeks, giggling softly to herself . Jason¡¯s expression turned to stone as he stared long and hard at Lina. ¡°Who will do what now?¡± he deadpanned. Lina, was unfazed, as she simply giggled more and looked over at him with a smile that made him uncomfortable coming from a teenager. ¡°Oh, come on, Jason. I saw how fired up you were earlier. The way you spoke was so passionate, so fierce,¡± she said between excited tittering, clearly enjoying herself. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°It was? I don¡¯t understand what you are trying to say? Can you please just give me a straight answer for once?¡± Jason¡¯s tone was more forceful this time, pushing himself up to sit straight up. ¡°Oh Jason, you always try to play innocent with me. It¡¯s so cute. But you don¡¯t have to act like I am some clueless girl anymore.¡± She seemed to be going in circles again. Jason sighed and let her ramble on. ¡°You¡¯re so different from the other guys who¡¯ve tried to win me over. I only went out with Timothy because I thought he was sweet and kind, but of course, he turned out to be just like his father. Daddy always says; the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. He tried to warn me, but I thought I knew better.¡± She let out a heavy sigh but never lost her smile. Jason¡¯s mind wandered as Lina chattered away about everything except what he wanted to hear, rambling on for what felt like an eternity. She talked about this and that, while Jason struggled to shake the thought of the thrill one might get from experiencing terminal velocity. He was seemingly stuck in a never-ending loop, drowning in irrelevant information. ¡°And that¡¯s why we¡¯re going to be perfect together,¡± Lina said, snapping Jason out of his daze. His ears perked up at the unexpected declaration. ¡°Hold up, say that again,¡± he interjected, halting her monologue. Lina beamed at him, her expression sickly sweet. ¡°I was saying, with your honesty and my refinement, we¡¯d make the next great power couple. I am sure we will make headlines. We¡¯re going to be perfect together,¡± she gushed, still smiling and fluttering her eyelashes as she repeated herself. While he was sure they would make headlines, it probably wouldn¡¯t be for what she was imagining. ¡°Okay, pump the brakes for a second. I never said I was going to date you, Lina,¡± Jason said, raising his hands as he stood up from the bed. Lina¡¯s expression dropped. ¡°What? But you... You said you cared about me. Her voice trembled slightly as she looked up at the man towering over her now. He hesitated, trying to recall their earlier conversation. Did he really imply that? Even so he shook his head. ¡°Just because I care doesn¡¯t mean I want a relationship. And besides, I¡¯m twenty-four and you¡¯re sixteen. If I did, not only would it not work out, I would be thrown in jail and put on a list. One that I personally don¡¯t want to be on, ever,¡± he ranted slightly, as he tried to make it clear there was no way this was going to happen. On the list of things he wanted, dating her was one of the very last things and it was a very long list. She frowned deeply and stood up, lightly grabbing his dress shirt. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. I am sure if I explain it to Daddy, he¡¯d understand. He¡¯ll do anything for me,¡± she insisted, her confidence unwavering. Somehow, Jason didn¡¯t doubt that. Her father probably just ended a billion-dollar partnership just because his daughter shed a few tears. ¡°Just because we can, doesn¡¯t mean we should. You aren¡¯t even thinking about how I feel. I am not comfortable dating someone your age. A relationship is more than just what one person wants. If only one of us is happy, how long do you think it will last? Would you want to be in a relationship where the other person was miserable?¡± Jason said, more or less talking out his ass, having never been in a relationship before, so he was just going with what seemed like common sense. He knew he needed to let her down gently. While he didn¡¯t care about her opinion, invoking the wrath of a billionaire¡¯s daughter was never a smart move. ¡°I¡ no¡But...¡± She looked sad, her gaze dropping to the floor. It was nice that she seemed to understand, not just hearing what she wanted. But he quickly misjudged just how stubborn she was. Meeting his eyes again, she continued. ¡°But¡ what if I was eighteen, like you said? Would I have a chance if I was older?¡± Her eyes pleaded with him. ¡°Well, I walked right into that one, didn¡¯t I?¡± Chiding himself, he let out a heavy sigh. He wanted to tell her to just fuck off and make her leave, but he had to stay in control of his emotions. ¡°I¡¯m¡ I¡¯m not sure, honestly. We barely know each other. I can¡¯t even say if I would be, or if I will even be available,¡± Jason said, still attempting to let her down gently. Lina had other ideas, as usual. ¡°Okay, here goes. I¡¯m Lina Vivian Kilpatrick, sixteen years old. My dad¡¯s Liam Kilpatrick, and my mom passed away when I was a baby. I love horses and animals in general. My hobbies include tennis, swimming, the clarinet, and shopping with my besties Stacy, Samantha, and Anezka. My dream job is to be a professional horse trainer or a vet. Yellow¡¯s my favorite color. I¡¯ve had one boyfriend, but now I¡¯m not even sure it was real, so I guess I¡¯ve never really had a proper boyfriend. I go to a private academy here in the city, and music class is my favorite. Please, Jason, I just know we¡¯d be amazing together. I would be such a loyal and caring girlfriend! Just give me a shot!¡± she pleaded, unleashing her entire self on him. Her eyes welled up with a fresh batch of tears as she looked up at him. Jason let out a long groan, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Lina,¡± Jason said, throwing his hand in the air out of pure frustration. ¡°Then what did you mean, Jason? Please, just tell me, and I¡¯ll do whatever I can to make you accept me.¡± Tears trickled down her cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re missing the point, Lina. It¡¯s not about what you can do for me. It¡¯s about...¡± Jason paused, trying to find the right words.He certainly wasn¡¯t a relationship expert, so all his knowledge was coming from being around his best friend too much. ¡°It¡¯s more about time, you know? Relationships are born from spending time together, talking and learning about each other. But we live in completely different worlds. I grew up in a small town. We weren¡¯t poor, but we weren¡¯t rich by any means. I went to a normal highschool and had to take out loans and scholarships to get through college. We have almost nothing in common.¡± Once again he was mostly just making things up as he went, trying his best not to make it too obvious he was. ¡°I don¡¯t even make over five figures a year. Compared to you, I am basically a nobody. Even if that wasn¡¯t the problem, I¡¯m not even looking for a relationship with anyone right now. It¡¯s not you, Lina, I promise. Maybe if I wasn¡¯t focusing on my career, and you were at least eighteen. Things might be different. But as it stands, I just don¡¯t see any way we can be together.¡± He hoped he was making sense. It felt like he was grasping at straws, trying to get out of this sticky situation. ¡°I see. . .¡± Lina said softly. Her tears had vanished like they had never even been there. This girl was seriously dangerous, and he felt a knot form in his stomach from her simple response. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re not interested in dating anyone right now, but you might be if your workload was lower, and I was older, you would be okay with dating me?¡± Jason blinked a few times, trying to process what she said. ¡°Um, I¡ guess so,¡± was all he managed. A bead of cold sweat ran down the back of his neck when a grin spread across her face from his response. ¡°I understand,¡± she said, placing her hands on her hips. ¡°You do? I mean, good, I¡¯m glad you do,¡± Jason stuttered, feeling awkward. ¡°Uh huh, so make me a promise,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°A promise?¡± he said with a furrowed brow. ¡°Mmmhmm, I want you to promise that when the time comes where all those conditions are met, you will give me a chance to be your girlfriend.¡± The devil¡¯s own grin lay plastered on Lina¡¯s face. The room fell into a heavy silence, wrapping around Jason like a suffocating blanket. It felt more like a prison cell than anything else. He found himself trapped in that cell with a predator and de facto warden, Lina. He needed to make a desperate bid for freedom. After a few moments of internal debate, Jason relented with a sigh, rubbing his forehead roughly. ¡°What are your terms,¡± he said, giving in to at least hearing Lina¡¯s offer. ¡°Excellent!¡± Lina said excitedly. ¡°So, here¡¯s the deal I figure will work best for us. I won¡¯t bring up dating again until I turn eighteen. But on my eighteenth birthday, you must give me a chance at being your girlfriend. We will go on a date and start the rest of our lives together. Until then, we¡¯ll stay in touch and get to know each other better, like you wanted!¡± Jason was only half listening as he tried to think when exactly he said he wanted to get to know her better? Jason was impressed by Lina¡¯s intellect and quick wit, even if he felt more than a bit cornered by her sudden attack. He considered her proposition carefully. On the brighter side, at least she wasn¡¯t demanding he commit to anything right away. Though he wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about staying in touch with her, it didn¡¯t seem like that much of a commitment. He risked a lot more by flat out rejecting her at this point. He knew he couldn¡¯t just accept this how it was, though. Everything was far too vague. So he decided to fix that. ¡°Before I agree to anything, I¡¯ve got a few addenda and guidelines I wanna lay out,¡± Jason said, watching Lina¡¯s face light up momentarily before settling into a more serious expression. ¡°I am ready to negotiate,¡± she said, bouncing slightly on the bed, like she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°First off, my work and hobbies keep me very busy, so don¡¯t expect me to be glued to my phone or to respond to every message you send, okay?¡± Lina nodded. ¡°Okay, how about five texts every day and a call every other?¡± Her suggestion made Jason cringed inwardly at the thought. ¡°No, that won¡¯t work for me. I can manage maybe a call once a month and a text every week. I¡¯ve got a lot on my plate.¡± Lina frowned before countering,¡°How about a text every other day and two calls a week?¡± The back-and-forth continued for nearly half an hour until they settled on a final set of rules and regulations. In the end it was more of a contract instead of a possible relationship. ¡°Alright, so far we are at three texts a week that I must respond to with no less than fifteen words. If I miss any, they carry over to the next week, and if there are nine or more overdue texts, they turn into a five-minute call,¡± Jason said. ¡°As for calls, a minimum of three ten-minute conversations per month is expected. Like texts, calls will roll over, but three or more outstanding calls at month-end will convert into a lunch date. These dates must be arranged and completed within the following month. When the age of one Lina Kilpatrick reaches eighteen, a date and possible subsequent relationship will commence between the two parties.¡± ¡°I, Lina Vivian Kilpatrick, also agree to the terms.¡± Jason sighed and stopped recording on his phone. This whole situation felt beyond absurd to him. ¡°So, it¡¯s all set then?¡± Lina asked, looking as composed as ever like she had done this hundreds of times before. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve got one more condition before I¡¯m on board,¡± Jason said firmly. She simply nodded, gesturing for him to hit the record again on his phone. Jason took a deep breath as he pressed the record button once more, his tone laced with frustration. ¡°Addendum, if I, Jason Merris, enter a romantic relationship with anyone other than Lina Kilpatrick, before she reaches the age of eighteen, whether it be a girlfriend, wife, or partner. This agreement shall become instantly null and void. And Lina Kilpatrick will cease all endeavors aimed at pursuing a relationship with the aforementioned secondary party.¡± He paused the recording again. Lina frowned slightly, pouting at his last-minute addition. ¡°That¡¯s not fair. I never agreed to that.¡± ¡°Well, we can call this whole thing off right now if you want? Cause I will not put my love life on hold should the chance arrive,¡± he said, sort of bluffing but also serious. After a moment, Lina let out a sigh and Jason hit record once more. ¡°Fine, I, Lina Vivian Kilpatrick, agree to the terms.¡± ¡°I, Jason Alexander Merris also agree to these terms.¡± Lina extended her hand, and the two shook on it. It felt like making a deal with the devil, but Jason didn¡¯t see many other options at this point. He hoped he¡¯d find a woman he could stand in the next two years. Maybe he could ask one of Marco''s cousins to pretend, he knew at least one of them was into him. Right now, though, he was still recovering from being drugged and sexually assaulted. Just the thought of being close to a woman had started making him sick lately. Even when Lina innocently jumped on him earlier, he had to push down the panic that quickly welled up inside of him. The frequent nightmares and visions that haunted him each time he closed his eyes felt like they were never going to end. ¡°What am I going to do?¡± he muttered, turning his head to look out the window. Thoughts he hoped he''d left behind in high school started rearing their ugly head lately. The desire to end it all and give up had a powerful pull. The excuse to go on wasn''t as potent now that he had been away from home for so long. He was sure that his mother had grown accustomed to living without him. "What would be the harm in making it more permanent?" These thoughts wreaked havoc on his mind. Despite his physical strength, his emotional fragility robbed him of the happiness he''d never truly experienced. He wasn¡¯t sure if he would make it to see the deal concluded if these feelings didn¡¯t start to fade. Chapter 31: Stupid Promises Canéˆ¥æª› Stop Love, But it Can Delay It a Bit. Jillian had sat quietly next to Jason as he explained about how he met Lina and all the ridiculous events that followed. ¡°But, even if it comes down to that, it¡¯s not a guarantee you two will end up together, right?¡± she asked, trying to get a grip on the situation. It honestly sounded like some soap opera shit to her. ¡°That¡¯s not the part that¡¯s worrying me. I mean, I hope she doesn¡¯t, but if things don¡¯t end up the way she wants¡I feel like she might use her connections and wealth to ruin mine and possibly my mom¡¯s life,¡± he explained, letting out a heavy sigh at the implications. His words made Jillian roll her eyes at the familiar-sounding threat. ¡°Yeah, I gathered that from your story. I¡¯ve dealt with my fair share of rich crazies, believe it or not,¡± Jillian said, her lips pressed into a thin line like she was frustrated. ¡° I know you have, I won¡¯t make you do it again,¡± Jason reaffirmed. ¡°Just let me think about it for a bit, okay?¡± Jillian said with a heavy sigh, her expression remaining the same. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I knew it was coming, yet I blocked it out of my mind,¡± Jason apologized, running his hands through his hair and leaning forward, resting his forehead on his palms. Dealing with Lina¡¯s texts had been easily manageable with some AI and simple programming, but her phone calls were just her talking non-stop for ten minutes or more. She had a knack for turning the simplest topics into lengthy ramblings of pointless information, thinking it was bringing them closer together. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I was thinking. You can go and I will handle this. I am also sorry I started something I couldn¡¯t finish with you,¡± Jason said, deciding Jillian had already made up her mind on the matter. She shot him a harsh glare in return. ¡°I said I need time to think, not that I don¡¯t want to help,¡± she retorted with a huff, sitting back against the arm of the couch. Even as Jillian glared at him, his gaze seemed to focus on her lips, which were pulled down into a scowl. The thought that he may never get to kiss them again made his heart ache. It was at that point he realized just how much he had changed in just over a week, and it was all thanks to her. She was the one to break him and seemingly the only one that was able to put him back together. Just thinking about Jillian was enough to make Jason lose his natural stoic demeanor. Like his entire life of ignoring, and straight up hating being aroused was thrown out the window. The freckles that would enrage him before now made her look so cute he could hardly stand it. Then there was Lina. The last time he saw her, she ambushed him on his way out of work and guilt tripped him into stopping for some coffee. He didn¡¯t even like coffee. It wasn¡¯t that he hated her; it was the fact that he felt forced to be there and had to watch what he said and did. With Jillian it felt like he could just be himself and she happily accepted him. Hell, she even seemed to like who he truly was. ¡°Jason, what are we?¡± Her question suddenly snapped him back to reality. He sat up straight, opening his mouth like he was about to say something, but found himself at a loss for words. ¡°In your texts to Lina, you told her we were together¡are we?¡± A heavy silence settled between them as they locked eyes. ¡°Was that the truth¡ Or were you just trying to push her away?¡± Her tone was flat and gave little away to what she was feeling. He felt a lump in his throat, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Without a word, he shifted to face her more, their knees touching on the cramped couch. Their gazes locked in that moment, and Jason noticed a slight crack in Jillian¡¯s tough exterior as her lip trembled ever so slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± he said, a look of genuine stunned sadness crossed her face at this. ¡°For deciding what, we were on my own. I told her what I felt was closest to the truth. It all happened so fast I didn¡¯t even think to consult you first. I would have confirmed everything if I hadn¡¯t gotten blindsided by the rapid texts, I swear.¡± It was such a typical Jason response that Jillian found her worry suddenly gone. ¡°You big, adorable idiot.¡± Her thoughts made her crack a small smile. ¡°You¡¯re such a goof,¡± she said aloud, the small smile quickly blossoming into a full grin. ¡°Well, does this mean you¡¯re officially okay with being with me?¡± Jillian asked, a playful glimmer dancing in her eyes. ¡°Well, if...¡± Jason started, but she interrupted him. ¡°If I didn¡¯t want to be with you¡¡± she quickly crawled into his lap, ¡°I would¡¯ve left last night... But you accepted me just as I accepted you. It¡¯s too late to go back now. You¡¯re stuck with me, big guy.¡± Jillian¡¯s words were like honey to his ears, thick and sweet, while her hands moved to cradle his face, thumbs resting below his chin. ¡°I still want you, if you want me,¡± she said, her whispered voice carrying an even more seductive undertone. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. ¡°I do... I still want you¡ so badly,¡± he said quietly before their lips met in mutual desire. Even though they had just kissed less than an hour ago, this one felt like it had been a long time coming. Their lips opened and closed together, her hips gyrating against his lap, desperate to add more passion to their coupling. The flavor of strawberries filled his mouth from her lip gloss. He couldn¡¯t get enough of it or the sensations he felt as they kissed. Jason was quickly lost in the warm embrace of their lips and tongues melding together. His hands moved down her back, pulled up her hoodie and slipped them under her pants and started caressing the large peach that was her ass. He let out a soft groan as the malleable flesh sunk between his fingers. The desperate groping of her butt made Jillian let out a muffled giggle. Their lips parted shortly after. It seemed Jason wasn¡¯t quite ready to stop as their lips made a popping noise when they separated. Jillian seductively licked her slightly swollen lips. ¡° Hmm, if I didn¡¯t know better, I would think you might like my butt. But that can¡¯t be the case. The Jason I know hates everything about me, or does he?¡± she teased him, hands running through his hair, massaging his scalp softly. Jason let out a sigh, still a bit fuzzy from the short make out session, but a small smile curled the corners of his lips that shimmered slightly from the shared lip gloss. ¡°Ya got me. I can¡¯t deny it anymore than I can deny myself. It¡¯s scary just how much I like it,¡± Jason said, giving her butt another firm squeeze and leaning in for another kiss. But Jillian turned her head, making his lips smack against her pale, freckled cheek, making her giggle cutely. ¡°As much as I¡¯d love to continue this, we should figure out what we are going to do when that brat arrives,¡± she teased, leaning in and giving him a kiss on his cheek that was covered in more than just stubble now. He let out a frustrated sigh. Of course she was right but it felt like she was withholding drugs after getting him hooked. Addicting, but also kind of scary, when he thought about what he would do to keep kissing her. ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± he said, trying to take his mind off his painfully hard erection that was not happy as it throbbed against the bottom of Jillian¡¯s butt. ¡°Well, first things first. We need to make sure nobody else is in the house when she shows up. Either we find a way to keep your mom out and occupied, or we come clean and tell her about everything.¡± He shook his head at her latter suggestion. ¡°I don¡¯t think telling her would help. She would just try to get involved, and I don¡¯t want her to become a bigger target than she already is,¡± he reasoned. Jillian gave Jason a slight frown, but she continued to run her hand gently through his beard and down to his chest. ¡°I really don¡¯t like the idea of anyone being targeted. Plus, keeping this a secret is going to be tough. My mom has the ability to sniff out secrets like a bloodhound. It¡¯s like fuckin¡¯ magic, I swear,¡± she said, sounding a bit too serious. ¡°Well, maybe we could try meeting her somewhere else?¡± Jason suggested, prompting Jillian to pause and consider. ¡°That could work, but then she might get suspicious if we ask her to come to some random place¡ What time is it?¡± Jillian suddenly asked. ¡°It¡¯s a bit after nine,¡± he said, after reluctantly removing a hand from her butt to check his phone again. ¡°Alright, and how long did she say it would take her?¡± ¡°Less than four hours,¡± ¡°I guess it would be best if everyone else is away from the house from noon to two pm,¡± Jillian said as she counted up on her fingers and Jason nodded in agreement. Jillian reached into her hoodie pocket and pulled out her phone, and started tapping away quickly. Jason put his phone down and decided to entertain himself while she was busy. His hands found their way to her thick thighs this time. His fingers sank into her soft flesh with a pleasurable squish. The thin yoga pants felt good on his fingertips as he massaged her legs. It was doing little to calm his erection though. ¡°Alright, hopefully that works,¡± Jillian said, slipping her phone back into her pocket. ¡°What did you do?¡± Jason asked curiously. ¡°Oh, I just asked June to see if our moms could take her out for lunch. They¡¯ll probably text me soon, asking if we want to join. That should give us the alone time we need to deal with this mess.¡± Jason was impressed by how quickly Jillian had come up with the idea. It was just another example of her surprisingly quick wit. ¡°You¡¯re actually¡ really smart,¡± he complimented her, omitting any unnecessary additions. He was learning, too, which was a relief. Jillian smiled softly at him. ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± she said with a teasing tone, followed by a giggle as she scooted up against his waist. ¡°I mean it, everyday I learn something new about you¡and everyday I seem to find myself falling for you more and more,¡± Jason said with a rather serious expression. Feeling her face heat up slightly, Jillian couldn¡¯t help but break eye contact. ¡°S-shut up. I don¡¯t need your stupid flattery,¡± she said, her usual stubbornness still there, figuring he was just feeling grateful for her help, not that she didn¡¯t enjoy his sweet words. It was something she wasn¡¯t used to receiving without some kind of subtext or hidden meaning to them. ¡°It¡¯s not flattery Jill, I would probably just be sitting here panicking without you right now.¡± His words brought a smug grin to her face. ¡°Well, that does sound like you,¡± she said, teasing him again as she met his eyes that hadn¡¯t strayed from her. She felt her face warm up again. She couldn¡¯t take much more of these sickly sweet moments. It felt like she was going to do something stupid if he kept being so nice to her. But instead of moving away from the sweetness, denying her own happiness, she leaned into it for once. Jillian nestled in closer, wrapping her arms around his torso and burying her face in his shoulder. ¡°Thank you Jase¡ It means a lot to me, especially coming from you,¡± she said, murmuring softly into the crook of his neck and shoulder, feeling Jason¡¯s hands slide up her back again. Despite the looming threat, everything felt so nice and peaceful. He wanted to say something, but every thought felt like it would disrupt the moment if he spoke it aloud. Instead, he buried his face into her mess of red curls, pressing his lips to the side of her head while breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo, deciding to save words for later. They simply sat there, holding each other in silence for those few precious minutes. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The cozy embrace was interrupted when Jillian¡¯s phone buzzed between them. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back with a smile, prompting Jason to loosen his arms around her. He returned the smile, still trying to get used to the feeling of the warmth of another person. ¡°Who knew holding a woman would feel so¡ good.¡± His thoughts filled with fluff. He was so accustomed to being pissed off and having a permanent scowl around women. Wanting to smile was foreign to him. She playfully kissed his chin before checking her phone. She quickly replied to a text from her mother. ¡°Now, for the finishing touch,¡± she said with a smile. Suddenly, she was holding her phone out at arm¡¯s length. When Jason saw their faces on the screen, his eyes went wide. He had to resist the urge to slap the phone out of her hand. ¡°Wait, what?¡± he said in surprise as Jillian leaned in to press her cheek to his and took a picture. He blinked at the realization that Jillian had just snapped what might be the only photo of them together where there wasn¡¯t any visible animosity. It triggered a memory of a random yearbook picture, where the yearbook committee captured a rather tense moment for him. In that picture, Jason was seated at a lunch table while Jillian leaned on his shoulder, grinning like crazy. He would never forget the caption they put on that picture. ¡°Two friends sharing lunch, maybe more!¡± Jillian had stolen his year book and ripped out the page. All because she quote on quote, didn¡¯t want him to jack off to the thought of them together. He didn¡¯t have a problem with it at the time, he might have done the same, as he had no plans to do such a thing. If he knew the actual fate of that ripped out page, he might have been surprised. ¡°Wait, who are you sending that to?!¡± he blurted out. ¡°My mom, obviously. What other reason would I have to skip lunch with my little sister?¡± Jillian said, laughing a little as she quickly texted the picture to her mother. ¡°I mean¡ I don¡¯t want you to miss out on that either. You can go if you want,¡± Jason said, making Jillian stare blankly at the man whose lap she was still sitting on. ¡°Wow, Jason... That¡¯s probably the sweetest, yet stupidest thing you¡¯ve said in a while. But hey, I appreciate the thought.¡± She reached out and patted his face, her inner bitch making a surprise appearance yet again. He frowned a little at her before trying to explain better, ¡°I was just saying I don¡¯t want to pull you away from spending time with your family. That was never the goal.¡± This made her pause for a moment before she let out a heavy sigh. ¡°That was¡ I mean, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to call it stupid. I would love to go out with my sister, but the whole reason they are going out is to keep them away.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know that. I just meant that I feel bad that you¡¯re missing out,¡± Jason said. Jillian raised a hand to stop him. ¡°I get it, and it¡¯s really sweet. But I want to help. If you want to make it up to me, take us out to a fancy dinner or something,¡± she suggested with a smile. ¡°And who¡¯s ¡®us¡¯ in this context?¡± ¡°You, me, and June, of course,¡± she said, her smile wide and sweet. Jason even managed to smile a bit as well. ¡°That sounds fair. It¡¯s the least I can do. I just hope it¡¯s not the last time I can afford a fancy meal,¡± he said with a small nervous laugh. Jillian wasn¡¯t thrilled about Jason joking about how this girl might ruin him. She was a little more worried about her family becoming a target, if this girl decided to take out her frustration on her. But those were her priorities. It didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t care about Jason¡¯s feelings or family. Far from it, really. ¡°I¡¯m sure we will figure something out. We just need to show her that we¡¯re actually a couple,¡± she said, letting a brief silence hang between them before flashing a mischievous grin. ¡°So, want to rehearse some more for when she shows up?¡± He gave her a puzzled look in response. ¡°Rehearse? What do you mean?¡± His question prompted her to let out a small giggle. ¡°Well, we gotta prove we¡¯re together, right?¡± Jillian said, still grinning. ¡°Yeah? I figured once she sees you and hears it from you, she¡¯ll be convinced. You mean rehearse what we¡¯re gonna say?¡± She shook her head, still grinning at him. ¡°What if she asks for... more proof?¡± She reached out and took Jason¡¯s hand and pulled it up, placing it on top of one of her small breasts over the thick hoodie. ¡°Think you can improvise that on short notice in front of her?¡± Jason swallowed nervously, her words carrying a seductive tone. The small soft orb in his hand, squished pleasantly. The hard nipple poked his palm, even through the layers of clothes. ¡°I think I can...¡± Jason didn¡¯t sound all that confident. ¡°Oh? And what exactly will you do to convince her?¡± She giggled softly, awaiting his answer. Jason gently slid his hand down from her chest, to Jillian¡¯s thigh, giving it another soft squeeze. ¡°Hug you,¡± he murmured, eliciting a barely suppressed laugh from her. Despite her amusement, she nodded and leaned in and gave him a big hug, one of his arms wrapping around her as well. ¡°Hold your hand,¡± he continued, his gestures filled with innocence and humor. Jillian leaned back, her smile showing just how amused she was already. She quickly took both his hands and intertwined her fingers with his. ¡°Kiss you,¡± ¡°Now we are talking,¡± she teased before leaning forward to press her lips to his in a tender, open-mouthed kiss. As they both closed their eyes, they quickly lost themselves in each other¡¯s lips ¨C one of them craving the feelings of love that had been lost a long time ago, the other unfamiliar with romance in general, yet already addicted to the taste of her lips. Jillian¡¯s fiery red curls cascaded back as her head tilted to meet Jason¡¯s lips. After several more long moments of sucking face, she pulled back, barely parting an inch, as if she was afraid to be too far. Taking a slow deep breath, she pressed her forehead against his. Both their eyes opened just slightly to stare at one another. ¡°What else? Tell me the things you want to do to me¡ please?¡± Jillian¡¯s warm breath panted against his moist lips, her desire for him was overwhelming, as her hand was already grabbing at his waistband. ¡°I¡¯ll...touch you,¡± he hesitated slightly, his nerves suddenly on edge, like she might deny him for some reason. But her cute smile returned. ¡°What do you want to touch, baby?¡± Her voice was breathy and desperate, those honey coated words clinging to her lips. Being his usual awkward self, he struggled to find the right words. ¡°Just¡ you,¡± his answer, short and simple¡and not what she was expecting. ¡°Me?¡± Jillian was momentarily confused. Gritting his teeth slightly, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. ¡°Just¡ all of you, Jill. I can¡¯t help it. From the top of your head to the tips of your toes and everything in between.¡± Pulling away a bit more, her face went a deep red as she gazed at him. It definitely caught her off guard. ¡°Damn... That sounds like really fucking hot, like a full-body massage, maybe with a happy ending?¡± she pondered, biting her lip as she used the last of her self restraint to stop herself from immediately undressing right then and there. ¡°But, let¡¯s save that for later tonight, alright? I do like your enthusiasm, though,¡± she said with a sigh, giving him one more quick peck on the lips. ¡°For now, let¡¯s start small... I mean, think of one specific part of me to touch. One that I wouldn¡¯t let someone I wasn¡¯t dating touch.¡± ¡°I swear, if he makes a crack about my tits, I¡¯m gonna make him pay,¡± she thought, regretting her choice of words. Jason nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I could do it in front of her, but... you, uh, sounded really sexy when I played with your nipples last night,¡± he said, unknowingly dodging a trap and making Jillian blush slightly. ¡°I thought for sure you¡¯d say my butt,¡± she said in surprise. ¡°I mean, your butt is the first thing that comes to mind, but that¡¯s not really starting small.¡± The both of them had a small laugh about this. Jillian was, more or less okay with this joke. ¡°Okay, I get it, and I¡¯m not surprised it¡¯s your favorite. You¡¯re very a typical guy in that way,¡± she teased, winking as she unthreaded her fingers from his. Jillian took Jason¡¯s hands and guided them under her hoodie. He caught on quickly, slipping his fingers beneath the fabric. His large, warm hands rested against the soft skin of her stomach. She had to close her eyes at this point as she started feeling a little uncomfortable. He was touching her stomach, her biggest complex, after all. She breathed a little faster as she struggled to push away the thoughts that invaded. Unable to help but worry that he might be disgusted by the sunken flesh. ¡°Fuck,¡± she whispered, tilting her head forward to rest her forehead against his chest. As his hands moved higher, her breathing quickened even more. It seemed like the anticipation was making the experience that much more intense for her. She whimpered as he felt his fingertips running over her protruding ribs. It wasn¡¯t until Jason spoke up that really changed everything. ¡°You feel so soft and warm,¡± Jason murmured. His words were gentle and sweet, causing Jillian to bite her lip and feel a bit weepy at the same time. ¡°Stop teasing me, or I might just fuck you out of spite right here and now,¡± she warned, though it wasn¡¯t much of a threat and Jason couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t threaten me with a good time,¡± he said boldly, earning a playful glare from Jillian as she looked back up at him. ¡°Quit it and pick up the pace, you jerk,¡± she said a bit flustered. Without missing a beat, Jason¡¯s hands moved up, his hands finally cupping her breasts. ¡°Ah-!¡± Jillian gasped as he played with the modest yet soft boob and hard nipple. ¡°Oh shit¡ Jase,¡± she murmured, letting out soft innocent sounding moans. Her eyes fluttered open and shut as Jason¡¯s hands kneaded her bare breasts. She hadn¡¯t bothered with a bra so he had free access to her as she held onto his wrist over her shirt and hoodie. His gaze was fixed on her blushing, freckled face, captivated by the array of expressions she made with each movement of his hand. Her eyes started to roll back slightly. The intoxicating, sensual, and sweet reactions were impossible not to watch as she let out more and more whimpers of pleasure. His fingers eventually pinched around against her perky nipples, the pads of his fingers lightly squeezing them. This caused her to let out a loud, high-pitched gasp, while her body shook with a painful pleasure. ¡°Ow, ow, ow, oh god,¡± she moaned loudly, feeling the intense sensation of his fingers teasing her nipples. ¡°Sorry, was that too much?¡± He asked. She shook her head quickly. ¡°No, it only hurt for a moment, so don¡¯t stop, play with them all you want, just don¡¯t stop, please,¡± she moaned, sucking in deep gasps of air as her hips rocked back and forth against his lap again. She wasn¡¯t the only one that was super turned on right now, his erection pressed against his shorts and her butt. Her hips wiggled from side to side, trying to find the sweet spot. Much to her delight, he shifted a little and closed his legs so his dick was more pronounced. She split herself on the outline of his girthy shaft. Her excited pussy quickly drenching her panties as she happily rocked back and forth. ¡°Nngh, fuck, I need your cock inside me so badly, Jase. I don¡¯t know if I can wait much longer.¡± Jillian moaned between whimpers, using her hands on his shoulders for extra leverage while he rolled the tips of her extra hard nipple in a circle with his index finger. ¡°Not on my dad¡¯s couch,¡± he blurted out, causing her to open her eyes and stare at him. ¡°Huh?¡± She stopped moving. ¡°I don¡¯t want to risk damaging or staining this couch. It belonged to my dad,¡± he explained, appearing a bit concerned. Jillian let out a drawn out sigh, rolling her eyes hard. She was pretty sure that any other man in the world would have just fucked her right then and there, father¡¯s couch be damned. Jason sure was something else, though. She couldn¡¯t decide if that was a good thing or not. But she was pretty sure it was. She leaned in and kissed him again, sucking a bit harder than usual. When the kiss broke with an almost comical pop, Jillian smiled at him. ¡°I get it, I guess,¡± she said, a sly grin appearing on her face. ¡°I mean, your dad probably gave it to your mom on-¡° Jason cringed, pulling his hand out from her shirt and covering his ears. ¡°I don¡¯t need to hear what I already know, thanks!¡± he groaned loudly. She laughed and got off his lap, stretching slightly. ¡°Did you maybe wanna take this to your bedroom then?¡± ¡°Um, I suppose? I mean, we don¡¯t have that much time before she gets here, though,¡± he mumbled. She gave him a skeptical look, clearly not buying his excuse. Jason was very turned on, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself from letting his nerves get the best of him when asked directly. Here he was with a girl he was actually attracted to, so of course he had to do something dumb to sabotage himself. ¡°Unless you plan on fucking me for the next two hours. I think we have plenty of time for some fun¡ but,¡¯ she trailed off, extending her hands to him to help him up as she smiled softly at him. Jason pushed the jumble of emotions inside him down and focused on just breathing for a moment. He took her hands and got up from the couch, feeling her tug with all her might, not really helping but he appreciated the effort. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you if you¡¯re still not totally comfortable with sex, Jase,¡± she said, flashing him a sweet smile, looking up at his taller frame. His heart skipped a beat at the sight, and he took another quick breath. ¡°Thanks¡That means a lot.¡± he replied, returning her smile fully this time. ¡°I don¡¯t have any condoms anyway,¡± Jason started, but Jillian just kept the same smile, her expression never wavering, which felt a little suspicious. ¡°We don¡¯t need them,¡± she said, walking out of the study. ¡°We don¡¯t?¡± He was a bit confused as he followed. ¡°That¡¯s right, we don¡¯t,¡± she replied cheerfully as she led them down the hall toward Katia¡¯s room. ¡°How? Why?¡± Jason pressed, not letting go of the topic. ¡°Well, I¡¯m clean as a whistle the last time I was tested. And you can¡¯t get me pregnant." Her tone was unnervingly steady, which only made Jason more suspicious. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t ever been tested, but I haven¡¯t really had sex so, I promise I don¡¯t have any STDs. Does that mean you¡¯re on birth control?¡± he asked, not paying much attention to his surroundings as they entered his mother¡¯s room. ¡°Jason, come on, trust me, everything will be fine, alright? When you¡¯re ready, it¡¯ll all work out, okay?¡± Jillian said, flashing him a reassuring smile. Jason hesitated for a moment, but eventually decided they had to start trusting each other if they were gonna make any progress in their relationship. ¡°Okay, Jill, I trust you... Wait¡ why are we in my mom¡¯s bathroom?¡± He finally realized, glancing around. When he turned back to Jillian, she was already naked ¡°And why are you taking your clothes off?¡± His voice was a little louder than he intended. Chapter 32: The Moments Before a Storm Arenéˆ¥æª› Always Calm. Jillian casually pulled down her pants, underwear, and all, leaving herself completely naked. Jason¡¯s face flushed as she stripped right in front of him. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not gonna take a bath in my clothes, now am I?¡± she asked like it was obvious. ¡°But why now? And while I¡¯m in the room?¡± As much as he was complaining, Jason couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her freckled backside as she leaned over the tub and turned on the faucet. He just barely caught a glimpse of the plump lips squeezed between her thick thighs as she was bent over. It was the first time he¡¯d seen her completely nude in the light. Sure, she had flashed him earlier, but this was a new level of erotic. His dick quickly became as hard as a diamond from the tantalizing sight. He tried to hide it the best he could. Something about the view being slightly hidden was so damn arousing. ¡°Because I had a feeling your mom had something like this tucked away,¡± Jillian grinned, gesturing to the large spa tub that dominated the space. It was a rather fancy tub, with jets lining the walls and a strip of soft pads running along the bottom for lounging. Jason took a moment to check out the tub. He couldn¡¯t recall seeing it during his childhood. Not that he really went into his parent¡¯s bathroom as a kid. But the tub definitely looked new and very modern with all the electronics on it. ¡°When did she get this thing?¡± he wondered aloud as he watched the water slowly filling the massive tub. He shook his head, muttering to himself. ¡°That¡¯s not the point. Why are you taking a bath here and now?¡± he managed, finally asking the specific question he had been trying to ask. He looked back at Jillian, who was sitting on the edge of the tub, with her legs crossed, casually testing the water¡¯s temperature as it rose, running her fingers along the surface with a smile. She seemed completely unconcerned about his question. ¡°I figured it might be nice to freshen up before she arrives, and I wanted to relax a bit,¡± she said with a shrug, her attention thankfully still on the filling tub and not the bulge in his pants. ¡°Wanna join me?¡± Jillian asked with a sweet smile, looking up at him while the sound of running water continued to fill the room. Jason felt a surge of nerves as his heart thudded in his chest. Part of him was very tempted, but another part knew that getting in the tub with her would likely lead to more than just a bath. His brain couldn¡¯t stop from overthinking every little thing at this point. He wasn¡¯t sure why he was putting so much pressure on a moment that was basically inevitable? ¡°Uh, I¡¯m not really into baths,¡± he stammered, resorting to yet another lame excuse. His chest ached with how much she had been riling him up this last week. But Jillian just smiled knowingly, seeing right through his flimsy reasons. It was obvious to her that he just wasn¡¯t quite ready yet. She reached out, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. ¡°It¡¯s okay Jase, you don¡¯t have to,¡± she reassured him, letting out a slight sigh before beaming happily once more. ¡°More jets for me then,¡± she teased, winking playfully. Once the warm water reached the perfect level, Jillian turned off the faucet, stopping the rushing water. She glanced back at Jason with a smile. ¡°Stay and keep me company, at least?¡± Her words were sweet and sincere. He nodded, pulling out his phone to check for messages before setting it down on the sink counter. There were no new texts from Lina since she said she was on her way. Aside from the one where she said she loved him but he paid those no mind. Her constant texts and calls over the past year and a half had only made him feel more irritated than anything else. It only became even more crystal clear that he had zero interest in dating her, while she seemed to only fall for him even more. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll stay with you,¡± Jason said, giving Jillian¡¯s hand a gentle squeeze as he helped her step into the tub full of steaming water. She winced a bit at first, but soon settled in with a contented sigh, sinking into the near scalding warmth. Her body slowly slipped beneath the water, leaving only her head and the top of her shoulders above. Jason stood for a moment, looking down at her. ¡°Comfortable?¡± he asked. ¡°Mmmm, yeah,¡± she whispered, a pleased hum in her voice. ¡°Good,¡± he said softly, before lowering himself to the floor and leaning back against the tub. Jillian shot Jason a big grin and he looked back over at her, making him curious as to why. ¡°What? Why are you smiling at me like that?¡± he asked, a small smile coming to his own, like hers was infectious. ¡°Nothing, just feeling content and happy,¡± she replied, still beaming. ¡°And when I¡¯m happy, I smile. Is that a problem with that, Mr. Grumpy?¡± She teased, reaching out of the water to grab his hand resting on the tub¡¯s edge. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a big problem. Smiling is against the rules,¡± Jason chuckled as he joked with her, giving her hand another gentle squeeze. They locked eyes, feeling the tension between them building. Both of them seemed to itch for another kiss. ¡°Um, so, how do these jets work?¡± Jillian asked, breaking the tension before things got too heated. ¡°Huh¡ oh, well they¡ wait, why would I know?¡± Jason grumbled, as their moment faded. ¡°Heh, some help you are, Mr. Tech-degree. Guess I¡¯ll just have to wing it and see what happens,¡± Jillian teased with a mischievous smile. ¡°First Mr. Grumpy, now Mr. Tech degree¡ really? Not like there was a class on hot tub maintenance,¡± he teased back. She glanced at the control panel on a flat part on the rim of the tub. She quickly began experimenting with the different buttons. Pressing one activated side jets that sprayed against her, causing her to squirm and giggle unexpectedly. ¡°Ah, haha, oh god, turn off, turn off!¡± Jillian squirmed as she quickly turned the side jets off. Jason couldn¡¯t help but notice her reaction to her sides being tickled, filing away that information for later. Jillian finally located the button for the back jets and they surged to life, sending powerful bursts of water to massage her back. She let out a satisfied moan, her eyes rolling back in bliss. ¡°Oh fuck¡ that¡¯s the one,¡± she murmured with a smile, sinking deeper into the tub. As the tension of the day began to get blasted away, Jason sat there casually, watching her enjoy the fancy tub. They were still holding hands, but hers had gone rather limp. Lost in thought, he watched the redhead in the tub, his mind drifting elsewhere. Being back home and running into Jillian again had brought him both pain and pleasure. The painful moments made him want to go back to Florida, but the happiness brought along the opposite. His mind finally wandered to the question he had no desire to answer. ¡°What is going to happen when I go back home? Back to work¡¡± It was the biggest question looming over every kiss, touch, and smile they shared. His life for the foreseeable future was in Florida. Apart from his mother, all that tied him to his hometown now was Jillian. But he couldn¡¯t shake the doubt: ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask her to move there. It¡¯s way too early and we aren¡¯t even officially dating.¡± His stomach churned with his anxiety ridden thoughts. She had just reunited with her family, and he doubted she¡¯d leave them so soon, even if he asked. June was probably the biggest anchor for her; she needed her big sister as much as Jillian needed her. It felt like someone was going to get hurt in the end, no matter what. There was still the fact they weren¡¯t even a proper couple yet. ¡°It¡ might be best to call it off before we both get hurt even more.¡± But the thought only increased the sick feeling in his stomach. ¡°Jase¡Hey?¡± Jillian¡¯s voice cut through Jason¡¯s mass of depressing thoughts. ¡°Huh? What?¡± he said, scanning the room as if expecting someone else to be there, which made Jillian laugh. ¡°Haha, over here, space case. I just wanted to ask what you do for fun when you¡¯re not training or working?¡± Her question caught him off guard, but it was refreshingly innocent. ¡°Oh, well, usually I hang out with my buddy Marco or just mess around on my computer,¡± he replied, his thoughts still lingering on the troubling topic. ¡°Right, that totally real friend you have back home,¡± Jillian teased, earning an unamused glare from Jason. ¡°Hehe, so what do you and this Marco usually get up to?¡± she asked with a small giggle, turning her head to give him a sweet smile while still enjoying the jets. Jason let out a sigh but smiled slightly as well. ¡°Well, we usually will go out and find a popup club, food truck, or bar. There are a ton of Latin American restaurants that have events as well. I go mostly for the food and drinks. Marco¡ has other tastes.¡± Jillian¡¯s eyes widened a little, not expecting such a social pastime from the man. ¡°That sounds really fun actually. I half expected you two would be holed up playing video games all the time like my little brother.¡± She got a slight glare for that comment, but it lightened quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t play a whole lot of games anymore, really. I still have a PC I built. I threw like ten grand into the whole setup, but I am ashamed to say it mostly just gathers dust now,¡± he said, letting out a sigh. He felt bad for letting it just sit there, mostly unused, but his work laptop had everything he needed on it and that¡¯s where most of his screen time went these days anyway. Which actually reminded him that he had done none of the work he had planned to do since arriving. ¡°Well, what do you do once you get to those bars and clubs?¡± Jillian asked, moving to drape her arms over the edge of the tub and rest her chin on them, gazing at him with a smile. She vaguely remembered Jason telling her about what he and Marco did, but the whole night with him and Mika was fuzzy still. ¡°Well, like I said, I focus mostly on the food and drink specials. Unfortunately, I attract a lot of unwanted attention. I get a lot of women coming up to me. Especially if I am sitting alone. They think just because I am alone, that I¡¯m looking for sex or whatever crap they want.¡± This made her frown a bit. She hadn¡¯t thought about how much attention a guy like Jason attracts and felt an immediate pang of jealousy. ¡°No dirty skanks better touch him ever again,¡± she growled internally, unable to help the jealous and protective thoughts. ¡°What do you normally do when they approach you?¡± Jillian asked, the need to know was more intense than she realized. Jason turned slightly to lock eyes with Jillian as she leaned against the rim. The fierce look in her eyes gave him a few goosebumps, but he was honest with her. ¡°Well, it depends on how they approach me first. If they are super forward and start touching me or rubbing up against me without a word..I usually push them away and tell them to not touch me or to fuck off.¡± This caught her a little off guard as her eyes widened. ¡°If they talk first, and it¡¯s really vulgar or sexual, I will be as rude as possible to them. Say something about their appearance or insult them in some other way. Like telling them I am not interested in foul-mouthed diseased bitches or something like that.¡± Jillian¡¯s jaw dropped slightly as Jason continued to explain. ¡°If they come up and just say hi or something simple, I will politely decline and tell them I am not interested. Some simply accept it and walk away, others take it more personally or get upset. Then I revert to one of the other options. I try to only be as rude as they are. Though I might get harsher sometimes. I never accept drinks bought for me. For obvious reasons.¡± ¡°And this¡ happens a lot?¡± Jillian asked, still a bit stunned. ¡°Mmhmm. Not every night, but more often than not, really. Thankfully, Marco usually comes back around that time and helps calm things down. Honestly, the guy is like magic when it comes to soothing crazy women. I am just glad it mostly happens later in the night.¡± Her eyes narrowed at this comment, the stench of foul play wrinkled her nose. ¡°Oh? And you say this usually happens when you are alone? So, does Marco usually go to the bathroom when you guys are about to leave?¡± Jason nodded. ¡°Yeah, I mean I do as well. We drink a bunch, so it¡¯s not uncommon for someone to have to pee after.¡± ¡°How often does he show up before or while a woman is flirting with you?¡± Jillian asked but was met with a long pause. ¡°Umm¡¡± That was all he got out before she spoke up again. ¡°Pretty much never, huh?¡± ¡°No¡ I mean, I am sure he came back¡ a few times before anything happened.¡± He now felt pretty unsure about his own words. ¡°He did show up one time when that guy started hitting on me.¡± It was pretty much the only memory he could remember of his friend showing up in the middle of someone flirting with him. Jillian growled a bit. ¡°So Marco basically waits for you to reject these women and get them all upset and riled up. Then swoops in at the last minute to capitalize on their emotional distress.¡± Her eye twitched at the scummy tactics, especially since he was basically using Jason as bait. ¡°Uhhhhh.¡± Jason was rather lost with the sudden change in direction their conversation took. ¡°I mean, he just talks to them mostly, it¡¯s not my business what they do after. I have seen him get slapped on many occasions, so it¡¯s not like he is forcing them into doing anything,¡± Jason said, trying to defend his friend. ¡°Yeah? Well, how many times has he left you behind shortly after just talking to them?¡± There was another long silence between them. ¡°Jason, please don¡¯t let him put you in that position again. It¡¯s wrong, and you are the one suffering for it.¡± She gave him a pleading look. He gave her a confused look in return. ¡°It''s not like I have control over what he does or what the women who approach me do. He¡¯s my friend, and he has had my back in a lot of crap situations where he could have just said nothing. I¡¯m not gonna assume he¡¯s acting maliciously just because you think so, Jill.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. A frown crossed both of their faces at this as silence took over again. It felt like another fight was brewing. Jillian wasn¡¯t happy to hear how Marco was using Jason to pick up women. ¡°How could he do that to his friend? If I ever meet Marco, I swear I¡¯ll give him a piece of my mind for pulling such sleazy tricks, using my Jason as his bait.¡± Her thoughts were boiling in her head. It took her a moment to realize, but she had started thinking of Jason as her own. She felt her anger fade, as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She was getting attached way too quickly, and it was freaking her out. They hadn¡¯t even slept together yet, and here she was feeling over protective. He didn¡¯t need physical protection, but emotionally, she knew she had to be there to be his support. The two of them just sat there quietly for quite a while. Neither knew quite what to say to ease the tension, so they both just remained silent. Jillian kept messing with the jets, while Jason resorted to playing some mobile game he downloaded at random. Both were trying to distract themselves from the stressful topic on their minds. An hour passed like this, and Jillian was seriously wrinkled from the water, and the jets were starting to hurt. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna hop out and head home for a little bit,¡± she suddenly said, standing up and grabbing a towel to wrap around herself. Jason quickly got up as well. His butt ached from sitting on the tile floor for so long. He had several questions he wanted to ask her; how long she was going to be gone, what she was going to do, if she was alright. But he found himself tongue-tied. And in the end, he wasn¡¯t able to get another word out. So he just nodded and reached out to help her out of the tub. Jillian took his hand and stepped out. There was silence as she dried off and put on her old clothes again. They walked out of the master bathroom, through Katia¡¯s room, and down the hall to the front door. Jillian turned to Jason, her face a mask of neutrality. ¡°I¡¯ll be back once I¡¯ve changed into something a little nicer.¡± Jason gave another nod in response, expecting her to turn and leave. But instead, she just stood there, gazing up at him. He started to wonder why she was just standing there, staring at him. With each passing moment, her annoyance became more and more apparent until she finally burst out. ¡°Well!?¡± she said in an exasperated tone. ¡°Well, what?¡± He was clearly confused. Letting out a frustrated growl, Jillian shouted, ¡°Kiss me goodbye, you dense idiot!¡± Taken aback, Jason¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Oh¡ right, sorry,¡± he muttered, trying to brush off the insult. Leaning down, he gave her a quick peck on her lips before straightening up again. Watching Jillian¡¯s eye twitch and her scowl deepen, Jason felt a knot of apprehension tighten in his stomach. ¡°Jason... if you want this to work, you are going to need you to kiss me properly. I know you can do it. Kiss me like you actually want to. Or did I miss something and you don¡¯t want to anymore?¡± she said, speaking rather bluntly. Jason hesitated, feeling a bit of irritation. With the position he was in he had little choice but to kiss her. So he leaned in and kissed her deeper. She kissed him back, but both of them could tell there wasn¡¯t any real passion in it. But it would have to do for now. After the kiss ended, Jillian nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡± Then she turned and walked out the door. Jason watched as she walked out of the house, feeling the familiar knot in his stomach. Things were getting weird and just plain unpleasant. But Jillian was gone. The door had closed behind her, and she¡¯d left Jason standing there trapped in the silence, feeling that all too familiar, painful ache in his bones. He wrapped his arms around himself, scowling deeply. ¡°Fuck,¡± he muttered, unhappy with how things turned out. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he quickly pulled it out. He was hopeful it was Jill wanting to make up already¡ It was Lina. ¡°Heyyyyyy! We¡¯ll be landing soon. I had daddy lend me the faster jet, just for you. Kisses!¡± Jason felt an overwhelming desire to spike his phone into the floor as hard as he could. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sorry for acting so stupid and saying all that stuff. I didn¡¯t mean it, I just got a little frustrated. I¡¯m still outside, can we maybe talk a bit and sort things out before we fight again? Please?¡± Jillian leaned against the garage door of the house, narrowing her eyes at the text she wrote, feeling her nerves fray one by one. She knew she should hit send. It would keep them from fighting and bring back that happy feeling she had just an hour ago but her anxiety was through the roof and giving her second thoughts. ¡°Ugh, just fucking do it,¡± she muttered to herself. With her phone gripped tightly, she hovered her thumb over the send button, trying to force herself to push it with all her willpower. But instead quickly moved down and promptly deleted the entire message. ¡°Seriously, why am I like this? I¡¯m such a fucking coward!¡± she sighed sadly, slipping her phone into her hoodie pocket. Pushing off the garage door, she headed back home, hunched over and moving slowly. Another stupid argument that could¡¯ve been easily avoided if they both weren¡¯t so damn stubborn. Jillian stepped into the quiet house, reasonably sure that everyone had gone out for lunch early. It was both a relief and a slight worry. But she trusted her little sister to keep their moms occupied for the time she asked for. As she made her way upstairs, she caught some intriguing sounds¡ªa few giggles followed by chatter. Slowing down to avoid making noise, she tiptoed along the upper hallway, drawn by the voices. Pressing against the outside door of the twins¡¯ room, she heard more giggles and what sounded like a girl talking. A mischievous smirk spread across her face. Grabbing her phone, Jillian opened the camera and hit record. As she swung the door open, she exclaimed, ¡°I caught you, Ree¡ª¡± But what she saw made her freeze up and her eyes widen in shock. ¡°Jill?! What the hell are you doing?!¡± Reese said, growling and shutting his textbook as he glared at his sister. Beside him on the bed was a girl with dark, chocolate skin and frizzy, black hair that poofed out as it was tied back into a ponytail. She wore a large, frumpy CSU college sweatshirt that left everything to the imagination. Thick-rimmed glasses, braces and moderate acne dominated her features. ¡°Um, uh...?¡± Jillian stammered, utterly perplexed. Reese stood up, visibly irritated yet somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Could you please stop barging into my room? We¡¯re trying to study here,¡± he said, getting up from the bed and walking over to her. Jillian was too shocked to speak or move, so her brother gently pushed her out of the room and closed the door behind her. She could hear him talking to the girl who was still sitting on his bed from the other side of the door. ¡°Sorry about that, my sister has a few screws loose. I keep telling Mom she needs to be committed, but she won¡¯t listen.¡± His words were followed by some giggles and muffled words she couldn¡¯t quite catch. Jillian looked down at her phone, and stopped the recording. ¡°There¡¯s a glitch in the matrix¡ I just know it,¡± she muttered to herself before finally shuffling back to her room. ¡°Anyway, where were we?¡± Reese said as he walked back over to his bed and grabbed the textbook, sitting down next to Brenda. ¡°We were discussing the differences between sign and cosign.¡± The young girl¡¯s voice slurred slightly from her freshly tightened braces. Reese nodded and got back into studying. He was going to get kicked off the football team if he didn¡¯t get his grades back up. Math had always been a struggle for him and he was having to retake trigonometry. Thankfully, one of his longtime class buddies offered to help tutor him after seeing him stressed out in class. He was super thankful and offered his house to study at. Aside from his stupid sister barging in, it had been going really smoothly, and he was able to retain a lot more information than normal. After another half hour of studying, Reese was at his limit. ¡°Okay, I need a break. My brain feels like mush,¡± he complained, rubbing his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s fine, it¡¯s not good to overdo it too much. Or it will end up having the opposite effect,¡± Brenda said, flashing her smile full of metal. Reese closed his book and put it aside. Looking back at her, he smiled as well. ¡°I really appreciate this Brenda, I was for sure going to fail Mr.Davidson¡¯s class. But now there might be at least some hope,¡± he laughed a little, as their eyes met. ¡°You are actually really smart, Reese. It¡¯s just that this stuff doesn¡¯t interest you, so you can¡¯t keep focus. All I did was teach you how to remember things easier.¡± Reese gave her a hard stare in silence for several moments. She felt her face warm at his firm gaze. ¡°W-what? Did I say something wrong?¡± Brenda said, looking away in embarrassment, wondering if she had something stuck in her braces. ¡°Huh, oh no, it¡¯s just no one has ever called me smart before. Haha, it¡¯s just kinda weird hearing it from someone like you. I appreciate it though, Brenda, you''re the best,¡± he said, laughing with a toothy smile, Brenda couldn¡¯t help but stare back at him. ¡°Oh well, I just said what I thought, and I mean it,¡± Brenda said, feeling her previous calm starting to unravel. Her cheeks took on a hint of pink as she tried not to think too much about his compliment. ¡°Hey.¡± Her head snapped back to Reese as he spoke. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hold still for a second,¡± he said as he leaned in slightly and reached out for her cheek. ¡°What is he doing?! Oh god, is he going to kiss me?! Do I want him to kiss me? I have never kissed a boy before. His lips look so soft. Should I push him away? No Brenda, you¡¯ve had a crush on him since freshman year. Now is your chance. Carpe diem, Brenda!¡± Her thoughts went a mile a minute and as Reese leaned, hand brushing past her cheek, she closed her eyes and leaned in as well and pushed her lips firmly to his. Her head was full of sparks, feeling the sensation of his lips against hers. ¡°I did it! I can¡¯t believe I did it! Does this mean we are dating now? What do I tell my parents? They said they don¡¯t want me dating till after I¡¯m done with school. Screw it, this is worth it. Don¡¯t look back. My future starts n-¡ Wait, why is he pushing me back?¡± Reese used one hand on Brenda¡¯s shoulder to push her away after barely a second of kissing. She opened her eyes to see a rather disappointed look on his face, holding a small spiky object. ¡°Why did you kiss me, Brenda?¡± he asked, sounding confused. ¡°Huh¡ but you¡ you leaned in to kiss me¡ What is that in your hand?¡± Her whole body began to tremble. ¡°It¡¯s a burr that was stuck in your hair. I saw it earlier but didn¡¯t want to interrupt, and it was bugging me.¡± Her entire face went pale at the revelation. ¡°S-s-so you weren¡¯t trying to k-kiss me?¡± He shook his head in response. ¡°I am dating Samantha Jordan, I thought you knew that? We are friends, Brenda. I like you, but I¡ Hey where are you going?¡± Reese said as he watched Brenda shoot up from her seat on the bed and start packing up her stuff quickly. Her face had gone from pale to beet red. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I need to go,¡± she said, offering no explanation, though it was obvious. She shoved things into her backpack, at a frantic pace. ¡°Brenda it¡¯s alright, I¡¯m not mad. I just-¡± Reese tried to calm her down, but she just shook her head rapidly. ¡°I have to leave. I¡¯m sorry.¡± With that, Brenda quickly rushed out the bedroom door and slammed the door shut behind her as she ran down the stairs, leaving Reese alone in his room. ¡°Shit¡ I¡¯m gonna fail this class,¡± was all Reese could say. While Jillian was in her room, she rummaged through her limited wardrobe. She had nothing fancy to wear and she didn¡¯t want to face this rich bitch in yoga pants and an old tee-shirt. So, after a quick scavenger hunt in her mom¡¯s closet, she found a nice, lacy short-sleeved white blouse and a pencil skirt that ended just above her knees. Pairing them with some black pantyhose and her mom¡¯s pumps, she felt pretty darn good about how she looked. There was one snag in her plan: the building anxiety of facing Jason again after the way she left. Sitting on her bed with her phone in hand, she scrolled through their texts, trying to think up a bunch of different apologies for her bitch coming out earlier. Letting out a frustrated groan, Jill glanced at her phone¡¯s corner, watching time seem to slip away faster than she¡¯d like. She needed to get back so they could be ready for Lina¡¯s arrival. Her phone buzzed, startling her. It was Jason. ¡°Hey, sorry about earlier. Just wanted to let you know that I¡¯ll handle this whole Lina situation myself, so don¡¯t worry about coming back over. I will be okay. Thanks for your support.¡± His message made her groan loudly. There he was again, pushing away her help. Not that she could really blame him this time. She had gotten annoyed and took it out on him. Now he was planning on facing the world alone again. She wanted to hit him for apologizing and kiss him for being sweet and apologizing when he didn¡¯t have to. Somehow, at the same damn time. ¡°Not a friggin¡¯ chance. I was just working on picking out an outfit. And Jase, seriously stop saying sorry for stuff that¡¯s not your fault, you idiot.¡± Jillian hit send and smacked her forehead. ¡°I need to stop calling him an idiot! Ugh, why do I do this!?¡± she groaned unhappily, frowning at herself. ¡°Sorry, you¡¯re not an idiot. I¡¯m the idiot. I got upset hearing that you get used by your boss. And when it sounded like your friend was using you as well, I just couldn¡¯t take it. I really am sorry, I care about you Jase. I¡¯ll be back over soon.¡± She hit send before setting her phone down and getting up from her bed, straightening her clothes and fixing her hair a bit in the mirror. There was a sudden slam of a door and the sound of feet running down the stairs. ¡°What the heck?¡± Peeking her head out of her room, she looked up and down the hall. Shrugging, she went back to looking into the mirror. She actually kinda liked how she looked for once. It made her feel professional and classy. She left her room, went downstairs, and headed out to the Merris¡¯ house once again . Jason read through the messages Jillian had sent him. He felt mixed up inside from her two texts. Emotions swirled inside him, but he couldn¡¯t quite put them into words. With a sigh, he shook his head and walked back to the front door, unlocking the deadbolt. He¡¯d locked it after texting that she didn¡¯t need to come back, but he knew that a simple lock wouldn¡¯t stop either of them from somehow coming back together. Not with all the new and intoxicating feelings and sensations they recently shared. Despite the uncertainty of what would unfold after he went back to Florida, Jason tried to convince himself to live in the moment, a skill he¡¯d never quite mastered. Still in his tank and basketball shorts, he had no intention of giving Lina the satisfaction of dressing up for her. For now, taking a rest in the living room seemed like a solid plan to him. He flopped down on the couch and rested his head on the armrest. About fifteen minutes later, he heard the front door open and shut. ¡°Jase?¡± Jillian¡¯s voice echoed through the house, but she quickly spotted him sprawled out on the couch. ¡°There you are,¡± she said, smiling shyly at him as she entered the living room and kicked off her heels. Jason, who had been facing the back of the couch, rolled to see her standing beside him. His eyes followed her from her thighs up, taking in the high-class secretary-style outfit she was wearing. It was more than a little sexy. There was no doubt about that, especially in his eyes. Jillian grinned as she watched his expression shift as he took in her new outfit. The look of desire in his eyes made her happy. Even with their small fight, he still wanted her, which was good, cause she still wanted him. More than just physically at this point. ¡°Scooch in, handsome.¡± Her tone was playful and affectionate. Jason was still laying on his side as he shifted back on the couch, giving her space to lay down with him. She maneuvered herself onto the couch, pushing him to lie flat more so she could rest her head on his chest. Quickly getting comfy, her fingers traced gentle circles on his chest while they lay together. He put his hands behind his head and gazed down at her mop of red curls. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± A very typical girl question. Jason just shrugged lazily. ¡°Nothing much,¡± he replied, with a typical guy answer. Jillian¡¯s fingers paused their playful dance on the fabric of Jason¡¯s tank top as she turned to nestle her chin on his chest, her blue eyes meeting his, transitioning into her next question. ¡°Are you feeling nervous?¡± ¡°A little,¡± Jason admitted, his gaze drifting lazily to the ceiling. ¡°I just hope everything goes smoothly, and no one gets hurt.¡± ¡°Yeah, that would be nice,¡± Jillian agreed, turning to rest her cheek against his chest once more, hearing his heart thud in his chest. She wrapped her arms around his midsection and held him close, feeling a sudden drowsiness wash over her. Unable to resist any longer, Jason moved his hands from under his head and wrapped them around Jillian. He pressed her against him tight. She let out a happy squeak at the tight squeeze, but snuggled closer to him, far from deterred. Jason felt that same sleepiness take over as his eyelids grew heavy. The warmth and sensation of being pressed together lulled them both to sleep. The two of them ended up falling asleep together on the couch, without really planning to. It was all too easy to doze off, snuggled up like they were. It wasn¡¯t until they were both startled awake by someone knocking loudly at the door and then ringing the doorbell twice. Jillian jolted up from Jason¡¯s chest, rubbing her eyes sleepily. ¡°Grrrr... who the hell is that?¡± she mumbled, a bit of dried drool in the corner of her mouth. Jason, still mostly asleep, simply scratched his neck, before dozing off once more. The knocking came again, and Jillian suddenly remembered who it probably was. ¡°Oh crap, she¡¯s here!¡± she said, scrambling off the couch and trying to straighten her rumpled clothes while she wobbled on her feet, not fully awake either. The realization hit Jason like a ton of bricks the moment Jillian announced who it was, waking up quickly he gave his cheeks a firm smack before calling out, ¡°Be right there, just a second!¡± He scrambled to get up, but before he could even stand, Jillian was already making her way to the front door. ¡°Jill, hey, hold on! Let me!¡± he called after her, but it was too late. She was already opening the door as he hustled over. Jillian was met by a towering dark figure standing on the front steps. He was even taller than Jason. She stared up at the man in astonishment, his imposing secret service attire adding to the surreal moment. His eyes were concealed behind dark sunglasses and his chiseled jaw was clean shaven. ¡°Uhh, can I help you?¡± she blurted out, utterly bewildered by the unexpected visitor. For a moment, the fear that one of Luis¡¯s goons had found her shot panic through her. ¡°Maurice, move, you big oaf!¡± came a shrill voice from behind the man. ¡°I let you be the first at the door. Now move it!¡± The voice had an edge to it, and Maurice eventually obeyed, sidestepping to reveal a woman who was about an inch shorter than Jillian. She had golden blonde hair pulled neatly into a bun, with a few curled strands framing her face. Her flowy white blouse looked like it cost way more than it was actually worth, and her mini skirt had a stylish split down the side. The sparkling white tennis shoes she wore looked brand new as she walked up to Jillian, her earrings jingling with each step. ¡°You must be Katia! I¡¯m so happy to finally meet you! Can I call you mom?¡± she said with a big friendly grin. Chapter 33: He Was Supposed to Be Mr. Knight in Shining Armor but Life Isnéˆ¥æª› a Fairytale. Jillian was utterly shocked as she stood face-to-face with the young blonde who somehow mistook her for Jason¡¯s mother, of all people. ¡°Hold the fuck up! What did you just say!?¡± she yelled, feeling deeply offended, while her eye twitched in disbelief. Here she was, finally meeting the infamous Lina, and she already wanted to throttle the little twerp. ¡°Sooo you¡¯re not Katia then?¡± Lina asked, eyeing Jillian up and down. ¡°Hmmm. Looking at you now, you¡¯re nothing like the pictures I¡¯ve seen of Katia. I was trying to be polite just in case,¡± she continued. ¡°Ya fuckin think! If that was you being polite I-¡ Grrrr. Do I look like I¡¯m old enough to be the mom of a twenty-six-year-old?¡± Jillian snapped, fists clenched at her sides. ¡°Maybe. It''s hard to tell. I didn¡¯t think Jason¡¯s mom would be tacky enough to dye her hair red, so that¡¯s a relief at least. So, is Jase home?¡± the blonde girl inquired, trying to peek past Jillian. ¡°If you take a single step into this house I will¡ª,¡± Jillian was seething with rage, but her tirade was cut short by Jason swooping in, wrapping his arms around her, and muffling her protests with his hand. He pulled her back as she struggled in his grasp. ¡°I¡¯m right here, Lina. Both of you calm down.¡± Jason interjected, shooting a stern look at the blonde girl. ¡°I am going to need you both to keep it civil, so no more insults.¡± Lina, however, seemed oblivious to the tension, her face lighting up with delight. ¡°Jase! There you are!¡± she exclaimed happily. ¡°I never insulted anyone though? Is that your cousin? Where¡¯s mom?¡± Questions tumbled out of Lina¡¯s mouth faster than Jason could reasonably answer them. Jillian, meanwhile, was getting increasingly annoyed at having her mouth covered. Jason could feel her trying to bite his hand, but he managed to move it out of harm¡¯s way just in time. With her mouth free, Jillian let out a shout without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not his cousin, he¡¯s my fucking boyfriend! So you need to back the fuck off!¡± she snapped at Lina with a growl, while Jason kept her from lunging at the other girl with his arm around her waist. Lina¡¯s smile vanished as she turned to face the other woman. Arms now crossed over her chest, Lina¡¯s expression had gone from friendly to downright displeased, eyeing the redhead with suspicion in her eyes. She let out a small, ¡°Hmph,¡± and then glanced back up at Jason. ¡°Seriously, Jason? You¡¯d go so far as to hire someone to pretend to be your girlfriend? I thought we were closer than that. Do you really hate me that much?¡± she sniffed, looking like she was about to cry. ¡°Hire me?! You¡¯re fuckin¡¯ delusional! Maybe he¡¯s not into you because you¡¯re acting like a spoiled child. If you really knew him, you would know that he wouldn¡¯t do something like that!¡± Jillian fired back. ¡°Ladies, settle down!¡± Jason interjected loudly, slightly exasperated. Maurice stepped forward, but Lina quickly stopped him with a hand, her tears disappearing instantly. ¡°Lina, look. If you want to come in, so we can talk about this and explain everything, you are more than welcome. I promise this isn¡¯t some act. We have been discussing how you might react, so I will do what it takes to prove it to you,¡± he started, but Lina cut him off again. ¡°Don¡¯t even bother. I already know this is fake. You¡¯re literally trying to tell me you¡¯ve got a girlfriend, that¡¯s a REDHEAD!? Seriously, Jase? I know you and I know why you can¡¯t stand redheads and your track record with them¡¡± Lina¡¯s words caught Jillian off guard. But there was no way she knew about what she put Jason through. Was there? ¡°The fuck do you even mean by that?¡± Jillian knew the answer, but she was doing her best to avoid showing any fear. Jason looked rather uncomfortable, knowing exactly what Lina meant. ¡°That was a long time ago Lina, and I was young and angry,¡± he muttered. Lina let out a bark of laughter. ¡°He hasn¡¯t even told you how much or why he hates redheads. This is so fake it hurts. I hope you know you are on the verge of violating our contract, Jase,¡± she said with a confident smirk. Jillian was done with her bullshit. ¡°Let me tell you something. Not only do I know that he disliked redheads before, but I was the reason he hated them in the first place. And he still picked me over you.¡± She smugly leaned back into Jason, who still had an arm around her waist for Lina¡¯s safety. ¡°Wait. What! You... You¡¯re Jillian Lins? The girl who falsely accused Jason of molesting her in high school?!¡± The words smacked Jillian like a physical blow, making her flinch. She looked up at Jason with a devastated expression. ¡°Y-you told her that...¡± Jillian said sadly. She knew it was his right, but it still hurt thinking about him going around telling people. Jason shook his head immediately as Jillian looked up at him with that same hurt expression he hated so much. ¡°I never told her anything remotely close to that!¡± he said, almost shouting, trying to defend himself. There was a small pause as she did her best to calm down slightly and eventually believe his words. After a few seconds of the two locking eyes Lina chimed in again. ¡°Ahem, no. I read it in his personal records. Honestly, I was going to offer to send you to a mental hospital for the rest of your life as his engagement present,¡± she said shamelessly. The other two gave Lina hard stares. ¡°You¡¯re out of your fucking gourd,¡± Jillian said, scowling. ¡°I would never have wanted that, even if I hadn¡¯t reconnected and forgiven her for the past.¡± Both Lina and Jillian''s heads snapped to Jason, though for different reasons. It was the first time Jason had openly said he forgave Jillian, and she was completely stunned. There was a pause before Jason spoke up again. ¡°Can we please take this inside? We don¡¯t need to broadcast our business to the whole damn neighborhood,¡± he suggested, trying to avoid any unnecessary attention. The last thing he wanted was for his mom to get caught up in this drama that she had nothing to do with. Lina let out a sigh. ¡°Very well.¡± She said, stepping into the house, and quickly motioning for Maurice to stay outside. ¡°You wait out here,¡± she instructed firmly. Maurice opened his mouth to protest, but Lina shot him a stern look. ¡°Stay put, Maurice, or you¡¯re walking back to Florida!¡± she warned, with a firm tone. With a resigned nod, the big man acquiesced. ¡°Very well, ma¡¯am. Shout if you need me,¡± he said, turning to monitor the surroundings. ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± she answered before walking into the house. Jason felt sorry for Maurice. Plus, it was going to be a bit awkward when people drove by and saw a big man standing guard outside the house. Once Lina was inside, he shut the door behind her. Jillian was still busy looking up at Jason with glassy eyes. In her trance, Jason helped guide her into the living room. The three of them entered the living room, and Jason gestured for Lina to take a seat in a recliner. He then maneuvered the still rather distracted Jillian onto the couch seat furthest away from the other woman and sat next to her. Lina wasn¡¯t thrilled about this seating arrangement, but kept quiet for the moment. Instead, she gave them both a scowl, folded her arms, and crossed her legs, glaring at the two of them. The perfect day she had planned was already ruined and getting worse by the second. Jason took a deep breath before glancing over at the young blonde. ¡°Okay, Lina. I know this is gonna sound crazy, but it¡¯s all true. Jillian and I reconnected on my first day here,¡± he tried to explain calmly. Lina just rolled her eyes at his words, though. ¡°And how long have you been here?¡± she asked suspiciously. ¡°Just over a week,¡± Jason admitted. As he said it, it really hit him how short a time it had taken for him to develop feelings for Jillian. Things have been moving so quickly for them both since he arrived. ¡°So, in a week, you two went from hating each other in high school and never talking once since then, to... what?¡± Lina wanted them to spell it out, as she struggled to voice what she feared might be the truth. She tried to maintain some level of calm, but deep down, she was very upset. Jason had told her they needed time to get to know each other and make a connection. So she had given him almost two years, but here he was with a girl that had tormented him in the past and he had fallen for her in a week. It wasn¡¯t fair. Jason glanced at Jillian, who still wore a look of wonder. When their eyes met, she snapped back to reality. She blinked a few times, and looked away, her face feeling flush while trying to remember what they were currently talking about. Looking back at Lina it came back to her. ¡°Just because we didn¡¯t get along in high school doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t now. We still fight now and then, but for the record, even back in high school, I always thought he was cute. I was just so wrapped up in my anger and grief that I took it out on him. Also, I never said he touched me back then. It was all just bullshit rumors that got too much attention. But after what happened, I couldn¡¯t see that he was just scared of being accused again. And I stupidly lashed out at him for it.¡± Jason¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at her sudden admission. ¡°He was like this big, shy, soft teddy bear, with the most amazing eyes. I regret how I treated him every single day. So you can believe what you want, but the truth is, he is mine, I am his. Even if it¡¯s only been a short amount of time, it doesn¡¯t change how we feel.¡± She let it all out, all of her feelings and thoughts on their current and past situation. It all left Jason a bit shocked, but his heart was racing as he stared at the passionate redhead next to him. It made him resolve to be more open with her about his worries, so they could overcome them before they became problems. Lina¡¯s scowl deepened as Jillian slid her hand along Jason¡¯s arm, intertwining her fingers with his. ¡°D-do you¡ feel the same way, Jason?¡± Lina asked in a calm tone, but her eyes told a different story as they looked like they were moments away from exploding with real tears this time. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°I do, Lina. I¡¯m sorry, but it¡¯s all true. According to our agreement, I will not be going out with you,¡± Jason said, trying to keep things calm. But Lina had one last ditch effort up her sleeve. ¡°No! I won¡¯t accept it!¡± she snapped. Her refusal caught them off guard. ¡°You what?¡± Jason said, taken aback. ¡°You heard me. I¡¯m not agreeing without solid proof. I didn¡¯t wait almost two years just to have my chance taken away at the last minute,¡± she said, her tone firm, though a few real tears spilled from her eyes. ¡°Lina, come on, let¡¯s be reasonable here,¡± Jason began, but Lina cut him off with a sharp retort. ¡°I don¡¯t care! I refuse to believe it!¡± she snapped back, her arms crossed defiantly as she pouted like a spoiled child. Sitting there, tapping her foot on the carpet, she shot daggers at the both of them. Jillian shot back a glare of her own before standing up abruptly. ¡°So you want proof, huh?¡± she challenged, hands on her hips. Lina¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as Jillian stood up. ¡°Uh, y-yeah,¡± Lina stammered. ¡°Well, then brace yourself for some hard evidence, you spoiled fuckin¡¯ brat,¡± Jillian declared, her tone sharp. Suddenly, she straddled Jason¡¯s lap and pushed him back against the couch. ¡°H-hey!¡± he said in surprise as she was forcing herself on him. ¡°What are you-¡± Jillian silenced him by pressing her lips against his. The kiss was forceful and deep right from the start. Jason¡¯s initial protests faded quickly as the warmth of her lips and tongue invaded his mouth. Jillian¡¯s hands moved up to cradle his face as she purposely let her lips smack loudly against his. Even going so far as to pull back slightly while leaving her tongue in his mouth, exposing the sight for Lina to see. Lina watched the couple¡¯s spontaneous make-out session with wide, shocked eyes. Her jaw dropped slightly. Jason might have been a bit hesitant to do this in front of someone else, but he was quickly lost in the intense passion and pleasure that the kiss brought. Jillian pulled back for a moment to gaze into Jason¡¯s eyes, licking her lips, and leaning in to nibble on his ear before whispering into it. ¡°Did you really mean it?¡± she said, dragging the soft flesh of his earlobe between her teeth. His whole body shivered from the attack on his ear. It wasn¡¯t bad, far from it really, as his hands gripped the couch cushion, trying to maintain some composure. He let out a rather pathetic moan before responding to her question. ¡°Nnhh¡ what?¡± he panted slightly, feeling Jillian¡¯s hands lower to grab his arms and yank on them, trying to pull them from his grip on the cushions. ¡°Do you actually forgive me¡ or was that for her?¡± Her words made his eyes open. There was a momentary lull in their actions as the question hung between them. Jason¡¯s hands slowly released the cushion and let her pull his arms up to wrap around her waist. ¡°I told you¡,¡± his lips suddenly latched onto her neck and he bit it softly, his teeth grazed her pale skin as he sucked. It made Jillian twitch uncontrollably a few times. ¡°I don¡¯t like to lie,¡± Jason said as his mouth came off her neck. That was all she needed to hear from the man. ¡°Thank you¡Thank you so much Jason.¡± Her tone was a choked up whisper as her arms quickly wrapped around his neck and the two squeezed each other tightly. ¡°W-what are you two even doing?!¡± Lina¡¯s voice suddenly reminded them of her presence. The two of them let out synchronized, heavy sighs, but when Jillian leaned back, their eyes locked once more. Sharing a smile even with the pest sitting nearby. Jillian turned to look over at Lina once more. ¡°We are proving how serious our relationship is. Do you honestly think that Jason of all people would simply let someone like me kiss him like this? Without resisting and even returning my affection? I thought you knew him?¡± She had a look that was full of confidence and like she was looking down on Lina for even thinking this was fake. Jason¡¯s hands had moved down to rest on the slope of her hips where her waist met her butt. The young blonde withdrew slightly, but her face was bright pink and there were teeth marks on her bottom lip. Jillian quickly spotted the telltale signs of arousal and raised a brow in curiosity. ¡°I-I do...W-well¡ maybe, I don¡¯t know,¡± Lina said, refusing to make eye contact again. Jason, meanwhile, was getting a bit handsy. His hands moved down even more and ran along Jillian''s sheer pantyhose covered thighs, exposed by her hiked up skirt. He squeezed and rubbed, lost in his own little world, looking like he was enjoying himself quite a bit. ¡°I-I still don¡¯t believe you,¡± Lina said eventually, but the way her thighs were clamped together Jillian had suspicions about her continued refusal. ¡°Are¡ are you getting turned on watching me and Jason make out?¡± she asked, suddenly making Lina¡¯s head snap back to the pair on the couch. ¡°W-w-what , no of c-course not!¡± She said, quickly denying the accusation. ¡°Mmmhmm,¡± the redhead said doubtfully with a devilish grin. ¡°Okay then, I don¡¯t suppose you mind if we continue. I know we are happy to prove it in any way we have to.¡± ¡°We are?¡± Jason said, a bit confused. He wasn¡¯t all that pleased with doing all this in front of Lina, wishing she would have just taken his word and left. Jillian stared back at him with a look that screamed for him to play along. ¡°Yes, we are.¡± Another quiet sigh escaped Jason before he nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, I will do anything to prove it.¡± Before the man could finish speaking, Jillian was already yanking up his tank top to expose his chest. ¡°Hey!¡± he exclaimed, protesting as she started running her fingers through his thick, dark chest hair. She bit her lip as she stared down at the trail of coarse hair that cascaded down the middle of his muscled chest and abs. Lina was staring hard at the scene before her. Seeing Jason shirtless in photos was no comparison to the real thing. Along with the stern half smile he wore as he glared slightly at Jillian, these were the things Lina¡¯s dreams were made of. Yet in her dreams, she was the one getting those looks. Yet she still felt a strange powerful warmth building up just below her tummy. ¡°W-what is happening?¡± her thoughts raced. Lina suddenly realized something at that moment. Even though it was Jillian, not her, physically doing everything with Jason. Seeing the couple whisper to each other and share these intimate moments¡ They made her feel good. Like, really good. Just because she wasn¡¯t the one getting the affection directly didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t be happy or apparently get pleasure. ¡°I don¡¯t get your fascination with my chest hair,¡± Jason said with a huff. ¡°What can I say, I am an old fashioned girl. I like my men hairy,¡± Jillian returned with a giggle. The pair bantered a bit, lost in their own world. Lina¡¯s heart thudded in her chest and it made everything so clear. It wasn¡¯t just Jason she was truly after. It was an overwhelming desire to see him happy. When they met at that party, he was so depressed and seemed so lonely and angry at the world. She thought she could be the one to fix all that for him. Even in his texts, he never showed even an ounce of the happiness she was seeing here today. In the two years she knew him, she failed to do what Jillian had accomplished in a week. Watching them lean in for another deep passionate kiss, she felt a deep warmth in both her heart and loins. ¡°Great, now I¡¯m the pervert,¡± she grumbled in her thoughts. ¡°Maybe we should give her an even more convincing show.¡± Jillian¡¯s evil grin returned as her hand trailed down and teased a finger along the waistband of Jason¡¯s shorts. She felt his cock twitch under her ass, making her giggle slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t think¡¡± Jason started but was cut off. ¡°I believe you!¡± Lina¡¯s voice suddenly shouted loudly, making both of them look towards her. ¡°Huh?¡± Jillian said as they saw the young woman standing up from the recliner, now staring at them with a bright blush burning bright on her face. ¡°You believe us?¡± Jason said, his hands still on Jillian¡¯s thighs, mid squeeze. Lina nodded, her eyes darting to and from the pair. ¡°Yes¡¡± ¡°Oh¡ well, that¡¯s¡ great,¡± he said before looking back at Jillian, who shrugged and slid off the side of his lap, resting her back against the arm of the couch. She kept her legs across his lap to hide the bulge in Jason¡¯s shorts. He was eternally grateful for her quick thinking. Really she just didn''t want to give Lina the satisfaction of getting to see even the outline of his dick. Jillian never figured she was the jealous type, so she was learning something new about herself as well. ¡°I do have one request and I would appreciate it if you two would at least hear me out,¡± Lina said, lowering her head slightly in shyness, though her thighs were still clamped together and rubbing slightly. Jillian and Jason silently communicated through their eyes for a moment. Jillian let out a sigh and nodded, ¡°Fine, we will hear you out, but there is no guarantee either of us will agree. Not after all the shit you pulled.¡± Her tone was firm, and Jason nodded with a slight wince as Jillian started teasing his erection with her calves, making it rather hard for him to focus. ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s all I ask,¡± Lina said looking back at them with a soft smile. ¡°Well, let''s hear it then.¡± Jillian snapped, making Lina jump slightly. ¡°Oh right, umm, well, I was just wondering¡ I know I can¡¯t be Jason¡¯s partner anymore. But¡ I w-would really appreciate it if¡ well,¡± she started to stammer. All sense of the calm savvy young woman that boldly walked into the home was gone. All that was left was a stuttering mess of nerves and arousal. Jillian was pretty sure she knew what she was going to ask and was ready to deny it right away. ¡°I ain¡¯t sharing, bitch, so don¡¯t even.-¡± ¡°Please, let me be your friend!¡± Lina blurted out, completely blindsiding Jillian. ¡°What?! Friend? Do you mean friends with benefits?¡± Lina looked a little confused by this, but thankfully explained what she meant. ¡°Umm, I guess. I mean, I would really like it if we all stayed in touch, not just with Jason, but with both of you. In return, I will keep supplying Jason with all the services and perks he¡¯s been getting.¡± There was a long silence after Lina spoke, but eventually, Jillian spoke up again. ¡°You want to be friends with me as well? Even after I insulted you and tried to kick you out?¡± She wasn¡¯t exactly making a good case for it, but she wasn¡¯t sure she wanted the brat as a friend. ¡°Yes mam, I know you were just trying to defend yourself and Jason while I was being a bit pushy. I am sorry¡I just thought I could¡¡± Lina paused and Jason took the opportunity to jump in. ¡°Hold on just a second, services... perks? I don¡¯t think I¡¯d label your calls and texts as perks,¡± Jason said, sounding a bit annoyed. Lina frowned deeply. ¡°Umm well, Jason, I¡¯ve been covering your personal shopper, clothes, and most of your rent. Do you remember when you first moved in? The realtor should have told you I was helping with your rent,¡± she explained calmly. Jason looked utterly baffled. ¡°I... I thought that was some program work set up for the managers,¡± he admitted, now realizing how stupid it all sounded. ¡°Of course, it all makes sense now! That¡¯s how you can afford all that stuff!¡± Jillian chimed in, finally understanding how Jason was living so lavishly without the salary to back it up. ¡°Oh¡ umm, well then, how much is my actual rent?¡± Jason asked, looking like he was about to be sick. Lina flashed him a sweet smile. ¡°You live right smack dab in the middle of downtown in a big, 3-bed, 3-bath high-rise all by your lonesome. It¡¯s meant for three people to share, all more or less, at your salary. I didn¡¯t want you to feel like I was babying you, so I let you cover a portion that was sustainable for you.¡± Jason just stared at her like he was looking at a ghost. ¡°I, uhh¡ I can eventually start to pay you back. Just let me look around for-.¡± Lina raised a hand to stop Jason mid-sentence and shook her head gently. ¡°Your rent¡¯s already covered for the year, and I don¡¯t want you to pay me back. I''m the one that wanted to do it¡But, if you don¡¯t want to take me up on the offer¡¡± Lina frowned slightly at the thought. ¡°You can stay there until you find somewhere else. I promise I¡¯m not some kind of monster. I want you to be happy¡ and I can see that you are with her,¡± she said meekly but spoke honestly. Her hands came together and her fingers entwined in her lap, still looking rather nervous. Needless to say, Jillian no longer needed to hide Jason¡¯s erection. It had faded at record speed once the rent talk started. Chapter 34: How Can You Enjoy the Ride if Youre Afraid of the Fall? ¡°I think the more common term is cuck-queen? But that¡¯s more of an insult these days. I have also seen the term compersion floating around,¡± Jillian said as her and Lina got to talking. ¡°Well I certainly like how that sounds more than cu-cuck....the other thing,¡± Lina¡¯s face cringed slightly, just from almost saying the word. ¡°To participate in the happiness and joy of others,¡± Jillian said, reading the definition off of Jason¡¯s phone. ¡°Oh, I like that!¡± Lina said happily. The whole conversation stemmed from Jillian calling her out for being turned on, which Lina of course denied at first but eventually admitted after a bit of pressure. ¡°So you are someone that gets off from making others happy,¡± Jillian said with a raised brown and slight smirk. Lina¡¯s face burned from the description she was given. ¡°Umm, well..¡± Her blushing cheeks and timid behavior made it pretty clear Jillian was basically right. During the entire conversation, Jason simply sat there, thinking on how his life for the past few months was a lie. He worked so hard and yet he was still unknowingly relying on so much from a teenager. It felt like a part of him had just been ripped out and shown to him. He was still trying to calculate just how much money he actually owed Lina in his head, even though she said he didn¡¯t have to pay her back. His best estimate was well over six figures. How long would it take him to pay all that back? He had to try and find a new place to live as well. Living in a place where Lina or anyone, for that matter, was paying the majority of his rent was not an option for him. ¡°Hey Jase, would you come into the kitchen with me real quick?¡± Jillian said, snapping Jason out of his temporary stupor. ¡°Huh, why?¡± She didn¡¯t answer his question but just gave him a hard stare that told him that asking more questions wouldn¡¯t be wise. ¡°I mean, sure.¡± The two got up from the couch, telling Lina to wait there for a moment. She simply nodded and sat back down on the recliner, giving a polite smile, watching the two walk off into the kitchen. ¡°So, what do you think about her offer?¡± Jillian said in a whisper. Jason frowned deeply, letting out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not thrilled about it, honestly. Plus, it bugs the crap out of me that I can¡¯t afford to live in my own apartment without her help. I feel pretty fuckin¡¯ dumb over all this. Like I deluded myself into thinking it was work paying for it.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. Even though I¡¯m not her biggest fan, I think it¡¯s her way of showing she cares and I can¡¯t fault her for that. But I understand. Maybe start looking for a new place, just in case,¡± Jillian tried to reassure him. Jason nodded in agreement, his hands hanging at his sides as he frowned in contemplation. ¡°Yeah, I was already planning to do that when I got back,¡± Jason said, his fists clenching at the mention of going back to Florida. The topic was really starting to wear on his sanity. He needed to talk to her about it, but dealing with Lina came first. The two talked about the situation in a hushed tone for several minutes. At some point during the conversation, they found themselves back in each other¡¯s arms. Hers around his neck and his around her waist, like they were magnets being pulled to one another. ¡°So, for now, we accept the deal and see where it goes. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s another contract where you are forced to keep in touch. If it doesn¡¯t work out, we just end it and figure out what to do after that,¡± Jillian said, standing on her tippy toes to pepper his jawline with kisses. ¡°Yeah, I guess that¡¯s the best option to go with for now¡¡± Jason pulled away from her a little to look down. ¡°Jill, I want to talk to you about something after Lina leaves.¡± ¡°Well, that sounds ominous. Should I be worried?¡± Her gaze hardened slightly at the man, hiding the worry she felt just beneath the surface. ¡°Umm, maybe a little. I just want to discuss something that has been bugging me.¡± Jason¡¯s words didn¡¯t help ease her worry, but she agreed nonetheless. ¡°Okay, we will talk more later, then.¡± The two separated without any further affection, which didn¡¯t help the sour feeling in Jillian¡¯s stomach. Walking back into the living room they stood in front of Lina, who quickly rose from her seat. ¡°Alright Lina, we talked a bit about your offer. And we agree to be your friends, though the friendship is rather unorthodox and if at any point it doesn¡¯t feel right, we will end it quickly. If you are fine with that, we can be friends for now,¡± she added, meeting Jason¡¯s gaze to confirm. He nodded in agreement with her statement. It was kind of surprising how good Jillian was at this whole negotiating thing. He could easily see her doing litigation, dressed in some form-fitting suit. Shaking his head slightly, he fended off his fantasies before they got out of control. Lina flashed a bright grin at the announcement. ¡°Thank you both. All I want is a chance! I really do enjoy seeing the two of you happy.¡± she exclaimed happily, biting her lip for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s good and all, but you should really think about finding someone for yourself. Sure, indulging in fantasies is fun, but it¡¯s not everything. Give people a chance to get close. I can already picture you going out with some nice guys and thinking, Yeah, he¡¯s alright, but Jason this, Jason that. It¡¯s not healthy to compare others to what you may have considered your ideal,¡± Jillian said with her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m nothing special to begin with, anyway. I can give you advice when you need it though. I don¡¯t want you to go through another Timothy incident,¡± Jason said, folding his arms across his chest. Lina blushed a little and nodded in agreement, as Jill had been exactly right. Several young men over the last few years, mostly at parties and small gatherings, had tried to get to know her. But Lina never gave them more than a friendly conversation, always sounding rather closed off to any attempts to get closer to her. Her destiny had been just a short time away. Why would she try to get close to anyone else? ¡°I want you to apologize as well, Lina,¡± Jillian said suddenly, causing the younger woman to look up in surprise. ¡°Huh, what for¡ I mean sure but for what?¡± Lina¡¯s confusion only deepened along with Jillian¡¯s frown. ¡°The fact that you don¡¯t even know is a big issue,¡± she sighed heavily. Jillian then went on to explain just how off-base Lina was in pushing for that deal in the first place. ¡°Making a contract to date someone is just¡¡± Jillian threw her hands up at the absurdity of the idea. ¡°Like leading a horse that isn¡¯t thirsty to a river and shoving its face in the water. Thats not how love works. If the other person isn¡¯t interested from the start, it¡¯s already an uphill battle. Forcing someone to interact with you only makes the other person resent you.¡± Jason once again nodded in agreement. It was scary how right Jillian was. He guessed it was because she had spent so many years trying to make that bastard of a man love her. Lina was lucky to be getting this advice before she made the same mistake. Jillian tried her best to open up about her life experiences, hoping to pass on some wisdom she¡¯d gained through her own rough go at life and love. ¡°Look, I get it. You¡¯ve been living in a bubble. You¡¯re basically a spoiled princess everyone bows down to. But that also means no one but spoiled princes will want you or feel like they can even approach you. And I am guessing you don¡¯t want someone like that, do you? Jase told me about how that boy tricked you, and it pisses me off. Especially since¡,¡± Jillian caught herself before she said something she didn¡¯t mean to again. Lina looked at her oddly. ¡°Since what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just hate that little jerk for tricking you for so long.¡± She let out a small sigh as Lina hung on every word Jillian spoke. ¡°In the past, I thought someone loved me because he showered me with gifts and lavish trips. But it turned out. All he really wanted was my body, and he got some twisted pleasure from keeping me locked up like I was some toy he kept in storage to use whenever he wanted,¡± she said, grimacing as she stared at the floor. Jason glanced over at Jillian, his expression clouded with concern as she brought up that bastard who had hurt her in the past. He reached over and took her hand in his own, lacing their fingers together and offering what little support he could. Jillian looked over at him with a weak smile then back at Lina. Her expression quickly became stern. ¡°Jason might have ended up in a cage next if you continued on this path.¡± Lina¡¯s eyes widened at the accusation. ¡°What!? I would never¡ª¡± Jillian raised a hand to stop her. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you absolutely would have, but the way things were going, he was being pushed into a corner you created. You were ignoring the truth and only seeing what you wanted to see. What would have happened if you got your date and he still wanted nothing to do with you? Would you start to strip him of all the support he didn¡¯t even know you were giving? On that matter, did you really not know he was oblivious? Or did you intentionally make it difficult to figure out cause you knew he would reject your support if he knew it was you?¡± Jillian was coming to conclusions now that she was talking about it. Her hands balled into fists, her expression tight with mild anger. ¡°You wanted him to be reliant on you so you could put him into a situation where he couldn¡¯t refuse. Admit it Lina!¡± Jillian shouted, making the younger blonde flinch slightly. ¡°I¡I.¡± Lina stammered, looking like she was about to cry, thinking about how she had been unwittingly forcing Jason into a corner with only one way out. ¡°I refuse to let what happened to me happen to anyone else, as long as I have the power to stop it.¡± She shot a harsh glare at Lina, who gazed at the floor, her face etched with sadness. A few tears ran down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry... I didn¡¯t mean to hurt anyone. I just thought I could make him happy, less lonely. I thought if we spent time together... That maybe we could both be less lonely. But I get it, I was just imagining it all¡ I''m the one that is lonely and unhappy.¡± A few more tears escaped Lina¡¯s eyes as she spoke. Jillian glanced at Jason, silently urging him to speak up. He¡¯d been quiet for too long now. Jason frowned a bit, but with a sigh, he released Jillian¡¯s hand and moved closer to place a gentle hand on Lina¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Look, Lina. I¡¯ve tried to tell you many times, but you never truly listened. I never saw you romantically, and I don¡¯t think I ever will. It¡¯s not that I want to hurt you. I did my best to spare you from it. You¡¯re still young, with your whole life ahead of you. You have such a promising future. But sometimes you let your imagination run wild and get lost in what could be, instead of what will be. I¡ will still be your friend, but anything beyond that is just not possible.¡± His words were blunt, and Lina visibly flinched at a few points. It was clear she was still struggling to fully let go of the relationship that was on her mind each and every day. ¡°I get it...¡± Lina muttered, feeling the weight of her mistakes settle on her shoulders. Jillian sighed and walked over as well, casually draping an arm over Lina¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Lina, let''s go have a little girl talk in private. I think there are some things you need to hear.¡± Lina looked at Jillian, wiping her eyes, a little surprised by how kind Jillian suddenly sounded. ¡°Huh¡umm, okay?¡± The blonde looked a little unsure, but agreed. Looking up at Jason, Jillian grinned. ¡°We¡¯ll be right back, just sit tight and look pretty,¡± she teased before waving and leading Lina down the hallway into Jason¡¯s room, closing the door and locking it behind them. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He wasn¡¯t all that thrilled they were taking over his room, but his gut told him he wanted nothing to do with that conversation. So, he went into the kitchen to make himself some lunch. All this drama made him hungry. After making himself a few sandwiches, Jason ended up back on the couch with a beer. For about half an hour, he made himself busy by scrolling through a real estate app on his phone. He was desperately trying to find something to take his mind off the topic that was burning a hole in his brain. Finally, Jillian and Lina emerged from his room, both sporting wide smiles that made him a tad uneasy. The two strutted into the living room, and Jason couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Everything go alright?¡± Jillian replied with a reassuring tone, ¡°Of course, we had a very nice chat and sorted everything out.¡± Lina chimed in as well, a wide grin on her face, ¡°Mmhmm! Thanks again, Jill. I¡¯ll be sure to check into that thing you mentioned as well. I should probably head home now though. Things didn¡¯t go exactly as planned, but I learned so much I don¡¯t even feel sad anymore! I still want to apologize for all the trouble I caused you two¡¡± Lina sounded much more mature as she gazed at Jillian like she was a big sister suddenly. Jason stood up and Lina walked over to him, a smile still plastered on her face as she looked up at him. ¡°Would you be okay with a hug goodbye?¡± she asked instead of just doing it, which was a nice change of pace. Jason nodded with a small smirk in the corner of his mouth. Lina quickly wrapped her arms around Jason¡¯s large midsection and squeezed as hard as she could. He was a little hesitant but placed a hand on her back and patted it softly. ¡°Safe travels, say hi to your dad for me,¡± he said as he recalled his brief encounter with Liam Kilpatrick. It had been quite an intense meeting, feeling more like an interrogation than anything else with armed security all around. But once Lina¡¯s father saw Jason¡¯s true intentions, he was surprisingly supportive. ¡°It makes Lina happy and I don¡¯t have to worry about anyone touching her again for two years. Sounds like a nonissue to me,¡± Liam had said with a fatherly smile. Though it wasn¡¯t an issue for him, it certainly was an issue for Jason. But that didn¡¯t matter to Liam, no matter how much Jason hoped he would tell Lina to stop pursuing him. Lina pulled back from their embrace, wiping a tear from her eye. It was a happy tear as she continued smiling while walking over to the door. She turned back and waved goodbye as she stepped out of the house. ¡°Come on, Maurice, don¡¯t just stand there like a weirdo,¡± she teased her bodyguard before the door shut behind her. Lina¡¯s departure felt like a massive weight being removed from Jason¡¯s shoulders. Finally, the ordeal with Lina Kilpatrick was over, for the most part at least. He flopped back down on the couch, letting out a long breath as he shut his eyes for a long moment. Then, grabbing his beer from the end table, he finished the bitter last of it. Jillian looked at him with a small frown on her face, walking closer. ¡°So¡ what is the thing you wanted to talk about that I may or may not need to worry about?¡± she asked softly. Jason¡¯s eyes opened and his earlier thoughts quickly crept back into his mind, and showing on his face. ¡°Jase?¡± she asked, stepping closer, trying to figure out what was bothering him. The expression he held seemed like what he had to say was more than just something small. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, determined to sort out this new stress that was on the horizon. ¡°It¡¯s¡ hard to talk about. It might be better to wait till we recover from this mess.¡± ¡°Nope, not letting you push this one off. We¡¯ve been through too much lately to ignore what is on your mind now. It¡¯s obviously bothering you enough to want to talk to me about it. So let me in, Jason,¡± she said as she stood in front of him with her hands on her hips and a determined look on her face. Looking at her, she still seemed so sexy in her outfit, it was hard to focus on much else. But his brain was still wracked with panic from the topic on his mind. Jillian sat down on the couch beside him, her hand quickly moving to rest on his leg, giving it a comforting squeeze. They only had a little bit of time before their moms got back from their lunch date with June. So she wanted to make the best of it. Jason wasn¡¯t sure how to start, but he knew he had to try. ¡°Jillian... My life is in Florida,¡± he began, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. She looked a little puzzled. It wasn''t like this was new information, yet the way he was acting made it seem like he was revealing a secret to her. ¡°Um, okay? And?¡± she said, not sure where he was going with this. ¡°And your life is here, with your family... with June,¡± he continued, feeling the weight of his words. Jillian narrowed her eyes, sensing something coming. ¡°Just spit it out Jason,¡± she urged, not liking where this conversation was heading, but tired of dancing around the issue. Jason let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°I am trying to avoid misunderstandings. What I¡¯m trying to say is... I¡¯m not sure how this is going to work out between us,¡± he blurted out, and Jillian removed her hand from his leg, a deep scowl on her face realizing just what he was saying. ¡°I keep wondering if it might hurt less to stop before things get even more complicated.¡± His tone was full of remorse and concern. Jillian struggled to keep her cool. This was the man she¡¯d just spent the whole morning with, discussing their relationship, who they were, and all their pain and worries. He had sounded so genuine when he talked about their relationship with Lina. She knew he didn¡¯t want to end what they had. There was just no fucking way that was what he wanted. Not with how sweet and affectionate Jason had been. He had to be lying¡but he didn¡¯t lie, not very well at least. So why was he saying it now? ¡°So you want to break up because you think it¡¯ll be easier now than later? Does that mean you were always planning on breaking up with me before you left?¡± She shifted away from him, pressing her back against the arm of the couch so she could glare at him more directly. Jason turned to look at Jillian. Instead of anger, there was a deep sadness in his eyes. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it at all, I swear. I...am worried about leaving you behind and things going badly while we¡¯re apart. I have never done anything like this before. And I¡¯m not going to pretend that you¡¯d come with me either. I¡¯m just afr-¡° Jillian¡¯s fists clenched at Jason¡¯s words and she shouted over him, ¡°I never said I would! Why would leave my family for you after spending just a week together, especially when most of that time was spent arguing? Honestly, it¡¯s kind of insulting and clingy that you¡¯d even suggest it.¡± Her tone was more than a touch heated as she shot back. Jason really didn¡¯t like her tone or the words she spoke. Not only did she cut him off and shout at him, but she also accused him of something he didn¡¯t even say. His mood quickly shifted in response. ¡°I never said that you would. I wasn¡¯t trying to... You just..¡± he paused, struggling to find the right words. ¡°I just what, Jason? Called you out for some bullshit before you could finish?¡± Jillian said quickly. Jason let out a slight growl as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt that familiar anger start to burn inside of him. ¡°It wasn¡¯t meant to be an insult. But, surprise, surprise, you took it that way,¡± he said, as his lips curled down into a scowl. ¡°Oh, and what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡° Jillian returned with a scoff. ¡°It means you interpret everything even remotely negative as a personal attack.¡± ¡°Well, maybe if someone didn¡¯t always push me away or fly off the handle for no reason, I wouldn¡¯t feel like you¡¯re constantly insulting me with vague comments like ¡®I¡¯m not going to pretend that you¡¯d come with me¡¯,¡± Jillian retorted. ¡°I fly off the handle for no reason?! That¡¯s fuckin¡¯ rich.¡± The two angrily glared at one another, even more vicious than what was normal for them. ¡°Look, if you would just calm the fuck down and listen to what I¡¯m saying. You would realize I don¡¯t want to be the reason you miss your family,¡± Jason continued, finding a small bit of calm, but it didn¡¯t last long. He didn¡¯t know the cardinal rule of never telling a woman to calm down. ¡°Fuck you, you need to calm down. You think if I stay here with my family and you are in Florida, our relationship is just gonna crumble like it means nothing! You have no fucking faith in us!¡± Jillian held her knees to her chest now and her arms tightly wrapped around her legs. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to be realistic here! I¡¯ve never even been in a relationship, I have no idea how this shit even works, and it being long distance sca-.¡± Yet again Jason was cut off as she yelled back. ¡°So you just give up instead? You¡¯re not even gonna try? Wow, okay. I guess I had you pegged wrong for what kind of man you are.¡± Her eye twitched badly, and the pale freckled skin of her face was red with anger, like emotions were building up behind her rage and were about to explode out. ¡°I¡¯m not worth your time if you can¡¯t use my body, is that it?¡± Jason¡¯s eyes bulged and his jaw dropped at her words, staring at her with pure shock. It felt like everything they had been through and the trauma they shared was thrown out with that one small sentence. ¡°H-how¡How dare you...¡± He couldn¡¯t find the words to express how he felt at this moment, too busy trying to process hers. The fog of anger slowly lifted from Jillian as she saw Jason¡¯s devastated expression and the painful look in his eyes. It was then she realized exactly what she said to him. To a man who had been so scarred by his first experience, he was hesitant to even touch her at first. ¡°W-wait, I-I didn¡¯t mean it like that...¡± she started, but Jason stood up abruptly. Jillian¡¯s head tilted back to look at Jason, whose sadness quickly morphed into a visceral and twisted anger. ¡°Yup, you fucking figured it out, Jill. You totally caught me. That¡¯s me, just so addicted to your body that I can¡¯t live without it. Bravo, you solved the mystery of who truly am,¡± he sarcastically clapped his hands a few times. ¡°You must be so relieved that you figured it out before we fucked even once, right? Since I''m such a bastard that clearly only wants to use you, ending this farce of a relationship shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you, huh?¡± His rage had become an ice-cold furor as he glared down at her as she still sat on the couch, stunned by the outburst. ¡°Um, n-no, I don¡¯t...¡± She weakly tried to salvage the conversation, but it was too late. Words had spilled from her mouth that couldn¡¯t be easily taken back. She quickly devolved into a state of profound sadness, tears quickly leaking from her eyes in rapid succession. Her arms fell limp and her legs fell over the side of the couch. Her gaze locked on the floor. She couldn''t look at him anymore. She lost that right. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡I¡¯ll leave you alone,¡± Jillian mumbled, feeling Jason¡¯s intense glare burning a hole into her. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from letting out one last comment. ¡°Yeah, you do that. I wouldn¡¯t want you to feel like I¡¯m using you anymore.¡± She quickly stood up, still avoiding eye contact, and dashed out of the house, grabbing her mother¡¯s heels on the way out. She slammed the door behind her in her haste, leaving him standing there staring at the front door, his face still clouded with anger. He glared at the closed door for several long minutes. For a while, it felt like his anger would never go away, yet it slowly started to ebb. Soon, it was replaced by a small twinge of pain that was hardly noticeable at first. Everything after Lina left happened so fast, and now¡ it was over¡ it was all over. The good and the bad. ¡°She¡¯s gone¡ And she isn¡¯t coming back this time.¡± The realization felt like tiny pins and needles in his chest. At first it was manageable, but with each heartbeat it seemed to get worse. His heart was beating at a seemingly impossible pace. The pain grew so fast, that soon Jason was gritting his teeth trying to fight the searing agony that grew with each passing second. Eventually Jason was in more pain than he¡¯d ever felt before. He clutched his chest, while his face contorted in agony. ¡°Augh fuck. . . My chest Ahhh! It¡¯s is on fucking fire,¡± he wailed in torment. His legs shook like leaves in the wind as he felt his heart throbbing, the pain still growing somehow. It was so much harder to breathe now, as he gasped for air. His legs quickly lost the strength to support him. He dropped to his knees, his teeth clenched tight, saliva pouring out the sides of his mouth. He tried to suck in as much air as his constricted lungs could, but barely managed to get half a breath. ¡°Wh-what is¡Ahhhhhggh,¡± he let out a quiet, strained scream of agony, collapsing forward and smacking the side of his head hard on the carpeted floor. The fear that he was about to die gave him a small boost of adrenaline. But his heart was pounding in quick irregular rhythms while it felt like an elephant was standing on his chest. Drool began pooling under his face, teeth still clenched tight. The edges of his vision started to darken as he tilted his head to look at the door once last time, tiny prismatic specs and bubbles clouded his eyes. His vision narrowed till all he could see was pinholes of light. The last thing Jason heard was the muffled sound of a door creaking open and a piercing wail before his world and the sound all faded to black. And Jason, was gone. Jillian hadn¡¯t run back home. She dashed as fast as she could in the opposite direction, tears still streaming down her face as she ran on the rough concrete sidewalk. Her feet¡¯s only protection was the thin pantyhose, which were already tearing. She kept running towards town, managing a few blocks before needing to slow and catch her breath, but never stopping completely. She gasped for air between soft sobs, unable to calm down even a little. She heard the distant wail of a siren. Looking up, she saw an ambulance racing down the road, passing by her in the direction of her home. She ignored it. She didn¡¯t care and just wanted to get where she was going as soon as possible. When Jillian finally reached her destination, and she walked into the building, several people quickly stared at her. ¡°Hey uhh, Mick, can you come out here for a sec?¡± A chubby man called from behind the front desk. He sported a thin beard that did little to hide his baby face which was covered with lots of piercings ¡°Kinda in the middle of something, Jerry,¡± came the reply. ¡°Umm, it¡¯s kind of an emergency, Mika.¡± There was a loud sigh and the sound of gloves snapping before Mika emerged from one of the tattoo booths. ¡°What, Jerry!? I was right in the middle of... Jill!¡± She finally noticed her best friend standing in the middle of her store, tears streaming down her now dirty face, gasping for breath after running so far. ¡°Jill, what the hell happened to you?¡± Mika rushed over, putting her hands on Jillian¡¯s cheeks. Jillian sobbed a few more times and sniffed loudly. ¡°H-he... He broke up with me,¡± she managed to get out. Mika gave her a stunned look. ¡°Huh... Wait, do you mean Jason broke up with you? You guys got together and broke up in just a week?¡± It sounded absurd, but Jillian looked extremely upset. Mika wouldn¡¯t ignore her friend¡¯s suffering, even if it was a bit absurd. ¡°Forget it. Come on, let¡¯s get you upstairs and into a bath. You¡¯re drenched with sweat.¡± Despite it being early afternoon, Jillian looked utterly exhausted. ¡°Holy fuck! Your feet! Did you run all the way here barefoot?¡± Small splotches of blood lingered where Jillian walked, the ruined pantyhose coiled at her ankles now. Mika quickly guided her up to the apartment above and into a lukewarm bath. The whole time, Jillian continued to sob, but not many tears were coming out anymore. Though not for a lack of trying. It was certainly going to be a long day and night for the both of them. Chapter 35: You Can Thank Genetics for Lots of Things. You Can Also Curse It When It Makes You Sick. The first sensation Jason felt was something tightly squeezing his arm. He let out a muted groan of annoyance and tried to shake off whatever was constricting around his arm so tight. Try as he might, his body refused to respond properly. He was so weak and tired, all he wanted right now was to go back to sleep. It wasn¡¯t until the echo of a familiar voice managed to cut through the fog in his head. ¡°Jason!....please¡ wake¡Don¡¯t¡.me!¡± The voice was so quiet, but also so familiar. His brain refused to put any thoughts together. He was filled with relief as the pressure on his arm eased. That was when he noticed his hand being squeezed tight. The sound of machines beeping was the next noise he heard and each one was like a spike being driven into his skull. ¡°Ugh¡ my head,¡± Jason groaned in a raspy whisper. His throat was so dry, and his jaw ached. But that pain was nothing compared to the searing pain in his chest with each heartbeat, as slow and steady as it was now. Before he could gather his thoughts, a shout came from across the room, making his ears ring even worse. ¡°Nurse! Nurse!¡± Twenty minutes later, Jason was propped up in his hospital bed, his mom clutching his hand tightly like he was going to vanish if she let go. ¡°Mom, seriously. I¡¯m alright,¡± he tried to reassure her. "You¡¯re not alright, Jason! I found you collapsed on the floor, and you refuse to tell me why!" Katia said loudly, her blood shot eyes welling up with tears again. Jason let out a sigh, gently squeezing his mom¡¯s hand back. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I don¡¯t remember,¡± he said, trying to calm her nerves, but it only made her worry more. Thankfully, the doctor interrupted their conversation as he entered the room. ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Merris,¡± the doctor greeted warmly. ¡°I¡¯m Dr. Lee, and I¡¯ll be overseeing your care. Your mother informed us she found you unconscious on the floor. Can you tell me what you remember leading up to that point?¡± Dr.Lee appeared to be in his late thirties, and was clean cut with some not so subtle Asian features. His light tan skin and almond-shaped eyes were standout traits, along with his jet-black hair. He took a seat on a nearby stool, ready to write a few notes about what happened on his chart. ¡°Like I was telling the nurses, I really can¡¯t remember much. I just felt a bit off, and then everything got hazy,¡± Jason explained as best he could, seeming to struggle to piece together what happened. ¡°Hmm, I see. Well, when the paramedics arrived, your vitals were mostly stable, which is a good sign. It could be a few different things. You¡¯re young and generally healthy, so we can rule out a lot of common issues that affect older or less healthy folks. But when someone faints without obvious cause, it could indicate more serious conditions,¡± the doctor explained, causing Katia to squirm in her seat. ¡°Like what, doctor?¡± she asked nervously, but the doctor just shrugged slightly. His gaze shifted to look over at her with a calm smile. ¡°I don¡¯t like to make guesses without any proof, but the usual suspects could be high blood pressure or anemia. I¡¯d like to run a complete pathology to get a better idea. Can you tell me if there¡¯s a history of high blood pressure or diabetes in your family?¡± The doctor turned to Katia, and she shook her head slightly. ¡°Well, as far as I knew, his father was more or less very healthy for most of his life. He was tragically only thirty-five when he passed away from cancer several years ago. And my husband never knew his biological parents, so I can¡¯t give you any info on them, even if I wanted to.¡± The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy with sadness. ¡°I understand. I¡¯m sorry to hear that, Ms. Merris. And what about you and your family? Have you had any health scares in the past?¡± The doctor spoke gently, trying to ease the tension in the room. Katia still wore a concerned look as she shook her head. ¡°No, thankfully, besides my dad dealing with high cholesterol, there¡¯s nothing that comes to mind.¡± Dr. Lee nodded, jotting down a few notes. ¡°Alright, in situations like this, I recommend what I mentioned earlier: a comprehensive pathology and perhaps a physical, just to be safe since we¡¯re lacking family history from his father¡¯s side,¡± the doctor added with a reassuring smile. ¡°Hey mom, can you go grab me some water real quick? I want to ask the doctor a couple more things,¡± Jason interjected. Katia¡¯s eyes went wide with a hint of hurt as she glanced at her son. He looked back at her with a slight frown, and his eyes gave her a silent plea. Though reluctant, she nodded slowly. ¡°Of course, sweetheart,¡± she said, giving his hand a squeeze before she rose from the chair beside his bed and stepped out of the room. After Katia left and the door clicked shut, the atmosphere shifted between the doctor and Jason. ¡°Listen, Dr. Lee... My mom¡¯s been getting the short end of the stick most of her life, and I can¡¯t bear to see her worrying any more than she already does. So, as a medical professional, I need you to keep this between us,¡± Jason said, his tone dead serious. The doctor nodded in understanding, even giving a small smile. ¡°I completely understand. You¡¯re entitled to your privacy and nothing you don¡¯t want shared with others will leave our records. What¡¯s really going on Jason?¡± Dr. Lee clicked his pen a few times and got ready to take down the unfiltered truth. Jason opened up about the overbearing pain and burning sensation in his chest, the weight pushing down on him, even his recent breakup. Dr. Lee listened attentively, considering the symptoms. His pen scrawled across the paper quickly as he wrote everything down. He told Jason that it was probably due to high blood pressure and a combination of stress which caused Jason to have a minor heart attack or stroke. However, he noted that since Jason was young and in decent shape, he luckily didn¡¯t succumb to what usually killed older people. ¡°I highly recommend that you go see a cardiologist as soon as possible though. Let the nurses know if you experience any more pain.¡± Dr. Lee closed the folder on his lap and stood up from his stool. ¡°Thanks, doc. You can let my mom back in when you go,¡± Jason said gratefully. As Dr. Lee opened the door, Katia let out a surprised yelp and stumbled into the room. She had been leaning against the door, trying to catch any snippet of the conversation. She fell right into the doctor¡¯s arms, who quickly caught the woman. ¡°Whoa there, are you alright?¡± he asked, holding onto her as her body pressed against his chest. Katia looked up at Dr.Lee, her face a bright red, hazel eyes glimmering up at him. ¡°Y-yeah, I am okay. I¡¯m so sorry¡¡± The two locked eyes for a moment before they quickly separated and Dr. Lee cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem, good, good,¡± he said, giving her a small reassuring smile before filling Katia in on what was going to happen next. ¡°We¡¯re gonna keep Jason overnight and run some tests just to be safe. If all looks good, he¡¯ll be out tomorrow morning. If you need me for anything, just buzz the nurses. I¡¯ll swing by tomorrow as well, to clear his discharge paperwork.¡± With that, he nodded politely before heading out the door. Katia smiled shyly and waved goodbye to the doctor, for maybe a few seconds too many. Eventually she hurried back to her son¡¯s bedside and was back to clutching his hand tightly. But Jason was giving her a rather strained look, like he was suspicious of her. ¡°What?¡± she said, still feeling some warmth left in her cheeks. They talked a bit about what happened, as Katia couldn¡¯t resist prying for details about his private chat with the doctor. Being the protective son he was, Jason kept most of the information to himself. He was determined to keep his mom as blissfully ignorant as he could. It was his mess and he would take care of it, even if it put his life at risk. On the second floor of the tattoo parlor, Jillian had finally passed out and was snoring away on Mika¡¯s bed. Relieved the overly upset redhead was finally asleep, Mika stepped out of the room and took a moment to catch her breath. She needed a drink more than ever now. From the start, she knew that this whole thing with Jason would not end well. Getting what information she could out of the distraught woman, it was clear both were in the wrong. Though Jillian might''ve gone a little too far with some comments. Mika was still, of course, firmly on her friend¡¯s side. She would need to have a chat with Jason. All this bullshit drama was now affecting her personally, and she wasn¡¯t about to let it continue much longer. Her phone had been buzzing like crazy while she was comforting Jillian, but she¡¯d been ignoring it. Checking it now, she saw she had a bunch of missed messages waiting for her. Ginny: Hey Mika, is Jill with you? She wasn¡¯t at home when I checked her room. Ginny: We found her phone but no Jillian. Ginny: Could you please let Jill know to come home ASAP if you see her. It¡¯s urgent. Ginny: Jason got taken to the hospital, so we¡¯re all planning on heading there to visit him. Just waiting for Jill. Ginny: Mika, sorry to bother you if you¡¯re busy, but we are getting very worried. We can¡¯t find Jill anywhere, and we¡¯re starting to panic a bit. Please give me a call when you can, even if it¡¯s to tell me she¡¯s not there. Thank you so much dear, and sorry again for bothering you. Mika frowned at the messages. What the fuck actually happened? Did Jillian stab Jason in a fit of rage or something? Was her bestie now a wanted criminal? Thoughts of skipping town with her began creeping into her mind. If Jillian was hiding from the law, they¡¯d likely raid Mika¡¯s place first. She knew that a lot of the guys that came in here tended to carry things that were less than legal. It would be a serious pain in the ass for her. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She tried pushing those irrational thoughts aside. She tapped Ginny¡¯s number to call, holding the phone to her ear. It barely rang once before Ginny answered in a strained voice. ¡°Mika, thank goodness! Jillian left her phone behind, and I¡¯ve been freaking out.¡± She sounded like she was on the verge of breaking down. ¡°Yeah, sorry for not responding sooner. Jill is here with me. She showed up a few hours ago, pretty shaken up. But she¡¯s resting now.¡± ¡°Oh, thank goodness she¡¯s safe,¡± Ginny let out the breath that felt like she¡¯d been holding onto for ages. ¡°What¡¯s got her so upset now? Did she find out about Jason already?¡± Mika chewed her lip, considering how to respond to Ginny¡¯s question. ¡°Uhhh, no, I don¡¯t think so. What¡¯s wrong with him anyway?¡± Mika wanted the info before giving away any more details of her own. ¡°I see¡ Well, from what his mother told me, she found him out cold on the floor and had him rushed to the hospital. She texted a bit ago saying he¡¯s awake and seems to be back to normal, thankfully.¡± Ginny¡¯s words made Mika breathe a sigh of relief, happy her friend wasn¡¯t a murderer. ¡°We¡¯re heading over there in like thirty minutes to visit. Can you ask if she wants to come?¡± Mika hesitated before speaking. ¡°Um, she¡¯s asleep, and I don¡¯t think it would be good to wake her up right now. Probably best if you go without her for now. I will tell her when she wakes up.¡± There was a pause before Ginny spoke again. ¡°O-oh¡ well thank you for taking care of my troublesome daughter. Please, don¡¯t hesitate to call if you need anything. Good bye, dear.¡± ¡°Yeah, will do. See you later, Mrs.L.¡± With that, the call ended, and Mika let out another groan of frustration. Jillian was going to owe her so fucking much after all this. The rest of the day went on as normally as it could. Jason had a few visitors¡ªGinny, June, and the two younger Lins children. Lonnie hopped up on Jason¡¯s bed and bragged about how high he jumped off the curb on his bike. ¡°An-and then, my friend, he tried ta go off the other curb but he got askared and he fell over.¡± ¡°Oh no, did he get hurt?¡± Lonnie nodded emphatically to Jason¡¯s question. ¡°He scrapeded his hands and was crying. His mom came out and carried him to tha bathroom an put ouch water on it.¡± Jason raised a brow at this. ¡°Ouch water?¡± Ginny giggled and chimed in,¡°That¡¯s what we call Hydrogen Peroxide.¡± He didn¡¯t mind placating the small boy, as long as they weren¡¯t screaming little brats, he liked kids. They all hung out for a bit, but the little ones started to get antsy, stuck in the cramped room with no toys but the fancy machines they weren¡¯t allowed to touch. They decided it was time to let Jason rest after the third time Lonnie had to be told to not touch the large Gameboy attached to the pole, aka the IV drip. After exchanging goodbyes, and getting a hug from Ginny, June, and a surprisingly tight hug from Lonnie, the visitors left the hospital. Katia walked them out at Ginny¡¯s suggestion. It was pretty clear to Katia why Ginny wanted her to come along. When Jillian hadn¡¯t arrived with the family, Katia knew something was off. Jason¡¯s face had shown mild surprise and worry when Ginny arrived, and there was a hint of sadness behind his smile when he realized Jillian wasn¡¯t with them. Ginny handed Calvin to June and told her to go get the kids in the car while she talked to Katia a bit. ¡°Did something happen between them again?¡± Katia preemptively questioned her friend. Ginny let out a sigh and nodded. ¡°I believe so. I only just got a hold of Jill¡¯s friend, Mika, before we came here. And I don¡¯t know exactly what happened, but she is staying there for now.¡± Katia deeply frowned for a moment, as she put two and two together. ¡°So, you think they had another fight just before this happened?¡± Ginny nodded sadly. ¡°I wish I knew why they are suddenly clashing again so badly. Everything seemed so good for a few days.¡± There was a long silence between the mothers before Katia spoke up again. ¡°Well¡ I should get back to Jason in case he needs me. See you later, Ginny.¡± Katia managed to keep her composure as she bid farewell to her best friend. ¡°O-oh, okay, bye Kat.¡± The sudden and blunt goodbye left Ginny a bit stunned. They almost always parted with at least a hug, but it seemed things were more off than she realized. Not sure if she would react the same if one of her kids was in the hospital. So she decided she would give her friend some space to calm down after this incident. As Katia was walking down the hospital halls, a strange, unfamiliar anger started bubbling up inside her. Her son was in the hospital, and the only variable for its cause she could see was Jillian and him fighting. A fight so bad that it led to Jason collapsing. Her only child, the one light left in her life, was in such distress. Since Jason arrived, all his trouble and stress seemed to revolve around Jillian. Just what was she doing to her sweet innocent son that would drive him to such pain that he ends up unconscious on the floor? Katia couldn¡¯t help but clench her jaw and fists, nails digging into her palms. Things had gone too far this time. It was time to put a stop to it before she lost her son as well. Once Katia found herself outside the room door, she took a slow, deep breath. Once back in Jason¡¯s room, she switched back into caring mom mode, determined to keep her attention on him. The overwhelming desire to shield her son from any more pain filled her. Her and Ginny¡¯s plan to play matchmaker was over as far as she was concerned. As night approached, Jason tried to insist his mom should head home and get some rest, but she vehemently refused. Content to sleep in the recliner next to the bed, they both tried to get as much rest as possible as the TV lulled them to sleep. Jillian suddenly woke up for just a moment. It was pitch black in the room and she could hear someone sleeping next to her. ¡°Was it all a dream?¡± Her thoughts lied to her as she scooted closer to the sleeping form. She prayed she would be laying next to Jason. She reached a tentative hand out and grabbed what was obviously a small, soft arm. There was a sudden snort and grumbling. ¡°Nngg, Jill.. you awake¡ you alright?¡± It was Mika¡¯s voice. ¡°Y-yeah¡sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep,¡± Jill said before rolling over and pulling her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. She closed her eyes tight and tried to force herself to fall back asleep quickly. Yet her thoughts kept her awake. She shifted in an attempt to find a comfort that didn¡¯t exist. So, for an unknown amount of time, she rolled around in bed before finally passing back out. All the while a dead awake Mika stared at the darkness, trying not to murder her sad friend that continually woke her up till she just gave up. The next morning, Jason was chomping at the bit to get out of this small room. Practically begging to be let out first thing. After a quick check-up, the doctor came back in to sign his discharge paperwork. ¡°How are you feeling this morning, Mr. Merris?¡± Dr. Lee asked cheerfully. Jason just stared at the man with tired eyes. ¡°I''ve been better, but I am ready to go home please.¡± The doctor chuckled softly but nodded. ¡°As are you, Ms.Merris? I wish I would have known you were staying, I would have had them bring you a spare bed,¡± Dr. Lee said with a charming smile, which Katia returned with a sweet one of her own. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s no problem. I slept alright. I appreciate your concern and you taking care of my son Dr. Lee.¡± The two locked eyes, just staring at one another for a moment. ¡°Please call me Chris, and there is no need to thank me. I''m just doing my job.¡± ¡°Still, thank you, Chris. You have been wonderful,¡± Katia said with a soft giggle. Neither seemed to be able to wipe the smiles from their faces. Jason had to clear his throat loudly to get the attention back to where it should be. Like snapping out of a trance, the doctor looked back at Jason. ¡°Oh right, ahem, sorry.¡± Chris quickly finished the discharge paperwork after getting put back on track. Thankfully, the process was quick and Jason was out of there in no time, as promised. Soon enough, the two were back home, safe and sound. He let out a long groan as he stretched, and rubbed his eyes. ¡°I need to go lay down some more. Those hospital beds were torture¡ªI barely got any sleep,¡± Jason said with a long yawn. ¡°Sure thing, hun. I¡¯ll whip us up some breakfast when you wake up,¡± Katia said, giving him a peck on the cheek before he headed off to his room to rest. Jason locked his door as he entered and rubbed the back of his sore neck. His entire body ached in some way. It was like his fucking blood hurt at this point as everywhere felt tender. He looked down at his bed that was still a mess and had the pillows seperated for both him and Jillian. His lips twisted in a scowl. Every little thing reminded him of her and it was getting rather unpleasant. Before Jason was even able to take off his shirt, there was a hard knock on his window. His head quickly snapped to the sound, and his eyes widened in shock. His heart beat rapidly and painfully. ¡°There''s no way she¡¯s here, I can¡¯t believe it¡ but who else would be knocking on that window?¡± His thoughts went wild. His chest felt overly tight with his quick beating heart. It wasn¡¯t the burning, short of breath feeling from yesterday, but more like his heart complaining about working overtime. His face twisted in discomfort as the knocking sounded again, a little harder this time. Part of him wanted to ignore it so badly, but he couldn¡¯t just ignore it. If she was here... ¡°Then maybe¡¡± He grabbed the pull string and pulled the blinds up. His eyes bulged in pure disbelief at what he saw standing outside. ¡°Mika?! What the hell are you doing here?¡± Jason asked in stunned surprise, staring at the small Asian woman outside his window, bundled up in a thick sweater against the morning chill. One glance at her told him everything ¨C the tired eyes, the bloodshot whites, the deep scowl ¨C all the signs of a sleepless night. ¡°Open the window and get your ass out here,¡± Mika stated, her tone harsh. ¡°What? Why? Answer my question,¡± Jason demanded, keeping the window closed. Mika fixed him with a harsh glare, like it was his fault she was standing out in the cold. ¡°Because we need to talk about our shared problem, that¡¯s why.¡± There was no room for argument, but Jason did anyway. ¡°Look, I just got back from the hospital and I¡¯m exhausted, so...¡± The scowl that somehow deepened on Mika¡¯s face spoke volumes, cutting him off without her saying a word. Jason let out a heavy sigh. It was more than obvious what this was all about. He could have simply told her no and tried his best to ignore her. But something told him that might end with something or someone being broken. Reaching out he pushed the window open. Carefully stepping out the window and closing it most of the way, he followed Mika to her car parked about a block away. ¡°How long have you been waiting?¡± he asked curiously. ¡°Long enough,¡± she replied, not amused by the question. It seemed like she was far from in the mood to chat. ¡°You drive. I might pass out if I drive so don¡¯t wreck my car,¡± she said, tossing him the keys. Jason raised an eyebrow with a look of confusion. ¡°Uhhh,¡± he started. ¡°Just follow the GPS,¡± she said, explaining quickly as she let herself flop into the passenger seat. Jason scratched the back of his head, still feeling a bit confused, before giving up with a shrug. He had come this far already, there was no sense in going back. At least he told himself that. So he hopped into the tiny hatchback¡¯s driver¡¯s seat, feeling cramped like a sardine as he adjusted the seat to accommodate his long legs. He took a second to look over at Mika. She had already reclined the seat all the way back with her head tilted to the side, a thick blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon. Checking the built in GPS, he found the destination already set and ready to go. Not entirely sure what was going on, something inside told him to just go with it, for now at least. He started the car, and drove off, silently apologizing to his mother for leaving without a word. Chapter 36: To Fix Something, Sometimes We Need to Break It and Put It Back Together The GPS showed that the destination Mika wanted them to go to was about half an hour away in the next town over. The whole thing felt suspicious, and he really hoped she wasn¡¯t dragging him into some kind of trap. He couldn¡¯t help but imagine those scenes from old mob movies where they make the guy dig his own grave. His worries eased a bit when Mika let out an enormous snore, which made him struggle to hold back a laugh. If she was planning some nefarious trap, she was hiding it well. The drive dragged on, with only her snores and some low-volume alt-rock on the radio to keep him company. His thoughts drifted off as boredom set in. ¡°I don¡¯t want to put you in danger or regret being with someone so used up and worthless.¡± Jillian¡¯s words from the other night kept echoing in Jason¡¯s mind. Reflecting on that moment, he couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint if it was sadness or guilt he was feeling, but it wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°You deserve someone better, someone that isn¡¯t so broken.¡± It felt like her way of giving him an opportunity to end things right then and there. But at that moment, he wasn¡¯t thinking about what lay ahead, about the pain their separation might bring. He hated to admit it, but he had been blinded by emotion and lust. His head certainly wasn¡¯t thinking logically, letting his impulses guide him like a fool. Each time they argued, he ended up feeling the same guilt. It was so frustrating how easily Jillian could draw it out of him. He despised how he was becoming so weak and soft. It was all her fault. Yet he still felt an overwhelming desire for her, even now. Even though it was over between them. The thought made him scowl, but he wasn¡¯t angry. He was sad. What she said to him was in one way unforgivable, but in another he understood why she said it. Why, she was afraid that he only wanted her for her body. Before Jason even realized it, they were pulling up to their destination. It was a small strip mall, and he pulled into an almost empty parking lot. Parking in front of the address, he looked at the sign in front of them. ¡°Carson¡¯s Smash Zone?¡± he said aloud. A long drawn-out yawn came from next to him as Mika slowly woke up. ¡°Mmmggh, are we here already?¡± she asked, smacking her lips slightly. ¡°Umm, I guess so. You tell me,¡± he said, looking over at her. She took a moment to blink away the sleep and look at the place in front of them. ¡°Yeah, this is it,¡± she said. Reaching over, she took the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car. Jason climbed out of the cramped vehicle with a groan. Stretching his back and legs, he tried to shake off the discomfort. ¡°So, what¡¯s this place?¡± he asked, walking up with Mika. She unlocked the door with one of the keys attached to her lanyard. He watched in mild surprise as she walked in without a care in the world. ¡°Do you own this place?¡± he asked, curiously. ¡°Nah, my half-brother Carson does. I just have a spare key cause I run it for him from time to time. C¡¯mon, get inside,¡± she explained, letting Jason in. She locked the door behind them. ¡°He doesn¡¯t open until later, so we¡¯ve got the place to ourselves,¡± she said, disappearing into a door behind the front desk. Looking around, there was graffiti art all over the walls and floor. Random broken objects were strung up and set on pedestals like they were posing as art pieces. ¡°Here, you will need these,¡± Mika said, having come back while he was gawking distractedly at the place. She handed him a clear face shield, some gloves, and a hard hat. She quickly put on her own gear that looked a few sizes too big for her. Jason stood there, still a bit confused. He had a good idea of what this place was but wasn¡¯t entirely sure why they were there. ¡°Mika, what¡¯s the deal with all this? Why are we here?¡± he asked, watching as she grabbed a baseball bat from the wall. ¡°Stop questioning everything for once in your life and just grab something from the fuckin¡¯ wall.¡± Her tone was firm and full of annoyance as she walked past him towards a solid black door with a big blue ¡°1¡± spray painted on it. Jason frowned but went along with it yet again, opting for a large sledgehammer from the wall before following Mika into the room. He entered the room shortly after her, and Jason found himself surrounded by a chaotic mix of broken, half-broken, and worn-out items scattered all over the place. It looked like they stocked the place with unbroken things for customers, but this one was mostly broken junk. So it seemed they were getting someone¡¯s sloppy seconds. ¡°Sheesh...¡± he muttered, taking in the scene. ¡°So, this is one of those¡ shit uhh?¡± Jason tried to remember what they were called exactly. Mika casually tossed a piece of broken pottery into the air. ¡°You can call it a smash room, break zone, crash therapy... whatever floats your boat,¡± she replied, choking up on her bat like a pro and smashing the pottery with a satisfying homerun crack. Shards flew everywhere. A few pieces clattered against his face shield and peppered his skin. ¡°Alright, but why are we here?¡± Jason started, but Mika cut him off with an unnecessarily loud groan. ¡°Dude, shut up and stop overthinking everything like a bitch and just smash something already!¡± She shot him a pointed glare.He was almost certain Mika hated his guts. But that begged the question, yet again, why did she bring him here? Jason scowled, feeling a surge of frustration building up inside him. ¡°Fine! You want me to fucking smash something? I¡¯ll fuckin¡¯ smash something!¡± he growled as he hefted his sledge over his shoulder. He made his way over to an ancient TV that seemed straight out of the ¡®80s. It was already broken but still kept most of its boxy shape. With a loud grunt, he swung the sledgehammer with all his might. The TV¡¯s plastic and metal crumpled in on itself from the blow. The sledge was so buried in the old TV it got stuck in the twisted remains, which only fueled his irritation. After wrenching his weapon free, Jason grabbed the TV by one of its broken edges and let out a primal yell as he hurled it across the room. The TV spun as it flew through the air till it slammed against the wall in a shower of glass and plastics. He took a moment to catch his breath, feeling a twinge of discomfort in his chest, but it only filled him with more rage. Compared to the emotional turmoil he¡¯d been through this last week, this physical pain was nothing more than an annoyance. Mika grabbed a remote from the wall and cued up some classical music to play over the PA system. She then got to work herself, tossing the remains of vases and glass objects toward a corner marked with graffiti that bluntly read, ¡°Throw glass here.¡± It might not have been the most sophisticated safety measure, but it was better than nothing. After all, there was a reason why people had to sign a waiver before stepping in and usually wore much more gear than the two of them were. Schubert¡¯s Ave Maria filled the room as they continued their destructive spree, their frustrated grunts and efforts blending with the hauntingly beautiful voice of the singer in the background. Mika couldn¡¯t keep up with Jason¡¯s stamina, especially given how tired she was. So she grabbed a broom, swept a spot to sit near the door, and took a breather. The bare tattooed flesh of her arms was tattered with small nicks and cuts. Mika calmly watched as Jason went wild, tearing up paintings, snapping wooden frames, and ripping the door off an old fridge with his bare hands. His muscles sheened with sweat and his arms were even more cut up than hers. Lines of blood trailed down his arms but did little to slow him down. He wielded his sledgehammer like it was Thor¡¯s hammer, smashing anything and everything within reach, even throwing the weapon at one point to slam into the side of the fridge. Seemingly finding at least some solace in the destruction, he lost himself in the chaos for what felt like ages. After an hour of relentless smashing and tearing, everything in his path lay in ruins. Jason was left breathless, his lungs burning with exertion, and his heart complaining about the extra work, but he felt strangely satisfied. His throat stung with each breath as he swallowed large, acrid gulps of air. With a heavy thud, he dropped the battered sledgehammer to the concrete floor and collapsed, panting heavily on his hands and knees, desperate for oxygen. Getting up slowly, Mika switched off the music. She heard the familiar sound of debris crunching beneath her sneakers as she made her way over to Jason. Leaning on her bat for support, she squatted beside him. ¡°Feel better?¡± she asked, her tone just slightly less chilly than before. Sweat dripped from Jason¡¯s head and face onto his face shield. He pulled it and his helmet off and tossed them away before he looked up into her dark eyes. ¡°Yeah...I guess¡ a little at least.¡± He used his gloved hand to brush away some debris before sitting down, leaning back on his arms he continued panting heavily. ¡°So, what the hell happened to you?¡± Mika said, cutting right to the chase. Jason wiped his brow and looked back at her. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bit of a loaded question. Give me something more specific,¡± he said with a hint of amusement, sensing there was more to her question than just small talk about his recent hospital visit, assuming she even knew about it. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s start with this: why¡¯d you agree to go out with Jill if you were just planning on breaking it off?¡± Mika was about as subtle as the sledgehammer he had been using. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Wow, straight to the point, huh?¡± he said with a slight laugh. Mika just glared at him, waiting for an answer. ¡°Well, to be fair, we never really said we were going out. We admitted to having feelings for each other and that we were both okay with that,¡± Jason explained, but Mika¡¯s expression remained unamused. ¡°That sounds a lot like going out to me,¡± she said casually, still squatting beside him with her bat. Jason nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, it kinda does, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah, so why did you break it off?¡± she pressed, lifting and pointing her bat at him like it was a threat. There was a pause as Jason pondered. ¡°Quit thinking so hard about it and just tell me,¡± she urged. Without being given time to think, Jason was forced to just speak from the heart. ¡°Because I was scared, that¡¯s why,¡± he said with a frown. ¡°Scared, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah... pretty much, laugh at me if you want,¡± Jason sighed before pulling off his gloves and tossing them down. Bringing his knees up a little he rested his arms on them, taking a moment to look at all the cuts on his arms that had already stopped bleeding. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Of what?¡± Mika didn¡¯t laugh, but she persisted in asking more, not giving Jason a break. He looked over his arms one last time before running his hand through his damp hair. ¡°Guess I was just scared that if we tried the whole long-distance thing, I¡¯d just mess it up and never get the chance to see her again¡. I¡¯ve never been in a relationship before, Mika. I¡¯m not great at handling failure... I tend to blame myself, and I end up resenting those I let down. If I started resenting Jillian, it wouldn¡¯t be long before that turned into hate. And honestly, I¡¯m so fucking tired of it. I don¡¯t like who I am, even more so when I get angry. Jill has been the source of that anger for so long that when I was finally able to let it go¡ I never knew I could feel so free. But if I started to hate her again¡ I¡¯m not sure what I would do.¡± There was a pause as Mika took in his words. ¡°So what if you are new to this? That doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s going to fail. Do you think Jill is perfect? Do you think anyone is? Have you even thought that you might not fail? That things might work out?¡± Her question caught him off guard, and he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Now that¡¯s some serious optimism. Do you really think we wouldn¡¯t turn the first real problem into a huge argument?¡± He chuckled softly at the absurdity of that thought and shook his head. Mika shook her head. ¡°Nope, I know that girl better than I rightly should. She¡¯s always had trouble letting the small things go. If you want my honest opinion, I think it¡¯d be best for you to pack up and head back to Florida ASAP. The farther you are from Jillian, the calmer both of your lives will be.¡± Her words had an edge, sharp enough to cut, making her disdain for Jason crystal clear. ¡°Heh, when you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right,¡± he barked a soft laugh and glanced away, a wry smile playing on his lips. ¡°But this isn¡¯t about what I think. My opinions aren¡¯t what¡¯s important.¡± Jason looked back at her, a tad confused by her statement. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Jill cry over guys before, but she always gets over it pretty quickly,¡± Mika paused, pushing herself up from her crouched position. She draped the bat behind her neck and took a step closer to Jason. ¡°When Jill dumped Brice after a year together, guess how long she moped around to get over him?¡± Jason shrugged his shoulders, clueless. She then held up three fingers. ¡°Three days?¡± He guessed. ¡°Three hours, and poof, she was back to normal. Like she wiped him from her memory.¡± She leaned down and grabbed Jason¡¯s shirt collar tightly, her earrings and other piercings catching the light. ¡°So why is she an inconsolable wreck after just a week of on and off with you, crying herself into a coma and in the middle of the night like some Banshee? What the fuck did you do to my best friend, Jason?¡± His heart started to race as Mika got in his face, mere inches apart. It brought back memories of when Jillian taught him to kiss: lean in, no pucker, close your eyes. Mika¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of her skull when Jason closed the gap between them and planted a kiss on her lips. Without a word, she instantly stood up and quickly stomped right on Jason¡¯s genitals with all the force she could muster. His eyes popped open as a horrendously painful shock replaced all his thoughts when her tiny foot connected with his groin. He quickly fell to his side, hands moving down to cradle his smashed manhood. ¡°What the actual fuck, Jason! You son of a bitch!¡± Mika nearly screamed, wiping her lips and spitting in disgust. ¡°Do you think you can just do whatever the fuck you want? Just who the fuck do you think you¡ are?¡± Her tirade was cut short by Jason¡¯s sudden and overwhelming laughter. ¡°Hahaha, oh fuck haha I¡¯m-I¡¯m gonna throw up, hahaha!¡± he cackled through the pain, still clutching his crotch. ¡°What the fuck, you psycho... Did you finally fuckin¡¯ lose it? I mean I am not surprised, but why on earth are you laughing, you asshole?¡± Mika was still pretty angry, though just as confused. Jason simply couldn¡¯t stop laughing, even though he was on the floor in just the worst possible pain. ¡°Haha, I¡ I really didn¡¯t like, haha, kissing you. Haha, shit it feels like you broke my fucking dick,¡± he managed to say between laughs. Mika stared at him, bewildered. ¡°Uhhh What?¡± she asked, her confusion slowly overcoming her anger. Jason held up a hand, trying to catch his breath as his laughter finally started to subside. ¡°Haha, man that fuckin hurt,¡± he chuckled, slowly getting to his feet, his legs shaking slightly. He tried to adjust his junk to ease the pain in his groin. ¡°That was the point, dipshit. What did you expect? Me to suddenly fall for you like in some cheesy grocery store romance novel?¡± Mika sa, giving him a vicious glare. Jason quickly shook his head and kept his hand raised defensively. ¡°No, at least I didn¡¯t expect you to. You pretty obviously hate me. I have just been having these strange thoughts lately.¡± Mika scrunched her face in irritation. ¡°So what, you¡¯ve been plotting to kiss me?¡± she snapped, but Jason just rolled his eyes. ¡°No, first off, the kiss was more of an accident than anything¡ sort of. But I¡¯ve just been wondering if kissing someone else would feel as good as kissing Jill.¡± A faint smile appeared on his lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t get any of the sensations kissing you that I get when I kiss her.¡± His tone was oddly satisfied. She remained quiet for a long moment giving him a strange look. ¡°Hold on, did you just say¡ You haven¡¯t kissed anyone other than... You really haven¡¯t kissed anyone but... Oh my god, you¡¯re a virgin?!¡± It all suddenly clicked for her, her eyes bulging as she pointed the bat at him. ¡°That explains so much, like¡ everything!¡± It was like a light switch being flipped on in her head. Jason let out a sigh, but his smile stayed put. There was no point in denying it at this point. ¡°Yeah, I suppose in a way,¡± he admitted without hesitation this time. ¡°So Jillian was your first kiss?¡± she asked, her anger fully replaced with curiosity now. He gave her a small nod, not wanting to get into the semantics. ¡°It fuckin¡¯ figures. I don¡¯t know how I didn¡¯t figure it out earlier. Probably because guys with muscles like yours are usually swimming in shallow bitches. Plus Jill hasn¡¯t been around the shop as much. Stupid bitch ignoring me for a stupid meathead,¡± Mika muttered to herself as she paced around, clearly frustrated with herself. She stopped suddenly and turned back to Jason. ¡°So what does that mean? What the hell were you really trying to figure out by comparing us?¡± she growled a little, stepping closer and extending the bat toward him again threateningly. ¡°I was trying to figure out if these stupid feelings for her were real or just because they are new to me¡.¡± He paused a little as he thought about his next words carefully. ¡°The only thing I can say for sure anymore¡ is I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready to give up on this craziness just yet,¡± Jason confessed, a smile still firmly in place, the pain in his junk finally lowering enough that he finally let go of his crotch. Mika¡¯s expression turned sour at his statement, but she eventually let out a long sigh. ¡°Geez, you two are a match made in heaven... or hell, I can¡¯t decide. Both of you are the most stubborn bastards I have ever met and way too similar for your own good.¡± Jason laughed in response. ¡°Hey, at least I¡¯ve got your blessing,¡± he quipped, trying to lighten the mood. But Mika wasn¡¯t ready to let things go so easily. She suddenly closed the distance and poked him in the chest with her bat. ¡°Oh, and if you ever even try to kiss me again, I swear I won¡¯t just step on it. I¡¯ll rip it off, fuck you with it, then shove it down your fucking throat,¡± she threatened, her tone dead serious. Jason raised his hands defensively again. ¡°I already told you, I wasn¡¯t planning on it in the first place. I swear it won¡¯t happen again,¡± he said, letting her have her moment before she lowered the bat. ¡°Alright, pick up your shit and let¡¯s go.I need to check if the blanket hog is up yet,¡± she said, referring to Jillian, as the two gathered their gear and exited the room. They stopped for a bit to clean up in the bathroom. Mika grabbed the first aid kit so Jason could treat some of the deeper cuts he got. When they eventually left the building, he couldn¡¯t help but think of something rather pressing while she was locking the door. ¡°Hey Mika, you¡¯re uh not gonna tell Jill about that kiss, right?¡± His voice betrayed a hint of fear. As she finished locking up, she turned to look at him, shooting him a glare before silently heading to the passenger side of her small hatchback. ¡°Mika... Come on, you wouldn¡¯t do that, would you?....Mika?¡± Jason could feel a cold sweat forming as she got into the car without saying another word. Jillian slowly woke up from her deep sleep, her hair all over the place as she sat up groggily. With her eyes half-open, she glanced around the dim, windowless room. ¡°Mika¡?¡± There was no answer to Jillian¡¯s call. She rubbed her eyes and pushed her hair out of her face, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. For a moment, the thoughts from yesterday once again played out in her head and a deep scowl creased her face. She took a deep breath to battle back the tears. A burning, overly dry sensation in her throat came to her attention. She desperately needed water. Her head was dizzy and her mouth was dry as a bone. She pushed herself out of bed, stumbled into the darkness until she found the door, and opened it to the glaring mid-morning sun peeking through the curtains. ¡°Mika?¡± Her raspy voice croaked out again as she blinked against the brightness, once again met with silence. She shuffled over to the bar, dressed in nothing but yesterday¡¯s bra and g-string panties. The pantyhose had shredded from her frantic run and had to be thrown away. Her bandaged feet still burned with each step. There was no way she was getting back in the blouse and skirt she had on yesterday. Even if she knew where they were. She moved behind the bar and grabbed the soda tap, pressing the water button with the nozzle to her lips as she chugged as much as her empty stomach could take. After gulping down her fill of water, Jillian felt a chill sweep through the large brick building. Teeth chattering, she dashed over to a couch and grabbed a throw blanket wrapping up in it. Still shaking from the cold, she made her way toward the stairs, opening the door to the stairway. It was Sunday, which was usually the busiest day for the tattoo parlor. The sound of voices and the buzz of tattoo guns echoed up the staircase. She was stuck in the apartment for the moment, not that she was really in the mood to go anywhere anyway. So she closed the door and headed over to the couch to sit down, flicking on the TV, hoping for a distraction. Yet, every little thing seemed to bring him and her failures to mind. Curling up into a ball, she hugged her knees close and fell to the side, trying to find some comfort in her despair. Jillian was back to feeling worthless and broken, yet again. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I just stop and let him talk¡ I constantly tell him to be open with me yet I didn¡¯t let him. Why can¡¯t I just think before I speak for once?!¡± Her brain felt like it was on fire. Maybe things could¡¯ve been different, but what was the point of dwelling on it now? It was over for them. She was sure he wanted nothing to do with her after the comments she made. She couldn¡¯t shake off these feelings. She would probably just mess things up again even if she got another chance. It was as she hit her lowest point that she remembered something he told her. ¡°You drive me crazy, but I don¡¯t think you are broken.¡± She had to force herself not to smile at the memory. Those words had meant so much to her. They had given her hope, a dream for herself and maybe even for them. Lost in her thoughts, a voice suddenly called out. ¡°I want you!¡± Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest at how loud it was. Looking around the room frantically, it quickly became clear it was just some overly loud TV commercial as the voice continued. ¡°That¡¯s right! I want you to come on down to Bill Schmit¡¯s used car emporium we got-...¡± She quickly shut off the TV in anger. ¡°Fucking Bill Schmit,¡± she muttered before covering her head with the blanket. A few minutes later, a more familiar voice called out. ¡°Oh, hey, you¡¯re awake.¡± Jillian sat up and looked over towards the stairs as Mika entered the apartment. ¡°Mika!¡± Jillian quickly got to her feet, wincing slightly but keeping the blanket wrapped around her tight before rushing over to hug her friend. ¡°I woke up, and you were gone. Where did you go?... Yuck, why do you stink like sweat and dirt?¡± Jillian wrinkled her nose slightly, feeling like she was going to sneeze from the bit of dirt and dust on the other woman. She stepped back to get a better look at her friend with mild suspicion. ¡°I had some stuff to take care of. My life doesn¡¯t revolve around you, bitch.¡± Mika¡¯s tone was rather evasive, which only made Jillian even more suspicious. ¡°Uhh, yeah it does, and what stuff?¡± Jillian teased as Mika walked past her, shedding her oversized sweater which scattered particles of dirt onto the hardwood floor. ¡°Mika... What did you do?¡± Jillian¡¯s voice trembled slightly, as a hint of worry crept into her expression. ¡°I took care of some business. That¡¯s it, so settle down,¡± Mika said casually, moving behind the bar. Mimicking Jillian¡¯s actions from earlier, she helped herself to a drink straight from the tap. ¡°Mika!¡± Jillian shouted as she darted towards the bar. ¡°What did you do!?¡± Her voice rose slightly in alarm, but Mika just chuckled, wiping her mouth with the long sleeve she was wearing under her sweater. ¡°Oh, chill the fuck out, Jill. You¡¯re acting like I¡¯ve committed a murder or something. Hehe.¡± The mischievous grin on her face and evil laugh didn¡¯t exactly ease Jillian¡¯s concerns at all. Jason looked around him as he stood outside his bedroom window. When the coast was clear, he quietly opened and slipped back into his room through the window. Mika dropped him off and he was hoping to get a small nap in before he had to leave to go take care of important matters. It wasn¡¯t until he was halfway through the window that he realized his room wasn¡¯t empty. His entire body froze when he saw his mother sitting on his bed, holding a screwdriver and looking very upset. Chapter 37: Hindsight Is 20-20 but Ignorance Mightéˆ¥æªe Been Bliss ¡°Jason... Where have you been?¡± Katia asked firmly, her mom voice kicking in. It had been so long since she used her tough tone he couldn¡¯t even remember the last time he heard it. Jason audibly swallowed, finishing his climb through the window. ¡°Mom, what are you¡ª¡± ¡°I asked you a question, Jason Alexander Merris! Where did you go?!¡± Her voice was loud and shrill, causing him to flinch slightly. Had his mom ever had to yell at him like this before? ¡°Uh, well I...¡± he stammered slightly, trying to come up with an explanation. He was so thrown off by his mother¡¯s anger he wasn¡¯t sure what to say. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about lying to me! You went to see that-that girl again, didn¡¯t you?!¡± Katia¡¯s voice was full of accusation. ¡°...That girl?¡± Jason felt a bit lost. Was she talking about Mika, or... ¡±Jillian!" Katia clarified sharply. He was genuinely surprised by this. The two had gotten super close just the day before. So, since when did Jillian become ¡®that girl¡¯? ¡°Mom, what are you trying to say?¡± His voice filled with uncertainty. Katia stood up, tears now streaming down her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t want you around that girl anymore. You almost died because of her! And now you¡¯re sneaking around behind my back. You don¡¯t trust me, you don¡¯t respect me, and you don¡¯t care about how I feel!¡± Her voice wavered with a mix of anger and sadness as she continued to sob. ¡°Mom, that¡¯s not true at all! You are the most important person in the world to me. It¡¯s not what you think. I...¡± Jason started, but his mom interrupted him. ¡°Then what is it, Jason? You lied to me. Saying you were going to rest and instead you sneak out! When did you stop trusting your own mother?¡± Katia¡¯s voice trembled with her question. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to lie to you!¡± he said loudly, his brow furrowing at the accusation. ¡°But you did. You¡¯re shutting me out of your life and trying to leave me behind. Do you even realize how scared I was when I found you on the floor yesterday, Jason? I thought I lost you. Just like I lost your father.¡± Her sobs grew more intense and distraught as she dropped the screwdriver and buried her face in her hands. ¡°M-mom... I¡¯m sorry,¡± he stammered, on the verge of breaking down himself, seeing his mother bawl her eyes out in front of him. ¡°Why does everyone I love leave me? Why am I the one that¡¯s left behind?¡± Katia¡¯s anguish washed over Jason like a tidal wave of sadness. And he quickly enveloped her in a tight hug, pulling her against his chest. ¡°Mom, I am so sorry. I never meant for you to feel this way. I¡¯ll never leave you alone like that. I won¡¯t let you feel that pain again, I swear it.¡± A few tears of his own finally spilled over his eyelids and trickled down his cheeks. The desire to protect his mother surged to new heights. Katia took several quick breaths, followed by a quiet whine muffled by his chest. ¡°...I¡¯m sorry¡ Jason... I¡¯m just scared,¡± she confessed, her voice shaky. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. I¡¯m right here, and I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± he reassured her, planting a gentle kiss on her head, trying to stay strong for her. Eventually, she wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him tightly, afraid he might disappear if she let go. Katia tried to suck in some air, but the amount of dust from his shirt made her start coughing. ¡°J-Jason,¡ why are you so dirty?¡± The momentary distraction at least took her mind off the subject for now. ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± Jason quickly wiped a tear from his eye. ¡°That¡¯s what I was trying to tell you, a¡ friend took me out to this place where you smash things for stress relief,¡± he said, a small smile crossing his face. She gave him a bewildered look at his words. ¡°Wait¡ so you didn¡¯t go see Jillian?¡± He shook his head in response. Her face flushed a bit; she had made such a big deal about him going to see Jillian, and now she felt so foolish. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I jumped to conclusions and didn¡¯t let you finish,¡± Katia apologized, lowering her head slightly. Jason let out a small sigh. ¡°Yeah, it seems like a common trend these days for me. But...¡± Jason hesitated, making Katia a little worried again. ¡°I want to see her again mom,¡± he admitted, making Katia frown. ¡°But, Jason¡,¡± she began, but it was finally his turn to interrupt. ¡°I will tell you everything, Mom. And if you still don¡¯t want me to see her after we¡¯re done, I promise I won¡¯t. I told you that you are the most important person in my life and I meant it.¡± The promise was a bit painful to make, but he¡¯d do anything and give up just about anything for his mom. Just like how Jillian felt, family always came first. Katia didn¡¯t have much of a choice anymore, so she nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay, sweetie, I will listen to what you have to say.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom. That¡¯s all I want.¡± Jason wasn¡¯t really sure if he was ready to let all this baggage out, but she already knew his darkest secret. And it was time that she knew the truth about the past. He had seen firsthand how his secrets were affecting her, and he couldn¡¯t bear to see her hurt anymore. His mom deserved happiness, even if she might be hurt when he tells her the truth. ¡°I love you, mom,¡± he said sweetly. ¡°I love you too, sweetheart,¡± she replied, giving him a tight hug before they left the room together. Katia thought the worst had come and gone. She believed she could relax and have a nice heart-to-heart with her son about everything. The hope was they could mend this small tear in their relationship and grow closer than ever. That unfortunately, wasn¡¯t the case. Instead, she found herself in a bit of a stupor. It all started when Jason and his mom moved into the kitchen and settled in at the table. He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for the delve into his painful past. First thing he brought up was when he got falsely accused of sexual harassment, prompting his mom to recall the incident. But when he dropped the bomb that the girl in question was none other than Jillian, the shock Katia felt was just the tip of the iceberg. Jason explained how it was mostly a misunderstanding and rumors had led to it getting out of hand. Jillian had never told anyone that he did, and denied ever being touched by him, but it didn¡¯t reverse the damage. He told his mother how after seeing how the incident affected her so much, that he promised he wouldn¡¯t burden her anymore. Especially since she was still grieving over dad¡¯s passing. So he did his very best to act like things were normal when he came home. When in fact his school life was far from normal or pleasant. It became clear to Katia that this story was far from over. Jason didn¡¯t want to delve too deep into the details, but it quickly became clear to Katia that school was more or less a nightmare for him. From frequent bullying and torment, to being ostracized by the other kids that feared they would be targets if they talked to him. Yet still, young Jason soldiered on, bearing the burden and keeping his pain hidden as best he could. His word¡¯s sparked Katia¡¯s memories of Jason coming home with bruises or his clothes torn. Yet those were the days that he seemed the happiest and seemed to smile a bit more than normal. Rather than prying, she tried to respect his privacy. Even when she did ask, he would smile and try to ease her fears. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯m fine.¡± or ¡°I¡¯m okay, mom, I promise.¡± Words that now felt so ominous and sad. But she desperately wanted to trust her son... so she did, hoping he would trust her as well if he ever needed her. Now, looking back, it all was so obvious that he was simply being strong for her and hiding his overwhelming pain. Katia could understand, at least somewhat, why Jason never opened up to her about the bullying. He inherited his father¡¯s protective, standalone nature, never wanting to burden others with his problems. Always willing to sacrifice his body to shield the ones he loved. It was all so clear to her now, Jason took after his father in more ways than she ever realized. Jason talked about how the bullying shaped his views on women to this very day. ¡°But why did the bullying make you hate women? Did they lower your self esteem that much?¡± Katia had to ask, but that was when he revealed the biggest shock of all. ¡°Well¡ It¡¯s because the bully that tormented me more than anyone, from freshman year till I graduated¡ was a girl.¡± Once again, she was left stunned in her seat. Her son, a boy who reached well over six feet tall in high school, had been bullied by a girl. ¡°A girl?!¡± Katia exclaimed, utterly shocked. Jason nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. He had mostly gotten over it by now, but it was still a little humiliating to talk about. However, he knew he still had to explain even more about it. ¡°The last thing I will say about highschool...¡± He took one last deep breath before coming out with it. ¡°...Is that Jillian was also that same bully.¡± Katia felt like she was going to be suddenly sick. The knots in her stomach tightened as she processed the implications of those words. She had unknowingly delivered her son into the hands of his former tormentor. Her lower lip trembled as it all sank in. Her best friend¡¯s daughter had caused her son four years of misery. ¡°D-does Ginny know about this? About what her daughter did?¡± she asked, taking in a shaky breath. Jason frowned and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think she knows much about what Jill was up to back then. Before we get into that, just let me say something first, okay?¡± he said, closing his eyes for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ve been holding onto my anger and frustration for so long. It became who I am. My entire identity has been this bubbling over rage, that refused to accept parts of who I truly am. I¡¯m just so tired of it all. When I saw Jillian again for the first time¡my first thought was that I could finally get my revenge and tell her off. Show her how much better I was than her and put her through the pain I did back then... And I did. Well, I tried. But even after I said some really awful things to her, it¡ it didn¡¯t make me feel any better. It actually made me feel worse,¡± Jason said with a scowl looking down at the table. Katia¡¯s expression darkened as she imagined what he might have said to Jillian after holding on to that pain for so long. As much as she couldn¡¯t picture her son being so crude, she could think of what might hurt the skinny red head the most. Jason paused his story, looking down at his hands clasped together on the table. ¡°I felt¡ this awful guilt when I saw just how much my words hurt her. His expression shifted into a deep frown, remembering the painful look on her face. Katia stared at her son in surprise. ¡°You felt guilty¡ for being mean to your past bully?¡± She was proud of his compassion but also confused; she wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d react the same way if she¡¯d been in his shoes. ¡°It¡¯s weird. I¡¯ve said worse things to other women before, but I never felt guilty or even thought twice about it. But when I saw her reaction¡ It was like she was used to the words, but she hadn¡¯t expected how much they hurt coming from me..,¡± he trailed off, struggling to put his feelings into words. ¡°And now it¡¯s even stranger. When we are together, whether we¡¯re just sitting and watching TV together or whatever, I feel this strange comfort and just¡ I dunno¡ Happy? It''s like I have this instinctual urge to be with her no matter how much we fight. I hate it when we do, but my feelings only seem to get stronger each time we come back together. It just doesn¡¯t add up. Am I doing something wrong? Is my brain broken?¡± Jason said, letting out a sigh. The desire to see Jillian welled up inside him just talking about her. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Looking at Jason with a strained expression, Katia still couldn¡¯t shake off the resentment she felt towards Jillian. It still felt like everything bad that had happened to her son was that girl¡¯s fault. The feeling of betrayal and disgust when it came to Ginny was even harder to ignore. How could her supposed best friend raise a daughter who would bully her son so badly? Her son who had just been trying to live his life back in school? Ginny still had a husband, multiple kids, parents that hadn¡¯t disowned her. She had everything Katia didn¡¯t. Yet her son was the one that got bullied? ¡°It¡¯s not fair¡It¡¯s not¡ fucking¡fair!¡± The jealous thoughts that bubbled up inside her blocked out almost every good thing Jason said about Jillian. She clenched her blouse tight in her fists, while her gaze dropped to the table. Renewed tears welled up again. Jason¡¯s voice barely reached her as he tried to talk to her. ¡°Mom, please, just say something,¡± he said, rubbing her back, trying to comfort her. ¡°Huh?¡± Katia said, snapping back to reality. She looked over at Jason for a moment, then quickly wiped her tears away and sniffed loudly. Jason let out a relieved sigh and pulled his chair closer to hers. ¡°I was worried when you suddenly stopped talking,¡± he said, his voice tinged with concern as he reached out and took her hands, giving them a firm squeeze. ¡°Are¡you alright?¡± He hoped to draw her attention back to him. ¡°I¡¯m okay, I just got a bit lost in my thoughts... But Jason¡¡± Katia looked into her son¡¯s eyes, her expression more serious now. ¡°Why her? There have to be plenty of other girls out there that didn¡¯t torture you in the past that are interested in you. Why Jillian? Why now? What led you to feel this way?¡± She truly hoped it wasn¡¯t because of sex. It was easy to see how her mistreated son would fall for the first girl he slept with. If that was the case, she would refuse to accept any relationship the two might have. He might hate her for it, but she couldn¡¯t accept such a reason. Jason paused for a long while, trying to think of a good way to put it. But eventually he realized there was no good way to put it. His relationship with Jillian wasn¡¯t easily explainable. ¡°I¡ I honestly don¡¯t know.¡± Jason stumbled over his words. Thoughts of the night he and Jillian fooled around came to mind and made his cheeks flush slightly. He knew it wasn¡¯t the reason he liked her, but it was very enjoyable. Katia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise at his flushed expression. ¡°Have you two had...¡± she started, but Jason quickly shook his head before his mom could finish her sentence. ¡°No, we haven¡¯t gone that far. But, uh...¡± He looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed to talk about this stuff with his mom. ¡°We¡¯ve done other stuff, like kissing and¡ stuff,¡± Jason said, looking away and clearing his throat. Katia had heard exactly what that ¡®stuff¡¯ was the other night. She was more surprised that they hadn¡¯t had sex yet. ¡°Was she withholding sex from him? Was she just stringing him along as a joke?¡± The suspicious thoughts came to her mind without prompting. They made her angry just thinking about it. ¡°So even with all the terrible things she¡¯s done do you...¡± she began, but then stopped herself, a more important question coming to mind. ¡°Jason, I need you to be completely honest with me, okay? I won¡¯t be mad, I promise. Are you only interested in her for her body?¡± Katia¡¯s question caught Jason off guard, and he felt a twinge of irritation. ¡°What? No, of course not, mom! That¡¯s not even remotely close to the truth. It honestly sounds a lot like what sparked our last fight,¡± Jason said a bit defensively. She looked a bit ashamed of herself for asking such a question, but she wanted to be sure it wasn¡¯t. It may have been easier if her son was only after looks. But that wasn¡¯t her son. ¡°I¡¯m attracted to her, yes, very much so. Flaws and all. But that¡¯s not the reason I¡¯ve been spending so much time with her lately¡ Really, it¡¯s just all these strange feelings that have been swirling around inside me. When she¡¯s happy, I feel happy. When she¡¯s sad or worried, I just want to hold her and tell her it¡¯s alright. She¡¯s smart, witty, adorable¡¡± Jason said nervously, biting his cheek before finally blurting out his feelings with one quick rip of the emotional bandage. ¡°I think I¡¯m falling in love with her, mom!¡± The words felt strange to him, like spoken in a foreign language. ¡°W-w-what? You¡¯re falling¡ in love?¡± she stammered, visibly stunned. ¡°Well, I mean, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m in love with her yet. Like I¡¯m not going out later to profess my love to her in some grand gesture. There¡¯s just this weird, overwhelming feeling I get whenever I think of her. Whenever I do, my heart beats faster and when she¡¯s not around, I can¡¯t help but miss her¡her humor, her sweetness, her touch. The feel of her body against mine¡¡± Jason paused for a moment to clear his throat. ¡°I uh, only really kinda came to terms with it earlier today, and I decided that I can accept this part of me. The part that can forgive her and let her into my life... It feels a bit cliche to say but, it¡¯s like finding a piece of myself that I didn¡¯t know was missing. For a decade, I had this dark void inside me that I thought was all my anger at her. The rage I felt when I remembered the things she did¡ Yet when I finally let her get close¡ she filled that void with feelings I couldn¡¯t even understand at first. It¡¯s like remembering that I don¡¯t have to keep being angry. Even after I gave up on my own happiness a long time ago.¡± Jason¡¯s words just seemed to keep flowing out of him without effort. Katia¡¯s heart ached hearing how he wasn¡¯t happy for so long. ¡°I really want to see where this goes, mom. But¡ I made a promise. If you really think it would be best for me to stay away. I will do my best to never see her again¡ You are and always will be my priority. Family means everything to Jillian as well, more than I can tell you in words. It¡¯s one of the things I really lov¡ like about her.¡± Katia clutched her knees, her body trembling slightly at Jason¡¯s sweet, yet painful words. Her son was ready to sacrifice it all, not just his possible first love, but his very happiness for her. Katia didn¡¯t know how she should feel about this. Jillian had seemed so sweet, but caused so much pain for both of them. Katia couldn¡¯t stop thinking about every day he would come home and just pretend everything was fine. When nothing was actually fine, nothing had ever been just fine. Deep down, she wanted her son to forget Jillian and stay by her side forever. Find a new girl she could wholeheartedly approve of¡ Yet, as she looked into his eyes, she could see the conflict within him. He loved his mother without a doubt, but he also yearned for this new experience with Jillian that was causing him so much distress, but also rare happiness. It obviously meant a lot to Jason, that much was clear. Sniffling back tears, she reached up and gave his hands a tight squeeze. ¡°Jason... I love you more than anything, here and beyond. You¡¯ll always be my little boy¡ And I know your father would¡¯ve been proud to see you move past this pain and accept her... I know he¡¯d give you a big hug and support you in whatever you decide.¡± Katia had to stop for a moment as she choked up thinking of her late husband. ¡°He would just be happy that you are happy. He would tell me to let you experience life and that I shouldn¡¯t coddle you¡ But he isn¡¯t here anymore and I don¡¯t have his strength, Jason,¡± her voice cracked slightly as she spoke through small sobs. Jason lowered his head and frowned, but nodded in understanding. His mom needed him, and he would be her support even if it meant he had to give up on Jillian and be that support. He would do it for her, so she didn¡¯t have to suffer more than she already had. Lord knew she has more than most already. ¡°I may not be strong, but what I want more than anything is for my son to be happy,¡± she continued, her tone calming slightly. ¡°And if she makes you happy Jason¡¡± He lifted his head, eyes wide with her words. ¡°Then you have my blessing, sweetheart.¡± Katia said, trying to give him the best smile she could. His jaw dropped in disbelief at his mother¡¯s words. ¡°Mom, really, if you need me then I will-,¡± Before he could finish, she gently placed her hand over his mouth. ¡°Jason... Please, don¡¯t try to talk me out of it. I can tell just how much you want this. Just¡please be happy¡ for me,¡± Katia whispered and removed her hand, while Jason had to chomp on the inside of his cheek harder than ever to keep his emotions in check. ¡°This doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t care about you mom. I¡¯ll always love you and do anything for you. I mean anything, mom, all you have to do is ask. You know that right?¡±he said, like he was still trying to talk her into it. He squeezed her hands tightly. She weakly smiled back at him. ¡°I know, sweetie... Now, go. I¡¯ll be okay,¡± she said before he leaned in to kiss her cheek. ¡°No more secrets between us. I will tell you everything I can. Promise. I love you, mom,¡± he repeated, and her smile grew slightly. ¡°I love you too, sweetheart. Go on now, go find your happiness.¡± With a nod and a smile, Jason got up and hurried to his room. He grabbed his phone and wallet, no longer needing that nap. He felt more energized than ever before. He left his room and headed back to the front. Glancing over at his mom at the kitchen table from the living room, he gave her a smile. Katia smiled back and waved goodbye as he grabbed his keys ¡°Love you mom, I will be back.¡± With those words he turned and left his childhood home. Once her son was out the door, Katia¡¯s smile faded almost instantly. She sat at the table, lost in thought for a long while, before finally reaching for her phone. With a sigh, she texted a brief message to Ginny. ¡°We need to chat soon.¡± After hitting send, the silence in the room felt oppressive as she sat there, the thoughts of her past actions and inactions weighing down on her. Jason got into his car and as soon as he closed his door, he couldn¡¯t help but notice a not-so-pleasant scent of dirt and sweat lingering around him. He grumbled to himself for not taking a quick shower before he left. ¡°Too late now.¡± At least he knew where he was headed. Not far into town, he approached his destination. The parking around the tattoo parlor was full, so he settled for a spot a few blocks away. He hopped out of the car and ran down the sidewalk, like he was on a mission. The moment he stepped into the parlor, he felt every single pair of free eyes land on him. There were people with tattoos and piercings covering nearly every inch of their skin, from the die-hards to the casual enthusiasts. And then there was Jason, a blank canvas untouched by ink or needle. His clean-cut appearance and simple tank top and jeans stood out like a sore thumb compared to the surrounding people. ¡°The Abercrombie store is the next town over, dude,¡± cracked one young guy, who looked barely old enough to get a tattoo without his mommy saying it was okay. Yet he already had a face full of tattoos and oversized ear gauges. He laughed like his joke was hilarious, but it fell flat with basically everyone else. ¡°Welcome, what can I help you with today¡ª Hey, where are you going?¡± Jerry asked, puzzled, as Jason walked past the waiting area toward the back. ¡°Mick!¡± he called out, grabbing a bat from behind the counter and hurrying after Jason. Just as he reached the stairs, Mika emerged from one of the booths, holding out a hand to halt Jason. ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re headed?¡± she asked, not surprised to see him at all. ¡°Where does it look like, Mika?¡± Jason said with a sigh, frowning. ¡°Well, what if I told you, you might not like what you see up there?¡± she said, rather seriously. Jason raised a brow at her, then swiftly turned and disarmed Jerry, snatching the bat from his hands just as it came swinging down. Jerry¡¯s eyes widened in shock as Jason yanked the bat from his hands. He towered over Jerry, who was noticeably shorter and rounder. Jason couldn¡¯t help but tease his would-be assailant. ¡°You can¡¯t sneak up on anyone when you jingle like a Christmas elf.¡± Jerry¡¯s piercings had made a soft jingling sound with each step that gave away his approach. ¡°Relax, Jerry, he¡¯s with me¡for now.¡± Mika reassured, taking the bat from Jason and tossing it back to Jerry. He clumsily caught it, then hastily made his way back to the front desk. Ignoring the interruption, Jason resumed his conversation with her. ¡°So, what do you mean I won¡¯t like what I see?¡± he said, to which she only shrugged, nonchalantly listing off a few possibilities. ¡°I mean just what I said. Perhaps you won¡¯t find just Jill up there. Maybe she¡¯s moved on. Maybe some guy was flirting with her and she took the chance. Maybe she has even become some hideous swamp creature. Who knows?¡± Jason¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even more. He knew there was no way any of that was possible. If what Jillian had told him that night was true, at least. ¡°Well, even so, I still want to talk to her.¡± Still, his jaw clenched just thinking about some of the options she listed. Mika let out a slight huff. ¡°Oh? Well by ¡®talk¡¯, do you actually mean to yell and argue?¡± she asked, her arms now folded across her chest. ¡°No, I mean what I said. I want to talk,¡± he replied with a huff of his own, already tired of getting the strong arm from her. She was silent for a long moment, glaring into his eyes harshly. Jason met hers with all the seriousness he could muster before Mika spoke again. ¡°Fine, you can go up. But if I hear any shouting, I¡¯m coming up there with the bat myself,¡± she warned, but Jason simply rolled his eyes at her threat, having heard it all before. ¡°And don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you if you don¡¯t like what you see,¡± Mika added before stepping aside to let Jason through. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take my chances, thanks,¡± he added before slowly ascending the stairs. Jason really tried not to let Mika¡¯s words bother him, but it was rough putting the image out of his head. What if she was with someone else already? The thought made his heart throb painfully. He had to stop at the top of the stairs to breathe, his heart was pounding in his ears. The image of someone else swooping in while she was vulnerable¡the thought of someone other than him holding her and kissing her made his blood boil. Unable to resist the temptation, he pressed his ear against the door, trying to separate the noise from the shop below from what he heard inside the apartment. Sure enough, there it was, another man¡¯s voice, lower and kinda sensual. His heart sank. Had Mika really been telling the truth, was he too late? There was no way. But when he heard a girlish giggle, he quietly stepped away from the door. Jason¡¯s hands balled up into tight fists of frustration, his jaw clenched from the pressure. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down and weigh his choices. Option one: Wait here until someone comes out and confront them. Option two: Give up, head home, and focus on his mom. Option three: Burst in and confront whoever was in the room. Or four: Angrily pound on the door until someone opens then probably get in a shouting match, thus gaining the ire of the beast known as Mika. He quickly scratched that last one. Getting angry had solved nothing so far, so he refused to entertain it again. Finally willing to learn from his past mistakes for once. It only took a second before he made up his mind. He couldn¡¯t just walk away. Not without talking to Jillian. Just as well, waiting out here while whatever happened inside happened felt way too awkward. So he summoned his courage, gripped the doorknob and pushed the door open quickly before rushing in. ¡°Jillian, I need to talk¡ª¡± His words died in his throat as he was met with a horrifying sight. Chapter 38: The Future Can Wait For the Present. Jillian was sitting on the couch, totally immersed in her own world when suddenly her name echoed through the room like a thunderclap. ¡°Ah!¡± she squeaked in surprise, quickly turning around to see who the hell was shouting. And there, standing by the doorway, was Jason in all his glory. Her eyes widened in shock at his sudden appearance. Meanwhile, the TV was blaring some low-budget horror movie with a couple making out in the stupidest place imaginable, while ominous music played in the background. Jason¡¯s expression was a mix of horror and confusion as he took in Jillian¡¯s appearance. Her hair was haphazardly tied up, chocolate ice cream smeared all over her lips, wearing an exfoliating face mask that made her look like a wrinkled ghost and her eyes were red from the tears she¡¯d shed. Jillian stared back at Jason, still processing the situation, when screams erupted from the TV as the guy got stabbed by some costumed serial killer. Jillian¡¯s attention was diverted from Jason to the sound of the horror film she had on, but she quickly scrambled for the remote and switched it off. She slammed the tub of Rocky Road ice cream on the table in her haste and glanced back at Jason, who was shutting the door behind him, but hesitated coming in further. ¡°J-Jason, w-what are you doing here?¡± she asked, surprised and confused. Wrapping her blanket around herself a bit tighter, she stood up to face him. Jason stuttered slightly, trying to find the right words but struggled to concentrate. ¡°Uh, well, I came here to... talk to you and¡,¡± he trailed off, unable to articulate his thoughts properly. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s really hard to have a serious conversation when...you uhh, you know, look like that,¡± he said, gesturing awkwardly at her. Jillian gave him a puzzled look, waiting for an explanation. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Are you really trying to insul-...?¡± Jillian said, about to get upset at him for possibly coming all the way here to rub salt in the wound. But it slowly sank in what Jason was trying to say when he motioned to his own face. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± she turned and dashed into the bathroom slamming the door behind her. ¡°Just give me just a minute, please!¡± she called out as she rushed to the sink mirror to check herself out. ¡°Y-yeah, no problem. Take your time,¡± he responded. The wrinkly face mask and chocolate smudges around her mouth were quite a sight combined with her hair that was a barely contained disaster. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I look like a soggy scarecrow demon that¡¯s been eating mud,¡± she grumbled to herself. Amidst her worries about how she looked, she glanced back at the door and wondered why Jason was even here. Mika had been overly tight-lipped about her morning activities, heading straight to work after returning home and getting settled. Jillian was completely in the dark about what was going on, just hoping that her friend hadn¡¯t murdered anyone. Jillian took off the mask and washed her face with some facial scrub in record time. She let her hair loose from its ponytail and used a comb to tame the mop of knotted curls. Her teeth clenched as it got stuck on a few knots, yanking her hair hard. Followed up by using some convenient eye drops that were almost empty to soothe her raw red eyes. What felt like a minute to her turned out to be fifteen in reality as she primped herself to look presentable. Still in her underwear, she wrapped the blanket around herself and quietly stepped out. Jason was leaning against the wall near the door. He didn¡¯t seem happy at all. In fact, he appeared quite upset, with the same familiar sad puppy look that always tugged at her heartstrings. She tried to calm the heavy thumping in her chest as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it. The sound caught Jason¡¯s attention, and he looked up at her. Without the stuff on her face, he had no trouble meeting her gaze. ¡°H-hi...¡± Jillian started softly. ¡°Hey...¡± Jason continued, and they lapsed into a long silence, just staring at each other, almost like a silent standoff to see who would break eye contact first. ¡°I want to¡ª¡± they both started simultaneously, then paused, realizing they had said the same thing at the same time. After a small pause, the two laughed a little at the awkward moment, but it helped ease some tension. ¡°Sorry, go ahead,¡± Jason said, motioning for Jillian to speak first. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, you came all the way here, please you first,¡± Jillian insisted, trying to be polite. After a moment, Jason nodded and began. ¡°I just wanted to apologize for the other day and clarify what I was trying to say.¡± Jillian frowned slightly at the apology. ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who should be sorry. I didn¡¯t let you finish, and let my own insecurities get the better of me. I said something hurtful I knew wasn¡¯t true.¡± They exchanged apologies, each eager to make amends now that they were calm and actually thinking properly. They both pushed off their respective walls they were leaning against and moved a little closer until they were just a few feet apart. Jillian had to tilt her head back to look at him, while Jason had to look down to meet her gaze. ¡°We both screwed up in our own ways,¡± he suggested, and she hesitantly nodded. ¡°I-I suppose,¡± her voice was a bit timid. ¡°How have you been?¡± Jason asked, glancing over at the sofa where there were several balls of used tissues, pillows, and a tub of ice cream melting on the table. Jillian blushed slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around her and feeling embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ve been... okay. Not great, but surviving. What about you?¡± she asked in return. Jason shrugged slightly. ¡°About the same. I actually just got out of the hospital this morning.¡± Jillian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What?! Why were you in the hospital? Did you hurt yourself? Did Mika hurt you?¡± She gave him a quick once-over. Grabbing his arm and lifting it, she examined the small scrapes and bandages all over his arms. She was expecting some obvious injury, but she found nothing major. The sensation of her soft hand on his skin was like a cool drink of water after being stuck in the desert for several days. He had to push away the thoughts of what it would be like to be without for even longer. ¡°Long story short, the doctor thinks there might be something up with my heart. I kinda, sorta¡ passed out right after you left,¡± he explained. Her expression shifted to one of horror. ¡°Oh god¡ did I cause-¡° Jason cut her off, raising a hand before she could finish. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not your fault. Not entirely, at least.¡± He didn''t want her to feel bad but still wanted to be honest with her. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just one thing. It was a combination. But there might be a deeper issue with my heart, according to the doctor.¡± Jillian still felt guilty about him passing out because of the stress she had helped cause. She wanted to ask him more, but she didn¡¯t want to risk upsetting him further. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Jason¡ I never wanted to hurt you, I wish I could take everything back¡ If I had refused harder to come to dinner that night¡God I¡¯m going to be the death of you, I just know it,¡± she murmured, looking down at the floor. But Jason¡¯s hand was suddenly under her chin and lifted her gaze back up to meet his. ¡°I don¡¯t wish that at all... Even if it¡¯s been painful, I wouldn¡¯t want to go back to who I was before we reunited,¡± he whispered to her. Though she still felt a bit down, she gave him a shy smile, her cheeks warming from his touch and sweet words. His hand slowly moved away from her chin. ¡°What are you going to do about your heart?¡± ¡°When I¡¯m back in Florida, I¡¯ll see my regular doctor and get a referral to a cardiologist to figure things out.¡± Jillian nodded, but her expression was still filled with concern. ¡°But you¡¯re feeling okay for now?¡± she asked, still not entirely convinced. Jason chuckled softly. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m alright. It¡¯s just something I need to get checked out later,¡± he reassured her. She nodded again, though a bit timidly this time. ¡°Speaking of Florida...¡± Jason began, capturing her full attention once more. ¡°Um, well... there¡¯s something I wanted to ask you...¡± He hesitated, his nerves evident as he glanced away several times, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°O-okay?¡± Jill said, a little nervous about just what he was about to ask her. ¡°Jill, I¡¯m pretty much new to...well, all of this, and I¡¯m not sure how things are going to turn out over the distance. But there¡¯s something I have to say. I¡¯ve been trying my hardest to work up the courage¡,¡± he skirted around the issue, avoiding directly expressing his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s only been a week or so, but we¡¯ve known each other since high school, even though those days weren¡¯t really¡ª¡± ¡°Jason¡ Please, just say it,¡± Jillian interrupted, her face flushed a deep red as she felt her heart racing in her chest. Jason finally caught onto her expression, which was a blend of impatience and embarrassment, with a spark of excitement. He took a moment, then took a deep breath. ¡°Jillian, would you go out with me? Even if it means we¡¯ll have to do the long-distance thing for a bit? I swear I¡¯ll come back as often as possible, or fly you out, and I¡¯ll make sure to call or text you all the time,¡± he blurted out in one breath. Who knew asking someone out could feel like such a marathon? Jillian couldn¡¯t believe her ears. ¡°That¡¯s funny, I could have sworn I just heard you ask me out?¡± she chuckled, unsure if she heard correctly. Jason rolled his eyes in response. ¡°Come on, Jillian quit joking around. Just give me a yes or no, or tell me if you need more time or something,¡± he urged. But before he could continue, Jillian reached up and tugged on his nose. ¡°Ouch! What was that for?¡± Jason protested, swatting her hand away. ¡°Oh wow, it really is you,¡± Jillian exclaimed, looking surprised. ¡°I¡¯m not a fucking Scooby Doo villain. Look, if you¡¯re just going to tease me, then I¡¯ll leave,¡± Jason threatened, rubbing his nose and crossing his arms. ¡°No, no, no, don¡¯t go. I¡¯m just making sure I¡¯m not stuck in some bizarre dream from eating too much ice cream and slipping into a coma,¡± Jillian said, sounding serious for a moment before getting distracted.¡°By the way, I¡¯m mildly allergic to certain nuts, but I still love Rocky Road.¡± Jason sighed heavily, feeling frustrated as he realized his efforts were going nowhere. ¡°I wasn¡¯t prepared before, but give it another shot. I¡¯m totally ready this time!¡± She flashed a cute smile as she spoke, eager for another try. Jason sighed heavily, looking at the floor. ¡°Alright fine, Jillian, would you go¡ª¡± ¡°Yes!¡± she interrupted him again with a yell, throwing off the blanket to reveal her underwear-clad form. With an impressive leap, she launched herself at him, catching him off guard. He barely managed to catch her, his hands gripping onto her thighs. Before he knew it, he was face to face with the grinning redhead, the scent of chocolate still lingering on her breath. ¡°Really?¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, taken aback by the enthusiastic response. ¡°Yeah, really! I can¡¯t believe you actually asked me out! I was almost convinced I¡¯d have to... you know what, never mind. I¡¯m so proud of you!¡± she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a deep passionate kiss on him. The intensity of the kiss caught him off guard, causing him to stumble back against the wall. Their lips locked in a powerful embrace for several long moments before they finally broke apart with a loud pop. She grinned at him, but her expression suddenly shifted. ¡°Oh, wait, are you supposed to be avoiding heavy lifting with your heart?¡± she started squirming in his arms, trying to get him to let her down. Jason¡¯s hands gripped her thighs firmly. ¡°Haha, I wouldn¡¯t really call you heavy lifting, but even if I wasn¡¯t supposed to, there is no chance I am putting you down right now,¡± he said, smiling brightly at her. Jillian let out a small giggle, then nuzzled her nose against his, their lips meeting repeatedly as they closed their eyes, lost in each other¡¯s affection. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason,¡± she murmured before leaning in for another kiss. ¡°Hmm, for what?¡± he asked, unsure of what she meant. ¡°I know you..¡± she paused, leaning in to kiss him again. ¡°..Don¡¯t just want me for my body,¡± Their tongues intertwined in a passionate struggle. ¡°Ah-...It was just me being scared,¡± she confessed after a desperate gasp as he softly bit her lip. Jason released Jillian¡¯s lower lip from his teasing bite, then sucked on it softly, releasing it before speaking. ¡°I know, Jill. I was scared too. Scared of not being able to handle being apart from you, afraid that I would screw up and lose you,¡± he confessed to her. Jillian tilted her head, diving in for the deepest kiss yet, their tongues intertwining again. It seemed their conversation was more revolving around kissing and teasing each other than talking. ¡°I know, baby. It¡¯s gonna be tough, but we¡¯ll manage, I promise. Ah- Oh god, just like that,¡± she moaned, going back to using pet names as Jason kissed and nibbled below her ear.¡°We just have to make every moment count until then. Jason¡ baby, you¡¯re going to drive me crazy if you keep doing that.¡± she whimpered as he fervently explored her sensitive neck. ¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± he groaned, his hands moving to firmly grip her bountiful ass cheeks. ¡°You taste amazing,¡± he admitted, unable to resist the temptation. ¡°Ngh, then do it baby, drive me crazy for you!¡± Jillian gasped, feeling the heat spread through her body with every kiss, suck, and bite. She pulled Jason closer, her arms squeezing his neck, wanting more and more. Hips unconsciously moved the best they could to grind her crotch against him. Suddenly, Jason¡¯s lips sucked hard, his teeth sinking into her neck. ¡°Ah! Jason, w-wait!¡± Jillian groaned out her words in intense pleasure as her legs tightened around him, her body not actually wanting him to stop. Jason pulled back, his hot breath blowing against her now moist skin. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, pulling back slowly, confused by her sudden request to stop. Jillian chuckled softly, trying to rein herself in. burying her face into his neck as she recovered. ¡°Fuck, you might¡¯ve just given me quite the hickey. My skin bruises pretty easily,¡± she told Jason, legs still wrapped tight around him. ¡°Oh shit, really?¡± Jason replied, a hint of concern in his voice. ¡°Mmmhmm, but it¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t really mind, it was worth it. Just hope my dad doesn¡¯t see it,¡± she giggled. Playfully she dove into his neck and sucked and bit on it even harder than he did. ¡°Youch!¡± he said, trying to enjoy it, but it wasn¡¯t quite his thing. Her lips and teeth popped off his neck as she leaned back in his arms. ¡°There, we match,¡± she said with a grin. Jason chuckled a little and nodded. ¡°I guess it¡¯s only fair.¡± After a few more moments of tender kisses, Jillian leaned her forehead against his, their noses and lips barely touching as they closed their eyes, content to bask in the moment between the two of them. Their cozy moment together was suddenly interrupted, however, by the creak of the apartment door swinging open. The couple, resting against the wall nearby, each turned their heads to look at the newcomer. ¡°Hey Jill, Mick mentioned you wanted to... chat...¡± A strikingly handsome man with a lean yet muscular build said as he walked in. Standing at least six feet tall, he sported a sleeve of colorful koi fish tattoos on his left arm and two sizable spikes piercing each earlobe. His hair was shaved on the sides, leaving a long, dark blue mohawk cascading down to one side, grazing his shoulder. A few names in fancy cursive adorned the left side of his head. His gaze quickly landed on the pair locked in each other¡¯s arms against the wall. ¡°Oh, um, hey Jill. Mick said you needed to tell me something?¡± The guy with the mohawk questioned, eyeing the two of them back and forth. Jason quickly turned a bit to hide Jillian¡¯s body from his prying eyes. Jillian gave the new man a small glare. It seemed her supposed best friend was intent on testing her and Jason¡¯s relationship. ¡°Uhhhh, no, can¡¯t say I need to tell you anything. Tell Mika she can relax and that I''m just fine. Sorry you got roped into this Darren,¡± Jill said, surprising Jason, who watched as the guy just nodded, seemingly unphased, understanding the situation quickly. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like Mick being Mick, I think she just wanted to check up on you without seeming like she was,¡± Darren whispered loudly. ¡°My bad for interrupting, dude. Please resume,¡± Darren said, about to leave, when a voice yelled from downstairs. ¡°Stay the fuck outta my room!¡± Mika¡¯s warning rang out. Darren chuckled, gave a quick salute, then closed the door behind him, leaving them alone again. Jason gently set Jill back on the ground, but she kept her arms around him, just falling to wrap around his waist instead. ¡°We should talk a little first,¡± Jason suggested, but Jillian didn¡¯t seem too thrilled about it. ¡°Talk,¡± she groaned, sounding a bit whiny. ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like talking. Can¡¯t we just be happy with kissing and cuddling more? Why mess with a good thing?¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Jason chuckled at Jillian¡¯s reluctance. He could see the worry in her eyes. ¡°Sure, but I think it¡¯s important to clear up some stuff before we dive back into that,¡± he said gently, reaching up to run his hands through her hair, giving her a little scalp massage. She closed her eyes halfway, enjoying the sensation as she let out what almost sounded like a purr. ¡°Hrrrmm, fine, I guess,¡± she grumbled. Jason removed his hands from her hair. And Jillian pulled him over to the couch where she was sitting earlier. ¡°Hang tight for a sec. Gotta stash the ice cream. Want something to drink?¡± Jillian asked, sealing up the slowly melting tub of ice cream. ¡°Water would be great, thank you¡± Jason replied with a grin as he settled into his seat. Jillian nodded and headed over to the bar¡¯s freezer chest to put away the tub. She grabbed a bottle of water from a little fridge, cracked it open, took a swig, and then walked back and handed it to him. It was a bit unusual for Jason to drink from the same bottle anyone else had drank from. Normally, he was pretty particular about not sharing. But it was easily let go with her after all the kissing they¡¯d just done. Instead of sitting down with Jason just yet, Jillian hurriedly grabbed the blanket she had tossed aside and wrapped it around her mostly naked body. She shivered a bit from the cold now that she wasn¡¯t pressed against Jason. Eventually moving over to the couch, she quickly climbed up next to him and snuggled up close. ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡± she asked, though she felt a little anxious about what he wanted to talk about. He played with the water bottle for a moment before glancing over at her. It had been just over a day since they last saw each other, but he couldn¡¯t keep his feelings bottled up any longer. ¡°I missed you,¡± he confessed, as their eyes met again. Jillian¡¯s face lit up with a faint blush. ¡°Aw, I missed you too,¡± she said softly, a gentle smile on her lips. Her arms emerged from her blanket, wrapping around his arm and pulling it tight against her, landing his hand between her thighs. Jason returned her smile. The warmth and softness of her body felt amazing. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯ll cope with being apart after this week ends,¡± he admitted, his voice tinged with nervousness. Jillian nodded sympathetically. ¡°Yeah¡ me too. I wish you could stay longer, but I know you¡¯ve got work and the majority of your life is in Florida.¡± ¡°I wish you could come with me,¡± Jason added, ¡°but I know it¡¯s too soon to move in together, and I wouldn¡¯t want to take you away from your family.¡± Jillian listened patiently before responding. ¡°Yeah... I¡¯m not quite ready to leave them just yet. But that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t visit you. I love the ocean, and the warmer weather sounds nice,¡± Jillian said with a smile. ¡°Yeah, and I¡¯ll come back and visit here when I can. I stayed away for so long because I was afraid of my past. But I can¡¯t leave my mom alone for so long again. It probably won¡¯t be week-long trips for a while, but I could probably do weekend visits from time to time,¡± she giggled slightly at that statement. ¡°You¡¯re gonna fly from Florida to here just for a day and a half, then fly back? He shrugged a little at her observation. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes, then that¡¯s what it takes,¡± Jason said as the two continued to talk about how they¡¯d manage their long-distance relationship. Jillian could feel her cheeks warming at how seriously her new boyfriend was taking all of this. How much effort he was showing just to see her made her stomach flutter. She¡¯d never had a guy go to such lengths for her, and technically for his mom too, but still. It all made her feel so warm and fuzzy, she nuzzled her cheek against his arm. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to go that far, Jase. I appreciate the thought, but if you just shoot me a text now and then, maybe call me before bed a few times. Perhaps video chat sometimes. I will be happy.¡± She smiled sweetly at him. ¡°Sorry if I¡¯m overreacting a bit. I just don¡¯t wanna mess things up. You¡¯re my first girlfriend, Jill¡ and I would like it if you were the only one I ever have.¡± When he called her his girlfriend and implied something even more serious, her heart did a little flip. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I promise. I don¡¯t want you to bend over backward just to make me happy. I¡¯m already very happy. Just promise you¡¯ll be honest and kind to me, and I¡¯ll be loyal.¡± Her voice softened as she spoke. ¡°And all yours forever,¡± Jillian murmured as she slowly slid herself onto Jason¡¯s lap, pulling the blanket snugly around her shoulders. She snuggled against his chest, running her hands up it as she dragged her nails along. ¡°I want to make you happy,¡± she added, her voice soft and alluring. Jason¡¯s arms loosely snaked around her back, under the blanket, and rubbed softly. Jillian eventually looked up and their gazes locked intensely as she moved up his body. ¡°Care for you,¡± she whispered, her warm breath now teasing his lips, now only mere inches apart. ¡°Hold you,¡± she continued, her words barely a whisper as her lips almost brushed against his. ¡°And kiss you.¡± With that, their lips met once more, bodies pressed together as the blanket slipped away. Their kiss deepened quickly, lost in the heat of the moment, Jason¡¯s arms were wrapped around her tight. They kissed for several long minutes, completely lost in their own little world. Jason¡¯s hand slid up her back until he found the strap of her bra. He played around with it for a bit, exploring its design, while their tongues swirled around each other. Just as Jillian was about to reach back and unhook it herself, Jason beat her to it. With a quick flick of his fingers, he unlatched her bra. Jillian suddenly pulled back from the kiss, looking at him in surprise. ¡°How did you...?¡± she started, suspiciously. ¡°What? It¡¯s not rocket science. It¡¯s just two hooks on a strap. I just slid one side against the other,¡± he explained, giving her a confused look, more wondering why she pulled away from their kiss than anything. She gave him a narrowed look, shook her head, and promptly let it go. Jillian swiftly slid off her bra, revealing her modest chest once again to Jason. Tossing the bra aside, she felt a slight surprise as Jason leaned in to kiss her collarbone. ¡°Mmmm,¡± she giggled at the sensation of his lips on her skin, her breathing quickening as he moved lower. She had to lean back a bit to accommodate Jason¡¯s height. Suddenly, she reached over, grabbed the remote, and turned the TV back on. She quickly found a music channel playing soft R&B and turned up the volume to drown out any other noises that might draw attention. Just in time as she let out a sharp gasp as his lips found an excited hard nipple. They were a bit raw and overly sensitive after running in the fancy bra he just removed. Jillian¡¯s hands twitched, moving her hands to hold the back of his head. Jason¡¯s arms that were wrapped around her kept her close as he sucked on the lovely pink nub, getting a little rough. ¡°Nnngh, Jason, not so, Ahh!¡± She let out a small yelp as his teeth grazed along her nipple. She shivered and her fist clenched in his hair, tugging it a little harder than intended. To her surprise, he didn¡¯t linger too long, pulling away with an audible pop. Gasping for air, she loosened her grip on his hair as her whole body felt limp. When he looked up at her, she leaned in for another deep kiss, their lips smacking together loudly. Her nails lightly scratched his scalp as they kissed, the sound of their lips and heavy breathing blending in with the music. When they finally pulled away from each other, Jillian whispered softly to Jason. ¡°Jase, please. I don¡¯t think I can wait any longer. I need you inside me, baby. Don¡¯t make me beg,¡± she moaned greedily, flicking his lips with her tongue. Jason hesitated for a moment before he nodded in agreement at last. Jillian had been feeling his erection long pressing against his jeans and her butt, knowing he must be uncomfortable. Unable or unwilling to hide the wide smile on her face, she got up from his lap and gestured for him to stand as well. Curious, he quickly stood up as she wanted. Jillian gave him a reassuring smile and gently placed her hands on his chest. ¡°I¡¯ve got you, Jase. If anything feels off, just tell me, okay? I want to make your first the best experience possible.¡± Jason wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about being fussed over, but he knew she meant well. So he simply nodded in response as she swiftly tugged his plain T-shirt upwards. She managed to get it most of the way off before Jason had to take over and pull it off the rest. Meanwhile, she quickly unbuttoned his pants. His stomach churned a bit, but her fingers moved expertly, and soon her fingers slid under his waistband, easing both his pants and underwear down. Jason¡¯s hefty cock sprung free as his pants slipped past his thighs. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but giggle as she caught sight of it. Her mouth watered and her body shook slightly with excitement, a clear sign that she very much liked what she saw. With a grin, she let his pants and underwear drop to the floor, and then he stepped out of the pile of clothes along with his shoes, leaving him fully naked. Jillian pulled her eyes away from his crotch to beam up at him before turning around and making her way to the couch, pulling at the bottom like a futon to transform it into a makeshift bed. His heart raced at the sight, a flurry of images filling his mind. Almost as if on cue, Jillian climbed onto the makeshift bed on all fours, presenting her plump round behind to him. ¡°You can keep undressing me too if you¡¯d like,¡± she purred, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, reaching back and grabbing one of her cheeks, spreading herself for his eyes only. Jason¡¯s erection noticeably twitched at her actions. His own mouth watered as he nodded to her dumbly. As he got closer, he kneeled down and reached out with both hands and gently hooked his fingers on the lacy black panties that hugged her generously wide hips. Slowly pulling them down, a strand of her sweet, sticky essence clung to the fabric. Her lightly freckled, plump, pale lips, that barely concealed the delicate pink folds that were nestled within, were revealed to him. With her small button peeking out at the bottom and a small patch of regrowing orange hair. Jason swallowed hard as he felt a rush of anticipation at the sight of her panties slipped down and pooled by her knees. Jillian maneuvered her legs out of the panties and spread her legs a bit more. Her soaked inner labia revealed themselves to him even more. She kept her eyes on him the whole time, body shaking slightly in excitement. The feel of his hungry eyes on her most private of areas made her bite her lip. ¡°Does it look alright to you?¡± It was the first time he had such an intimate view of her pussy in the light. She couldn¡¯t help but worry if he liked what he saw, though the way he was almost drooling as he stared was a good sign. Jason nodded dumbly, his jaw a bit slack. A relieved, happy expression spread across Jillian¡¯s face. ¡°Wow,¡± he murmured, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s beautiful,¡± he finally managed to say. The genuine compliment made her grin widen and her cheeks flush. ¡°It¡¯s all yours, Jase,¡± she said in a breathy voice, as he kneeled there, somewhat rudely staring. She couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly at his dazed expression. She eventually turned and sat down, crossing her legs and leaning back, propping herself up on her arms. Jason snapped out of his trance, meeting her gaze again. ¡°Well, are you just going to stare, or are you going to tell me what you want to do with me?¡± she teased playfully, her crossed leg bouncing softly as it rested on her knee. His face turned a little red at her comment, realizing he had been stuck just staring at her for god knows how long. ¡°Sorry, I got a bit carried away. Um, what do you suggest?¡± He asked, almost as if he were asking for a recommendation at a restaurant, earning another laugh from her. ¡°Haha, relax, Jase. Trust me, I''m sure anything you say will be good. But I want another kiss first.¡± Jillian grinned, leaning forward and opening her arms for him. Jason nodded, leaning in to meet her halfway, wrapping his arms around her as their lips came back together. She lovingly wrapped her arms around his neck. Pulling him deeper into the kiss, she scooted back so he could get up on the folded-out couch. When Jillian was laying back he used his forearms to avoid putting too much weight on her. She lifted her legs, and wrapped them around his hips, urging him closer. Before Jason even realized it, he found himself pressed against her. Amidst the kisses and the newfound closeness, he had been simply enjoying the moment. Jillian¡¯s hand slid from his neck, down his side, and between them. Her fingers carefully wrapped around the girth of his cock. Her delicate digits tugged and rubbed along his shaft. His whole body tensed up at the sensation, but he relaxed as he accepted it and continued kissing. His body responded naturally by thrusting forward. Jillian guided his dick towards her already soaked and waiting pussy. As he felt the sensitive head of his erection glide along between her valley, he couldn¡¯t help but shiver with pleasure. The anticipation made him throb in her hand, and he knew he couldn¡¯t resist much longer. Jason pulled back from the kiss, gazing into her eyes. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked sweetly. Jillian smiled and couldn¡¯t help but giggle a bit. ¡°I¡¯ve been ready for a while now, but thank you, baby,¡± she replied, moving a hand up to caress his cheek, which had a rather thick stubble on it now. His caring demeanor when they were intimate always warmed her heart as he gave her lips another gentle peck. Adjusting their position slightly, Jillian¡¯s hand stroked his firm shaft tenderly, making his tip run up and down between her Labia. ¡°I want you, Jason.¡± she moaned out, her nails lightly trailing down his face and neck to his chest. Jason pulled back slightly, she looked at him oddly. ¡°I want to make love to you, Jill. I want to claim you for myself in every way,¡± Jason said as softly as he could before he pressed forward. Jillian¡¯s face flushed with his words, smiling up at him. With her hand guiding him, he felt the pressure of his tip against her slick and soft entrance. Jillian let out a gasp and clenched her teeth. Wrapping her free arm around him suddenly, she dug her nails into his back, whimpering as her pussy was split wide open. Jason winced in pain but kept pushing forward, feeling like he couldn¡¯t quite make his cock fit. When he stopped, Jillian urged him on despite the pain, ¡°Please don¡¯t stop, it¡¯ll fit, just¡ keep pushing!¡± she moaned loudly, gasping for breath. After her plea she let out a small squeak as his dick slipped upward, accidentally hitting her clit. ¡°Sorry, it slipped out,¡± Jason apologized. Jillian took a moment to catch her breath. "It¡¯s okay, really." Jillian reassured him. ¡°But thanks for taking it slow. You¡¯re fucking huge, and I¡¯m smaller than most. So it might take me some time to get used to your dick, but I don¡¯t want to give up. I will be your first Jason, I swear,¡± she said earnestly, looking into his eyes with a fiery passion. Jason simply nodded at the woman below him. ¡°I want you to be my first, but I also don¡¯t want to hurt you. If things get too intense, just...¡± ¡°I will be just fine, Jason. I want this and I will do whatever it takes,¡± Jillian interrupted, her determination clear in her eyes. He admired her resolve, as misplaced as it was. Jason leaned in to kiss her again. As he pulled his hips, she guided him back to her already aching entrance. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself. ¡°Give it to me, baby.¡± With that, Jason started pushing past her lips once more, stretching her to her limits. Gritting her teeth, she closed her eyes and tried to push her hips down as well. There was a slight burning sensation before, at long last, his tip was past her tight entrance. She hissed in pain, trying to suck in deep breaths. ¡°Oh fuck... It¡¯s in... Nggh shit, it¡¯s so huge!¡± Jillian groaned, feeling a bit uncomfortable as her vagina adjusted to his girth. Sorry...¡± Jason said, noticing her expression of pain and discomfort. It felt like his tip was being clamped between a wet vice so the pleasure wasn¡¯t exactly there for him either yet. Jillian shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking dare apologize. It¡¯s a part of you, and I want it. Just¡Just give me a moment to adjust, baby,¡± she requested, moving her hand to rub her clit to try and override the pain with pleasure while she got used to being stretched. After a few moments, she nodded. ¡°Okay, I think I¡¯m ready. Thank you for being patient. Please¡ keep going,¡± she commanded, though with a hint of hesitation. Jason leaned in a bit more, his cock spreading her insides more. ¡°Ahhhugh!¡± she cried out as she felt herself stretching. Her lower body trembled, and Jason started to panic a little. ¡°Jill, I really don¡¯t think¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± she said through clenched teeth, trying to focus on her breathing. Jason flinched a bit when Jillian suddenly told him to shut up. ¡°Sorry, sorry. Just...,¡± She took a deep breath, slow and steady. ¡°I¡¯m a bit rusty and never had anyone so big.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure why she was telling him this, but he just nodded. ¡°It¡¯s okay, take your time. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± Jason leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead and moved a hand up to lightly caress her cheek. She gave him a strained smile. Jillian hadn¡¯t expected this to be so tough. She wished she would have prepped herself for his size beforehand. But it wasn¡¯t like she got a heads up Jason would pop back into her life and they would finally have sex after. She wasn¡¯t really complaining, though. This discomfort beat the hell out of the heartache she¡¯d felt just an hour ago. His cock was way more comforting than ice cream, even if it burned like someone had set fire to her crotch. Luckily, the pain finally started to fade again, and Jillian encouraged him to keep going. They repeated the process three more times, with Jason making a little more progress each time before Jillian had to stop him. When it finally seemed Jason would get all the way inside of her she suddenly felt a sharp stabbing pain in her abdomen. ¡°Ow fuck, fuck, fuck!¡± Jillian cried out, making Jason pull back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong!?¡± Jason asked, sounding even more concerned. ¡°Yeah, that was my cervix. Nnghh¡ that fuckin¡¯ hurt,¡± Jillian groaned, clenching her jaw, still feeling shaken by the pain. ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m so sorry, Jill,¡± Jason said, feeling guilty. ¡°Stop apologizing!¡± Jillian shot back. ¡°I kind of expected it might happen at some point. Just, you know, try not to go past that point next time, okay? I still want you Jason. You hear me?¡± She looked up at him, meeting his look of concern with one of determination. ¡°So I shouldn¡¯t go past this point?¡± Jason asked, seeking clarification. Jillian nodded in response. Up until now, he had been more focused on not causing any discomfort than on his own pleasure. But the snug feeling around his dick was undeniably intense as her inner walls rubbed against his glans. He could feel her insides twitch as she adjusted to his size. ¡°Okay, now pull out,¡± she instructed, and he carefully withdrew. His body reacted to the sensation, sending a shiver of pleasure. Jillian seemed to find some relief too, emitting a soft moan. Once he was completely out, her legs which were spread as wide as possible, shook badly. ¡°Push back in but keep it slow, but don¡¯t stop completely. And please remember, not too deep,¡± she reminded him. He nodded in agreement, positioning himself at her entrance once again. With a slow smooth motion, Jillian let out a moan of pleasure and pain as she felt completely filled even without him being fully inside of her. Jason eased in halfway before pulling back, eliciting a soft groan from Jillian. ¡°That¡¯s good, baby, keep going,¡± she murmured, laying her head back and closing her eyes for a moment. Gradually, the discomfort fully faded, replaced by intense pleasure as they finally made love properly for the first time. Her breath quickened as Jason¡¯s rhythm picked up. She wrapped her legs around him loosely as they moved together at a slow, but steady pace. Her hands held onto his shoulders and soft moans escaped her lips, matching the rhythm of his loving thrusts. Unable to contain his own pleasure, Jason moaned out as her pussy caressed his cock. He breathed heavily. His arms wrapped behind her and pulled her into another deep kiss. After a while, Jillian did her best to move herself with his thrusts, teasing the fine line between pleasure and pain. She was craving every bit of him. Urging him to go deeper even as risky as it was. Jason¡¯s large body was practically smothering her, but that was just how she wanted it as she moaned happy little whimpers each time he pushed inside her. His speed increased as time went on. ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck! Oh god, yes! Keep going, Jason! Fuck meeee!¡± she cried out, grateful for the music mostly covering their sounds. They found a rhythm that worked just right, his movements just grazing her deepest spot inside her. Her sweet moans urged him to work even harder. ¡°You feel so amazing!¡± he groaned, picking up the pace. ¡°I never knew it could be this good.¡± The slick sounds of their union were barely masked by their moans and the music. Jill had already cum once already so she was extra soaked letting him move easier. ¡°Deeper¡ please go deeper, Jason!¡± Jillian cried out, even though she knew it was probably going to hurt. She wanted, no, she needed him to go deeper. His next few thrusts were indeed deeper, and her whole body flinched each painful time. ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah!¡± she screamed out each time his cock hit deep inside her. ¡°Hnngg... I¡¯m gonna cum!¡± He growled as his movements slowed but were much more pronounced in motion. Her legs wrapped tight around his waist, trying to keep him inside her. ¡°Cum inside me!¡± she pleaded, ¡°I want you to fill me with your seed! Give it to me, fill my pussy to the brim!¡± she groaned in pure desperation. Her earlier words echoed in his mind. ¡°You can¡¯t get me pregnant.¡± A mix of resignation and honesty had been in her tone. Pulling out in time seemed like an impossible task that wasn¡¯t sure he could manage, anyway. ¡°Fuck!¡± Jason exclaimed as he thrust as deeply as he could, causing her to shiver in another painful yet incredibly intense climax of her own. ¡°Ahhhhhh fuuuuuuck!¡± Jillian moaned loudly as her legs around him violently trembled as she soaked his cock and the couch beneath them with an explosion of her juices. As Jason felt her tunnel tighten around his cock in orgasm, he let out a low growl, burying his face into her hair. Squeezing her body tight against him, he released deep inside her. Painting her cervix and walls with an excess of pearly white seed. The warmth spread into her stomach, prolonging her climax with each pulse of his release. Jillian bit down on his shoulder to stifle her cries. There was no way she could contain her screams if she didn¡¯t. Every part of her was trembling with unimaginable pleasure. As Jason¡¯s climax slowed, the last of his cum dribbling out inside of her, Jillian¡¯s trembling became more noticeable. ¡°Hey... you okay?¡± he asked, trying to catch his breath. Instead of answering verbally, she sucked in and let out long slow breaths and nodded against his chest, her legs still tightly wrapped around him. ¡°Mmm, s-so full.¡± Jillian whimpered into his chest. To pass the time as they held each other, Jason peppered kisses on the side of her head and on top. Her shaky breaths turned into soft laughter. ¡°I can¡¯t... remember the last time...¡± she murmured, speaking between gasps before she paused, nuzzling her face into his chest, filled with his comforting scent. Taking a deep breath, she let out a contented sigh leaving her sentence at that. ¡°What can¡¯t you remember?¡± Jason asked, genuinely curious. She planted a kiss on the bite mark she left before pulling away from his chest, flashing a smile up at him. ¡°I can¡¯t remember the last time I could smile after sex,¡± she admitted. Along with her smile, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He couldn¡¯t help but smile back. ¡°I love seeing you happy,¡± he whispered. Her freckle covered cheeks, flushed with heat and she hid her face in his chest again, mumbling. ¡°You can¡¯t do that...¡± Her arms tightened around him. ¡°I can¡¯t do what?¡± he asked with a soft chuckle. She peeked up at him, still blushing furiously. ¡°Say cute stuff like that, you jerk,¡± she replied. Jason couldn¡¯t help but find her even more adorable, it felt like their hearts were beating in sync as they gazed at each other. They both leaned in and shared another long, wonderful kiss. Chapter 39: The Truth Will Set You Free, but You May Have to Go through Hell First. ¡°So... what¡¯s next?¡± Jason asked, catching his breath while still tangled up with the redhead. ¡°Well, I hope we are gonna spend the rest of the week together if you¡¯re up for it. Plus, you still owe me and June that fancy dinner, and-¡± Jillian started talking like she was about to discuss the next few years of their life together, but he interrupted her. ¡°Jill, I meant what should I do now? Should I, like, pull out here, or is there a trick to avoid making a mess? I don¡¯t want Mika coming after me for any stains on her couch,¡± he said, making Jillian pause and look a bit flustered. ¡°Oh¡right. Well¡,¡± she trailed off, looking away from him in embarrassment for jumping the gun. ¡°I mean, I want to do all that other stuff you mentioned as well¡B-babe,¡± Jason reassured her, stumbling over the pet name. Jillian smiled when he called her babe, making her giggle and kiss his cheek a few times. After brainstorming for a bit, they came up with the best plan. ¡°Take it slow; you already shrank a bit,¡± Jillian warned. ¡°As long as we avoid making a mess on any of the furniture, I think we will be alright,¡± Jason chimed in, getting a nod of agreement from Jillian. ¡°Okay, on the count of three, lift me up. One, two, three.¡± With that, Jillian clung to him as he lifted her, speed walking to the bathroom she had pointed out. Jillian cackled like a madwoman all the way there. The absurdity of it made her happy. ¡°This is how sex should be, I should be able to laugh and smile afterward,¡± Jillian thought, leaning in to kiss his neck as she bounced slightly with each of his steps. Thankfully, they made it to the tub just in time to avoid a mess when he eventually slid out of her pussy. Deciding a warm shower together was too good to pass up, they both stepped out and turned on the water, letting it warm up a bit. Jillian wrapped her arms around her new man and asked more about his recent hospital stay. It still worried her quite a lot. Over and over again he tried to reassure her that he was okay, but she brought up changing his diet, concerned about his health. They had a bit of a back-and-forth as he defended his eating habits since she only knew how he ate on vacation, but she wasn¡¯t buying it. The debate continued as they got into the shower, washing each other and rinsing off in the cramped space. ¡°Ha! That¡¯s rich, considering you just polished off a whole tub of ice cream,¡± Jason retorted, while Jillian scoffed. ¡°Hey, that was my wallowing food, okay? Besides, sometimes women need chocolate to keep our sanity intact after dealing with men like you. And I actually need the calories unlike you,¡± she harrumphed. Jason rolled his eyes, ¡°Yeah, yeah, and all those calories are going straight to your ass.¡± Jillian turned to him, hands on hips, tilting them to the side. ¡°Yeah, well, I don¡¯t see you complaining about it,¡± she added with a smirk. ¡°And why would I? That thing¡¯s so big, it¡¯s invading my dreams.¡± Jillian gasped playfully at his words. ¡°So you do dream about me!¡± She giggled, grinning mischievously. Jason couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s what you got from what I said?¡± He genuinely couldn¡¯t stop smiling as he looked down at Jillian, and as their eyes met. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, and he leaned down to kiss her. His hands found their way around the butt they were just discussing and pulled her closer as they kissed passionately. Her moans grew louder with each kiss, and she softly nibbled on his lip, causing him to shiver with excitement. ¡°Jase, baby¡± she whimpered, her sultry desire clear in her voice. ¡°Yeah, babe?¡± he replied, his warm breath tingling against her moist skin as he trailed kisses along her jawline and neck. ¡°You should fuck me again, right now,¡± she practically begged, making his already half-hard erection throb with anticipation. ¡°Mmm, is that really what you want?¡± Jason teased, his hand sliding in between her thighs and teasing her outer folds, making her gasp in desperation. ¡°Ahn, oh fuck, it is, I want you to stretch my-¡± Jillian¡¯s moans were interrupted when there was a loud knock on the bathroom door suddenly. ¡°Seriously, you two better not be fuckin in there and wasting all my hot water!¡± Mika¡¯s angry voice called out from outside the door. She didn¡¯t actually care if they were having sex, but she did mind it when it inconvenienced her. Judging by the pile of clothes by the couch, she was too late to stop them the first time. ¡°Mika?!¡± Jillian called out, still close to Jason, with one of his hands on her butt as the other paused, playing with her lower lips. ¡°Who else would it be?!¡± Mika snapped back in annoyance. ¡°I meant, what are you doing?¡± Jillian retorted, running her nails down his chest till they reached his already fully erect cock pressing against her stomach. She was still fully ready to get impaled again with Mika outside the door if she had to. ¡°Your mom texted me, saying you need to come home, now,¡± Mika¡¯s words were a little confusing to Jillian. That didn¡¯t sound like her mom. ¡°What? Why? And she actually said Now?¡± Jillian asked, confused. ¡°I have no fucking idea, Jill. She literally texted me, saying to come home right now, or she¡¯s coming to get you,¡± Mika replied with a heavy sigh. ¡°Oh¡ wow, mom¡¯s serious,¡± Jillian said, giving Jason a playful pat on the chest. ¡°Sorry about that, raincheck for sure big guy.¡± He nodded in agreement, letting her go. ¡°Geez, she probably found out I borrowed her clothes again. Shit,¡± she cursed under her breath as she hurriedly cleaned up and stepped out of the shower. ¡°Let her know I¡¯m on the way please.¡± Jillian called out to Mika one last time only to hear her grumbling about being a damn secretary or something of the sort. Jason quickly rinsed the soap off as well, before turning off the shower and stepping out of the tub. Each grabbed a towel and dried off as quickly as they could and wrapped up in them. Jillian turned back to Jason, leaning her head back with her eyes closed, puckering her lips slightly, signaling for a kiss, which he happily obliged. Their lips smacked together for a moment. She smiled brightly at him and headed out of the bathroom, leaving him behind to fetch their clothes. Pulling up to the two-story house, Jason parked the car. Jillian unbuckled and climbed over the center console to grab him roughly by the face and press her lips against his once more. He chuckled at the roughness and wrapped his hands around her waist as they shared a deep kiss. She playfully bit his lip harder than usual while pulling it back, making him laugh as it snapped back when she let go. ¡°Haha, ouch, what was that for?¡± he asked, amused. ¡°For leaving this damn thing on my neck, you goof. Next time, put it somewhere else,¡± she teased, running her nails along his stubbly beard. She had been checking it out the whole time they were driving home. ¡°Leave a mark, but in a spot, only you get to see,¡± she said with a wink, grabbing his hand and moving it between her thighs for a moment, giving him a clear signal. ¡°Haha, okay, I got it and noted for next time,¡± he said with a smile, squeezing her thigh. ¡°Good. So depending on how long this thing with my mom takes, I¡¯ll sneak into your room by tonight at the latest. Just leave it unlocked in case you doze off early,¡± she said before giving him one final long kiss. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep without you anymore,¡± he said after the kiss broke, making her blush as she backed away reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯m never gonna be able to get anything done if you keep saying sweet things like that, you jerk,¡± Jillian said playfully, before blowing him a kiss this time. Jillian finally got out of the car and gave Jason a wave and a smile as he drove off. She took a moment to breathe in deeply, still clad in her mom¡¯s blouse and skirt, heels in hand. Walking barefoot to the front door, she opened it quietly and stepped inside. ¡°Jillian?¡± her mom¡¯s voice called from the kitchen immediately. ¡°Yeah, mom, it¡¯s me,¡± she replied. There was a pause before Ginny called out again, this time with a more serious tone. ¡°Can you come to the kitchen? We need to talk.¡± Jillian knew instantly that this would not be an easy conversation, whatever it was about. ¡°Do you mind if I change real quick? I¡¯ll be down as soon as possible,¡± Jillian said, hoping her mom wouldn¡¯t rush her. To her relief, Ginny replied, ¡°Of course, honey.¡± Though her tone sounded a bit sad, making Jillian nervous. ¡°Thanks, Mom, be right there, promise,¡± Jillian said before hurrying upstairs to her room. Once there, she spotted her phone neatly placed on her bed. Picking it up, she was surprised to find over thirty texts and a dozen missed calls, all from her family. It seemed like everyone had tried to reach her at least once before realizing her phone was in her room. There was also one more recent text she just received a minute ago. Jason: Hey Babe¡ I never asked if babe is alright? Or would you prefer I stick with Jill? Either way, I hope everything with your mom goes well. Shoot me a text when you get this. Jillian smiled brightly at the sweet text from her new boyfriend. Jillian: I am not picky, call me whatever feels right to you. As long as it means, I''m yours. She sent several heart emojis after. Jason: Haha, alright crazy, what did your mom have to say? Jillian: Lol jerk! I¡¯m about to go talk to her now, wish me luck! Jason: Good luck, be safe¡.Walked in and my mom is on the phone with someone, pretty sure I heard a guy¡¯s name being said. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Jason¡¯s last text. She wanted to reply, but she didn¡¯t want to keep her mom waiting for her. Quickly ditching the blouse and skirt, along with the underwear below it, she threw on Jason¡¯s oversized tracksuit jacket and zipped it up. Adding some comfy pajama bottoms, she took a deep breath. If she was going to get an earful, she might as well be cozy while doing it. If things went south, at least she had Jason to comfort her. She loved how he could be so overly sweet, especially in private, even if they still bickered over some things. Oddly enough, it made her feel kinda content knowing he would keep her somewhat grounded and not just spoil her. Not that she didn¡¯t wanna be spoiled a little bit by him, or a lot a bit. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Coming out of her room and heading downstairs, Jillian walked into the kitchen at a slow pace. Her mom was sitting there all by herself, not even Calvin, just her at the head of the table. The silence in the house felt eerie, making Jillian rather nervous. ¡°Uhh, hey Mom,¡± she called out from the doorway anxiously. Ginny looked up, her eyes were red and a bit raw. ¡°Hey hun, come sit with me,¡± she said, motioning to the chair next to her. Jillian reluctantly did as she was told, feeling queasy the closer she came. She sat down, worry written all over her face. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asked, concerned. Ginny¡¯s expression was still a bit sad as she glanced over to her daughter. ¡°Jill... if those boys who bullied your sister came up to you, what would you tell them?¡± Ginny¡¯s voice softened as she watched Jillian, whose eyes widened in alarm. ¡°Is June okay? Did something happen?!¡± Jillian suddenly panicked, thinking that something bad had happened to her sister. Ginny shook her head. ¡°No, no, she¡¯s fine. I¡¯m just curious about what you¡¯d say.¡± Knowing June was alright eased her mind, but she was still trying to understand where her mom was going with this. ¡°Well...¡± Jillian hesitated, then continued, ¡°I guess I¡¯d ask them why they did it. And what they were thinking when they were picking on a nice, innocent girl?¡± She barely managed to leave out the swear words. ¡°Would you tell your younger self the same thing?¡± Ginny asked, her voice tinged with concern, brows furrowing. Jillian¡¯s expression immediately soured, her face drained of color as despair washed over her. ¡°A-and what is that supposed to m-mean?¡± She stammered, feeling like her stomach was suddenly twisted into knots. Nausea creeping up her throat as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. ¡°I mean what I said Jillian. Would you ask yourself the same things? Or is there something else you would say?¡± Ginny said, trying to stay calm as her frown deepened. Jillian took a shaky breath. ¡°I... I would say, uh...¡± Her entire body trembled. Did her mother really know? Jason wouldn¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t have told her; he¡¯d been with her for the past hour and they just... But then, who did? ¡°I would tell her, H-h-he isn¡¯t the one she¡¯s angry at,¡± Jillian finally admitted. ¡°I would explain to her that he¡¯s just scared, that he¡¯s lost someone precious as well, and... that he doesn¡¯t deserve all the bullshit you are putting him through.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes as she paused to collect herself. ¡°Then I would tell her that she is going to regret it all... every single moment, every mean thing she said to him, every nasty rumor she spread. How it¡¯s going to hurt her just as much as it hurts him.¡± She took a shaky breath as she compared Jason¡¯s past and present selves. The pudgy boy that was terrified of being outcast and kicked out of school. Against the strong, confident and sometimes sweet man she knew deep down. Then took a hard look at herself, and the mess that was her life that always seemed to end up in the gutter. But that was just her Karma. ¡°And who is he, Jillian?¡± Ginny said softly, her eyes also brimming with tears. She knew who it was but she needed to hear her daughter say it. Jillian looked up at her mom, using the sleeve of Jason¡¯s tracksuit to wipe her eyes. She wrapped the scent laden jacket around her to remind herself of just what she had now. Just who Jason had become to her. ¡°He¡¯s the same guy that I¡¯m falling in love with, Mom,¡± she said, taking a deep, shaky breath, a sad smile on her face. ¡°Love?!¡± Ginny repeated, unable to hide her surprise at her daughter¡¯s admission. Jillian nodded, her cheeks flushed with warmth. ¡°It¡¯s only been a short while since he came back into my life, but I¡¯ve never felt this strongly about anyone before. When we fight, it¡¯s like my whole world crashes down. But that was what made me realize just how much he means to me. When I¡¯m in his arms, I feel so safe and when he kisses me, all the pain just disappears. Even during those fights, deep down all I can think about is how much I want to be back in his arms.¡± Ginny looked taken aback by her daughter¡¯s passionate words. Jillian had never even hinted at loving any of her previous high school boyfriends, not even the Brice guy who she kept around longer than most boys. Ginny never liked him. He was what she¡¯d have called a burnout back in her day. The boy had been so handsy with Jillian, even right in front of her mother. It made Ginny so angry, but thankfully that was around the time her daughter broke up with him. ¡°Are you and Jason...¡± Ginny began, but Jillian was already nodding before she could finish. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re official now, happened not that long ago, too,¡± Jillian announced, leaving Ginny even more stunned. She thought she might have to nudge her daughter into apologizing to Jason and maybe Katia, too. ¡°Have you apologized already? Did he recognize you at first?¡± Ginny asked. Jillian shot her mom a strained look. ¡°He did, and I tried to say I was sorry that night at dinner. He didn¡¯t exactly forgive me though,¡± she sighed, recalling the awkward yelling match they had that evening. ¡°We both said some pretty nasty stuff to each other, but...¡± Jillian paused, her cheeks flushed with either embarrassment or shame. It was hard to tell. ¡°We¡¯ve had our fair share of arguments this past week, but somehow we always end up even closer than we were before the fight¡¡± Jillian suddenly started to squirm in her seat, placing her hands on her cheeks with a large goofy grin on her face. "And then this morning, he surprised me. He charged into Mika¡¯s place like he was on a mission, and asked me to be his girlfriend. It was so adorable. He looked so determined but also worried that I might say no. He may look like one of those over confident, good-looking types, but just beneath his cold exterior, he struggles to express himself. So when he finally mustered up the courage to ask, I couldn¡¯t help but say yes. Then he was so tender when we had-¡± Jillian started spilling all the details to her mom, not realizing she was about to describe what happened after on the couch. Ginny didn¡¯t really need or want to hear about it. ¡°Jillian!¡± Ginny exclaimed, startling her daughter.¡°I¡¯m happy you¡¯re happy, but I¡¯m still disappointed about your past actions, young lady.¡± Her words brought Jillian back down to earth from her happy cloud. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry... High school was tough for me. Every time I looked into Jason¡¯s eyes, it just reminded me that Grandpa was gone.¡± she said as she looked down fiddling with the zipper of her jacket. It took a moment for Ginny to piece things together. It wasn¡¯t easy to forget the day the school called to tell her that her daughter might have been molested by another student. ¡°So Jason, was also the boy they said touched you?¡± Jillian¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°That was all a huge misunderstanding. He never even laid a single hand on me. He barely even spoke to me after the incident. But rumors spread like wildfire. No matter what I said against it, no one really listened¡ I feel bad because I feel like I could have done more, but was already angry at him¡ He... he was scared of me after that. It hurt seeing him look at me like that with those eyes, so I lashed out,¡± Jillian explained, still nervously fiddling with the zipper. Ginny nodded in understanding. ¡°I won¡¯t mention this to your father, but I feel it¡¯s important that you tell him that you are dating Jason when he gets home. I won¡¯t bring it up to June either, but I think it¡¯s something you might want to tell her, eventually. Let her know that we all make mistakes and how much it hurts everyone involved.¡± Jillian¡¯s expression flashed with genuine concern. Her little sister was the last person she wanted to find out. ¡°June will probably be upset and angry initially, but I believe when she calms down and really talks to you about what you went through and how you feel now it will help with her recovery. You can share what it¡¯s like to be on the other side of bullying,¡± Ginny began, but Jillian interjected. ¡°I can explain how unhappy I was and the pain I caused myself¡ Maybe tell her how Jason said he felt after finally letting go of all the pain and anger he was holding on to.¡± They shared a solemn moment before Ginny stood and walked around the table to her daughter, wrapping her arms around Jillian, who squeezed her arms as best she could. ¡°I wish you would tell me what happened to you after you disappeared as well,¡± Ginny said softly, breaking the silence of their embrace. ¡°Every single day, we hoped and prayed you were okay... I can¡¯t tell you how much we all missed you.¡± Jillian nestled against her mother as Ginny gently stroked her hair. ¡°When you finally returned, it felt like my heart was finally put back together after being broken for so long. I was so scared to ask what happened, worried you¡¯d run away again. Not knowing where you were ate at my soul. I questioned everything I did or said to you¡ I still blame myself for what drove you away. I¡¯ve carried that burden for so long.¡± Ginny held Jillian tightly, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I should have paid more attention and noticed that something wasn¡¯t right. By the time I did, you were already gone,¡± she sobbed softly. ¡°It''s all my fault, mom!¡± Jillian¡¯s voice broke as she cried along with Ginny. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong, Mom. I thought I could ease the burden on you and Dad by leaving. I didn¡¯t want to add to your stress. When I heard about Dad collapsing from exhaustion that day at work, I couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and ran away.¡± She paused, wiping away her tears with her sleeve in a futile attempt to stop crying. ¡°I thought I found someone that would take care of me and take me off your back forever. But it turned into a horrible nightmare. Every day I wanted to come back home, to be with my family again. But I was afraid you didn¡¯t want me back¡ He convinced me that no one would ever want me again¡ I¡¯m sorry for everything, for all the pain I caused.¡± Jillian had her arms wrapped around her mother¡¯s waist, burying her face into her stomach. Her tears continually soaked into Ginny¡¯s shirt as she cried. ¡°Jill, you were never a burden. You are my very first daughter and we love you so much. I¡¯m so sorry we never noticed that you felt like that. We will never reject you if you need help. We are your family and your father and I will never force you to leave. Your coming home has brought us all closer than ever; our family was incomplete without you.¡± Ginny poured her heart out to Jillian, the two holding each other tightly, reluctant to let go. ¡°Thank you mom¡ Somehow, I knew that... deep down I always knew, but I just felt so guilty for abandoning everyone... I¡¯m so¡so sorry,¡± Jillian repeated, her voice muffled against her mother¡¯s embrace. Eventually, they both calmed down and spent the rest of the afternoon talking, finally opening up more about the past. Back at the Merris household, about ten minutes before Jason returned home from Mika¡¯s place, Katia sat on the couch, trying to distract herself with some mindless daytime TV. She had called and had Ginny come over. Katia told her about how Jason admitted that Jillian used to bully him. How he had endured it all silently until today, just to spare his mother from worry. It was a heavy conversation, leaving both women feeling overly emotional. They, of course, found themselves in tears, connecting over the pain of both of them losing a child for long periods of time. In the end of it all, apologies were exchanged, with Ginny reassuring Katia that she would talk to Jillian about everything. She also worried that Katia resented her for what happened to Jason. Katia confessed she harbored a lot of anger towards both mother and daughter, admitting she found herself almost hating them both. However, through their conversation, she realized, just like Jason had pointed out, Katia also despised the idea of hating people, especially her best friend. It didn¡¯t bring her any joy to think about it. Ginny told her something that echoed in her mind. ¡°I¡¯ll understand if you hate me, but I¡¯ll still love you.¡± As much as Katia¡¯s head told her to, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hate the closest friend she had for the last several years. The two promised not to meddle in their children¡¯s love lives anymore. At this point, they agreed that as long as their children were happy, there was no point in getting involved anymore. They hugged tightly, and said their goodbyes, giving each other a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Now, Katia found herself alone once more, the silence weighing heavily on her. She had turned on the TV, hoping to drown out the quietness. It wasn¡¯t helping, but that was when her phone suddenly rang, she glanced over at it resting on the couch beside her. It displayed an unfamiliar number, but she answered it, anyway. ¡°Hello?¡± she greeted cautiously, half-expecting a scam call from a foreign voice. ¡°Hi, is this Katia? Jason Merris¡¯s mother?¡± The voice on the other end sounded vaguely familiar. ¡°Speaking,¡± she replied simply, curiosity piqued. ¡°It¡¯s Dr. Lee from the hospital,¡± the voice continued. ¡°I just wanted to check in and see how Jason is recovering. He didn¡¯t answer his phone, so I thought I¡¯d try you next.¡± Katia blinked, surprised by the call. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s actually doing quite well. Thank you for reaching out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great to hear, Ms.Merris,¡± Dr. Lee said warmly. ¡°We received his lab results, and overall, things are looking good. Although, we did notice his cholesterol levels are slightly elevated.¡± Katia gasped softly, taking the news more seriously than expected. The doctor chatted with Katia about how Jason¡¯s health could be easily managed with some simple dietary adjustments, considering he seemed quite active. She was happy to discuss her son¡¯s well-being. However, she didn¡¯t notice when the conversation seemed to veer away from Jason. ¡°Yeah, I actually grow and sell some organic produce as a hobby,¡± the doctor said with a hint of pride. ¡°That''s amazing! I¡¯ve been wanting more fresh organic veggies for some recipes, but they¡¯re always so expensive at the store. I¡¯m jealous, Dr. Lee,¡± Katia said with a small giggle. ¡°I thought I told you, please call me Chris, Ms.Merris,¡± he said jokingly, and they both chuckled softly. ¡°Alright, Chris. Then you can call me Katia,¡± she said with a soft smile, bringing her feet up onto the couch, and leaning back against the arm of it. That was also when the front door suddenly opened. Katia saw her son entering and waved happily as he kicked off his shoes with a smile back. ¡°Katia, that¡¯s a very lovely name. Very fitting for someone so beautiful,¡± Chris remarked smoothly, causing Katia to let out another soft giggle. ¡°Hehe, stop it, Chris,¡± she said, unable to hide the grin from her face, not knowing that her son was now staring at her from the kitchen warily. ¡°How about this, Katia? If you swing by my booth at the farmers market on 3rd Street this Tuesday, I¡¯ll give you a great deal on whatever veggies you¡¯d like from my stall,¡± he offered, prompting a slight widening of Katia¡¯s smile. ¡°That sounds wonderful, Chris. I just love farmers¡¯ markets. Count me in, and thank you so much. It''s very sweet of you to offer,¡± she replied warmly. Jason¡¯s gaze only grew harsher as the conversation went on. ¡°Just don¡¯t bankrupt me with that lovely smile of yours, okay?¡± Chris joked, earning another sweet laugh from Katia. ¡°Oh, hush you,¡± she said embarrassed. ¡°Jason just walked in, so I will see you on Tuesday, Chris. Just let me know where your booth is when you get set up! Bye!¡± After the two said their goodbyes and the call ended, Katia looked over at Jason approaching. "Hey sweetie." She said with a cheerful smile, still riding the high of her conversation. ¡°Who the hell is Chris?¡± he inquired, his expression less than pleased and his eye twitching. Chapter 40: A Night Of Hard Facts, Sappy Mothers, and Protective Fathers Katia glanced up at her son from the comfort of the couch. ¡°Huh?¡± she asked with a warm smile still gracing her lips. Jason repeated his question, attempting to smooth out the frown etched on his face. ¡°Who. Is. Chris?¡± He said, enunciating each word. Katia gave him a strange look, but quickly caught on. ¡°Ohhhh, I see,¡± Katia replied, suppressing a chuckle. ¡°That was the doctor from the hospital checking in to see how you¡¯re feeling,¡± she explained simply, rising from her seat to envelop her son in a tight hug, though his suspicion lingered. ¡°Why would he call you instead of me?¡± Jason queried, his arms momentarily embracing his mother before they parted. Meeting his gaze, Katia clarified, ¡°He mentioned trying to reach you but couldn¡¯t get a hold of you. But what is with that tone, young man? It was just a friendly conversation about your well-being, and he happened to mention he sells some fresh produce at the farmers¡¯ market. He even invited me to check it out. I thought it might be good for you to incorporate more healthy veggies into your diet,¡± she rambled on, a hint of enthusiasm in her voice. ¡°My mom is getting corrupted!¡± Jason thought to himself as his mom continued to lecture him. ¡°I eat plenty healthy. I¡¯m just not worrying about it while I¡¯m on vacation! Why does no one understand that? You know I¡¯m not fussy. Veggies have never been a problem,¡± he tried to reason with her. ¡°Sure, but that¡¯s because I use loads of butter and spices. The doc mentioned your cholesterol, so I¡¯m just gonna ease up a bit,¡± Katia explained, causing Jason¡¯s face to scrunch up in disgust. ¡°Butter¡¯s a healthy fat, Mom! Can¡¯t you just let me not worry about it for another week? I didn¡¯t come here for a diet talk. I get enough of that from my coach.¡± Jason put his hands on his mom¡¯s shoulders, but she stood her ground, hands on hips, giving him a stern look ¡°Oh? So if you¡¯re already eating well at home, why would your coach be on your case about it?¡± Katia asked, watching as Jason stumbled over his words. ¡°Uhhhh, well...¡± he felt a bead of cold sweat roll down his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey. I¡¯ll do my best to make sure everything still tastes good, but there are going to be some changes,¡± she said firmly, giving him a hard stare. He frowned deeply before letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Fine¡ But why did he call you directly? Don¡¯t doctors usually have their staff or nurses handle that?¡± Jason shifted the conversation, trying to see how suspicious that call was. ¡°This is a small town, Jason. Not every doctor is distant and impersonal like in the city. I think it was really thoughtful and sweet for him to check in like that,¡± she replied, crossing her arms. ¡°Ugh, Mom, you¡¯re too gullible. What if he is after something else?¡± he grumbled. Katia scowled up at Jason, displeased with her son¡¯s lack of trust. ¡°Listen sweetheart, I¡¯ve been around for over forty years. I can tell when someone¡¯s not being honest. Have a little faith in your mother.¡± She gently prodded Jason¡¯s chest with her finger. ¡°Living in the city has made you overly wary of people. But not everyone you meet is up to no good,¡± she continued her tirade, while Jason attempted to interject. ¡°But mom...¡± ¡°No buts, young man. Your well-being is my priority, and I¡¯ll manage just fine on my own. I¡¯ve been doing it for the past eight years, and it''s not like there are men lined up to date an old woman,¡± she insisted, ending the argument with a bit of a verbal blow. ¡°Mom...¡± Jason said, sounding defeated. ¡°Alright, you win. But I¡¯m going with you when you meet him. When is it?¡± he asked, prepared to push back if necessary, but Katia just smiled warmly at Jason¡¯s offer. ¡°That sounds wonderful! We can make a day out of it. You can invite Jillian, and I¡¯ll invite Ginny. It¡¯s this Tuesday on 3rd Street. I guess it¡¯s the large carpool parking lot.¡± Her excitement and smile were infectious, and Jason couldn¡¯t help but smile in response as well. ¡°Alright, sounds good,¡± he said with a light chuckle, before releasing another sigh. ¡°I¡¯m sorry mom¡ I hate that you are here by yourself,¡± he added, causing Katia to furrow her brow slightly. ¡°Oh sweetie, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I want you to have your own life too. It just gets a little lonely sometimes, but I have Ginny and her kids close by to keep me company,¡± she reassured him, her smile returning. ¡°I wish you would consider moving out to Florida with me. I¡¯m sure we could find a nice condo, and I can work on getting you a place of your own when I get promoted again,¡± he broached the topic they¡¯d discussed many times before. ¡°Jason, sweetheart, you know how I feel about this. I don¡¯t want to move. Living in or even near a city just isn¡¯t my thing. My visits only confirmed that for me. You know I care about you a lot, and I know your heart is in the right place, but I honestly think I¡¯d go stir crazy if I was stuck in a city.¡± Katia¡¯s expression softened as she spoke. ¡°It¡¯s not all bad if you find the right neighborhood. There are plenty of really nice suburbs nearby,¡± Jason persisted, not willing to drop the idea just yet. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are, but I wouldn¡¯t have my own support system there. You¡¯re not going to be by my side every minute of the day, and I wouldn¡¯t want that for you. I have Ginny and some other friends I see occasionally. Plus, I help out with her kids a lot, I couldn¡¯t just leave them behind. I care about them too much,¡± Katia countered, standing firm in her decision. Jason sighed heavily, conceding defeat. ¡°Okay, but we are going to revisit this in a few years¡ But for now, I¡¯ll drop it.¡± And with that, the matter was put to rest, for now at least. The two embraced tightly, and Katia sighed. ¡°Even so, I wish you were here more often. I miss you so much.¡± ¡°Well I think I will be visiting a lot more often from this point forward since I have you and Jillian here now,¡± he said with a smile. Katia gave him a half smile but nodded as she leaned back to look up at him. ¡°How does a nice spaghetti sound for dinner? Have you eaten anything today?¡± she asked sweetly. ¡°Actually, I haven¡¯t. It¡¯s been so busy, I haven¡¯t had the chance,¡± Jason replied. Katia¡¯s eyes widened at his statement. ¡°But it''s already past lunch?! Oh, you poor thing! I¡¯ll start cooking right away then. I¡¯ll bring you some snacks to tide you over as well.¡± She patted his arm and nearly sprinted into the kitchen, as he chuckled softly at the sight. He knew his mom was quite something. ¡°No one will ever be good enough for my mother,¡± he thought, his fists clenching tight. As evening crept in, Damon finally returned home after taking the kids out for lunch and a movie. He had taken Calvin to a playground while the older kids looked after Lonnie. Damon¡¯s back was aching from carrying around the toddler. Ginny had asked him to watch the kids while she had a private chat with Jillian. He couldn¡¯t help but worry about his oldest daughter. Ever since she returned, he had been concerned about her health and emotional well-being. The secrets she still kept from him and her mother weighed heavily on them both. The only thing that kept their marriage afloat during her absence was the unexpected arrival of another baby. It wasn¡¯t planned, but Damon was grateful for the toddler¡¯s presence. Calvin wasn¡¯t a replacement for Jillian, but he served as a good distraction, albeit a barely affordable one. Damon was already pushing his mid-fifties, and felt exhausted all the time. He had gotten promoted to foreman over a decade ago at a large construction company. He was damn good at his job and it had allowed his wife to quit her job and become a full-time housewife. However, he knew she was equally exhausted from the house full of kids where the chores never seemed to end. With Jillian¡¯s return, the burden of chores had lightened a bit, but over the past week, his oldest daughter had become distant and frequently absent from the home. Damon started worrying about her leaving again, hoping Ginny could talk some sense into her today. One thing Damon found concerning about his wife was that over the last three days, they¡¯d only made love twice. While that might sound sufficient for many couples, Damon was used to a frequency closer to six times. This change raised his concern because when they didn¡¯t have sex, it often signaled that something was wrong or bothering one of them. Their sex life served more of a means to alleviate stress and discuss their day, or discuss the day ahead in the morning. Unless they were really in the mood, getting kinky, dirty talk stayed out of the bedroom. He hoped that his wife would tell him everything tonight and they could get back to their usual schedule. Entering the two-story home, the majority of the family members dispersed eagerly. The aroma of freshly baked goods wafted through the air. It was always a good sign. Reese and Wendel headed upstairs to their room, June dashed into the kitchen, and Lonnie made his way to the living room. Calvin, was limp in Damon¡¯s arms as he carefully placed the sleeping child in the nursery crib, estimating they had about an hour before he woke up again, if they were fortunate. In the kitchen, Damon was greeted by a soft smile from his wife, Ginny, a reassuring sight. However, Jillian seemed to avoid meeting his gaze. Jillian and June were putting the finishing touches on some cookies they were decorating. Walking over and sitting at the table with Ginny, Damon let out a groan as he sat down, his back aching badly. ¡°How did it go, baby?¡± Ginny asked, reaching over and rubbing the man¡¯s back. ¡°I was about to ask you the same thing,¡± Damon responded. She continued to smile at him as her hand moved down his back and eventually got to his thigh, giving it a firm squeeze. ¡°I¡¯ll explain more tonight, but for now, just relax and try to keep an open mind, hon.¡± Damon gave his wife a strange look at those words. He felt her hand move to the inside of his thigh, moving teasingly higher. While her touch was promising, her words certainly didn¡¯t fill him with confidence. The reason would become apparent as the night went on . ¡°Hold on just a damn minute! You¡¯re talking about the guy you met just last week?¡± Damon¡¯s grip on his fork tightened as he spoke. Jillian shook her head. ¡°No, Daddy, I¡¯ve known him since high school. It was just a coincidence that he happened to be Katia¡¯s son.¡± she tried to clarify for her father, whose normally stoic expression grew angrier as the conversation went on. To him, it seemed like this boy had appeared out of nowhere, and was now threatening to take his daughter away again, just when she had finally come back. ¡°I remember him saying that he works and lives on the other side of the country! Are you planning on leaving to go live with him?¡± Ginny¡¯s eyes widened as she realized she hadn¡¯t asked that question either. Both parents stared at Jillian, awaiting her response. Thankfully, Jillian shook her head and waved her hands to dismiss the idea. ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s way too early for anything like that. I don¡¯t plan on leaving you guys for quite a while. There is still so much I need to do here. I don¡¯t want to leave before June is back to normal, of course.¡± Jillian paused and looked over at her little sister, who was still sitting there next to her. ¡°Honestly... I¡¯m kinda scared to leave for long, anyway.¡± Both Damon and Ginny felt relieved hearing that she wasn¡¯t planning on leaving anytime soon, for now at least. ¡°We¡¯re happy to hear that, honey. We¡¯re not ready to see you go again yet either. I¡¯m sure Jason understands that, right?¡± Ginny asked, and Jillian nodded. ¡°Yeah, we discussed it a little earlier. We will plan visits and keep in touch mostly over the phone. Haha, it was funny. He was talking about how he would come to visit for only a weekend. All the way from Florida for like a day. It was so silly but sweet,¡± Jillian said with a giggle and smiles spread across all their faces, except for Damon¡¯s, of course. He still wasn¡¯t thrilled about his daughter dating a guy she just met. Even if they did reconnect from back in high school. Just because they had history didn¡¯t mean people didn¡¯t change. ¡°So, when¡¯s he coming over to ask me about dating you?¡± Damon asked, earning puzzled looks from two of the women. ¡°Sweetie, that seems a bit old-fashioned, don¡¯t you think?¡± Ginny tried to intervene. ¡°I don¡¯t care how old-fashioned it sounds, I¡¯m not letting some guy waltz in and take my daughter away without proving to me that he is gonna treat her right, damn it!¡± Damon replied firmly. ¡°He¡¯s not some deadbeat, Daddy. He has a good job, sweet, loyal, and even knowing we would be so far apart he still wants to be with me,¡± Jillian said passionately, trying to calm her father¡¯s worries. ¡°If that¡¯s true, then we¡¯ll have a good chat. But if he¡¯s not willing to meet with me face-to-face, then I¡¯m not giving my approval,¡± Damon asserted. He knew he might not have the final say, but he would not give up without a fight. Jillian let out a heavy sigh at her father¡¯s stubbornness. He had always made a fuss whenever she got a boyfriend and it seemed not much had changed. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him and see what he thinks. Tomorrow night okay if¡ No, scratch that, he¡¯s taking us out to dinner tomorrow, so does Tuesday night work?¡± Jillian said as Damon¡¯s eye twitched slightly. ¡°Us?¡± he questioned the term. ¡°Yeah, as a thank you, he¡¯s taking me and June out to a nice dinner.¡± His gaze shifted to his youngest daughter, June, who suddenly found her mashed potatoes very fascinating. At least Reese and the others in the peanut gallery knew better than to interrupt when their father was speaking. ¡°...Alright tuesday,¡± he finally conceded. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The rest of the dinner passed quietly, save for Calvin¡¯s clattering attempts at feeding himself. Under the table, Jillian pulled out her phone and finally texted Jason back. Jill: Hey, so my dad wants to meet with you about us dating. I¡¯m sorry! I tried to assure him that you¡¯re not some scumbag or anything of the sort but he¡¯s a bit of a stubborn old man. I swear he means well. There was a brief pause before Jason responded. Jason: That¡¯s okay with me. I don¡¯t mind talking to him. Jason: The real issue right now is that the doctor who treated me at the hospital is now hitting on my MOM! Jill: :O Jill: Wow, Good for her. Jason: THIS IS SERIOUS, JILL! Jill: Why are you so freaked out? A doctor makes good money and if she likes him, he must be nice. I don¡¯t see Katia going for a jerk. So I don¡¯t see a problem. Unless you know something about him that she doesn¡¯t. Do you? There were a few long moments when Jason stopped texting. Jill: Your silence says it all. Jase: I¡¯ve only met him once, so I¡¯m not sure. She¡¯s meeting him at his booth at the farmers market. I¡¯m going with her to make sure everything¡¯s on the level. Jill: Haha, you¡¯re being a bit paranoid, babe. Jase: You¡¯re coming with me, right? Jill: When? Jase: Tuesday. Jill: Well, I have an appointment with my therapist in the morning, but after that, yeah, I¡¯ll come. Can I bring June? Also, does that night work for talking with my dad? Jase: Of course. And sure, sounds good to me. Jill: I¡¯ll be by in an hour or two. She followed up her message with a line of kissing and winking emojis. Jase: Sounds better. Both Jillian and Jason set aside their phones, focusing on finishing their dinners. Later, the sisters settled in the living room to watch a movie. Jillian seized the opportunity to chat a bit more with June, exchanging in short whispers. Despite the brevity of their conversation, Jillian felt a sense of pride in her sister¡¯s progress. She brought up the invite to the upcoming farmers market. June happily accepted the invite, hoping to see some fresh flowers. Halfway through the movie, Jillian started to look a little anxious for some reason. Squirming in her seat and looking at the time and how much time was left on the movie. June silently tapped her sister on the shoulder. ¡°Huh, what¡¯s up Junebug?¡± Jillian asked, turning towards June. Leaning in, June whispered, ¡°You can go see Jason if you want... I don¡¯t mind. Since he¡¯s leaving soon, right?¡± Jillian was a bit surprised by her sister¡¯s offer. With just one more week together, her sister¡¯s gesture meant a lot. She honestly wanted to spend time with both, but the clock always felt like it was running down for Jason. Jillian locked eyes with her younger sister, who simply smiled back. She felt a surge of admiration for June¡¯s strength. Jillian found herself at a loss for words. She bit her lip and thought about what to say. June couldn¡¯t help but laugh a bit, reverting to sign language. ¡°Just go, this movie is trying to put me to sleep anyway,¡± she signed. Jillian returned the smile. ¡°I love you so much. Oh, that reminds me,¡± she said, before pausing the movie, ¡°Jason¡¯s treating us to a nice dinner tomorrow night. So, pick out something ¡®fawncy¡¯,¡± she added with a playful emphasis on the word. The two giggled lightly before sharing a tight hug, after which Jillian got up and they waved goodbye to each other. She made her way to the door and slipped on her flats before leaving the house. She was relieved to have the large jacket to keep her warm in the night¡¯s autumn chill. As she walked the short two blocks down the road towards the Merris home, she couldn¡¯t help but shiver slightly. Upon reaching the window that led to Jason¡¯s room, she peered inside, noticing the dim light. It was too early for him to be asleep and he would be waiting for her anyway. She scrunched her mouth to the side in confusion, then made her way to the front door, feeling a sense of apprehension. She lightly knocked on the door, waiting nervously. Soon, the door swung open, revealing Jason, dressed in a loose-fitting long-sleeve shirt and sleep pants. ¡°Oh, hey Jill¡ I mean, babe. You¡¯re early.¡± he said, a hint of surprise but with a smile and a laugh. ¡°Sorry, I can come by later instead?¡± she said meekly, before he waved it off with a chuckle. ¡°No, no, we¡¯re not doing anything important. I¡¯m just relaxing with some TV in the living room with mom. Though she is more lost in the word game on her tablet. Come in!¡± he said, gesturing for her to enter. Even though they had gotten along and made up before, the fact that Ginny knew about how Jillian used to bully Jason, made it pretty obvious that Katia was probably the one that told her. Which meant that she figured that Jason¡¯s mom was probably even more pissed at her than her own mother. Hell, she still didn¡¯t forgive the kids that bullied June. Why would Katia forgive her? And if Katia knew then Jason must have been the one to tell her recently. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but feel a tad resentful that he did, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. She walked into the house but stayed in the entrance way as Jason shut the door behind them. He looked down at her with a raised brow. ¡°You alright?¡± he asked but Jillian quickly nodded and wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled into him for a moment. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m okay. Just missed you.¡± Her words made him smile softly as he gave her a return squeeze. ¡°It was only a few hours, but I missed you too,¡± he said with a small laugh before they partially separated. As they walked into the living room. Jillian noticed Katia sitting on the couch, absorbed in her tablet while wearing reading glasses. Jason pulled his girlfriend along, her arm that was still around his midsection tightened as they moved closer. ¡°Hey, Mom, alright if Jill hangs out with us for a bit as well?¡± Katia looked up at the two as Jason spoke, her gaze lingering on Jillian for a moment. There was a flicker of emotion on her face before she spoke. ¡°Oh, of course, please, have a seat,¡± Katia said as nicely as she could manage. She was doing her best to be kind and not show any signs of being upset or angry. Still, Jillian could almost feel the hidden emotions pouring out of her. It was not pleasant, to say the least. Jason quickly took Jillian¡¯s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before guiding her to sit on the couch. She reluctantly did, sitting on the couch farthest away from Katia. Somehow able to hide the look of shame on her face from Jason. ¡°Thirsty? Want something to drink, babe?¡± Jason asked sweetly. Despite feeling uneasy about being alone with Katia, Jillian nodded. ¡°Sure, anything¡¯s fine. Thanks,¡± she said, giving her best smile to Jason. She was surprised by his use of endearment with his mother nearby, a term he was clearly trying to get more used to. He nodded and left for the kitchen. An awkward silence settled just briefly until Katia broke it with a heavy sigh. ¡°Every maternal instinct in me is screaming to kick you out, Jillian...¡± Katia said and Jillian felt tremendous pang of guilt at her words. ¡°I know... I wouldn¡¯t let me stay either,¡± she replied, lowering her head in shame. There was another moment of silence before Katia spoke again. ¡°But Jason, my one and only son... I haven¡¯t seen him this happy since before Frank passed away. And I can¡¯t take that away from him. So if he can forgive you for all you have done¡ Then so will I.¡± Jillian¡¯s eyes widened as she slowly looked over at Katia. Stunned, she nodded dumbly in understanding. Jason¡¯s heavy footsteps announced his return to the living room with a couple of beers and a pitcher of decaf iced tea. He handed Jillian an open bottle of beer. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said softly, though it seemed that a simple thank you wasn¡¯t quite enough for Jason anymore. Leaning over, she planted a gentle kiss on her lips, right in front of his mother. Jillian felt herself flush with embarrassment. After the brief chat she¡¯d just had with Katia, the whole situation felt incredibly awkward. Jason refilled his mother¡¯s drink from the pitcher, which she thanked him for as well. Jason also leaned down and gave his mother a kiss atop her head instead. Putting the pitcher back in the kitchen, he quickly returned and planted himself next to Jillian, who quickly snuggled into him like she was magnetically attracted to him. The two cuddled together and watched TV while Katia played on the tablet. A few frustrated but innocent remarks slipped from her mouth as she struggled with her word game. Curses along the lines of ¡°Gosh darn it!¡± and ¡°Son of a biscuit!¡± Jillian finished her beer quickly, and sat the bottle on the end table. With her hands free, she snuggled even closer to him, resting her head on his chest, trying to ease her mind from the awkwardness of the situation. Normally, it was the women who dozed off in front of the TV, but when Jillian felt the arm around her go limp, she paused. Looking up, she saw Jason¡¯s sleeping face turned to the side. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but let out a small giggle at the sight. She didn¡¯t even realize how long she had been watching him until Katia spoke up. ¡°He means the world to me,¡± Katia said, drawing Jillian¡¯s attention to her. ¡°It feels like just yesterday he was my little boy running around in the backyard with his father. Even when Frank was exhausted from work¡ªwell, that¡¯s what we thought, until we found out he was sick.¡± Jillian frowned deeply at the words. ¡°Did you know Jason was born a month premature? He was so tiny and fragile, he got sick a lot during his first few years. So when I see him now, it¡¯s hard to believe it¡¯s the same fragile boy. They told me I needed to make sure he ate well. I may have taken that a bit too seriously as he got older.¡± Katia went on to share a bit of Jason¡¯s history, and Jillian appreciated learning more about him. ¡°You were only doing what you thought was right, no one can blame you for that,¡± Jillian began. ¡°He didn¡¯t deserve the things I put him through in high school, not a single thing. I hated myself so much for everything I did. So when he suddenly came back into my life, I was so shocked that all I could do was revert to my old bullshit and give him a pathetic apology. We fought so much again that I never would have thought that we would end up falling for each other.¡± She glanced down, a slight smile tugging at her lips as she reminisced. ¡°Even in highschool I secretly thought he was cute, you know? How hardworking and serious he was, yet still so innocent. And his eyes...They were exactly like my grandfather¡¯s, who had passed away the year prior. Not that it justifies my past actions, but that¡¯s where it all began. I ended up running off in tears the first time I saw them, and that¡¯s when the rumors started spreading.¡± Katia nodded, recalling the memory from Jason, but not why it happened. ¡°He¡ he told me he was falling in love with you,¡± Katia suddenly confessed softly. Jillian¡¯s eyes widened and her cheeks warmed quickly, but she couldn¡¯t suppress the delighted smile. ¡°He feels the same!¡± her inner voice cheered. Katia didn¡¯t need to inquire about Jillian¡¯s feelings; it was obvious with the way she had been gazing at her son earlier and the rather goofy grin on her face. At the very least, Jillian was well on her way to loving her son. ¡°We should get him in bed. He¡¯s had a long day,¡± Katia suggested, rising from her seat. Jillian snapped out of her trance and agreed with a nod, turning to Jason. She gently patted his cheek. ¡°Hey, sleepyhead, time to wake up,¡± she said sweetly. Jason emitted a soft, sleepy snort, his hand finding its way to her thigh, giving it a firm squeeze along with a groan. Jillian let out a small yelp of surprise, then laughed a little, ¡°Haha, Jason, wake up!¡± She reached over and gently pinched his nose shut. It quickly caused him to startle awake when he couldn¡¯t breathe out his nose. ¡°Huh, what...¡± he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. ¡°You dozed off, silly. We¡¯re trying to get you to bed,¡± Jillian explained, removing his hand from her thigh. He let out a long yawn, and apologized, ¡°Ah, sorry, didn¡¯t sleep well last night, so I¡¯m pretty tired.¡± She smiled sympathetically. ¡°It¡¯s alright, baby. Come on, let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± Standing up, she took Jason¡¯s hand and attempted to help him off the couch. Jason smiled and slowly got to his feet, letting Jillian do what she could to pull him up. Once standing, he allowed some of his weight to rest on her. ¡°Oh god¡so heavy,¡± she groaned followed by a laugh as she wrapped her arms around his waist to steady him. Laughing as well, Jason returned to normal, taking his weight off of her. ¡°Haha, sorry about that. Just wanted to test your ability to actually carry me to bed.¡± He smiled down at her, then looked back at his mother, who was watching them with a gentle smile, giving Jason a nod. He understood this as her accepting their relationship. For better or for worse, she would let her son explore this new experience with her blessing. Jason couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by his mother¡¯s acceptance. Her opinion mattered more than anyone else when it came to aspects of his life. To see her smiling at them like this meant everything to him. ¡°Well, I¡¯m heading to bed. Goodnight, mom,¡± Jason said, moving off Jillian and over to hug his mother ¡°Goodnight, sweetie,¡± she replied, giving her son a firm hug before they parted. As Jillian walked up next to Jason, she leaned against him and smiled before waving goodnight to Katia. Then, as the two started down the hall... ¡°Um, excuse me, where are you two going?¡° The couple froze and looked back at Katia a bit wide eyed. ¡°Are the two of you really just gonna go into the room together right in front of me?¡± she said angrily as she stood there with her hands on her hips. ¡°Oh... ummm.¡± Jason began, and Jillian blushed brightly. It just felt so normal going to bed with him, Jillian didn¡¯t even realize how strange it might seem. Katia already knew they had been fooling around before, but now they had taken it even further and had sex just earlier today. Not that Katia was aware of that, of course. Katia maintained a stern expression for a few moments, watching the two squirm uncomfortably before her. She eventually burst into a fit of giggles. ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯m sorry haha, I couldn¡¯t resist,¡± Katia laughed a little bit longer, while the couple looked at each other then back at her. ¡°You¡¯re both adults and I understand that if you didn¡¯t do things here, you¡¯d just find somewhere else, or sneak in later while I¡¯m asleep,¡± she said, the last part stinging a bit since Jillian had snuck many times into his room before. "At least I know you¡¯re being safe... right?" Katia added, her expression turning more serious. ¡°We are, promise,¡± Jillian chimed in with a smile that seemed genuine. Jason looked over at her, still a tad curious about the whole pregnancy thing. Though he figured he was just being paranoid. Katia smiled back at Jillian and nodded. ¡°Good, don¡¯t stay up too late you two, okay?¡± They both nodded and exchanged final goodnights before making their way back down the hallway to Jason¡¯s room. Once behind closed doors, they shared a moment of laughter. ¡°Well, that was friggin¡¯ awkward,¡± Jillian said, still chuckling. Jason laughed a bit as well, nodding in agreement. ¡°Yeah, when she stopped us, I honestly thought she was going to send you home.¡± ¡°Same here. I would¡¯ve felt bad sneaking back in,¡± she replied softly. Jason quickly took off his long-sleeve shirt and tossed it into the hamper. He looked over at Jillian, and noticed she still had his track suit on, but it was unzipped, revealing she wasn¡¯t wearing a thing underneath. The small mounds of her small chest were barely covered by the oversized jacket as she sat on the bed, looking up at him with a content smile. He smiled back at her feeling a little awkward. ¡°What?¡± he asked, a small laugh following his question. ¡°Oh, nothing... Just thinking,¡± she replied innocently. He simply shrugged and chuckled. Walking over, he turned out the light. Since there wasn¡¯t much moonlight tonight, he could hear her crawling into bed while undressing more. He followed suit and got into bed as well, crawling under the covers, and rested on his back Almost immediately, Jillian moved closer to Jason, slipping in between his arm and chest. Without her jacket, her warm bare skin met his, her soft curls splayed out against his chest as she rested her head atop it. They lay together silently for a moment before Jillian spoke softly, breaking the quiet. ¡°You can go straight to sleep if you want.¡± Jillian¡¯s meaning was clear; asking him if he was interested in fooling around or something more. After a brief pause, Jason finally spoke up with something she wasn¡¯t quite expecting. ¡°Can I ask you something that¡¯s been on my mind for a while?¡± In the dimly lit room, he could feel her head turning slightly to look at him. ¡°Um sure, what¡¯s up babe?¡± Jillian¡¯s voice carried a hint of concern. Jason took a deep breath before coming out with his question. ¡°Why don¡¯t I need to worry about getting you pregnant, Jill?¡± Chapter 40.5: When Secrets Come to Light, Painful Truths are Revealed She almost sensed it approaching, the inevitable conversation she¡¯d have to somehow navigate. She really hoped Jason might just accept it and be happy they could do it raw without worry. But Jason wasn¡¯t that kind of guy. How the sex felt wasn¡¯t important to him. He was far more concerned with the why than the act itself. She had hoped for maybe a few months or a year of happiness before potentially ruining everything. Jillian and Jason, unknowingly, had found themselves at a pivotal moment in their relationship, one she hoped would not end with their relationship burning to the ground. She¡¯d had nearly four years to come to terms with her situation, and now it was time to face the painful truth. Jason felt something wet on his chest as Jillian muttered a frustrated curse. ¡°Fuck,¡± she whispered before quickly sitting up, sniffing, and wiping away the tears. She was so tired of this constant emotional bullshit. It felt like crying had become a daily routine, and her eyes ached from overuse. Jason quickly sat up beside her. ¡°Hey, hey, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m sorry. You don¡¯t have to tell me right now if it''s too painful.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but wonder why she was suddenly crying about being asked the question. It didn¡¯t really bode well for the answer. He got up and walked over to turn the room light back on before turning back to the bed. Jillian moved to sit on her knees in bed. Topless, but still had her pajama bottoms on. She wiped at her eyes, struggling to fight back tears. Jason climbed back onto the bed and sat in front of her. Reaching out, one hand stroked her thigh while the other took one of her hands in his own. ¡°Jill, hey, it¡¯s okay. I didn¡¯t realize it was such a sensitive subject for you. I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, speaking gently to her. When she was sad it was never fun, but now it hurt that much more that she was his. Jillian sniffled softly and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just... a really shitty memory.¡± She gave Jason¡¯s hand a tight squeeze with both of hers for a moment. Jillian leaned into him, and wrapped her arms around his torso. He quickly enveloped her in a comforting embrace. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand. I know you¡¯ve been through a lot. Whenever you¡¯re ready to talk about it, I¡¯ll be here for you. It doesn¡¯t have to be tonight.¡± His sweet, understanding words eased a little tension but didn¡¯t do much to ease the bundle of nerves inside of her. She held onto him a little tighter and nestled against his chest more. She found solace in his wonderful scent. The mix of his shower-fresh aroma and natural musk, had a sort of calming effect on her by directing her mind in other directions at least. She shook her head still pressed against his chest. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Jason asked, a little confused. She slowly tilted her head back from his chest to look up at him. ¡°It means I need to tell you before we go further¡ I can¡¯t be so selfish anymore¡¡± Jillian said, her lower lips quivering. ¡°It was about a few months after I moved in with that man I told you about.¡± He immediately recalled the man who had abused her until she lost all sense of self-worth. ¡°He attempted to get me pregnant... numerous times.¡± She glanced down, feeling disgusted with herself, despite the relief that he hadn¡¯t succeeded. Jason¡¯s jaw clenched in anger at the thought. ¡°After a few months of trying, he became increasingly frustrated. He would yell about how he already had three kids and had been tested, so it couldn¡¯t be him,¡± Jillian trembled, and Jason could sense where this was leading. A sudden wave of nausea washed over him, but he never let go of her. Jason remained quiet, unwilling to jump to conclusions before Jillian finished speaking. ¡°He called in a private physician, who examined me and ran some tests¡¡± Jason¡¯s teeth groaned in stress as he clenched even harder as Jillian continued, visibly exerting herself to articulate. She had to stop for a moment to take a deep, shaky breath. When he saw how much she was struggling and the pain on her face. His jaw slowly relaxed; this had to be even more difficult for her to tell. Karma had certainly dealt her a tough hand, leaving nearly visible mental scars as evidence. Jillian stumbled over her words, suddenly finding herself at a loss. She¡¯d never voiced these events aloud, not even to herself. How could she say them in front of Jason? She closed her eyes, grappling with the difficulty of expressing herself. ¡°I... I don¡¯t think I can do this. I can¡¯t!¡± she cried out in a sob, her mind racing with fear. Suddenly she felt a gentle pressure pressing her tighter against him, she opened her eyes to find herself still wrapped in Jason''s comforting presence. His warm hands cradled her head, as he then pulled her away slightly and his lips pressed softly into her forehead. When he pulled back, she was met with his understanding gaze. Her mouth was slightly agape, vision blurred as tears continued to escape her eyes. She was stunned by his next words. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡Tell me, let me share your burden, Jill,¡± Jason murmured softly. Jillian couldn¡¯t hold back the flood of tears as his words hit her. She buried her face in his chest and let out a long wail of agony, followed by heavy sobs of pain. She felt unworthy of receiving such sweet words from him. It was increasingly difficult to deny her feelings for this sweet but complicated person whose arms were once again wrapped tightly around her. After a few minutes, she finally calmed down to a point where she slowly pulled back. Jillian looked up at Jason as she sniffled. His hands moved up to cradle her face, his thumbs gently brushing away her tears. She closed her eyes for a moment and leaned into his touch and took a deep breath before she finally continued. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°He did some tests, including blood work and an ultrasound. Next week, Luis...¡± She hesitated, the sound of his name still painful. ¡°He threw the results at me, the results were circled in red marker... It said I couldn¡¯t conceive, that I was¡infertile.¡± Closing her eyes, she leaned into his comforting touch, more tears slipping down her cheeks as the memory tore at her sanity. Jason had already guessed what Jillian was going to say, and he understood the pain it caused her. With her deep love for her family, he could only imagine how much she might have longed to have started one of her own. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jill. You didn¡¯t deserve that and I don¡¯t want to hear you say that you do,¡± he gently whispered to her then leaned in and pressed his lips against hers softly. All he wanted now was to relieve some of the pain she was enduring. He could feel her try to turn away from his kiss like she didn¡¯t deserve it. She cried harder for a moment, her body almost limp, held up by his hands on her cheeks alone. Jason shifted, pulling her onto his lap so she could fully lean against him. His embrace was the only thing keeping her upright as her arms hung loosely at her sides. He held her tight against him, trying to make her feel secure in his arms. The two sat there in silence for over half an hour, simply letting Jillian recover from the moment as long as she needed. Jason could feel sleep trying to take over a few times, but he resisted, forcing himself to stay awake for now. Eventually, she slowly regained her senses, and her hands slowly moved up from their limp state to hold on to one of his arms that held her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Jason...¡± she said weakly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I''m not going anywhere, Jill,¡± he whispered back to her. She let out another soft whimper, but gripped his arm a little tighter. ¡°When... he found out... He said... No one would ever love someone as worthless as me. If I couldn¡¯t even give him children, he should just throw me out on the street.¡± Jason held her a bit tighter at these awful words. ¡°But then he said he would take mercy on me. Let me stay there as long as I did what he said. That he might learn to love me if I worked hard to please him.¡± She turned her head and pushed her face deeper into his chest again.¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she whimpered. Jason¡¯s sadness for Jillian morphed swiftly into a seething anger. While he may not have been well-versed in relationships, what she described was very clearly abusive manipulation. The man in question was a fucking demon, exploiting such a devastating revelation to control her like a puppet. Jason¡¯s jaw clenched, his teeth audibly grinding and groaning under the pressure. ¡°Jillian, you don¡¯t need to apologize. If this is how he treated you, then I hesitate to even call him a human. It seems like he stooped to any level to control you. I can only imagine how little choice you had in the matter. Grrrr I swear if I ever get my hands on that cock sucking son of a¡¡± His voice trailed off into a growl, overwhelmed by the desire to inflict great pain on this Luis son of a bitch. Jillian slowly looked back up at Jason¡¯s face, noticing the rage etched across his features. She gently reached up and placed her hand on his cheek interrupting his anger. His gaze quickly shifted downward to meet hers, and she met it with a somber expression. ¡°Please... I don¡¯t want to think about him anymore... Can you just tell me... Knowing what you know now¡ Could you one day ever love someone like me?¡° Her voice was steady but tinged with a great sadness as she posed her question to him. The anger melted from Jason¡¯s face, leaving behind a look of astonishment. He gazed down at her, the woman in his arms, struck dumb by her vulnerability. ¡°Jill¡I,¡± Jason paused, feeling a rush of emotions within him making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before continuing. ¡°Jill, I can¡¯t quite wrap my head around all this. How you, out of everyone, have managed to make me feel so....¡± Jason paused, letting out a grunt of frustration trying to get his feelings out. ¡°It¡¯s just like I¡¯ve gone from resenting and cursing your name almost every day...¡± He noticed Jillian¡¯s lower lip trembling slightly as he spoke, her eyes were full of fear and worry. ¡°To realizing just how badly I¡¯m falling for you. It¡¯s confusing, and I am not sure if what I am doing is right. But what I do know is that even after everything you¡¯ve shared with me, these feelings haven¡¯t changed.¡± Jason met her gaze once more. She searched his trying to understand what he was saying like she couldn¡¯t accept those words. ¡°Jill, it feels like I¡¯m already in love with you,¡± Jason said bluntly. Jillian¡¯s eyes suddenly closed, and tears quickly escaped, glistening like crystals in the light. She gave him a weak smile before her head fell back and her body fell completely limp like a rag doll. Jason¡¯s whole body clenched as Jillian went limp in his arms, this time completely. It honestly felt like she suddenly died. ¡°Jill!¡± he shouted and pulled her against him. He quickly checked her pulse and felt her breathing. Relief washed over him as it appeared that she had just fainted or fell asleep. ¡°Fuck... Don¡¯t scare me like that,¡± he whispered to her, taking a deep breath trying to calm down. Unsure of what to do next, he gently laid her back down in bed and covered her with the blankets. ¡°I really hope you remember all of this, and I won¡¯t have to recap everything in the morning,¡± he mumbled as he stood up, flicked off the light switch, and returned the room to darkness. Jason let out a yawn and climbed back into bed where he laid on his back for a moment. Something felt off when he realized that Jillian was completely unconscious, so she wouldn¡¯t be snuggling up to him as usual. Rolling onto his side to face her, he simply lay there, staring at the dark silhouette of her face. Yet, his brain easily showed him what she looked like lying there. From the red curls framing her face as she rested on the pillow, to the adorable freckles that dotted the pale skin. Her gentle breathing filled the quiet room. He found himself gazing at her for what felt like an eternity. ¡°I must be losing it, or maybe I¡¯m trapped in some overly bizarre dream... maybe I''m in a coma,¡± he mused quietly. ¡°Even if it is, this pounding in my chest won¡¯t stop. Jillian Lins, is my girlfriend ¨C if I haven¡¯t gone insane yet, I am probably getting pretty close now,¡± he chuckled softly to himself. ¡°Love is scary.¡± Jason leaned over and gently kissed Jillian on the cheek. ¡°Good night,¡± he murmured softly. He wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her against his chest. ¡°So it¡¯s come to this¡ªtalking and cuddling with you passed out for my own comfort¡What have you done to me, you bitch haha,¡± he teased quietly, a smile on his face, nuzzling his lips against her head. He placed several more tender kisses against the side of her head before settling down beside her. Exhaustion quickly washed over him, and as he finally allowed his eyes to close, sleep claimed him almost immediately. The two drifted off once again in the small bed from his childhood adorned with Mega Man sheets. Chapter 41: A New Day Dawns, a New Hope Ariseséˆ¥?long With Other Things. Jillian¡¯s eyes shot open, and she gasped as she woke up suddenly, blinking in the surrounding darkness. ¡°Huh¡what''s going on,¡± she said quietly. Laying there, she tried to sit up, but something heavy was pinning her to the bed. She was about to panic, but gradually, shapes finally emerged from the darkness as her vision adjusted. The bedroom quickly became familiar, and reaching down, she found what was pinning her to the bed. It was a massive, warm arm wrapped around her, and it all finally began coming back to her as the confusion she felt faded. Glancing to the side, Jillian found herself inches away from a familiar face. She was still in Jason¡¯s bed, with him peacefully asleep and snoring softly beside her. Memories flooded back of the moments before she passed out. How she had confided in him about her inability to have children, about Luis¡¯s manipulation, and how Jason had said¡ some things. Her cheeks warmed to uncomfortable levels as she thought about those words and wondered why he was so kind to her. What had she done to deserve this? For once, she meant the phrase in a positive sense. What good had she done to earn his forgiveness, his affection, to being treated like she was his prized possession? Maybe it was all in her perception, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling thoroughly perplexed by his sweetness. As Jillian gazed at his face in the dim light, she nervously chewed on her thumbnail, worried she would somehow fuck things up again. ¡°Why do you care so much, you idiot?¡± she whispered, the feeling of self doubt weighing down on her. After all, how could anyone ever feel like Jason does about her? ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is a bad idea? What about your future? Don¡¯t you want kids? I know your mom does.¡± Her mind raced with questions, wishing for answers. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just enjoying the moment, knowing it won¡¯t last and trying to spare my feelings?¡± she murmured to herself, barely audible in the quiet room. Suddenly, Jason took a deep breath, and his arms held her even tighter, closing the gap between them as they slept. The feeling of safety she got from his tight embrace pushed away her worries and fears. With the sound of his steady breathing and the soft thuds of his heartbeat, Jillian found peace nestled in his arms, pressed against his chest. Jillian¡¯s heart quickened as he stirred in his sleep, briefly thinking he might have heard her. But as he smacked his lips slightly and buried his face in her hair, she gradually relaxed. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a smile cross her face at how cute he was snuggling with her. It quickly dispelled her anxiety. Nestling into his embrace, she sidled closer to Jason, wrapping her arms around him and pulling herself snugly against his comforting warmth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason. But even if you are planning to leave me when the time comes and you realize your mistake¡ I¡¯m going to indulge in everything you give me till then,¡± she murmured softly. His hand suddenly moved to grab her butt. Jillian¡¯s head snapped back as she glared up at him, thinking he was just pretending to be asleep again. This time, his eyes remained closed as he softly snored. She observed him closely, trying to determine if he was truly still asleep. It wasn¡¯t until his hand gripped her backside with such an unexpected force that her entire body jolted. She barely contained a yelp. The overly firm grip had caught her off guard, causing a twinge of discomfort. Surprisingly, her thick backside, which was quite resilient to being spanked with a paddle, now stung from the intense pressure of his iron grip. While not unbearable, the discomfort intensified as his grip persisted. ¡°Okay, time to let go. Come on, let''s not do this again. Wake up and release the booty,¡± she said softly, lightly tapping the arm that clung to her. His hand only tightened its grip, causing her to wince slightly. ¡°Jase, please. It¡¯s really starting to hurt!¡± she said, a bit louder this time. Mumbling slightly, Jason continued to hold on to Jillian¡¯s butt. She didn¡¯t want to have to get aggressive, but this was beyond discomfort and verging on painful. Gripping a handful of chest hair, she yanked back hard. His body twitched violently, and he finally let go. ¡°Nnngh¡ wha?¡± he mumbled in a pained tone, rubbing the spot where she had yanked his chest hair. ¡°What the hell, Jason? You grabbed my ass really hard! Were you really asleep?¡± she asked, her tone full of annoyance. He just laid there still a bit bleary, trying to understand what she was saying. ¡°I was? Oh... sorry. I guess I don¡¯t reme...you¡¯re awake?!¡± He moved his hands to her shoulders, pushing her back slightly and looking at her. ¡°Are you okay? Do you remember anything before you passed out?¡± His tone was full of worry. ¡°I¡¯m fine, and yeah, I remember,¡± she replied, her voice becoming timid again. Jason let out a long yawn, feeling the weight of the early morning hour. ¡°¡Well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re... alright,¡± he managed between yawns. ¡°I was really worried when you passed out... Ugh, what time is it?¡± Another yawn escaped him as he glanced outside, it was still pitch black. ¡°It¡¯s probably still pretty early. I¡¯m sorry for waking you up and grabbing your hair; you just wouldn¡¯t let go,¡± Jillian softly apologized, tenderly stroking the spot where she had grabbed his chest hair. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m sorry too. I didn¡¯t realize... you sound pretty awake, though.¡± ¡°Yeah, I slept through most of the day yesterday, so I guess I couldn¡¯t stay asleep. But please, it¡¯s alright. Get some sleep, baby.¡± Moving closer, she gave him a soft kiss on the lips. Jason shook his head, reaching up and gently stroking her hair. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you¡¯re up, I want to be too,¡± he said despite his yawns betraying his tiredness. ¡°Mmmhmm, as nice as that sounds, I doubt you¡¯ll be awake for long,¡± Jillian teased with a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. I¡¯ve pulled many all-nighters before. Not fun, but manageable,¡± he boasted, stifling his yawns this time. She chuckled softly. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you have ever managed an all nighter with me before. So how can you be sure?¡± she asked in a sweet, tempting tone. ¡°Oh? And what exactly does an all nighter with you en-¡± Jason was interrupted as her hand trailed down his body under the waistband of his sleep pants and along his flaccid length, sending a shiver through him at her touch. ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± he said through a pleased groan as she teased him for a bit. ¡°Haha, doesn¡¯t sound like you¡¯re complaining,¡± she giggled before withdrawing her hand altogether. ¡°As much as I want to, you need some sleep, babe. I¡¯ll be here in the morning for that.¡± Jason was taken aback, not expecting her to actually stop so abruptly. ¡°Come on, lay on your stomach. I¡¯ll give you a massage to help you sleep,¡± she suggested, moving away slightly. With a soft chuckle, Jason watched her in the dim light. ¡°I probably won''t fall asleep if I¡¯m on my stomach, but if you¡¯re insisting...¡± He was trying to be more receptive to gestures of kindness. From people he was close to, at least. ¡°I do insist. Now go on, boy, roll over,¡± she playfully said in a southern accent, prompting laughter from both as Jason shifted onto his stomach and adjusted his pillow for comfort. ¡°Well now, ain¡¯t that just a fine lookin slab of meat,¡± she quipped, giving his butt a spank. His body jolted, and he responded with a sharp, ¡°What the fuck!¡± His tone lacked the playfulness they¡¯d shared moments before, causing her to flinch and quickly withdraw her hand, reminded of their tense first encounter. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± she stammered slightly, pulling away. Jason took a moment to process what had just occurred. He had the unfortunate experience of receiving many unexpected spankings from individuals, both women and men, who lacked boundaries. Mostly in crowded areas where people felt emboldened that they wouldn¡¯t get caught. His instinctual reaction was always anger. He rolled to his side to look at her. ¡°Jill, no I¡¯m sorry. I swear I¡¯m not angry. It caught me off guard and I¡¯m so accustomed to reacting with anger when it happens. Fuck, I really didn¡¯t mean to snap,¡± he apologized as he looked up at her. Jillian¡¯s heart rate slowed upon hearing his apology. However, it did make her rather curious. ¡°I understand, but... how often does this happen for you to react so¡instantly?¡± Jason¡¯s scowl hinted at the answer to the question. ¡°It¡¯s¡ quite a bit more than you would expect,¡± he admitted. Jillian¡¯s expression shifted, a mix of sympathy and frustration. ¡°Really? I know you told me that you get a lot of women that approach you, but does this happen like every time you go out?¡± Her inquiry was more of a confirmation, though she already suspected the answer. ¡°Not every time, but it tends to happen more as the night wears on and people get more and more drunk. Especially when I have to navigate through a crowd,¡± he explained. The memory of Marco dragging him to a cougar bar without telling him flashed through his mind. It only took him fifteen minutes to decide he¡¯d had enough of being subjected to their groping, spanking, and other unwelcome advances. ¡°How¡ dare¡ they touch my man!¡± Jillian seethed inwardly as she listened to him, possessiveness coursing through her like they had been dating back then. Moving closer to Jason, she gently placed her hands on his cheeks, turning his attention to her. ¡°From now on, it¡¯s only me who gets to touch your butt, got it?¡° Her tone was surprisingly firm. Even though Jason wasn¡¯t particularly into that kind of thing, it had kind of become a complex. ¡°Uh, okay, I guess. Not like I ask them too...¡± Jason said, followed by a stifled yawn, feeling another sudden wave of drowsiness. ¡°Forget about it. Just lay down on your stomach. I promised you a massage, and that¡¯s what you are getting,¡± she insisted, nudging him gently. Jason decided to just do what she asked. He was too tired to argue, not that he wanted to. Once he was lying down on his stomach, he let out a soft grunt as her weight landed firmly on his lower back. Jillian¡¯s hands then pressed into his back. He wasn¡¯t really expecting much since her hands were pretty small, and she wasn¡¯t that strong. To his surprise, he felt an enormous pressure suddenly hit him in a part of his back that he couldn¡¯t even define. ¡°Oh, shit.¡± His voice was strained, as it felt like he had all his breath suddenly stolen from him. ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s a really nasty knot right here.¡± Then he felt a twisting, almost stabbing motion dive into the muscles around his shoulder blades near his spine. His hands clenched onto the pillow for dear life, feeling like he was about to break. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°J-ill¡ wai-¡± he wheezed out. ¡°Give me a sec,¡± Jillian said, pausing before applying pressure to his back with her knuckle. After a moment, she eased off, causing Jason to draw in a sharp breath. ¡°What the actual¡ That friggin sucked! Was that supposed to lull me to sleep?¡± he said, taking large gulps of air as he quickly recovered his breath. ¡°Sorry about that. There was a knot in your back muscle that required a rougher touch. Should I kiss it better?¡± With a giggle, she leaned down and kissed the spot on his back. ¡°I don¡¯t have a ton of experience giving massages, but I have given enough to pick up a few things. This next part isn¡¯t exactly professional, but I thought you might like it,¡± she said, leaning in closer, her bare chest pressing against his back. This new technique was certainly an improvement from the previous part of the massage, as the sensation of her lips peppered the back and sides of his neck. ¡°That feels really good,¡± he murmured with his eyes closed. He could feel her nipples, always at least slightly firm, gently pressing into his back, her small breasts yielding just enough. Her soft hands rubbed along his arms and sides, adding to the relaxation. Amidst all this, he started becoming aroused rather quickly, yet also drifting off to sleep. Eventually, sleep triumphed, and his body visibly relaxed as he fell asleep under her. Jillian, however, remained awake, continuing to caress him and playfully tease him until she was interrupted by a rather loud and ragged snore followed by the snort of being unable to breathe out his nose. Jason¡¯s sudden snore caught Jillian off guard. She was surprised even more when he quickly rolled to his side, inadvertently tossing Jillian to the other side of the small bed with a yelp. It seemed he wasn¡¯t exaggerating about his discomfort at sleeping on his stomach. Rather than getting upset, she laughed softly at the scene. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m dating a grizzly bear,¡± she joked, crawling back towards him as he lay on his side, facing away. She leaned over him and planted a kiss on his cheek before grabbing her phone from her jacket. She laid back down but sideways on the bed draping her legs over the sleeping man. There wasn¡¯t much to do aside from browsing some socials. After about an hour, she let out a long yawn and figured it was time to try and get back to sleep. Jillian snuggled up behind Jason, wrapping her arm around his midsection. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let herself enjoy the feeling of falling asleep to the man who was so important to her now. As the sun crept into the room through the blinds, Jason slowly roused from his slumber. He rolled onto his back, and a hand reached out for Jillian beside him. She lay sprawled out near the edge of the small bed, her body almost pressed to the wall with the pillow over her head instead of under it. He opened his eyes a little to look over at her. It took him a moment to realize what he was looking at. He chuckled softly at the sight. However, his amusement was short-lived as with his awakening, another part of him had also woken up to burden him with its presence. As Jason lay there, he felt his sleep pants stretch to keep his erection in check. He let out a sigh and draped an arm over his eyes, and tried to will it away. But this wasn¡¯t really the usual way he woke up. ¡°Of course,¡± he whispered. But he couldn¡¯t ignore the burgeoning desire stirring within him as his morning wood throbbed, demanding attention. So his eyes opened once more, and he glanced over at Jillian, still fast asleep beside him. Moistening his lips, hunger gnawed at him. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t wake her up. That would be rude,¡± he told himself quietly. But at this point, it was too late. He was no longer in control. He took a deep breath and let his desires take control. Jason slowly and carefully slid to the bottom of the bed while under the covers. Greeted by the sight of Jillian¡¯s pajama bottoms already pulled halfway down her butt. As if it was a sign, he felt another surge of desire. This would be his first time initiating anything so intimate like this, but he couldn¡¯t resist. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad,¡± he whispered, his mouth salivating at the plans he had. Jason reached out and gently pulled Jillian¡¯s pants down. He got them just past the midpoint of her soft, unfairly plump, freckled thighs without much issue. Another rush of anticipation mixed with a hint of apprehension flashed through him. ¡°She wants you to be assertive. So stop being a wuss and show her you want her just as much as she does you,¡± Jason gave himself an internal pep talk as he pushed himself up toward the object of his desire. He swallowed nervously as he adjusted her legs, pulling them apart and making her roll onto her back. She let out a long soft sigh escape her lips, reminding him to hurry if he wanted to surprise her. Jason''s trying to hide under a sheet was like hiding an elephant under a rug. It covered most of him, but it was more than obvious he was under there. When Jillian woke up enough to move the pillow from her face with a tired groan, she saw the large bulge under the blanket that was now between her legs. She was greeted with confusion and by the time she realized her legs were being pushed wide apart, it was too late. She felt a sudden jolt of pleasure as something wet slipped past the lips of her pussy. ¡°What the- aahhhnng!¡± her cry of surprise quickly shifted into a moan of pleasure, and her hips bucked against his face. The next sound from her mouth was a pleased purr. She certainly didn¡¯t expect him to make such a move. But she certainly wasn¡¯t upset. Jillian skillfully used her feet and toes to remove her pajama bottoms, proceeding with deliberate ease, flicking the pants to the side. His lack of experience was obvious, given the repeated running of his tongue up and down. While still pleasurable, a bit of guidance never hurt. She reached down and pushed on the back of his head. ¡°Right there, baby,¡± she instructed as she moved his mouth up to focus on her clit. A sharper gasp escaped her lips as his tongue found her most sensitive spot. ¡°Mmmnn, yeah baby, just like that. Keep going,¡± she praised him and his efforts. Cunnilingus was something she hadn¡¯t received since close to high school, so it was a delight to receive it now from a partner who seemed eager to please. Jillian continued to guide Jason with gentle pushes to where she felt the most pleasure. His hands slid down, and his large hands wrapped around her large butt. He easily lifted her slightly, his fingers spreading her pussy and pulling her even more against his mouth. Like he needed it to breathe, and letting her go wasn¡¯t an option. Jillian tilted her head back, biting her lip as she enjoyed being serviced, letting out soft whimpers when he hit a good spot. With how big and strong he was and how small she was. She found herself fantasizing about the variety of positions they could try together. Though it made her feel a bit slutty, she wanted this intimate connection with him. So, so badly. As Jason explored her now drenched tunnel with his tongue, Jillian couldn¡¯t help but express her pleasure with a barely contained loud moan, her hands gripping his hair. She felt her body reach climax, splashing his face with her release as her back arched and hips bucked against his lips. Her body crashed to the bed, trying to catch her breath. ¡°God, that felt so good, baby,¡± she whispered gratefully, with a smile plastered on her face. Before she could say anything else, his lips suddenly met hers, surprising her with a deep kiss. She responded in turn eagerly, tasting herself as her tongue invaded his mouth. her arms wrapped around his neck as they indulged in each other. ¡°You¡¯re so feisty this morning¡ I love it,¡± she murmured between kisses, loving this sudden aggressive desire he had for her. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Jason grinned, planting another kiss on her lips. ¡°Well, I guess you bring it out of me ''cause it turns me on so much hearing you moan. I don''t think I can hold back anymore.¡± The warning came only shortly before his cock suddenly pushed against her. His thick head slipped up and spread her pussy lips apart. It elicited a gasp from her as he rubbed against her already sensitive nub. ¡°Ah, Jase!...¡± she gasped, gently placing her hands on his hips to slow things down for a moment. He chuckled, finding her reaction amusing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, twitchy?¡± he teased, planting kisses along her jawline. ¡°Umm well, I just came from you attacking my clit, so it''s kinda super friggin sensitive right now. So give me a moment... or just stick it in, you jerk,¡± she joked, earning a laugh from him as he continued to shower her with affection, planting more kisses along her neck. Jillian was very much enjoying Jason¡¯s aggressive actions so far. He had improved at a very quick pace from the short time they had been together. Taking charge, she gently guided his shaft away from her clit. With a subtle push against his hips, he eased off a bit. Once he did, she angled his tip toward her soaked entrance and.. ¡°Go slow, please?¡± she asked cautiously, but he only laughed softly, kissing her on the lips again. As she felt him fill her slowly, the sensation was much more pleasurable than that first time, likely due to the foreplay he had provided. ¡°Mmm, oh fuck that feels amazing,¡± she murmured as he continued to enter her slowly, ensuring not to cause her any discomfort. Her hands roamed up his sides, tracing along his toned physique with her nails. ¡°Your pussy feels so good, babe,¡± Jason groaned in pleasure as he eased in just a bit more, then pulled back before going too deep and repeated the motion. He wrapped his arms around her back and grabbed her shoulders from behind. Jillian barely realized the danger of her position, but it was just a fleeting moment of concern passing through her. However, she took a deep breath and playfully patted the man above her to get his attention. ¡°Remember, baby, take it easy. I am a shallow bitch, and you are a giant dick,¡± she teased with a giggle, earning a chuckle from him. ¡°Haha, how nice of you to remind me,¡± he retorted before leaning in for a kiss. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll be careful, I promise,¡± he assured her, returning her smile before their lips met. Jason continued to move passionately with Jillian, their connection growing deeper with each movement. Ragged moans escaped her lips as they found the perfect rhythm. His breath mingled with hers as he showered her with kisses and nibbles. The pace quickened, fueled by their shared desire, and Jillian quickly found herself reaching climax once more. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and let out a scream of pleasure against his chest. Thankfully, her voice was mostly muffled by this. Her orgasm had her insides clamping down on the massive cock inside of her. Jason didn¡¯t falter or slow down, drawing more pleasure from her tightening cunt as he continued to thrust into her. Jillian trembled with intense pleasure as he fucked her for all he was worth. Each thrust sent waves of ecstasy through her body, extending her orgasm that wracked her body. She clung to him, unable to pull her mouth from his chest, or she knew she would scream more than loud enough to wake Katia if she wasn¡¯t up already. Her legs lost the strength needed to hang on to his powerful movements. She felt like she was going to lose her mind entirely as he continued to pound her relentlessly. Finally, her arms gave out, and she collapsed back onto the bed, whimpering with every deep penetration. She had to cover her own mouth to avoid screaming aloud. With her eyes squeezed shut tight, she struggled to maintain any composure. When it felt like she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore, she felt Jason¡¯s thrusts slow and his grunts become more pronounced. ¡°Mmm, use that big cock to pump me full of cum, baby. Please!¡± she whined and begged loudly, pulling him into a kiss as he responded eagerly. With each thrust, he delved deeper, continuing until she reacted with a slight flinch. After a few final deeper thrusts, he fulfilled her wish and released all he had inside her, shooting thick ropes of hot cum into her, flooding her depths. Jillian let out a pleased moan as she felt the warmth spread through her abdomen. Jason let out one last moan with his final spurt before eventually relaxing and going a bit limp atop her. Jillian welcomed his weight, enjoying the sensation of him pressing down on her. She showered his neck and shoulder with several affectionate kisses and nibbles. ¡°That was amazing¡ What a way to wake up. But now I¡¯m ready for bed, haha,¡± Jason said with a satisfied sigh, prompting Jillian to giggle as they shared another kiss. ¡°Mmm I quite enjoyed the wake up call. Thank you, baby,¡± she cooed, peppering him with more kisses. ¡°Heh, you really don¡¯t need to thank me,¡± Jason pushed himself to the side, making Jillian let out one last moan of pleasure as his dick slipped out of her. He rolled over with a satisfied smile on his face. ¡°It''s hard to understate just how much I enjoyed all of that,¡± he said, reaching over and giving her hand a soft squeeze. Jillian let out a soft giggle before moving to hover over his crotch. ¡°What¡¯er yo-Auuughhh--¡± He was cut off when her mouth suddenly engulfed his cock. She took him as deep as she could, cleaning his length of both of their fluids that coated it. Jason grit his teeth as she sucked on his tip as she came off with a kissing noise, making his whole body shiver. Swallowing every last drop, she finished with a kiss on the side of his shaft. ¡°You make me happy,¡± she whispered simply before kissing his cock once more. Jillian then looked around the room and spotted the towel Jason had used after his shower the other day, still hanging up to dry. She got up from the bed and grabbed the towel, bringing it back to the bed so they could both clean up as best they could. After tossing the towel in the hamper, they both settled back in bed for a bit longer. ¡°So, any plans for today before dinner tonight?¡± Jillian asked, laying her head on his chest and cuddling up against him. Her fingers teased and played with his dark chest hair. ¡°I¡¯m not sure... I¡¯ve never had a girlfriend before. What do people usually do?¡± he asked in return. Jillian chuckled at Jason, though her experience with relationships was limited to high school and abusive ones with awful people. ¡°Well, we just had sex, so that¡¯s checked off the list for the next hour,¡± she quipped, earning a laugh from him. ¡°So, is it a regular thing every hour?¡± ¡°Yeah, pretty much,¡± she nodded against him.¡°I mean, if you¡¯re available and have privacy, you should always use that time wisely, right?¡± The banter continued for a while until Jillian shifted gears, becoming more earnest. ¡°We are going out for dinner, so going out for lunch doesn¡¯t really fit. Hmmm, we could do a little shopping. Or we could just hang out at my house? It¡¯s just gonna be June, my mom, and Calvin.¡± She tilted her head to look at him, wondering what he thought. It was never the most popular option for most of her high school boyfriends because of the stink eye they would get from her parents, especially her dad. Jason thought for a moment before he nodded in agreement. ¡°Either works for me. I¡¯ve only been over to your house once as well.¡± Jillian smiled, snuggling into him. She seemed to get lost in thought momentarily, looking a little uncomfortable. ¡°So, I know I¡¯ve asked this before, but...¡± She started but stopped, seemingly out of worry. Jason just smiled and gave her a firm squeeze. ¡°I believe it¡¯s perfectly fine if you¡¯re happy. Your happiness is important to me. It¡¯s not like I''m unhappy either,¡± Jason responded to the unspoken question, prompting Jillian to tilt her head up to look at him. ¡°The fact you can already anticipate what I¡¯m going to ask before I even finish my sentence... Kind of pisses me off,¡± she teased with a pout, but Jason just laughed. ¡°Haha, well, get used to it. I¡¯ll be annoying you as long as we are together,¡± he joked, leaning forward to kiss her forehead as she continued to pout. ¡°Jerk,¡± she grumbled playfully before resting her head back down, a beaming smile returned to her face. Arms squeezing him as tight as possible. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go, Jason¡ ever.¡± Chapter 42: A Mostly Uneventful Day. It Had to Happen at Some Point. As they rose from bed, Jason took his time, getting a good stretch in as he stood. Standing nearby, Jillian reached down to retrieve her pajama pants from the floor. His gaze followed her movements, admiring the contours of her figure, eyes tracing along her body. The vibrant curls of her hair, and the delicate freckles dotting her features. His heart raced as he found himself captivated by her presence. A far cry from a little over a week ago where their sight of either would cause him to lash out in anger. Once she had her pants on, Jillian glanced over at Jason, who seemed to be lost in thought, staring at her butt. Their eyes met when he noticed her looking back at him, holding a silent exchange before Jillian broke into a gentle laugh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, goof?¡± she teased, an infectious grin plastered on her face. Jason snapped out of his light trance, blinking and shaking his head slightly. ¡°Nothing, sorry. I just got a little distracted,¡± he admitted, turning to his suitcase and pulling on some clean boxer briefs. He heard Jillian giggling about his momentary distraction, while pulling on his old jacket again, which was a tad embarrassing, but it seemed to be happening to him a lot lately. He got dressed in some black slacks and a comfy loose fitting pin striped button up. Once they were both fully dressed, just as he was about to open the door, she unexpectedly jumped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. ¡°What the...¡± Jason started, not mad, just a little surprised. ¡°Humor me? I¡¯ve always wanted to do something like this, but never had the chance... with a boyfriend, at least. Mika makes for a crappy horse,¡± she explained with a giggle. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t bother me,¡± Jason replied, grabbing onto her thighs, giving them a squeeze as he carried her out into the hallway, then the living room. Katia was already in the kitchen, whipping up breakfast, when Jason strolled in with Jillian piggybacking. ¡°Morning, Mom.¡± ¡°Morning, Katia,¡± they both chimed in cheerfully. Katia glanced over, a smile spreading across her face at the sight. ¡°Morning, you two. Hungry?¡± ¡°Starving,¡± Jillian replied, doing her best to stay cheerful and mend the wound that tore them apart. Katia chuckled softly. ¡°Well, there¡¯s fruit and toast on the table already. Eggs will be ready soon,¡± she said before turning back to focus on cooking. With practiced ease, she finished scrambling a heap of eggs and poured them into a pan while Jason carried Jillian over to the table. ¡°Your stop, ma¡¯am,¡± he announced, and was met with a dramatic sigh from Jillian. ¡°If I absolutely have to,¡± she teased, kissing him on the neck before hopping off his back onto the tiled floor. The two sat down at the table, enjoying some fruit and toast while engaging in light conversation about dinner. Katia quickly finished cooking the eggs. Walking over with the pan, she scooped a generous portion onto Jason¡¯s plate. Then going back to the stove, she filled Jillian¡¯s plate from a different pan. Everything seemed fine till a minor issue arose. ¡°Mom¡why do my eggs look different from hers?¡± Jason asked, visibly disappointed as he examined his plate of pale scrambled eggs. ¡°They¡¯re egg whites, sweetie. I added extra seasoning, so they should taste just fine,¡± his mother reassured him, eliciting a chuckle from Jillian as she dug into her fluffy yellow eggs. Captivated by his plate of disappointment, he couldn¡¯t help but stare. The yolk, the highlight and flavor center of the egg, was missing, stolen by some cruel twist of fate. ¡°What is life without proper eggs?¡± he grumbled silently. With a fork that felt heavier than usual, he speared a small pile of egg whites, sighing in resignation. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so dramatic, Jason,¡± Katia chided her son, placing her own yolk-less plate of eggs beside his. ¡°I could do with shedding a few pounds so we can do this together sweetie.¡± He grumbled a response about her being just fine as he reluctantly took a bite. The eggs were seasoned perfectly, and by all rights were delicious, but nothing could replace the missing yolk flavor. There was a disturbingly low amount of butter used as well, which only further depressed him. Over breakfast, Jillian outlined the day¡¯s plans and extended a dinner invite to Katia, who declined due to her commitment to volunteering at the local senior center. That made her wonder about Katia¡¯s situation. Despite not being of retirement age and not appearing wealthy, she dedicated her time to volunteering rather than working. Sensing Jillian¡¯s curiosity, Jason subtly tapped her with his foot under the table. He gave her a hard stare to try and make her drop the topic. Jason¡¯s perceptiveness bugged the ever living crap out of her sometimes. So she silently resolved to extract information from him later instead. Perhaps squeeze it out of him in more ways than one to satisfy her curiosity about Katia¡¯s situation. After breakfast, Jason and Jillian pitched in to tidy up the table and do the dishes. Despite a bit of resistance from his mother, they managed to get the job done efficiently this time. With the dishes completed, they said goodbye to Katia and made their way down the road to the Lins¡¯s house. Upon entering, they found the house nearly empty, as if they had just missed Ginny leaving to take Lonnie to school. Despite the eerie quietness of the spacious home, Jillian didn¡¯t seem fazed. As they entered the living room, they spotted June sitting on the couch, her back to them, engrossed in her laptop. ¡°Hey June, what¡¯s¡,¡± Jillian began, but her words trailed off. June nearly slammed her laptop shut and turned to find both her sister and Jason standing there, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion at her reaction. June¡¯s face flushed crimson as she gaped at them, then quickly signed, ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Her panic was evident even in her sign language. ¡°We were just planning to hang out here for a bit before dinner... Soooo, what were you up to, little sis?¡± Jillian asked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. ¡°Nothing,¡± June signed back, clutching her laptop to her chest, though her defensive posture only made her look that much more guilty.Jillian strolled over and leaned over the back of the couch, still grinning mischievously at her little sister. ¡°Come on, spill the tea, girl. You can tell your big sister, right?¡± June shook her head firmly, glancing briefly at Jason, who hovered nearby, trying to stay inconspicuous. Jillian glanced at him too. ¡°Hey, hun, can you go wait in my room for just a little bit? I¡¯ll come get you soon,¡± she asked Jason sweetly before refocusing on June. ¡°Sure, but where is your room?¡± he asked, unsure of the layout. ¡°Upstairs, down the hall, first door to the right,¡± she clarified quickly. Jason might have expressed some dissatisfaction about being dismissed so suddenly, but he found himself rather curious about Jillian¡¯s room. After all, Jillian had snuck into his room countless times, yet he had never gotten to see hers. ¡°Alright, just let me know when it¡¯s safe to come down, I guess,¡± he said with a shrug, turning to head for the stairs. He heard footsteps approaching rapidly from behind before he even put one foot on the stairs. He turned around and found arms wrapped around his neck and pulled into a kiss by Jillian. They kissed for a few moments before parting, both smiling as they looked into each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thanks, handsome. Wait for me,¡± she whispered cutely, giving him another peck before releasing him. With smiles, they went their separate ways: Jillian returned to her sister, and Jason made his way up the stairs. Walking into the bedroom, Jason took in the rather girly atmosphere of the room. The walls were adorned with posters, photos, and various decorations, giving the room a personal touch. Two beds occupied opposite corners, making it clear that the sisters who lived here shared the space. Jason often wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. His parents had hinted that he was their miracle baby, but they never elaborated on why they hadn¡¯t had more children. As he glanced at the bed with the simpler sheets, he noticed a collection of pictures above the headboard. Most of them featured a teenage Jillian, her familiar face smiling back at him. There were also a ton of Mika photos on the wall, including one where a rather young Jillian and Mika were making a heart shape with their hands. Mika did not look happy about it. She looked quite different without all the tattoos and piercings that she had now. As he continued browsing the pictures on the wall, he noticed a few featuring guys next to Jill. Most of them had their faces crossed out with a red marker. ¡°I guess they¡¯re all exes,¡± he remarked with a chuckle, recognizing many of them. High school memories flooded back to him. Most of the boys in the pictures tormented him back then since it seemed like a requirement to date her. In the end they were all just passing flavors for her, discarded after a month or so usually. One photo caught his eye; the boy¡¯s face was completely scribbled out. All he could make out was a tuft of brown hair. It made him wonder why she kept the photos if she disliked the people in them so much. After exploring the room further, he ended up lying down and relaxing on the bed, gazing at the ceiling, contemplating both the past and the future. The front door swung open and closed as Ginny returned home after dropping Lonnie off at school. Entering the living room, she spotted her two daughters seated on the couch, engrossed in conversation. Grinning at the scene, she gently placed Calvin on the floor to play before joining them. ¡°Hey, Mom,¡± the girls chorused, glancing over at her. ¡°Hello my dears. How is everything? Jill, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here. Figured you¡¯d be with your new beau,¡± Ginny teased, earning an eye-roll from Jillian. ¡°Mom, nobody says that anymore. And I sent him upstairs while June and I catch up,¡± Ginny was surprised to see that her daughter had him wrapped around her finger already. ¡°Well, I hope you were at least nice about it,¡± Ginny remarked, a hint of suspicion in her tone. Jillian glared at her mother at the accusation. ¡°Of course not, you know me. I told him to hurry upstairs before I lose my temper and beat him again,¡± she quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Of course, I was nice about it. Thanked him with a kiss and everything.¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Her sister June suddenly interjected with a whispered voice, ¡°You did forget to say please.¡± Jillian shot her a playful glare. ¡°You little snitch,¡± she chuckled. ¡°You are lucky mom is here now,¡± she continued, but not letting June off the hook so easily. ¡°But you might want to fill Kyle in on why you had to cut your video chat short.¡± ¡°Jill!¡± June exclaimed, slightly louder than her normal whisper, as her sister threw her under the bus in front of their mom. Maybe her mom could talk her sister out of spending anymore time with Kyle better than she could. Jillian leaped over the couch and dashed off. ¡°I¡¯m off to rescue my boyfriend from prison. Back in a while!¡± she shouted, cackling as she hurried up the stairs. ¡°Still chatting with Kyle, huh?¡± Ginny remarked, her attention now fully on her youngest daughter as the eldest made her exit. June sat there in silence, hugging her laptop tightly, blushing furiously and pouting slightly. Climbing up to their shared room, Jillian quietly opened the door and peeked inside to check on Jason. As expected, he was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She pushed the door open and walked up to him, putting her hands on her hips. He tilted his head to meet her gaze, and Jillian promptly straddled his lap as he lay there. ¡°You weren¡¯t snooping through my dairy or sniffing my laundry, were you?¡± she teased with a grin, looking down at him. ¡°First off, you don¡¯t strike me as the diary-keeping type, and second, no, sniffing gross, dirty laundry is your deal,¡± Jason chuckled as Jillian reached down and grabbed his hands. Then, she pulled them under the tracksuit jacket on her bare waist. ¡°Wow, rude, calling my dirty old laundry gross. You¡¯re supposed to like every aspect of me, even the gross ones no one actually likes. The constant buzz I get from wearing this sweat soaked jacket is very nice though,¡± she grinned at him, leaning down and placing her hands on his chest. ¡°I prefer to focus on the less gross parts, thank you very much,¡± he said, as their lips were now only inches apart. ¡°Oh, like what?¡± she whispered back. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I find one,¡± he teased, smiling up at her. They both shared a small laugh before their lips pressed together in a soft kiss. Their lips parted and met again and again. Their tongues eventually joined in on the passionate dance of their kiss. Taking deep breaths through their noses, they explored each other¡¯s bodies with eager hands. The irresistible urge to be as close as possible to one another consumed them. His hands traced along her back, from her shoulders down to the plump curves of her butt, giving it a firm squeeze. Her fingers trailed up his chest and along his stubbled face, then tangled into his thick dark hair. ¡°I guess¡It¡¯s been¡. an hour,¡± Jason said between their clashing lips. Jillian giggled softly and only gave him a soft kiss. ¡°Mmhmm.¡± The two continued their passionate make-out session for several more minutes until Jillian pulled back, gasping for breath. ¡°Mmm fuck¡we need to slow down,¡± she said, pausing to softly kiss his lips one last time, then trailing her lips down his jawline. ¡°If we don¡¯t, I¡¯m gonna end up riding your cock. We shouldn''t while my mom and sister are here.¡± she moaned softly as she grazed her teeth along his neck. ¡°Yeah, let''s slow down before things...¡± Before he could finish, Jillian had already freed him from his pants, and her pajama bottoms were down her thighs. ¡°Wait, weren¡¯t you just saying...¡± ¡°I changed my mind,¡± she interrupted groaning, before guiding his tip to her entrance and impaling herself upon it. She let out a soft moan of ecstasy into his mouth as she kissed him again. ¡°Just a quick one, okay? Don''t hold back, finish inside me quick baby,¡± she whispered as she began to move her hips rhythmically, spearing herself as deep as she could on his thick cock. ¡°Ngh, okay. Fuck, just a quick one¡god, you feel so good,¡± he agreed with a groan, holding onto her waist as she rode him. His eyes rolled back in his head as she gyrated atop him. The two made love yet again on Jillian¡¯s bed, keeping their promise to make things quick. It certainly wasn¡¯t hard finishing quickly with how tight she was. Her prison rescue had turned into more of a conjugal visit instead. Afterward, the two snuck into the bathroom to clean up. Jillian emerged first, heading back to her room to make sure the coast was clear. She quickly slipped into a cozy gray sweater and snug stretch jeans. Jason followed suit a few minutes later, feeling a bit like they were mischievous teenagers sneaking around. They met at the top of the stairs for one last kiss before parting and staring into each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°I already love this so much¡I don¡¯t want you to leave,¡± she whispered sadly. ¡°I know,¡± he replied solemnly, giving her one last peck on the lips. Heading downstairs, they held hands, navigating the steps together. It wasn¡¯t the easiest task, but they managed. Once they reached the bottom, they returned to the living room. The sound of vacuuming emanated from the nursery. June was dusting in the living room, ensuring that the paintings and photo frames on the walls were clean. ¡°Oh crap, I forgot it was Monday. We usually clean the house today,¡± Jillian said with a frown, glancing over at Jason.¡°I¡¯m sorry. You can head back home if you want, or just hang out and watch some TV or something till we are done,¡± she apologized, but he just chuckled lightly. ¡°There''s no way I¡¯m going to sit around and watch TV while everyone else cleans. I don¡¯t mind helping, babe,¡± he said, giving her hand a squeeze and smiling. She gave Jason a weak smile, Jillian felt super awkward about Jason helping clean a house that wasn¡¯t even his on his supposed vacation. ¡°You sure?¡± she had to ask, her lower lips poking out in a slight pout. But the cuteness of her pout only sealed it further for him. So he nodded, not seeming upset in the slightest. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure. I can get the spots up high for you.¡± Just as he was suggesting it, he felt someone patting his arm. Jason turned around to see June pointing up at a large family portrait that was almost as big as her. ¡°She wants you to help get the top for her,¡± Jillian confirmed. Jason chuckled a little and smiled. ¡°Yeah, I got that. Sure, I don¡¯t mind. Let me see the duster.¡± With that, the group got to work making the house spotless. Ginny walked out of the nursery to find not only her daughters helping but also Jason, mostly tackling the hard-to-reach spots that the small women in the house would need a chair or step stool to reach. Ginny quickly ensured Jason was not press-ganged into helping. ¡°She didn¡¯t offer you any money, did she, ''cause she is broke, you know?¡± ¡°Mooooom!¡± Jillian said with a whine. The four efficiently moved from one room to another. Despite the usual time-consuming nature of their work, they managed to finish in half the time. Pausing for an early lunch, Ginny prepared chef salads for everyone, evidently influenced by a recent conversation with Katia. Jason¡¯s salad consisted of lean cuts of meat and hard-boiled egg whites. Jason managed to eat the salad without complaint despite his frustration with his doctor for sabotaging his vacation. Jillian sneakily offered him a bite filled with cheese, ham, and actual egg yolk, which he enjoyed immensely and made him even more enamored with his new girlfriend than before. After lunch, there were only a few more rooms to finish up, and Ginny had to go pick up Lonnie. June went up to her room and took a nap, which left the couple alone to do what they wished. The look in Jillian¡¯s eyes said everything, and Jason was more than tempted. But he didn¡¯t really want to spend the rest of his time here simply having sex and nothing else. As nice as that sounded. ¡°I say we go for a run,¡± Jason suggested with a smile. Jillian¡¯s eyes went wide in terror at the idea. ¡°What?! Are you seriously saying you would rather exercise than have sex with your beautiful girlfriend?¡± she scoffed in offense. He just rolled his eyes at her attempt to guilt him out of going on the run. ¡°You mean the girlfriend I¡¯ve had sex with three times in the last twenty-four hours? The oh-so-humble and modest woman I call mine?¡± Though he teased her mercilessly, he quickly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace. ¡°Making love to you is amazing, and there isn¡¯t anything I would rather do, but I want to spend time with you doing other things, too,¡± Jason said sweetly while Jillian continued to pout, even though she had immediately wrapped her arms around him when he started holding her. She really didn¡¯t want to go for a run right now. ¡°We don¡¯t have to go for a run, but I do want to go out with you and do something else for a bit, okay?¡± Jillian grumbled what he thought was an agreement, followed by some muffled words as she buried her face in his chest. ¡°Huh? What was that?¡± She lifted her head to look at him as she spoke this time. ¡°I said fine, but what?¡± Saying her piece, she shoved her face back into his chest. Jason chuckled a little and rubbed her back softly. ¡°Well, have I told you how much I enjoyed going out and shopping with you last week?¡± She shook her head in response. ¡°Well, I did. It¡¯s one of my new favorite memories. Why don¡¯t we go somewhere in town and look around some shops? I could still use a few things to keep here for when I visit.¡± After Jason spoke he waited for a response as Jillian remained silent for several moments. ¡°Jill?¡Babe?¡± he said, trying to get her to respond. Jillian eventually looked up at him with flushed cheeks. ¡°I told you to stop saying such cute things, you jerk!¡± she complained, her freckles tinged red with her blush. It made Jason smile wide and laugh. ¡°Haha, well, does that sound like a plan at least?¡± She let out another huff and nodded. ¡°Let me change my shirt first, and we can go.¡± While Jillian went to get changed, Jason left to get the car. When he got back, he waited for her to come out of the house. When she finally did, he saw her walk out in the same form-fitting long-sleeve cut-off that showed off her midsection. Once she was in the SUV, he leaned over, and the two shared a quick kiss. ¡°You look beautiful,¡± Jason complimented her. Instead of accepting it as it was, she scowled back at him. ¡°How many times am I going to have to tell you to stop doing that shit?!¡± He certainly wasn¡¯t taking her warnings to heart about saying cute things, as she put it. ¡°I can¡¯t help it,¡± he teased with a laugh before driving off. The pair headed into town and stopped first at a small, locally-owned grocery. The Italian family that owned it ran a small deli that served amazing, oily sandwiches with freshly sliced meat. Jason almost cried eating his after suffering through the breakfast and lunch. Jillian was content to simply watch the man, happy to see him happy. As much as she teased him for it, she believed he wouldn¡¯t be in the shape he was in if he ate like this all the time. She also didn¡¯t know the whole reason Katia and her mom were making such a fuss over his food. After picking up some stuff for Ginny to use for dinner, they finished up at the grocer. Jason profusely thanked the owner, who manned the deli counter before they left. ¡°That sandwich rivaled the Cuban ones that I get out in Ybor City,¡± Jason said with a smile as they walked out and got in the car. ¡°Ybor City?¡± Jillian questioned. Jason explained that it was a small town that hosted many Cubans and other immigrants. He took several moments to rave about the food before they arrived at their next destination, which was none other than their local Ross. The two walked into the store and looked around at all the discount clothing. The entire time they were there, she kept making him try on different shirts and pants, along with every hat they passed by, much to her amusement. As much as Jason disliked being dressed up, he was just as happy to see her happy, so he let her have her fun. Not everything she picked out was bad, either. Some he threw into their cart to keep at his mom''s. They managed to spend nearly two hours just wandering around and looking at and seeing how clothes might look on him and her. Jason wanted to get her some extra clothes so she didn¡¯t have to keep wearing the same thing before washing. She didn¡¯t ask or tell him that. He just seemed to pick it up from seeing the same pieces of clothing from time to time. Once again, Jason¡¯s awareness bugged the crap out of her. After checking out, they had a large bag of clothes that Jillian carried happily, clinging to Jason as they left. ¡°Thank you, baby. This was wonderful. I had a great time,¡± she cooed happily. Jason smiled and gave her a squeeze. ¡°Me too baby, I really enjoyed.-¡± Just as they stepped outside, Jason suddenly stopped walking. Looking down, he found he had kicked a set of keys. ¡°Looks like someone lost their keys. I should go turn them in just in case someone comes looking for them.¡± He bent down and grabbed the keys. ¡°I am gonna run inside and give these to the manager. I will be right back!¡± Before Jillian could really object, he turned and ran back into the store, looking for an employee. This was easier said than done, given that they ran on a skeleton crew like most of these stores. Jillian frowned slightly but took a deep breath to try to calm herself. ¡°Once he is gone, you are gonna be without him for so much longer. I can¡¯t let this short moment break me already,¡± Jillian internally whimpered. Though she wanted to be strong, she already felt the oncoming pain of him having to leave. Lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t even notice the person approaching her from behind. ¡°Jillian¡ is that really you?¡± A man¡¯s voice said from behind her. When she turned to see who had said her name, her eyes widened when she saw who it was. Before she could react, the man suddenly embraced her. ¡°Oh my god, it is you!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°It''s been so long, I can¡¯t believe it!¡± the man holding her gushed happily, showing no sign of releasing her. It took her a moment before Jillian found the clarity to struggle against him. ¡°Brice?! What the hell are you doing?! Let me go!¡± Chapter 43: Iéˆ¥æª“ Here To Kick Ass and Chew Bubble Gum, but Iéˆ¥æª“ Late For Dinner. Jillian finally managed to push Brice off of her. Instead of apologizing or something sensible, Brice just laughed a little. ¡°Haha, what? I can¡¯t give an old girlfriend a hug?¡± Standing at around six feet, the man had barely changed from high school. He was always on the leaner side, and with age, it only became worse. His limbs were long and lanky, his loose jeans barely held onto his waist, and a black ICP band shirt hung off his thin frame. His shaggy, light brown hair looked a little greasy and in need of a wash as it partially hung in front of his eyes. Jillian glared at the man, pissed that the jerk had the gall to even touch her after so long. ¡°No, you can¡¯t! You don¡¯t just¡¡± She tried to find the words, but her anger made her just let out a frustrated growl instead. ¡°Hey, I was worried about you for a long time! When they said that you had gone missing, I tried calling around to find you. I¡¯m just happy you¡¯re safe.¡± Jillian wished that she didn¡¯t, but she felt a little guilty. Not that she had talked to Brice much in the year before she left home. They had broken up a month before graduating. She never loved or really even liked Brice very much. He had just been a way to get at Jason and get laid on a more frequent basis. Internally cringing, she thought about how low she had sunk back then to actually sleep with this idiot. But at least he cared enough to worry. She couldn¡¯t fault him for that. ¡°Look,¡± Jillian started, letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°I am sorry you were worried, but I ha-¡± ¡°You look really hot. Like you lost a lot of weight recently, anyway, I wasn¡¯t planning on this, but we should totally go get a drink and catch up. I can call in sick, and we can go right now!¡± Brice interrupted her. He hadn¡¯t really been listening to her but rather ogling her instead. Jillian¡¯s jaw felt like it hit the floor at his comments. She couldn¡¯t even react. She was so amazed at this idiot''s lack of awareness. Apparently, he took this look of surprise as a yes. Like she was amazed at how lucky she was that someone like him would ask her for such a thing when really she was only amazed at how dense and stupid someone could be. ¡°Come on! My car is just over here. I know this great little Mexican mart that has great tacos and cer-base-ah.¡± It was barely lunch, and he wanted to start drinking. As well as butcher the Spanish language. Before she could snap out of her astonishment, he reached over and took Jillian by the wrist. A moment of pure panic welled up inside of her as she looked at his hand around her wrist. She was frozen with fear. Her legs wouldn¡¯t respond and her brain screamed at her to get away. ¡°N-no,¡± Jillian whimpered out and managed to pull back at least a little. Brice just laughed. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry! I will cover it this time. Come on, it will be good to catch up.¡± She closed her eyes and mentally screamed for help, the words refusing to reach her lips. ¡°Jason¡please, save me,¡± her panicked mind cried out. Brice pulled her hard enough that Jillian was forced to take a step forward, but she kept her eyes closed as she tried to pull back from him. Her fear of men suddenly back in full force. But then, she felt Brice suddenly stop pulling her. Opening her eyes, she saw a much larger hand wrapped around his scrawny wrist, squeezing hard enough to make a vein pop out in the back of his hand. ¡°What the fuck do you think you are doing?¡± Jason¡¯s familiar voice said, tinged with a fury unknown to even himself. Brice released Jillian as Jason¡¯s hand squeezed even harder, making the scrawnier man cry out in pain. ¡°Ahhgg! What the hell man, let go of my arm, you dick!¡± he said, trying to pry the hand off his wrist. ¡°Answer the goddamn question!¡± Jason roared, squeezing even tighter. Brice¡¯s hand was starting to turn a darker hue. ¡°Ah, fuck! Dude, that¡¯s my girlfriend! Let go! I swear I''m not doing anything!¡± he cried out, lying through his teeth, thinking Jason was just some white knight misunderstanding the situation. Jason turned to look at Jillian with a raised brow, who was still trying to recover from the scare. Meeting Jason¡¯s gaze she shook her head rapidly. She was worried for a moment that he was going to misunderstand the situation and think that she had some hidden boyfriend. Thankfully, a small smile crossed Jason¡¯s face, and he gave her a quick wink. ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Jason suddenly released Brice¡¯s wrist, and he fell back, landing on his butt on the cement walkway along the outside of the building. He quickly cradled his wrist, the pale handprint of Jason¡¯s large fist marked the man¡¯s flesh. ¡°Well then, I am so sorry for interrupting.¡± Jillian¡¯s eyes bulged in surprise. Just what the hell was he saying now? She knew something was going on from the wink earlier, but she was struggling to follow just what he was planning. ¡°Well, ma¡¯am, I am sorry for injuring your boyfriend. You looked scared, so I couldn¡¯t help but intervene.¡± Jason tried to gesture with his eyes for her to play along. She took a moment to calm down before realizing he was acting. Really, she would rather just wrap up in his arms and go home, but she would humor him for now. ¡°O-oh, well, it¡¯s alright. You were only trying to help.¡± Her voice was rather nervous, but she did her best. Brice got up from the ground finally and walked over to the two. The look on his face was not happy, as she still held his throbbing wrist. ¡°Help nothin¡¯! He almost broke my damn wrist! Come on, Jill. Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he said, reaching for her arm this time. Jillian was thankfully on high alert now and twisted away from him, unable to resist the urge to press herself up against Jason. Brice¡¯s eyes widened as she tucked herself into what he thought was some stranger. ¡°It seems your girlfriend feels safer with me than you¡¡± Jason paused, and his gaze narrowed at the man, a burning anger welling up inside of him as he protectively wrapped an arm around her. Brice scowled back at Jason. ¡°What the fuck, Jill? Are you seriously going to trust some stranger over me? I thought I would give you another chance. All you had to do was come have a drink with me,¡± he scoffed like she was throwing away some great opportunity. ¡°No wonder I broke up with you.¡± Jill was already well on her way to getting pissed again, but this was the last straw. ¡°Uh, excuse you?! You broke up with me? Is that what you have been telling people, Brice? Ha¡ hahaha.¡± Jillian pushed away from Jason a little, sure that he would step in if Brice tried anything stupid again. She couldn¡¯t help but laugh as she thought of the last few weeks of high school, how people would try to console her after the breakup. ¡°Yeah, well, I did, so why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± He spoke like he really thought it was true, continuing to glare at both of them. Jason was still mad dogging him with a hard glare. ¡°Cause I broke up with you, dumbass? You don¡¯t remember showing up at my house every day for a week begging me to take you back? Are you dense or just stupid?¡± She handed the bag of clothes to Jason, which he took for her quickly. Her arms folded over her chest as she glared at Brice. ¡°T-that¡¯s bullshit. That didn¡¯t happen!¡± Brice tried to deny her words, but his usual tactics of lying until it was the truth had no power against her. ¡°I broke up with you because I didn¡¯t have any more use for you. And you are still a piece of shit. You have terrible taste in music and clothes. Your personal hygiene is awful. You constantly touched me in front of my parents after I told you over and over to stop. And you were a bully.¡± She listed off several reasons why she broke up with him, just saying what came to the top of her head. Brice¡¯s face turned a bit red at being called out for all his faults, his fists clenched at his sides in anger. He sputtered a bit after each insult, but couldn¡¯t get anything out until the last. ¡°I was a bully?! And you weren¡¯t?¡± Jillian scowled at him. Of course she was. She didn¡¯t need him reminding her. ¡°The only reason I picked on that fat loser was for you and your fuckin¡¯ personal vendetta against the dude. I wonder what he would have to say about you if he saw you like this,¡± Brice said with a grin, figuring he had a good angle with this. ¡°After all the shit you put him through, I bet he would be thrilled to know how willing you are to lower yourself to fuck some stranger, like some common whore.¡± Jason¡¯s eye twitched, and he took a step towards Brice. It was clear that he was about to teach Brice a painful lesson. Jillian reached out and placed a hand on his chest to stop him from mauling Brice. ¡°It¡¯s okay, babe. He¡¯s just a pathetic little boy trying to get a reaction out of me,¡± she said almost sagely. ¡°Babe?¡± Brice said in confusion as he looked at the two back and forth. Something felt very off. ¡°You see, Brice, the difference between you and me is that I actually feel bad about how I treated Jason. And I have done everything I can to make it up to him. Have you done anything of the sort?¡± Her words caught the man off guard. ¡°What? Why would I? I don¡¯t even know where he is. Were you two already together before? Are you trying to set me up? You have to tell me if you''re cops.¡± Both Jason and Jillian groaned at the stupidity coming out of Brice¡¯s mouth. ¡°No Brice, we aren¡¯t cops. Okay, let me put it this way. What would you say to Jason if you had the chance to talk to him again?¡± Jillian said, dumbing down her question. ¡°Uhh¡¡± Brice had to think for a long moment. ¡°I dunno. I guess I would tell him that he should have tried standing up for himself more in school instead of just taking everything like a bitch.¡± The silence that followed that statement was so oppressive one could have heard a pin drop. ¡°Just¡ really, Brice?¡± Jillian said, exasperated at this point. ¡°I gave you so many chances to show you were at least somewhat of a decent human being, and you just proved that dating you was one of the worst decisions I ever made in my life.¡± Other than tormenting Jason and being with Luis. ¡°Fuck you and that high and mighty attitude you always had. If it weren¡¯t for your ass, you wouldn¡¯t have a single good thing about you!¡± he spat back in anger. She didn¡¯t seem all that phased by the insult, just waving it away. She then looked back over at her boyfriend. ¡°Jason, baby, are you ready to go?¡± she said sweetly, moving a hand to lightly stroke his chest. Jason watched as the wheels inside Brice¡¯s head started to turn at the name. He stared up at Jason¡¯s face for a long moment, like he was trying to imagine a fatter version of the muscled man before him. ¡°Is that¡?¡± He didn¡¯t have a chance to say whatever he was going to say because the sliding doors of the Ross they were still in front of opened, and a man in a cheap button-up and tie rushed out. ¡°Brice! What the hell are you doing out here?! You were supposed to clock in ten minutes ago!¡± The manager turned to look at the couple and then back to Brice. ¡°Are you bothering this nice couple?¡± Brice¡¯s eyes went wide at the accusation. ¡°W-what, no! They assaulted me! If anything, they are stopping me from clocking in on time!¡± he said, pointing an accusatory finger at Jason and Jillian. ¡°Just look at what he did to my wrist!¡± He tried to show off what Jason did, but at this point, it wasn¡¯t much more than a red mark. The manager didn¡¯t seem impressed as he just rolled his eyes and turned back to the couple. ¡°Is this man bothering you two?¡± ¡°Yes. He tried to grab my girlfriend earlier when I was returning those keys I found,¡± Jason said quickly. While not as satisfying as punching Brice, it would have to do. The manager¡¯s scowl deepened as he turned to look at Brice, who looked like a deer in the headlights. A look of disgust shone in his eyes at the actions of his employee. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°That¡¯s it, Brice. I have had to warn you too many times. You have been a thorn in my side since I hired you. You¡¯re fired. Return your uniform by the end of the month and get off the property.¡± Brice¡¯s jaw dropped, and he tried to find something to say. ¡°I''m so sorry about that, folks. Please take this coupon for thirty percent off your entire purchase. It''s not much, but I hope you can use it.¡± Jillian smiled and happily took the card.¡°Oh, my mom will love this! Thanks, and don¡¯t worry. We don¡¯t blame you.¡± With that, the manager smiled at them and glared at Brice before walking back into the store. The pair looked back at Brice as well. He looked shell shocked and furious at the same time. Jason could see the desire to attack them both. He knew the look well, so he shifted himself in front of Jillian. ¡°Get the fuck out of here, Brice. I won¡¯t hold back if you try anything,¡± he warned the scrawny, now unemployed man. He opened his mouth to say something, but he just ended up letting out a frustrated grunt before turning around and stomping away into the parking lot. ¡°Well¡ that was something,¡± Jillian said, watching as Brice disappeared behind some cars. ¡°Sure was. Ready to go home?¡± Jason asked with a smile, wrapping an arm around her as the two headed to his car. Once they arrived at the car, Jillian got into the passenger seat, and Jason opened the back hatch to put the large bag of clothes away. As Jason closed the hatch, he heard footsteps on asphalt running toward him. When he turned, he saw Brice sprinting toward him with a baseball bat raised high in the air. His face was contorted in a vicious snarl. ¡°DIE, ASSHOLE!¡± he screamed as he quickly closed the gap between them. Jason¡¯s eyes widened, but he twisted just in time. He didn¡¯t run away or try to block the swing. Either way wouldn¡¯t end well for him. There was only one option, and that was to attack. The last thing Brice expected was for Jason to lunge towards him. Trying to swing his bat sooner, the base of the bat bounced harmlessly off of Jason¡¯s shoulder. The same couldn¡¯t be said for the devastating overhand right Jason threw. His fist crossed over the two arms that swung the bat and slammed into the frail cheek of Brice, who was out cold before he even hit the ground. His body landed with a thud, and the clatter of the wooden bat came next. Jason¡¯s heart was beating insanely fast. He had been in plenty of fights, in the ring at least. But getting attacked was completely different. ¡°What the¡ fuck was that?¡± he panted as his body trembled, his fist throbbing from punching the jackass. He looked down at Brice, who lay face down on the pavement, not moving. ¡°Shit,¡± he grumbled. As much as he hated the guy, he didn¡¯t want his death on his conscience. Moving over to him, he quickly flipped the thin man over and propped himself up against the shopping cart return. He sat there slumped over. Everything seemed to have moved in slow motion, but it all only took around fifteen seconds. ¡°Jason!¡± Jillian¡¯s voice cried out as she rushed out and over to him as he was just standing up from Brice¡¯s unmoving body. ¡°Baby, are you alright? What just happened?¡± Her voice was full of panic as she rushed into Jason¡¯s arms, almost sobbing. ¡°It''s alright. He tried to rush me with that bat while I wasn¡¯t looking,¡± he explained. Jillian looked over at Brice, and a fire lit up her eyes. Jason had to hold her back to keep her from stomping him to death. ¡°Why does everyone try to take away every little piece of happiness I ever get!¡± she screamed as tears spilled from her eyes. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you just mind your own damn business?!¡± She kicked the unconscious man a few times. ¡°Jillian, settle down. I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Jason tried to calm her down, pulling her back to the car. Jillian fought against him to try to attack Brice. Eventually, he managed to pull her into the car¡¯s back seat. There, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m okay. Just breathe, babe. It¡¯s fine,¡± he whispered softly to her, holding her tight against him. Soon, her struggles faded, and she simply devolved into weeping a little into his chest. It took Jillian several minutes to calm down enough to speak again. Jason explained precisely what had happened and how he handled it. They could call the cops and have the store pull the security footage, but there were a lot of risks with that. So what they decided to do was call the store back and explain what happened. They would deal with the police and pull the video footage if needed. Jillian was in no condition to deal with the police, and Jason really didn¡¯t feel like it either, so they left before the cops got there. They might get in trouble later for it but that would be for later them to deal with. Driving home, the pair stopped at a park to calm down and distract themselves¡ with each other. After that, he drove Jillian home and dropped her off, telling her to call him if she was contacted by the police or anyone else before sharing one of the deepest parting kisses as if they would never see each other again. ¡°Please¡ don¡¯t scare me like that again¡ but thank you for saving me from him,¡± Jillian whispered as their kiss parted, then kissed him again several more times. ¡°I will try, and I will never let anyone hurt you, baby.¡± Jason whispered back, hugging her tight for several moments. They parted reluctantly and Jillian headed back inside of her house to go get ready for dinner, and Jason soon did the same. All they could do now was try to push this new awful memory out of their minds. Hopefully, they could put it quickly behind them and enjoy dinner. Just over an hour later, Jason parked his rental car in front of the Lins¡¯s house once again. He sat there in his fancy gray suit, the same one he¡¯d worn to take his mother out to dinner earlier. Waiting patiently, his gaze fixed on the front door, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Jillian would wear this time. Looking down at his phone, he made sure that Jillian got his message that he was outside. After another minute passed, the door finally opened, and June stepped out, dressed in a classy yet understated black blouse paired with a matching skirt that fell just above her knees. Her straight red hair was elegantly French braided to the side, cascading over her shoulder. It was a look that suited her small, innocent frame perfectly, more cute than sexy but undeniably June¡¯s style. When Jillian walked out, Jason couldn¡¯t help but find himself captivated by her. Her hair was elegantly pinned back on one side, revealing a stunning silver earring adorned with an amethyst. Tresses of vibrant orange curls framed her face, partially veiling one eye, while a bold red lipstick highlighted her full lips. Her midnight black dress shimmered in the waning sunlight, adorned with small twinkling sequins that caught the eye. The dress fell to her calves and featured a daring slit from her mid thigh down the side, adding to its allure. ¡°Whoa,¡± Jason murmured to himself, watching as they approached the car with a smile. June slipped into the back seat while Jillian took the front this time. Closing the car door after settling in, Jillian noticed Jason¡¯s expression and gave a shy smile, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she admired him in his suit as well. They lingered for a moment until June interrupted with a wave, signaling it was time to go. ¡°Oops, sorry. Let¡¯s get going. We don¡¯t want to miss our reservation,¡± Jason said with a soft chuckle, starting the car. ¡°You both look great, by the way,¡± he added. ¡°Thanks,¡± June murmured quietly. ¡°You clean up pretty well yourself, handsome,¡± Jillian said, giving his thigh a playful squeeze. Jason smiled and took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers and holding it as he drove. The car ride was pretty quiet, mostly with a lot of random chatter about nothing important. Last thing the couple wanted was to scare June by bringing up the incident from earlier. The two girls were both relieved to leave before their dad got home. They knew he would more than likely throw a fit about them going out, especially with how Jillian was dressed. She spent most of the drive messing with the radio, searching for a song. When she couldn¡¯t find it, she grabbed her phone from her purse and hooked it up to the car stereo. They both sang along to the music, with June being quieter but still enjoying the moment with her sister. Jason simply let the two enjoy themselves; after all, this was his gesture of gratitude toward them. He focused on the road ahead despite Jillian occasionally leaning over towards him. Her soft lips brushed against his cheek, and the placement of her hand while he was trying to drive proved to be quite distracting. Especially the seductive whispers in which he made promises. If June hadn¡¯t been present, he might have been tempted to pull over, or she might have given him an even bigger distraction. Jillian took great pleasure in seeing Jason squirm in his seat. She eventually settled in her own seat, feeling the stress of the day melt away as Jason¡¯s hand took hers once more. Being able to feel his desire for her made her feel truly happy. It was comforting to feel wanted for who she was, not for what she could do for him. Unable to contain the excitement, she wiggled in her seat and grabbed Jason¡¯s arm, holding it between her chest. He peaked over at her for a moment, a smile plastered on his face. The restaurant they were headed to was among the city¡¯s most upscale spots. Nestled within a luxurious hotel, it attracted those with deep pockets seeking fine dining and entertainment. If it wasn¡¯t a Monday, a reservation would have been impossible. While it stretched Jason¡¯s budget a bit, he figured he could splurge for the special occasion. Handing his keys to the valet, they entered the hotel lobby bustling with guests, many appearing to be relatively well off tourists. Jillian hung on to Jason¡¯s arm while June wasn¡¯t far behind. Stopping to ask for directions to the restaurant, they were guided by a bellhop down a hallway and to the right. Thanking the man, the three of them proceeded in that direction. Before long, they arrived at a grand glass entrance. Several people, similarly dressed in suits and fine dresses, were waiting to be seated. Soft jazz emanated from within, and the interior boasted opulent black and gold decor. ¡°Whoa,¡± Jillian remarked quietly.¡°You weren¡¯t exaggerating. This place looks fuckin¡¯ pricey.¡± Her vulgar remark drew a few glances and disapproving stares, but she simply returned them with a defiant glare, giving Jason¡¯s arm a firm squeeze. Approaching the podium, Jason introduced himself. It seemed they were running a bit behind schedule, and they were informed that the wait would be at least half an hour. Jason acknowledged this with a nod, while Jillian appeared displeased. ¡°Could we perhaps grab a seat at the bar while we wait?¡± she suggested. The host glanced at them and then at June. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we don¡¯t allow minors at the bar,¡± he explained apologetically. ¡°But what about that kid? He doesn¡¯t seem old enough to be there,¡± Jillian pointed out, gesturing toward a teenager seated at the bar, engrossed in a book and his snack. ¡°That¡¯s actually the owner¡¯s son. I hope you understand,¡± the host continued to apologize while Jillian let out a frustrated sigh. June wasn¡¯t all that comfortable with all the people around her. Her attention shifted, her gaze fixing on the boy at the bar. He seemed oddly familiar. She took out her phone and sent off a short message. She kept an eye on the boy at the bar and noticed him swiftly retrieving his phone from his pocket moments later. Soon, a reply pinged on her screen, the conversation unfolding silently through text. June: Hi. Kyle: Hey! Finished with dinner already? June: Where are you? Kyle: Just at my parent¡¯s work, getting some homework done. What¡¯s up? June: Could you turn around for a sec? There was a momentary pause in the conversation as Kyle nervously glanced behind him before returning his attention to his phone. Kyle: Are you trying to scare me or something, huh? Haha. June: Look towards the entrance of the restaurant. Kyle sat up straight and looked over at the entrance. Kyle: Is that¡ Jason? June: Yeah, and I¡¯m here too, along with my sister. Kyle: What?! He stood up from the stool and looked over at the entrance for a moment, his eyes widening. Kyle: Stay right there. I will be right over! June observed as the boy, now unmistakably Kyle, hurried over. He stuck out like a sore thumb, dressed casually in a t-shirt and slacks in a sea of fancy suits and evening gowns. ¡°Hey, Dimitri. It¡¯s all good. These three are with me. Can we set them up at the balcony table?¡± The man at the podium appeared uncertain. Kyle hadn¡¯t had guests before, and as he glanced at the group and then back at Kyle, his hesitation was evident. He pulled out a walkie-talkie from the podium and keyed it to speak. ¡°Mr. Burchett, your son is saying he¡¯s got some guests he¡¯d like to seat in the VIP area. Please advise?¡± Silence followed the walkie-talkie, offering no response. ¡°Sir?¡± Dimitri tried again. Moments later, a tall, slender man with sharp glasses and the same bright blonde hair as Kyle appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Greetings and welcome to Fillipe¡¯s Garden!¡± he exclaimed warmly. Everyone except Kyle and Dimitri were startled a bit at his sudden arrival. ¡°I hear you¡¯re friends of my son here?¡± His eyes quickly focused on June, and a wide smile crossed his face. He reached over and placed his hand on his son¡¯s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. ¡°Yes, sir. It¡¯s nice to meet you. We didn¡¯t realize Kyle¡¯s family owned this place, but we¡¯re happy at the coincidence. This is my girlfriend, Jillian, and her little sister, June. Kyle¡¯s a great kid. I''m sure you are proud of him,¡± Jason said, extending his hand to the older man, who smiled back and shook it firmly. Meanwhile, June and Kyle locked eyes in person for the first time since their day at the fun center. It was just over the weekend, but they¡¯d talked a lot over text, and one interrupted video chat in that short time. Kyle¡¯s father greeted the group warmly. ¡°Welcome, everyone! I¡¯m Peter Burchett. My wife, Rosa, who¡¯s at home today, and I own this restaurant. We¡¯ve been running it for nearly fifteen years, and it¡¯s a pleasure to have guests visit Kyle for the first time. So I want to make sure you all have the best experience. Dimitri, could you please show our guests to the VIP section on the second floor?¡± Peter then turned to Kyle with a smile. ¡°Kyle, if it¡¯s okay with them, would you like to join your guests?¡± Kyle felt unsure about intruding. He didn¡¯t want to be impolite. ¡°I don¡¯t want to impose,¡± he mumbled. Jillian quickly chimed in, ¡°Sounds like he doesn¡¯t want to join us.¡± Jason playfully nudged Jillian as he rolled his eyes. She shot him a look of defiance. ¡°Of course he can. He is more than welcome to join us,¡± he said for the group, much to the displeasure of Jillian. Kyle flashed a grateful smile at Jason, who winked back at him. ¡°Very good, please follow me,¡± Dimitri said, grabbing menus and the wine list. Jason offered his arm to Jillian again, who was still a bit miffed. ¡°Come on, babe, it''s a good thing. We are even getting a VIP table out of it. You can¡¯t stop it, so you might as well enjoy it,¡± he said, leaning down to plant a kiss on the side of her head. ¡°Hmmph¡Fine,¡± she muttered, looping her arm through his as they headed to the table. They were led up some stairs in the back. There was a separate area that appeared to be for private events, two balconies that overlooked the restaurant, and the small dance floor that had a stage attached where a band played. Jillian could only imagine the cost of reserving such a space. As they were guided through the room, they emerged onto one of the balconies. It was a unique experience for June to be seated above the crowd. However, Jason couldn¡¯t shake the memories of getting manipulated, reminiscent of his experiences when his boss would drag him to fancy parties that he had no business attending. Meanwhile, Jillian got minor flashbacks of when she was being courted by Luis. The pair did their best to block out their past trauma. As they settled at the table, Kyle swiftly pulled out a chair for June, who blushed softly and took her seat promptly. When she saw this, Jillian hesitated for a moment. Surely, Jason was going to do the same for her. But instead, Dimitri gallantly pulled out a chair for her instead of her boyfriend. She watched as Jason seated himself next to it. Visibly annoyed, she stomped over in her heels and sat down with a huff. Jason had been in a bit of a daze dealing with his past, but when she sat down, he noticed her mood and snapped out of it. He looked at her with a quizzical expression as he opened the wine list. ¡°Your mood sure changed quickly from the car to here,¡± he remarked, trying to sound playful, but he only received a sharp glare in response. ¡°You are cut off until further notice,¡± she stated firmly, without further explanation. Chapter 44: Double the Fun, Double the Trouble, but at Least Thereéˆ¥æªš Dancing. The four of them sat around the table, chatting away as they snacked on the assortment of fine breads and exotic oils and dips to go with it. June and Kyle were deep in conversation, using sign language to communicate about everything and nothing at the same time. Jillian wasted no time in downing her first glass of wine, shooting disapproving looks at the pair opposite her. Meanwhile, Jason took a more relaxed approach, casually sipping a glass of aged scotch while trying to ignore the uptight atmosphere of the posh restaurant. His girlfriend, who was currently fixated on Kyle, was not helping. He reached out and gently took her hand. ¡°Hey, try and relax. They¡¯re just kids having fun,¡± Jason said softly as he tried to reassure her with a comforting squeeze of his hand, but she just scowled back at him. ¡°Well, your mom¡¯s an adult, so if she wants to go out with your doctor, why not? They¡¯re just having fun, right?¡± Jillian retorted, her harsh tone catching Jason off guard. ¡°Huh, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± He was taken aback by her sudden remark. ¡°See? Not so funny when the shoe is on the other foot,¡± she continued, her expression still twisted in anger. It was evident that both of them were struggling to come to terms with their family getting closer to people who felt like strangers. But instead of supporting each other in getting over it, both seemed to resent the other for trying to accept the other¡¯s situation. Jason attempted to respond, but he found himself at a loss for words, a scowl mirroring Jillian¡¯s forming on his face as he glanced at the liquor in his glass. Without much thought, he followed Jillian¡¯s lead and tilted the rest of his drink down his throat. The dinner got off to a rocky start, to say the least. Jillian couldn¡¯t relax because she was too busy watching the pair across the table get closer and closer. Jason was in a foul mood since Jillian was, and she was taking it out on him. Not to mention the stress he felt in this place, like he had been dragged to another party by Vince. So needless to say, he couldn¡¯t really enjoy himself. Accepting the VIP offer was turning out to be a bad idea. Jason ordered a little too much alcohol in his attempt to cope. No one seemed to notice as they were all distracted by their own agendas. At least the two teenagers seemed to be having a good time, lost in their own little world. When the food arrived, the only sound breaking the awkward silence was the music from downstairs. The food came in several courses and was amazing in every way, but the adults'' night was already ruined, and the meal did little to help. Jason polished off every last bit of food on his plate and even went for seconds on the bread, which the server quickly refilled. While Jillian barely touched more than a bite. Jason didn¡¯t even notice Kyle watching him. The boy was deaf but could still speak fairly well. ¡°Man, you¡¯re really putting it away, Jason,¡± Kyle remarked with a smile, obviously not trying to be rude. Jason still shot him a sharp glare before ripping another hunk out of the bread. June signed to Kyle, telling him about the massive amount of Chinese food he had put away before coming to the amusement center. She embellished the story quite a bit, making Kyle laugh and smile. Jillian caught on to their exchange and didn¡¯t appreciate it one bit. It felt like they were suddenly making fun of her boyfriend. Finally, she turned to Jason, really taking him in for the first time since they sat down. As he continued to stuff his face with bread and the empty glasses of alcohol around him, Jillian felt her anger give way to sadness as she realized just what was happening. Jason¡¯s eating habits were far from normal. It was different from when they were at the buffet. She had learned what his emotions looked like over the time they spent together. This wasn¡¯t a ¡®I¡¯m hungry so I¡¯m going to eat¡¯ expression on his face. It was a ¡®I¡¯m trying to bury my emotions in food¡¯ look. All the pieces seemed to come together as she watched him. The reason why he had gained so much weight before and in highschool. He ate his feelings and probably wouldn¡¯t stop without intervention. Jillian bit her lip before moving closer to him. She reached out and gently placed a hand on his arm, stopping him from taking another bite. Jason turned to her with a look of anger as their eyes locked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡please stop eating,¡± she whispered to him with a sad frown. Then, wrapping her arms around his free one, she pulled it close to her chest. Jason was torn. The urge to eat still gnawed at his psyche. But as Jillian squeezed his arm and rested her head against his shoulder, the intensity of his hunger waned quickly. He dropped the half-eaten roll on the plate, and placed a hand on Jillian¡¯s that was still wrapped around his arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ I¡¯m struggling with some things,¡± he whispered back. Jillian sighed and nodded. ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± she admitted reluctantly. Their gazes met once more, and the two leaned in and shared a long, deep kiss that continued past what was proper. The attention of the two teens across the table was drawn to them. They both froze when they saw the two kissing. The sound of their lips smacking together and the clear passion the couple had for each other was a sight to behold. They both turned to look at each other and as soon as their eyes met, they quickly looked away, blushing furiously. As the kiss slowly ended, the two opened their eyes slowly. The tension wasn¡¯t completely gone, but it was much better than it was before. Jillian tried to give him a small smile and pushed her head against his for a moment before backing away, lessening her hold on his arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go dance,¡± Jillian blurted out, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention as she gave Jason¡¯s arm a squeeze. She figured there was no way that a boy as shy as Kyle could ask June to dance and vice versa. The perfect solution would be for her, Jason, and her sister to go, and Kyle could sit there and watch. In her mind, it was a perfect plan. But her plans rarely went the way she wanted. ¡°I don¡¯t....,¡± Kyle began to sign just as Jillian wanted, but when he glanced at June, he saw her lips moving with a smile, and he froze as she spoke softly. ¡°Sounds like fun.¡± His heart raced as he gathered up his courage and took his chance, quickly asking June, ¡°Would you care to dance with me?¡± June¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly, but she gave a shy smile and nodded. Jason was a bit wide-eyed at this. He was quite impressed by Kyle¡¯s courage. Jillian, not so much. She silently growled at this development and stood up, back to being frustrated already. The two teens got up and made their way downstairs without another thought. ¡°Come on, Jason, hurry up,¡± Jillian urged, tugging at his arm for him to stand up but he didn''t budge. ¡°Umm dancing really isn¡¯t my thing,¡± Jason replied flatly, earning a deep scowl from Jillian. ¡°I said come on,¡± she demanded, looking over at June and Kyle, nearly out of her sight now. But trying to force him only made Jason resist harder. ¡°And I said I didn¡¯t want to,¡± he shot back in sudden anger brought on by stress and exacerbated by alcohol. She gave him one last glare and let go of his arm, frustration bubbling over the edge. ¡°Fine. If you don¡¯t want to dance with me, then maybe someone else down there will!¡± she said, sounding a tad too serious as she folded her arms over her chest. They had just patched things up, and they were at it again already. Jason¡¯s jaw dropped slightly at Jillian¡¯s reaction, figuring there was no way she was serious. But when she walked away and glanced back at him one last time, she let out a, ¡°Hmmph,¡± before sauntering away with a little extra sway in her hips. He figured she had to be teasing him. As confident as Jillian came off, she wasn¡¯t brave when it came to dealing with other men. But Jason couldn¡¯t ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He watched as she eventually disappeared downstairs without another word or even looking back at him again. Some livelier swing music started playing, and the dance floor quickly filled up with couples. He moved over and peered over the railing. Jason spotted June and Kyle heading out to dance. But he didn¡¯t see Jillian, so he stood up to get a better view and leaned over the railing to check out the bar below. Jillian had dropped her more seductive walk once she was out of sight from Jason and ended up stomping her way up to the bar. She was frustrated and annoyed beyond measure. Her little sister was being corrupted by some boy, and her friggin¡¯ boyfriend wouldn¡¯t even humor her with a dance. She wasn¡¯t entirely certain of what she was going to do but was dead set on making Jason feel at least a little jealous when he came to check on her. ¡°He will come down here in five minutes and get all protective and jealous. I¡¯ve heard Mom talk about doing this tons of times. I just gotta be brave til then,¡± she went over her plan in her head. She perched herself on a stool and crossed her legs, revealing part of a smooth, tender looking thigh. The bait was out there, and it wasn¡¯t long before a rather suave stranger in a casual yet pricey-looking business suit approached. ¡°Whiskey neat for me and whatever this lovely lady desires,¡± he spoke in a deep rasp that made one think of age and experience as he flashed her a sly smile. Jillian looked over and sized him up. He was a mature man with a hint of gray in his short, dark curls, and he held a sharp jawline. His dark brown skin and dark eyes nearly matched. She did her best to return the smile. ¡°How kind of you,¡± she said in a slight purr, opting for another glass of red wine. She wasn¡¯t actually interested in the man, but if he could help her complete the goal of making her man jealous, why not try and chat with him a bit? Her folks played this game all the time, as far as she knew, and their relationship seemed completely solid¡ªto her, at least. She just needed to try to remain confident, not let her fear show, and keep an eye on June and Kyle. Jason''s hands clenched the railing as he saw Jillian talking with some other guy. He wasn¡¯t thinking anything like her parents in this situation. He and Jillian didn¡¯t have the decades of trust and experience they did. He couldn¡¯t just simply assume she¡¯d stay loyal after a mere two days together. ¡°Just cause I didn¡¯t want to dance¡¡± Jason¡¯s jaw clenched tight as he couldn¡¯t pry his eyes away from the two sitting at the bar. The man every so often leaned a bit closer to say something to Jillian. ¡°Sir?¡± someone behind Jason interrupted his thoughts. He turned quickly, trying to hide the anger and hurt he was feeling. ¡°Huh? Sorry. What?¡± he managed. ¡°Will your group be wanting dessert?¡± the waiter asked casually. Jason took a deep breath and shook his head. ¡°Just the check, please, I¡ we won¡¯t be here much longer,¡± he replied through clenched teeth. The waiter left quickly, sensing something wasn¡¯t quite right with him. Jason couldn¡¯t bear to look back over and see Jillian flirt with someone else. It just felt like such a betrayal after Brice, after everything they had gone through. Did he completely misunderstand their relationship? A ton of questions flooded his mind, and he barely noticed that the waiter had come back and put the bill on the table. He picked it up, saw it was discounted but still in the hundreds. With a sigh, he put his credit card inside the fancy folder and set it on the end of the table. He just sat there, covering his face with his hands, leaning his head back, and lost in thought as the bill was whisked away shortly after. ¡°Expecting someone?¡± the older man asked, taking a sip of his whiskey. Jillian was actively scanning the room and barely talking at this point. Her face was contorted in frustration. ¡°Yeah, sort of...¡± Her tone carried a mix of annoyance and concern. Why hadn¡¯t Jason shown up to whisk her away or shoot daggers of jealousy at her? She was supposed to be able to tease him into a frenzy of passion and end the night with wild sex. Why wasn¡¯t this working for her like it did for her parents? ¡°Oh? A friend?¡± he inquired. Jillian let out a heavy sigh, turning to face him. ¡°Listen, Marcus, I¡¯ll be straight with you. You seem nice, but I was only chatting with you to get a rise out of my boyfriend. But it¡¯s been like twenty minutes already, and he¡¯s nowhere to be seen.¡± Marcus seemed only mildly surprised. ¡°Ah, I see. That¡¯s a shame. But that also sounds like a terrible idea if you ask me. If you were my girl, I¡¯d probably think you were trying to cheat on me or somethin,¡± he remarked as he finished off his whiskey. Jillian blinked at the man, feeling a bit annoyed. ¡°Um, no, I would never do that to him. He knows I wouldn¡¯t ever...do¡ that¡¡± She paused, her mind finally looking past the frustrations of the evening. Jason felt insecure when on the car ride home from the fun center, and she focused only on June. They hadn¡¯t even been dating at the time. And again, when they talked about having a long distance relationship after Lina left. Jason would totally think she was going to leave him just because he wouldn¡¯t dance with her. ¡°Fuck,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°I fucking suck at this whole relationship stuff.¡± Jillian was quickly beginning to realize that her only experience with relationships had been rather dysfunctional ones. She let out a pained groan, scowling as she got up from the stool. ¡°Marcus, I¡¯m really sorry about this. You seem like a great guy. But I need to go and at least try to salvage what¡¯s left of my relationship. Good luck at your convention.¡± With that, she pulled up her dress a little and hurried towards the stairs leading back to the VIP area. Marcus just laughed a little and shook his head, ordering another shot. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. As Jillian reached the table, she noticed it was deserted except for a receipt for their dinner and her purse. Her eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Did he really just leave? There''s no way he would simply abandon us here, would he?¡± She chewed her thumbnail nervously, unsure of what to make of the situation. She knew Jason wasn¡¯t like the majority of guys she dated, who she could totally see pulling a stunt like this out of revenge. ¡°But what if he did?¡± her panicked mind wondered. Jillian racked her brain, trying to figure out her next move. She had no money and was nearly an hour¡¯s drive away from home. She couldn¡¯t afford an Uber or taxi, and calling her parents would just stir up a whole lot of drama she didn¡¯t want. Maybe she could call Mika if it came down to it and add more to the already massive tab she owed the woman. But then Mika might really kill Jason at that point, even if it was her mistake that started everything. Really, she just wished Jason was still here so they could talk things through. And what on earth was she going to tell June, for that matter? Maybe she could swallow her pride and ask Kyle or his dad for help, but that came with its own set of downsides. Just as all the stress and sadness began to overwhelm her, a low, monotone voice spoke up behind her. ¡°Done dancing?¡± Jillian spun around to find Jason there, drying his hands off with a paper towel. she could hardly believe her eyes when she saw he was still here. ¡°Jason!¡± she exclaimed, almost stumbling over her dress in her hurry to reach him. She rushed over and crashed into his chest, clutching his suit jacket tightly as she shook slightly. ¡°I thought you¡¯d left us!¡± she blurted out, looking up at him with teary eyes. ¡°I just went to the bathroom.¡± His tone was still a little cold. Even though he was obviously upset, she let out a relieved whine before burying her face in his chest. ¡°Thank god... I was afraid you were so mad at me that you just gave up and left,¡± she confessed, her trembling body slowly calming down. ¡°I am mad¡ but I wouldn¡¯t just abandon you and your sister here.¡± Jillian understood well why he was mad. She had been so frustrated with Kyle and June, then hearing Jason didn¡¯t want to dance had sent her off the deep end. So she had made the stupid decision to go off and get chatted up by some random guy while Jason was left sitting there alone at the table. She¡¯d be pissed if he did the same thing with another woman. Why did she think it was okay for even a moment? Just because her parents did it? That wasn¡¯t an excuse. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m an idiot. I don¡¯t know what I was thinking. I thought I could make you jealous or something. Make you want to pick me up and take me away. But I swear, I wasn¡¯t actually going to do anything. I would never cheat on you! You have to believe that you¡¯re the only one I want! I¡¯m so sorry, baby. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you,¡± she blurted out, still holding onto his jacket tightly, begging for his forgiveness while Jason just stood there, looking down at her as she apologized over and over. Jason let out a big sigh and rubbed the back of his head. He was still pretty upset, and he wasn¡¯t quite sure if he could forgive her just yet. ¡°We should talk about this later, but I¡¯ll let it go for now,¡± he said, obviously still hurting inside. Jillian frowned deeply when he didn¡¯t forgive her, but she nodded, lowering her head and not saying anything else for now. She was still mad at herself for doing something so stupid when she should¡¯ve known better. There were going to be lots of hurdles in their relationship to get over, and she had stupidly made one of them a lot higher than it needed to be. She just hoped the effort wouldn¡¯t outweigh the happiness one day. Moving closer to the railing, the strained couple stood next to each other with a bit of space between them. Peering down at the dance floor, they quickly spotted Kyle and June swaying together in a slow dance. Biting her thumbnail nervously, Jillian tried her best to let the two enjoy their moment and not get angry again. They had only just met, yet here they were, dancing so intimately. It made her feel like jumping down from the balcony and pulling them apart. In reality, they had kind of gotten stuck on the dance floor when the slow music came on, so they were just making small talk about Kyle¡¯s day at school. Or about what book June was reading at the moment. It was all very awkward, with long pauses between subjects making things even more uncomfortable. Once the song ended, the teens finally fled from the dance floor and headed back to their table. Jillian shot a fierce glare at Kyle, but Jason didn¡¯t really care much anymore. He had his own problems to deal with now. ¡°Okay, time to call it a night, you two,¡± Jillian said, hands on hips. June couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at her sister¡¯s overprotectiveness before turning to Kyle. ¡°Thanks for inviting us up here, it was fun,¡± she signed to the deaf boy, who flashed her a smile. ¡°Feel free to drop by anytime,¡± Kyle said, glancing around at the group. ¡°Yeah, thanks, Kyle,¡± Jillian said through clenched teeth. ¡°The food was great. We appreciate it. Tell your father thanks as well,¡± Jason added, his voice still a bit monotonous. Ready to leave, Jillian chimed in again, ¡°Yeah, it was really kind of you. Thanks. Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Jason sighed at her bluntness, but they headed out nonetheless. As they started to leave, June suddenly gave Kyle a quick hug, causing him to stiffen briefly before returning the embrace. They parted just as quickly, and she waved goodbye before turning to catch up with her sister. They headed down to the valet and got their car back. Everything seemed fine. Quiet, but fine. June dozed off on the drive home, the sound of the engine lulling her to sleep in the backseat. ¡°Jason?¡± Jillian whispered from the front seat beside him. ¡°Yeah?¡± Jason replied, keeping his eyes on the road. His tone was still a little distant, making her shrink back in her seat. ¡°I¡ it¡¯s nothing. Sorry, I don¡¯t want to distract you,¡± she said, fidgeting with her fingers. Jason glanced at Jillian, noticing her troubled expression as she stared at her hands. Despite the events of the night, she still looked beautiful to him bathed in the moonlight. It surprised him a little. He felt almost certain that he would see her in a new light from how much his heart still ached. Her decision to leave him at the table and apparently pretend to flirt with another guy at the bar certainly didn¡¯t sit well with him. Yet it didn¡¯t stop him from caring for her. Perhaps that was why he hurt so much, because he did care. More than he thought he even could. He sighed heavily, then focused back on the road. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We can talk about it now¡ we should talk about it now,¡± he said, trying to sound calm. Jillian looked over at him, nervously biting her lip. ¡°A-are you sure?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure,¡± Jillian took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. ¡°I¡I never meant to hurt you,¡± she began, echoing her earlier words. ¡°It¡¯s¡hard to admit, but it did hurt. Seeing you with that guy at the bar,¡± he confirmed, making her eyes widen slightly. She didn¡¯t know that Jason had seen her sitting with Marcus. It made it even harder for her to talk. Jillian grasped her dress tight, her teeth sinking into her lower lip painfully. ¡°W-when June and Kyle got up to go dance¡and you said you wouldn¡¯t dance with me¡I just¡,¡± she paused, letting out a small whimper. ¡°My brain went straight to ¡®I¡¯ve got to do something drastic to make you want me again¡¯. Even though deep down, I knew I didn¡¯t have to. I still felt this intense insecurity that urged me to act out to try and get your attention. I know I should have just stayed there with you¡I just couldn¡¯t,¡± she tried to explain what was going through her head, as crazy as it sounded. There was a long silence between them before Jillian spoke up again. ¡°When I was a kid¡I spent years being a brat. All I ever wanted was someone to pay attention to me¡ Even if I ended up getting into trouble, it was better than feeling totally ignored. I¡¯m not trying to justify what I did and I don¡¯t know if you understand, but feeling so alone and empty for such a long time¡,¡± Jillian paused, looking down at her hands again, not sure what to say next. ¡°I understand why you¡¯re upset, and I¡¯m not gonna tell you not to be. But I am sorry, Jason. I just hope you can forgive me for being such a fuck-up,¡± she whispered while her lower lip quivered. All of this hit Jason hard. He still cared about her, of course, and he knew that he would eventually forgive her. Even with everything that happened tonight, he couldn¡¯t just toss her aside. He was still upset, no doubt about that, but it didn¡¯t mean it was all over. They hadn¡¯t survived this far just to falter now. ¡°I get it. Jill,¡± he said, trying to keep his tone even. ¡°I know the pain of feeling alone better than most¡¡± Jillian shrank down in her seat, feeling like an ant under his words. She knew that she was probably the reason he had to experience that pain. ¡°And part of me wants to stay mad at you...But the other part wants to keep you even closer so you won¡¯t ever feel like doing something like that again.¡± Her eyes widened as she turned to look at him. ¡°I forgive you, but just so we are clear. This won¡¯t ever happen again, right?¡± His tone turned serious, and she nodded vigorously. ¡°Absolutely not,¡± she said instantly, her eyes wide with shock that he forgave her. ¡°Good.¡± Jillian quickly unbuckled and crawled across the center console, looking at the road ahead before she gave Jason a quick, firm kiss on the lips. ¡°I swear, I¡¯ll try not to mess up like that again,¡± she said, punctuating her words with several more smacks of her lips kissing his cheek, jaw, and neck. ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± Jason chuckled, feeling a bit aroused by her sudden affections. ¡°I can¡¯t drive well with you kissing me like that. Plus, nngh¡ June¡¯s still in the back.¡± he murmured, letting out a light groan as her teeth nipped at his neck. Leaning back from Jason, Jillian glanced at June in the back seat. She was still out like a light, slumped against the door. Turning back to Jason, she reached over and teasingly traced her fingers along his inner thigh. ¡°She¡¯s out cold, baby. I can be quiet if you can,¡± she cooed, leaning over to nibble on his ear, sending shivers down his spine. Jason laughed softly. ¡°Haha, woman, you are crazy.¡± June was relieved it was dark; otherwise, her sister might have noticed how red her face was. But she couldn¡¯t help but wonder about her sister¡¯s past and who this mystery guy was? And why did she have to make such a scene to get Jason¡¯s attention? It seemed like they had a fight over him not dancing, but there was a much deeper and painful thing that happened. Finally, the trio returned to the small town and headed straight home. Jason parked his car outside the girls¡¯ house. ¡°Are you staying here tonight or coming over again?¡± he asked casually, wondering if she¡¯d spend the night once more. It was pretty clear he couldn¡¯t stay in her room since the sisters shared it. Jillian seemed torn, silently wrestling with her thoughts. ¡°Thanks, Jason,¡± June murmured, waving as she stepped out, once again looking surprisingly alert for someone who supposedly just slept through most of the drive home. Jillian let out a depressed sigh. ¡°I really want to stay with you, but I know I won¡¯t just fall asleep if I come over. I have to be up and at my therapist¡¯s by seven in the morning.¡± Jason nodded, understanding. ¡°No worries, it¡¯s important you focus on that and get enough rest. I can pick you and June up for the farmer¡¯s market after you¡¯re done.¡± She groaned at his supportive words. ¡°Nooo, you¡¯re supposed to say you don¡¯t care if I¡¯m late. And explain that you can¡¯t stand sleeping without me anymore, demanding that I come over,¡± she complained, making him chuckle. ¡°Haha, really? Well, can I give it another shot, then?¡± Jason asked, smiling softly at her. Jillian returned the smile and nodded eagerly. He cleared his throat, unbuckled his seatbelt, and turned towards her. ¡°I¡¯m not letting you stay home tonight. While I¡¯m here, my bed is where you belong, no exceptions. Without you there, I¡¯ll just toss and turn all night. I don¡¯t just want you. I need you,¡± he spoke in a low rumble. His hand reached out lightly and caressed her cheek, making Jillian squirm in her seat. She let out a soft whimper. ¡°Fuck, this was a bad idea,¡± she moaned, leaving him a bit puzzled. ¡°I was gonna say something like, ¡®tough luck, gotta go,¡¯ and give you a quick kiss before leaving. But now, I don¡¯t know if I can keep myself home tonight.¡± He laughed a little at her self-sabotage. ¡°Haha, well as much as I love having your body pressed against mine and falling asleep with your wonderful butt in my hand. I don¡¯t want to keep you up.¡± Jason gently moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her neck, his thumb tracing the soft muscles and veins. ¡°Mmmm fuck, not exactly helping,¡± she moaned, nearly melting from his touch. Eventually, she swatted his hand away. With a determined groan, she suddenly unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. ¡°What the hell are you doing now?¡± Jason asked, though he already had a pretty damn good idea. ¡°I¡¯m just gonna take matters into my own hands, literally, so we both feel better about the situation,¡± she said matter-of-factly, swiftly freeing his flaccid cock from his trousers. She leaned down and wrapped her lips around it. ¡°Nggh, fuck!¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help but let out a groan as Jillian¡¯s mouth sucked him into her mouth. Her tongue worked its magic, swirling around and flicking his tip, sending a rush of pleasure through him. His soft dick didn¡¯t remain so for very long. His body responded eagerly, and soon, he felt himself growing rapidly inside her mouth. Jillian couldn¡¯t contain her delight, letting out a muffled giggle as she felt him harden in her mouth. She let his erection grow and expand down her throat. With a loud slurp, she withdrew with a hard suck, giggling even more once she was off. ¡°Does that feel good, baby? It''s been a bit since I shoved your cock down my throat,¡± she teased, planting loving kisses along his length, leaving marks from her lipstick, each one drawing a pleased moan from her. ¡°Y-yeah, It feels amazing,¡± Jason exclaimed, his hand moving its way into her hair, holding on tight. ¡°Mmmmhehehe, that''s what I like to hear.¡± With a moan turned sultry laugh, she wasted no more time. She angled herself above his lap and eagerly shoved his cock back in her mouth, going as deep as possible without hesitation. Though she gagged and coughed a bit, she didn¡¯t let it slow her down. ¡°AH-,¡± Jason groaned, his breath catching in his throat as she sank almost to the base in one go. She pulled back momentarily to speak. ¡°Fuck, so close. Help me again, will you, baby?¡± With that, she went back to work, bobbing up and down for a few moments to prepare herself. With one hand in her hair, Jason put his other hand to good use. Reaching over her ass, he pulled her dress up and moved his hand down the creamy freckled cheeks until he found her already soaked panties. His fingers traced the outline of her plump lips and small hard pearl from outside her panties. Jason¡¯s fingers pushed Jillian¡¯s panties to the side and slipped in between her wet valley. His thick middle finger teased her hot tunnel for only a moment before slipping the digit in as deep as he could. She gasped as he pushed inside of her. Her pussy enveloped his finger, clamping down on it as she twitched in response. Her moans of pleasure and cries of delight reverberated through his cock, which she lovingly attended to. With a gentle push, he pushed her head down, and she eagerly opened her throat and welcomed his cock. Her face was soon pressed up against his hilt, her nose buried in his pubic hair, and her tongue attacking his balls. Her eyes watered slightly from the depth, but she persisted, pleasing him with her throat. While she deep throated him, he sank another finger into her cunt and started to finger fuck her as fast as he could, driving them both closer to the peak of ecstasy. Jason held Jillian¡¯s hair tightly as he used her mouth as his personal cock sleeve, his fingers pumping quickly in and out of her. She moaned loudly as she felt herself tightening around his fingers. He felt her orgasm soak his fingers even more as her moans made her throat vibrate around his cock again. He pulled her head up slightly before shoving it back down firmly, much to her delight, and released his load straight into her stomach. The hot seed coated her throat as he let her pull off slowly, still sucking as she breathed deep through her nose. She swallowed what cum she could suck out from his tip with an audible gulp. Spending the next few moments catching her breath, her whole body quivered in post orgasm bliss. ¡°Mmmm okay¡Now I think I¡¯m ready for bed,¡± she said with a giggle, planting a few more kisses on his girth with her ruby red lips. Chapter 45: Fresh Fruits, Veggies, New Friends and a Dash of the Past Come Back to Haunt. ¡°So Jill, last time we talked, you mentioned how one of the people you bullied in the past came back to visit. I would like to revisit that if it¡¯s okay with you?¡± Dr. Trent leaned back in his chair with a soft smile while Jillian leaned back in the recliner across the room from him. ¡°Sure, I guess,¡± she said, not feeling all that confident, though the couple had ended up making up last night. She was still afraid of what her therapist would say if she told him what she did. ¡°Great. And can I just say that you look much more relaxed than last time? I assume that things went well with them?¡± His always optimistic attitude wore down on Jillian a little. She rubbed her arm slightly, which, of course, he saw as a nonverbal tell. ¡°Yeah, it''s been going good¡ it''s been really hard, but I feel like I am a lot happier, at least,¡± she said with a slight smile. ¡°Mmhmm.¡± Dr.Trent looked carefully at Jillian. It was obvious she wasn¡¯t giving him all the information yet, but he continued as usual. ¡°Well, I am glad that you feel that way. Can you tell me what all went on while he was here?¡± The small little trap was set. ¡°Umm, well, I can¡¯t really tell you everything that went on. But he is actually still in town.¡± Jillian didn¡¯t even realize she had given away something critical. Her therapist smiled, took off his glasses and set them down on his desk. ¡°Does he happen to be named Jason?¡± Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. She didn¡¯t even need to confirm it. Her look of surprise told him everything. Jillian had been so careful not to say more than someone had come to visit their last session. And now, within minutes of the start, he knew it was Jason and that he was still in town. ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± she grumbled slightly. ¡°Haha, I''m sorry, but I have your best interest at heart I promise. So tell me how did Jason react to seeing you again for the first time?¡± Dr.Trent said with a warm smile on his face. Jillian stared down at her hands, still grumbling slightly. ¡°Not good¡Terribly, painfully, angrily... Pick one.¡± ¡°Well, I am sure you weren¡¯t expecting him to simply open his arms and forgive you without a second thought, were you?¡± Jillian shook her head with a scowl, remembering that night. ¡°I did apologize to him for what I did.¡± ¡°From the look on your face, I assume that it didn¡¯t go well?¡± he chimed in. She nodded in response, letting out a heavy sigh and fiddling with her fingers in her lap. ¡°No¡He took it badly¡ very badly.¡± The scowl on her face deepened. Jason¡¯s hurtful words still stung to think about, even with how sweet he was now. Jillian explained how Jason had blown up and spat insults at her, and she shot right back in anger. Then, how he had said something over the top, and she ended up crying in the bathroom for a bit before going home shortly after. ¡°So this was a dinner your two families had? That¡¯s quite the coincidence.¡± ¡°Yeah, we live barely two blocks away from each other,¡± Jillian admitted. ¡°Wow¡ that¡¯s just¡wow,¡± Dr. Trent said in surprise, not sure how the two never ran into each other and realized this while they were younger. ¡°Yeah¡ we fought a lot this last week, but we also started spending some time together. He even told me the other day that he enjoyed doing stuff with me.¡± ¡°Stuff?¡± her therapist asked with a raised eyebrow. He was mostly just curious about what they did, but the flushed look on her face and the crooked smile that crossed her lips said more than she could possibly say in such a short time. ¡°Jillian you didn¡¯t¡,¡± he frowned deeply at her. She had told him about how she had been sexually active in highschool and the constant sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Luis, along with all the things she did to make her way across the country to get back home. So Dr. Trent highly recommended she spend at least a year celibate before attempting to get back into the dating scene. He wanted her to be in the right headspace and not revolve her world around sex. So he was less than pleased that it looked like she had not taken that advice to heart. He just hoped that she wasn¡¯t being taken advantage of by Jason out of revenge. ¡°I-it¡¯s not like that!¡± Jillian said with a scowl at the look of disappointment on his face. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid! He didn¡¯t even want anything to do with me at first. So it''s not like he was trying to trick me into sleeping with him! Hell, he straight up rejected me when I threw myself at him.¡± She stood up, feeling an overwhelming desire to defend her boyfriend. Dr. Trent blinked back, a little stunned at the sudden outburst. ¡°He may have said some mean things to me, but it wasn¡¯t like I didn¡¯t deserve them for what I did. Even after all I put him through, he still treats me better than any other man I have had the displeasure of dating. Yeah, we argue and have our moments, but when he held me in his arms that night..for the first time in my adult life, I felt truly safe,¡± Jillian passionately declared her stance. She wasn¡¯t going to let him disparage the most stable relationship she had ever been in. Dr. Trent just sat there in stunned silence for several moments. He had never seen her so passionate. She was always a bit like an abused dog: scared and meek but would snap at you if you got too close. It felt like she had become a new person, or perhaps she was just finally returning to who she was. Still, he had a job to do and had his own thoughts on this new development. ¡°So are you two actually dating?¡± The fierce look on her face quickly vanished and the shy and slightly embarrassed Jillian returned. She looked away for a moment before nodding to him. ¡°Y-yeah¡ he asked me out this weekend.¡± It was clear she was fighting against a smile at the memory, trying to keep her hard exterior. Dr. Trent took a deep breath and set his pen down before rubbing his eyes a bit with the heels of his palms. This was quite a shift from what he was used to dealing with when it came to her. ¡°Well, let me say first I am glad that you are happy. I really am. You look happier and sound more confident, so please take what I am about to say with a grain of salt¡In my professional opinion, I can¡¯t approve of your relationship.¡± Jillian was all smiles until the last part. ¡°And why the hell not!?¡± She kinda knew the answer, but at the same time felt like she needed to aggressively defend her relationship. ¡°Because you have only known this man for a week if you don¡¯t count high school. And your history together is rocky at best. From what you have told me, it doesn¡¯t sound like the most stable relationship as well. Plus, he¡¯s just visiting, right? How far does he live?¡± Dr. Trent laid it out honestly. Jillian looked angry but answered, ¡°Florida.¡± ¡°Exactly. He¡¯s going to leave soon, and things are going to get complicated. More than I fear you can handle right now. It¡¯s only been six months since you got out of an abusive relationship. And if this doesn¡¯t end well, I am afraid for your mental state. I really wish you would have waited at least a year or more.¡± He took another deep breath as he looked at Jillian standing there with her arms crossed, looking like an immovable object. It was more than obvious that changing her mind at this point would be near impossible. ¡°I am only here to give you advice and help you however I can. In the end, it¡¯s your choice to make.¡± He leaned back in his chair, having said his piece. Jillian wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled with the advice he gave her. How could he say that she should break up with the only guy who seemed to actually care about her? She had to bite her tongue to resist telling him to fuck off. But instead, she took a deep, calming breath. ¡°Thanks, Steven. But I think I¡¯ll pass on that suggestion,¡± she said, using his first name. ¡°I haven¡¯t felt this happy in what feels like forever, and I¡¯m not ready to let go. I don¡¯t know if I ever will be. Even if things don¡¯t work out between us, and I know that is a good possibility and I will have no one to blame but myself, but I will still cherish every single one of these moments.¡± At least, she hoped she would. Dr. Trent let out a sigh and nodded, fully expecting her response. ¡°Figured you¡¯d say that. Well, we¡¯ve still got some time. Why don¡¯t you tell me about these arguments you¡¯ve been having, and I¡¯ll offer whatever advice I can muster? I¡¯m not a couples¡¯ therapist, but I¡¯ll do what I can.¡± He smiled gently, still eager to lend a hand. Jillian smiled back and sat back down, happy he was willing to support her, even if he didn¡¯t quite agree with the relationship. An hour later, Jason, Katia, Jillian, and June hopped into his rental car and headed to the farmer¡¯s market. Ginny had to stay back to take care of Lonnie, who was feeling under the weather, but she insisted they go and enjoy themselves. Though she obviously felt a bit bummed, she couldn¡¯t meet the guy who had been crushing on her bestie. Jillian chose to sit in the back with her sis, leaving the front seat for Katia. ¡°So, Katia, I heard you¡¯ve got a not-so-secret admirer,¡± Jillian teased Jason¡¯s mom, who couldn¡¯t help but let out a little giggle. ¡°Oh, come on. He just asked me to come by to visit, and he wants me to have some of his homegrown produce,¡± Katia chuckled, though her flushed cheeks hinted otherwise. The other girls in the car giggled along, but Jason didn¡¯t seem amused. ¡°Really? I bet he¡¯s got some impressive eggplants you can have,¡± she teased. Though Katia didn¡¯t catch the innuendo, the others did, causing Jason to tighten his grip on the steering wheel. ¡°Cut it out, please, Jill,¡± he pleaded, while she just laughed and reached up to give his arm a comforting squeeze. ¡°I know babe, I¡¯m just messing around. Sorry,¡± she reassured him before settling back into her seat. As they rolled into the parking lot next to the farmer¡¯s market, the group hopped out of the car. Jillian linked arms with June, then reached for Jason¡¯s hand, intertwining their fingers. She shot him a smile and puckered her glossy pink lips playfully, signaling for a kiss. He gladly obliged, leaning down to meet her lips. With that sweet moment out of the way, the four of them strolled into the bustling market. There was a vibrant array of stalls selling all sorts of goods, from fresh produce to homemade treats. June spotted several vendors selling flowers, which interested her the most. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°We can check out everything else later, but first, let¡¯s swing by Dr. Feel Good¡¯s stall,¡± Jillian quipped, earning a groan from Jason. She enjoyed teasing him, but wanted to make sure she didn¡¯t overdo it. Her therapist¡¯s words lingered in her mind: ¡°Long-distance relationships often don¡¯t last, especially with past tension.¡± She refused to accept that. They would overcome their past and emerge stronger. Determined not to give up easily, she pulled Jason¡¯s hand to her lips and planted a kiss on the back, smiling up at him. He looked a little confused but smiled back. Approaching the stall, Jason noticed the doctor standing behind the counter, though he wasn¡¯t wearing his usual white coat, obviously. Instead, he had on a pair of thin-framed glasses and a collared white button-up paired with some work pants that had soil stains all over them. Beside him was a teenage girl who seemed a bit older than June. She had a much darker complexion than Chris and wore her long black hair braided at the back. Her top was a stylish halter top that wrapped around her small chest, and showed off her midriff. It seemed a bit much for a teenager, but it was a warmer day, so most people were dressed lightly. She looked completely and utterly bored as she lounged against the counter, staring at her phone and lazily chewing gum. Pitch black lipstick coated her lips. As they headed to the stall, Dr. Christopher Lee spotted the approaching group. His grin lit up his face, gleaming like a string of pearls. ¡°Katia! Jason! Glad you could make it.¡± He grinned at the two then glanced at the two redheads, and the intertwined hands of one of them and, Jason. ¡°Chris, thank you so much for inviting us. We¡¯ve been taking your advice on eating healthier as well,¡± Katia said, beaming. ¡°Oh, and this is Jillian, Jason¡¯s girlfriend, and June, her sister. They wanted to check out the market too,¡± she added, introducing the new faces to Chris. Chris gave them a friendly nod, then put his hand on the shoulder of the teenage girl next to him. He introduced himself to Jillian and June. ¡°Nice to meet you both. I¡¯m Christopher Lee, and this is my daughter, Kelsea.¡± Katia let out a small gasp as she looked at Kelsea. ¡°Chris, I didn¡¯t know you had a daughter! It¡¯s so great to meet you, Kelsea,¡± she said with a beaming smile, extending her hand. Kelsea frowned at the gesture, but her dad nudged her to be polite. With a sigh, she reluctantly reached out and shook Katia¡¯s hand briefly before pulling away. Chris¡¯s expression showed he was sorry for his daughter¡¯s behavior. Katia just smiled back, unfazed by the typical teenage behavior. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve got a special basket of produce just for you,¡± Chris said with a grin, stepping back to grab a big basket filled with all sorts of colorful vegetables and a few citrus fruits. His whole stall was packed with similar baskets, but this one seemed extra vibrant and filled to capacity. Katia¡¯s eyes lit up as she checked out the basket. ¡°Oh my goodness, Chris. These look incredible! Did you really grow all of these yourself?¡± she asked, amazed, holding up a rather girthy cucumber. Jillian couldn¡¯t help but snicker, earning a playful glare from Jason, which she promptly responded to by whispering to him, standing on her tippy toes, ¡°I think yours is still bigger.¡± Jason¡¯s face suddenly flushed, and he glared down at Jillian with wide eyes. She struggled to contain her laughter at his reaction. Katia and Chris started chatting away while the rest of the group checked out the surroundings. ¡°Hey mom, we¡¯re gonna go explore for a bit,¡± Jason told his mother before turning to Chris. ¡°Dr. Lee,¡± he said, his tone rather cold. Chris just chuckled, too happy to be put off by the man. ¡°Come now, Jason, just call me Chris outside of work.¡± Jason¡¯s eye twitched a little, but Katia shot him a glare, and he sighed in defeat. ¡°Okay, Chris,¡± he said through gritted teeth. ¡°Well, we¡¯re gonna go look around for a bit, alright, Mom? We will meet you back here in a bit if that works for you?¡± It pained him to leave his mother alone with this man, but there was nothing he could really do. ¡°Sure thing, sweetie. Have fun!¡± She waved as the others walked off. Chris turned to his daughter. ¡°Hey, if you want to go explore, too, Kels, I can handle things here.¡± Kelsea wasted no time in leaving her spot behind the counter and walking away without a word. Chris let out a sigh, ¡°Sorry about her, Katia. She¡¯s been in a mood lately.¡± He seemed a bit stressed as he spoke. Katia waved it off. ¡°It''s perfectly fine, Chris. Teenagers will be teenagers. If you ever need an extra hand or anything, just let me know. I don¡¯t mind at all. You¡¯ve already done so much for my son, so I¡¯d love to return the favor,¡± she smiled warmly at him. With a strained smile, the doctor ran his hand through his jet black hair, a bit unsure of how to express himself. ¡°Um, well¡¡± He paused, seeming a bit hesitant to fully open up. ¡°I actually could use an outside perspective, but if it feels too personal, please don¡¯t feel pressured to answer. I don¡¯t want to put you on the spot.¡± Katia reached out, resting her hand on his briefly. ¡°Take your time,¡± she reassured him. He glanced at her hand, then back at her, his smile softening. ¡°Thanks. Honestly, my daughter, she¡¯s a lot like her mom, for better or worse,¡± he confessed, briefly looking away again. There was a brief pause before Katia finally mustered the courage to ask the burning question. ¡°Is her mom still in the picture?¡± It was a hard question, but one that needed an answer. Chris shook his head slowly. ¡°No, she¡¯s not around. She¡¯s in jail.¡± Katia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. ¡°Oh no, what happened?¡ I-if you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± The question slipped out almost instinctively. Chris let out a sigh. ¡°She got caught stealing drugs from the hospital where I work. She used me as an excuse to visit frequently, and steal medication...¡± He wasn¡¯t sure why he was telling Katia all this, but the burning need to get it off his chest wouldn¡¯t let him keep it to himself. Though he was still holding back some details. ¡°That¡¯s awful, Chris. I¡¯m really sorry to hear that. Not even just the fact she stole medicine but used you to do it,¡± Katia said with genuine sympathy, not showing any signs she would flee from his baggage. ¡°Thank you Katia¡ I truly appreciate that. I was under suspicion for a long time and almost lost my license from it,¡± Chris said before taking a deep breath and letting it out in a heavy sigh. ¡°I¡I found Kelsea smoking weed a few weeks back... and I didn¡¯t react in the best way. Things have been pretty tense since then. I¡¯ve been trying to talk to her, but she barely talks to me anymore. I practically have to drag her along with me here. We used to enjoy spending time doing this together, but now it feels like she¡¯s just given up,¡± Chris explained, his gaze burning a hole into the wood of the stall¡¯s counter he was leaning on. He seemed really desperate for a solution. ¡°That sounds awful, I¡¯m sorry to hear that. I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve been in your exact shoes, but maybe try talking to her on your way home? Just be honest about how you were feeling when you got mad at her. Tell her about how you are afraid it might lead to worse things. I would just try and be open with her and try not to make her feel any worse than she might already feel. I bet she is upset about it as well,¡± Katia suggested with a gentle smile. Chris nodded, grateful. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll give that a shot. I¡¯m just so scared that she will end up like her mom,¡± he sighed, running a hand through his hair again. ¡°I am sorry for unloading all this on you even though we just met. I am sure you are ready to run for the hills, haha,¡± he laughed in his self-deprecation, but Katia placed her hand over his and gave it a firm squeeze. ¡°It''s okay, Chris.¡± His eyes shot up to Katia as she spoke. Seeing her sweet, gentle smile made his heart race. ¡°I can see that you care a lot for your daughter, and I don¡¯t mind listening. I¡¯m happy to help you in any way I can.¡± Katia¡¯s words were just as sweet as her smile and Chris struggled to maintain eye contact. His gaze dropped a bit to the hand she was holding, and he noticed the indent on her ring finger that looked like a ring had been sitting there for years. He was going to say something stupid if he didn¡¯t change the subject. ¡°Ahem, so how¡¯ve you and Jason been?¡± he asked, clearing his throat before looking back up at her. The three strolled through the farmer¡¯s market, pausing every now and then to check out different stalls. They bought a few packs of small homemade cookies to snack on as they continued exploring. Jason wasn¡¯t all that interested in the market, so he was kind of just on auto pilot, with Jill¡¯s arm wrapped around his. This went on for about twenty minutes until they were walking down one of the last aisles. Jillian was enjoying the second-to-last cookie, and turned around to offer the last of hers to June, only to find her sister missing. ¡°June?¡± she called out, hoping for a playful response, but there was no response. A cold sweat ran down the back of her neck. Jason got a few steps ahead before suddenly realizing he was on his own. He turned around and saw Jillian just standing there, casually holding a cookie in one hand. He quickly noticed that June was nowhere to be seen. Walking up to Jillian, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s June?¡± he asked, curious. It didn¡¯t seem like June to wander off alone. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It''s not like her to wander off.¡± Jillian tossed the cookie and bag into a nearby trash can and pulled out her phone, sending several texts to her little sister. Jillian: June, where did you go? Why¡¯d you just take off without a word? Jillian: Please answer! I¡¯m already getting worried! Jillian: This isn¡¯t funny, June! It took a few moments, but when a response finally came through, it wasn¡¯t what she expected. Actually, it was the last thing Jillian wanted to see. A picture popped up of June standing at a flower stall, followed by a message. June: Wow, your little sis is quite the cutie. Almost as pretty as you, Chica. Maybe I¡¯ll make her my new project, just like I did with you. Raise and train her to be a more obedient pet than you were. Jillian¡¯s heart beat in her chest like never before, like it was about to bust through her chest. There was no mistaking it. She knew exactly who it was, even through text. Only one person ever called her Chica. Jason saw her trembling and struggling to breathe. ¡°Jill?¡ What''s wrong?¡ Jill, come on, speak to me,¡± he urged, placing a hand on her shoulder. She gasped for air at his touch, hands shaking violently as she clutched her phone. He found her, and now he had her little sister. Her fingers barely managed to type on the phone screen as they trembled. Jillian: Luis, if you lay a finger on her, you¡¯ll wish you were never born. June: Haha, ooo, I¡¯m shaking in my boots over here. At least you¡¯re still as fiery as ever, Chica. Your sister is not in danger for now. Jillian: What do you want, you fucking son of a bitch! June: You know exactly what I want. If you want your sister to stay safe, you¡¯ll do what I say. Tears started rolling down Jillian¡¯s cheeks, a mix of anger and panic flooding her emotions. Jason, frustrated by her silence, glanced over her shoulder and read the messages. ¡°What the fuck is that?!¡± he exclaimed, turning her to face him and gently holding her face. ¡°Jillian, talk to me. Who¡¯s that texting on June¡¯s phone?¡± She stared back at him, her eyes hollow. As the phone buzzed with another message, she pulled away to read it. June: Come to the construction site on 328 Northpoint Way in 20 minutes or less. No cops, no one else. Just you and that pretty face of yours. Keep it between us, and no one else has to get hurt. June: Chop-chop, time¡¯s ticking, Chica! Jillian looked at Jason, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to leave. Please, just¡¡± She wanted to promise she would be back, but she couldn¡¯t be sure if it was one she could keep. Instead, Jillian wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a quick, intense kiss. She broke away and, without warning, dashed off, leaving Jason bewildered. ¡°Wait, what?¡ What is happening?!¡± His mind raced as he tried to make sense of it all. He called out for Jillian, but she had disappeared into the crowd. ¡°Jill!¡± he shouted, feeling the panic inside him rise. He tried to follow her, but she had purposely ducked between stalls he couldn''t to hide her retreat. ¡°What the fuck? Where did she go?¡± he scanned the area frantically. Jason pulled out his phone and called Jillian, but each time he tried, he got a busy signal. After several attempts, he couldn¡¯t even get through anymore. She had straight-up blocked him. He stared at his phone, feeling like it had just sucker-punched him. Something very wrong was definitely going on, and he wasn¡¯t about to let it slide. He shot his mom a quick text, telling her they were heading home for a bit and would be back shortly. There was no need to stress her out. He¡¯d handle it himself, as he always did. He dashed to his car, hopped in, and peeled out of the parking lot, heading back home as fast as possible. When Jason got home, he dashed out of the car and hurried inside. He made a beeline for his mom¡¯s room. There, he removed a painting to reveal a hidden safe. Using his birthdate as the combo, it popped it open. Inside, there were several stacks of cash and a colt M1911 handgun with two loaded magazines. The same kind as his father¡¯s old side arm when he was in the military. He took the gun, and checked to ensure it was loaded and the safety was on, then tucked it into the back of his pants, covering it with his shirt. He also grabbed the extra magazines, closed the safe, and dashed back out of the house. He wasn¡¯t sure where he was headed or what was waiting for him, but he wanted to be prepared for anything. Chapter 46: The Evils of Man, No Matter How Much We See, Will Never Fail to Surprise or Disgust. The construction site Jillian was headed to had been abandoned for years due to a lack of funding. It was supposed to be a parking garage, but now it stood as a mere skeleton of its intended structure, with only a tall fence surrounding sporadic concrete pillars. She saw a gate that had been busted open, swinging gently. Jillian paused to take a deep breath. Her nerves were frayed, and she was more afraid than ever before. But not for herself. If Luis really had her sister, all she could do was hope everything worked out in the end. There was no running away. It had been nearly twenty minutes since she received the last text message. As Jillian approached, she heard the light chatter of people inside. It took every ounce of her courage to keep moving one foot in front of the other. With another deep breath, she entered the site, her heart racing as she immediately noticed two black SUVs parked a hundred feet away from the entrance. Two men dressed like private security stood beside them. The passenger door of the SUV on the left swung open, sending a chill down her spine and leaving her mouth dry. Stepping out was a guy of average height, bald-headed, sporting a baby blue overshirt over a white tank top. His pants were bright white pleated slacks, and he had some fancy reptile-skin boots with pointed tips. A thick cigar hung from the corner of his mouth, and he had a black goatee framing his wide grin. His eyes were hidden behind dark aviator shades. His gaze locked on Jillian and he pulled the cigar from his lips and spread his arms wide. ¡°Well, well, Roja. It¡¯s been a while, eh?¡ You got fat.¡± She shot daggers at the man. Her fists curled into tight balls that trembled with rage. ¡°Where¡¯s my fucking sister, Luis?! I came like you asked, so let her go!¡± she yelled, stopping about thirty feet away from him, refusing to budge any closer. Luis just chuckled, taking another drag of his cigar. ¡°Haha, that''s not how this works, mi amor. You¡¯re in no position to demand anything, puta. The only position you belong in is on your back. You¡¯ll do as I say, and then... mmm maybe I¡¯ll consider letting your sister be.¡± Her jaw clenched at his words. This bastard was going to regret it. She¡¯d see to that. Meanwhile, Jason drove as quickly as he could, eager to return to the farmer¡¯s market and start searching the area. He figured Jillian couldn¡¯t have strayed too far on foot. His heart pounded with worry, sending sharp pains through his chest. He knew he had to calm down, or he risked making things worse. Taking deep breaths, he tried to focus on the road, but his mind kept drifting to the worst-case scenario. Clutching the steering wheel tightly, he couldn¡¯t shake Jillian¡¯s last words from his mind. Sitting and waiting was just not an option for him. When Jason had glanced at Jillian¡¯s phone over her shoulder, he¡¯d pieced together that something was going on with her sister, June. Something very wrong. The texts hinted that someone wanted Jillian in exchange for her sister, sending chills down Jason¡¯s spine. Though he didn¡¯t share Jillian¡¯s bond with June, he cared deeply for the teen. She was a fantastic kid, and he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her getting hurt or worse. Finally reaching the area around the market, Jason circled around, scanning for his girlfriend. With each passing moment without a glimpse of her, his worry intensified, a knot tightening in his chest. Luis took a few last puffs of his almost-finished cigar, then tossed it down into the dirt and crushed it with his boot. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come over here, chica? It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve seen your pretty face. I want to show you how much I still love you.¡± He licked his lips before his manic grin returned, and he opened his arms for her. Jillian glared at him and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯d sooner jump off a cliff than trust you in any way, shape, or form. The only reason I¡¯m here is because you¡¯ve got my sister. Let her go, or I¡¯m not budging from this spot,¡± she said firmly. Luis didn¡¯t seem perturbed by her refusal at all as he muttered something in Spanish, and his two guards beside him began to advance. ¡°Don¡¯t come near me!¡± she warned, but before she knew it, she was caught in a tight bear hug from behind by a burly man and lifted into the air. ¡°Let me go! Rrrgh, let go!¡± she screamed, struggling in his grasp. Luis just chuckled at her resistance. ¡°Come on now, calm down. You¡¯re finally going back home where you belong. Safe and sound. A lot less comfortable now and much more secure. But I promise you will grow to love your box¡ eventually,¡± he said, watching as his little runaway was carried towards him, her legs flailing against the bodyguard, hitting him, though it didn¡¯t faze him much. As Jillian was carried over to Luis, she finally managed to angle one of her legs to land a solid kick with her heel right into the man¡¯s groin. ¡°Ahhggh, you fucking cunt!¡± The bodyguard grunted in pain and forcefully threw her down in front of Luis. She hit the ground with a painful yelp, feeling the dirt and gravel scrape and dig into her hands and face as the wind was knocked out of her from the landing. Jillian struggled to catch her breath, clenching her teeth ¡°Oi, what the fuck do you think you¡¯re doing, bendejo?!¡± Luis yelled at the guy, who was now clutching his crotch in agony. ¡°The bitch fucking kicked me in the balls!¡± he complained with a scowl. Jillian let out a groan as she shakily pushed herself up, sitting with her legs to the side. Looking at her hands, she noticed they were bleeding from several spots where the skin was rubbed raw. She felt something wet trickling down her chin. When she reached up to touch it she quickly realized it was blood. Her cheek had been cut, and blood was dripping down her face. Luis glanced down at her, his expression more disgusted than concerned. But Jillian looked back at him and met his gaze defiantly. Luis turned his attention to his bodyguard, his face twisting into a scowl. ¡°I have had it up to fucking here with you idiotas fucking everything up. You made the mistake of damaging my property. And it¡¯s the last one you are going to make,¡± he said sharply, muttering a few more insults in Spanish. With a snap of his fingers, a muffled gunshot filled the air, making Jillian flinch. The bodyguard clutching his crotch staggered forward a step, his eyes widening in shock before he collapsed in a heap next to her, face first. Another guard had snuck up and shot the man from behind while he was distracted. She froze as she watched the man collapse beside her, a tiny hole in the back of his head catching her eye. She couldn¡¯t hold back a scream, scrambling away from the lifeless figure, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she stared in shock. ¡°Y-y-y-you killed him, L-Luis!¡± Jillian took large gasps of air as the cold chill of pure fear ran through her veins. ¡°I think he will get over it. Boys, toss this basura in the trunk before he gets his pig blood all over the place,¡± Luis ordered, spitting on the lifeless body. Holstering his silenced pistol, the bodyguard who had made the kill went to grab the man¡¯s legs while the others moved in to help lift the massive body. Jillian trembled uncontrollably, her eyes fixed on the gruesome scene. Luis had his own man murdered without a second thought. Suddenly, Jillian felt her face being grabbed and turned to look at Luis. He examined the cut on her cheek with a frown. Although he had hit her many times before, there had never been a permanent mark left behind. He always wanted her to look perfect for his twisted satisfaction. Now, her face was damaged, and it seemed like she would be left with a small scar. With a sigh, he shook his head and roughly pushed her away as he stood up. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to switch to the newer model, after all. Shame, I¡¯ve put so much time into you,¡± he muttered, wiping his hand on his shirt. He retrieved another cigar from his interior pocket, quickly clipped the end, and lit it, taking quick puffs. ¡°Put her in the back with the other. We¡¯ll dump them outside town.¡± Jillian gazed up at Luis as he spoke. His words felt like ice, chilling her to the bone. The scratches on her face seemed to diminish her entire worth in his eyes. The threat of her impending demise didn¡¯t terrify her as much as the safety of her sister did. She would sacrifice everything if it meant her sister got to live one more day. Crawling forward on her knees, she grabbed his shirt desperately. ¡°Papi, please, I¡¯ll do anything if you just let my sister go,¡± she begged. Using that awful nickname again made her cringe. Luis looked down at her in disdain, puffing on his cigar and blowing the smoke in her face. ¡°You should have thought of that before you ran away, bitch,¡± he said indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m going to do what I want. And if that involves your little sister, there¡¯s nothing you can do about it. As for you¡You are too much of a liability now, Roja. Goodbye.¡± He grinned as he raised his hand to snap his fingers, and one of the men prepared to pull out his weapon again. ¡°Put your fucking hands up!¡± a voice boomed across the yard. Luis and Jillian turned quickly to see Jason, gun in hand, pointed at Luis. Jillian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Jason!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°What are you doing here!?¡± Fear flashed in her eyes as he drew nearer, aiming the pistol at Luis. ¡°I¡¯m getting you out of here. Just hang tight,¡± Jason said, eyeing the men loading a body into the SUV. Seeing them reach for weapons, he turned back to Luis. ¡°Tell them to drop their guns, or I¡¯ll blow your fucking brains out!¡± Jason warned loudly. Luis casually took a drag from his cigar, showing no fear, like having a gun pointed at him was just a mere annoyance. He motioned for his men to hold their fire. ¡°Boy, I don¡¯t know who you are, but you don¡¯t know who you¡¯re fuckin¡¯ with,¡± he said, removing the cigar from his mouth and staring at Jason over his sunglasses. Jason shot back, ¡°Oh, I have a pretty good idea. You¡¯re the piece of shit who abducted and abused my girlfriend. I ought to shoot you in the dick instead because that¡¯s where all your brains are, obviously.¡± Luis just chuckled darkly. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, kid, but you¡¯ve got it all backward.¡± He took another drag of his cigar, blowing out the smoke. ¡°Sure, I kept her safe and used her body as much as I wanted, but she¡¯s the one who pleaded with me to take her away from here,¡± Luis explained, his tone steady and confident. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit,¡± Jason retorted with a growl, never lowering his weapon. Luis chuckled. ¡°Believe what you want, but she begged for me to take her away. You should have seen her when she was younger. So eager to please on her knees, hahaha!¡± Luis let out a loud belly laugh. Jillian quickly interjected, her voice pleading, ¡°Jason, please, just leave! Don¡¯t listen to anything this bastard says, and go!¡± Luis started to laugh even harder. ¡°See, she still would rather stay and be my fuck slave than be with you now that I¡¯m back to get her. I trained her well, but not well enough to stay where she belongs.¡± Jillian shot him a fiery glare. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, you piece of-¡° Her sentence was cut short as Luis struck her hard across the face with the back of his hand, making her cut even worse. Blood spattered all over the ground and his hand. When Jillian got hit and fell to the ground, Jason¡¯s anger boiled over. He flicked off the safety of his pistol and shouted, ¡°You motherfucker!¡± Jason growled, aiming for Luis¡¯s head. But killing a person wasn¡¯t that easy, not for normal people, and Jason¡¯s hesitation was all Luis needed to see. ¡°Kill this pathetic wannabe hero, boys,¡± he commanded with a sinister grin. But Before his cronies could draw their weapons, another more commanding voice interrupted. ¡°Police! Put your Hands up!¡± Suddenly, a group of officers in SWAT gear and armed to the teeth appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Luis¡¯s smirk disappeared when he saw more men swarming the site. The letters ATF written in white on their chests and backs. His crew knew better than to continue reaching for their weapons and quickly threw their hands up, surrendering quickly. Jillian lifted her head up slightly, spotting the police closing in. ¡°Fucking finally,¡± she muttered, feeling woozy as she rested her head back down on her arm as she lay there. ¡°You... You snitching fucking bitch!¡± Luis snarled, looming over Jillian, looking like he was about to stomp the life out of her. But he put his hands up as well just so he wouldn¡¯t get shot for the moment. ¡°Jill!¡± Jason shouted loudly, making a move towards her. He was swiftly met with rifles aimed his way. ¡°Drop the gun and get down on the ground, now!¡± one of the agents barked. ¡°She¡¯s hurt, and he¡¯s!...¡± Suddenly, his words were drowned out by shouts of, ¡°Taser, taser, taser!¡± Jason felt an intense jolt of pain shoot through his body as two probes dug into his back. His muscles tightened, and he dropped the handgun as his whole body seized up. He let out a groan of anguish as he collapsed to the ground like a sack of bricks. In a flash, three officers sprang into action, landing on him and swiftly cuffing him from behind. Trying to breathe as he lay there with the officers detaining him, his body screamed from the current that just tore through him. ¡°Hey, just try to stay calm, okay? This is for everyone¡¯s safety,¡± one of them said to him as the cuffs clicked into place. Jason let out a strained groan of pain as he lay there, doing his best to go along with it. They helped him up, his legs shaky from the shock. They guided him to a nearby unmarked cruiser, settling him in gently. ¡°Just sit tight. The EMTs will be along to remove those probes from your back soon,¡± they informed him before closing the door. There was so much happening that Jillian couldn¡¯t keep track of what had happened to Jason. Her head was spinning, and she struggled to stay awake. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret this, you bitch. I am gonna kill you,¡± Luis threatened, raising his scaled boot. ¡°I¡¯ll make your whole family suffer before they die,¡± he growled with immense rage Jillian groaned as she slowly tried to sit up and glare at him defiantly, even in the face of potential death. ¡°Not this time, Luis,¡± she said wearily. ¡°You think you have power,¡± she managed a chuckle. ¡°You are nothing but a pathetic bug compared to my new friend.¡± Even in her daze, she sounded confident, which earned her a hard, slightly nervous stare from Luis as he lowered his foot, distracted by this new confidence. The police were still screaming in the background for him to get down. ¡°Don¡¯t try and bluff your way out of this, bitch. I will be out before you know it and back to make you suffer,¡± he spat, but Jillian just laughed. ¡°Why don''t you stop and think for one fucking second in your life. Do you honestly think someone like me could have a SWAT team ready at a moment¡¯s notice? You really are an idiot,¡± Jillian grinned, her teeth stained with blood. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Luis¡¯s eyes widened as realization hit. How the hell did she manage to have the ATF here? As he thought, the police kept yelling orders at him, which he mostly ignored, but he kept his hands up, ¡°Wait... then how did you... who?¡± For the first time in a long while, it felt like his plans were coming undone. ¡°I told you. A new friend. Enjoy spending the rest of your life in prison, you fuck,¡± she said, still smiling despite the pain it caused in her injured cheek. It was worth it. He scowled at her. ¡°I¡¯ll get out eventually, and when I do-¡° Before he could finish, two different shotguns fired one after another, and heavy less lethal beanbags started to pelt Luis¡¯s thick frame. He let out wails of agony as he was struck several times while Jillian made herself as small as possible. Luis somehow managed to stay standing from the first volley but gasped as another barrage of bean bags slammed into his stomach and groin. Blood splotches started forming where he was hit on his white tank top. They didn''t penetrate, but they hit hard enough to break the skin, forcing him to double over in pain and clutch his midsection as he fell to his knees, slamming his head into the ground in mind-shattering pain. He struggled immensely to catch his breath as several men rushed in and apprehended him. Meanwhile, another figure hurried to Jillian¡¯s side, scooping her up and carrying her away from the chaos as quickly as they could. In her dazed state, she squinted at the blurry face above her. ¡°J-Jason?¡± she murmured, barely conscious as the adrenaline faded from her. She leaned against the stranger¡¯s chest. She was so tired. ¡°Stay with me, miss. We¡¯ll get you help soon,¡± reassured a voice that definitely wasn¡¯t Jason¡¯s, but she was too tired to move anymore. Jillian was quickly loaded into an ambulance nearby, laid on a stretcher, and loaded up. ¡°Nnngh, my sister... she¡¯s in the car,¡± she managed to tell the officer before he rushed back to the scene. ¡°Huh?¡± he paused to listen to her. ¡°He... he took my sister,¡± Jillian groaned as the EMTs started tending to her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, miss, we¡¯ll take care of it,¡± the officer assured her before rushing back to the construction yard. The EMTs administered some pain medication and prepared her for transport. ¡°Jason... where...is..my Jason?¡± she mumbled out, looking at one of the EMTs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know who you¡¯re talking about. But we need to get you to the hospital.¡± Jillian¡¯s face fell as she heard the reply, but she felt her own consciousness fading away slowly. The ambulance doors shut, and they sped her away from the chaos, heading for the hospital. Meanwhile, Jason and the others were taken into custody while another team began clearing the vehicles left behind. There was a rumor of a possible hostage inside, so they cautiously opened the car doors, only to find them empty. Well, empty except for a lifeless body, several weapons strewn about, several half empty bags of narcotics¡and a pink cellphone. ¡°All clear!¡± echoed through the air twice in quick succession as the teams meticulously checked the SUVs and gathered evidence, securing the scene.

June wandered the aisles of the farmer¡¯s market, looking everywhere for her sister, Jason, or anyone she knew. She had gotten distracted by a flower stand and gotten separated from them. On top of that, she had lost her cell phone. She wasn¡¯t sure how. She was usually so good about keeping it close that she didn¡¯t even keep her phone password protected. The only time she thought she might have dropped it was when this large man in a fancy suit accidentally bumped into her. That had been a rather scary encounter. But now, panic started to fill June as she looked around, her body trembling in fear as she caught people looking at her as she passed. Her heart beat rapidly, and her pace picked up. As she was about to turn the corner, she walked right into someone. Both of them let out yelps of surprise and fell back on their butts, thankfully not that hard. ¡°What the hell! Watch where the fuck you are going!¡± a female voice spat in anger. The woman June bumped into quickly got to her feet and glared down at June June looked up at the girl with fear in her eyes, trembling even worse now. ¡°I-I-I-I¡¯m s-s-sorry,¡± she said in a very low whisper. Her eyes brimmed with glistening tears, which finally spilled over, rolling down her cheeks. ¡°W-whoa, hey. I didn¡¯t mean to make you cry. It¡¯s alright¡ Hey¡ weren¡¯t you with the people that stopped by my dad¡¯s booth earlier?¡± Kelsea said, moving a strand of hair out of her face as she knelt down next to June, who was still sitting there, shaking. ¡°Are you alright? Where are the other two you were with?¡± She asked, looking around for them. June tried to take a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes, sniffing. She wanted to revert to her sign language so badly, but there was no way this girl would understand. At least she was a somewhat familiar face. ¡°W-we got separated,¡± she spoke as loud as she could make herself, which was still barely enough to get over the chatter of the surrounding people. Kelsea let out a sigh as she could see just how timid and scared June was. As mad as she was with her father, she wouldn¡¯t take it out on this poor girl. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you off the ground,¡± she said, wrapping her arms around June¡¯s and hoisting her up to her feet. ¡°Are you alright? Hurt anywhere?¡± June quickly shook her head and signed that she was fine out of habit. Kelsea raised a brow in confusion at the hand gestures. June¡¯s face flushed, and she looked away. ¡°S-sorry¡ I¡¯m not great at speaking to people. But I¡¯m fine,¡± she whispered back. Kelsea took a deep breath and rubbed the back of her neck. She felt even worse for screaming at her now. ¡°I can help you look for them if you want, so you aren¡¯t alone¡if you like?¡± she offered, giving June a sad smile. It took a moment for her to respond, but eventually, she nodded. Just about anything was better than being alone right now. She found herself wishing that Kyle was with her, but this new girl at least seemed nice enough. ¡°T-thank you,¡± June whispered. Kelsea smiled at her and reached down, taking June¡¯s hand in her own. June was a bit stunned when she felt her hand being taken, but she didn¡¯t really complain. It was strangely comforting to hold even though they had just met. Her grasp was firm and soft at the same time, reminding June of her sister. ¡°Come on, let''s go find those two. It¡¯s a really tall guy and a short redhead like you, right?¡± Kelsea asked, and June nodded in response. ¡°Right, it should be easy enough.¡± Still smiling, she led them back into the fray of the farmer¡¯s market in search of the couple. After another twenty minutes of searching, they still didn¡¯t find the hide or hair of either of the couple. It was like they left, but why would they leave knowing June was still here? June only seemed to get more and more upset as time went on, worry written all over her face. Kelsea glanced over at June after a moment. ¡°Are you going to be okay? I am sure they are around somewhere,¡± she asked gently. June looked at the taller teen, her frown deepening as she shook her head. ¡°I¡ I don¡¯t know¡I stupidly stopped without warning and got separated from my sister and her boyfriend, who are now missing, probably in some kind of trouble, and I lost my phone. My mom¡¯s gonna flip. I don¡¯t know what else could go wrong,¡± she said, her voice a trembling whisper as she was on the brink of tears again. She was really talking a lot, which would¡¯ve probably made Jillian happy if she were here. Kelsea nodded slowly at June. ¡°I get it... But why do you think something bad happened to them? Maybe they just snuck off to make out or something?¡± June frowned at the suggestion. ¡°My sister wouldn¡¯t just disappear like that if she knew I was missing,¡± she said with an unexpected firmness. Kelsea sighed, realizing she struck a nerve. ¡°Okay, okay, didn¡¯t mean to upset you...¡± There was a small silence between them as they continued to look around, hoping to spot the couple, though it seemed very unlikely. Eventually, June brought up a topic of her own to try and change the subject. ¡°Did¡ your dad do something to make you upset?¡± She had noticed Kelsea''s attitude toward her father earlier. Kelsea¡¯s head shot towards June with a deep scowl. She debated not answering but eventually let out a heavy sigh. ¡°He treats me like I¡¯m a little kid, even though I¡¯m sixteen,¡± she grumbled. Without a word from June, Kelsea kept going. ¡°He thinks anytime I mess up, it¡¯s because of my mom¡¯s influence. Like I¡¯m destined to ruin my life and end up in jail. But I¡¯m my own person, you know? Just because my mom screwed up doesn¡¯t mean I will. It¡¯s like I¡¯m always under a microscope when he looks at me, trying to find out how I messed up. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s the parent of the year or anything like it. He spends every free moment outside of work in that stupid garden. It''s like half the time, I don¡¯t exist, and the other half, he looks at me like I am some juvenile delinquent, even though I score at the top of my class most of the time. I¡¯m so friggin¡¯ over it!¡± It was like she was balloon filled to the edge of bursting, just waiting for the slightest prick to burst. ¡°Have you talked to your dad about how you feel?¡± June whispered to Kelsea, who shot her another quick glare but shook her head slowly, frowning. ¡°Not sure what that would solve,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Maybe you should tell him what you just told me,¡± June suggested with a smile. Kelsea went quiet again, frowning deeply. She didn¡¯t like the idea of talking to her father like that, feeling like it would just end in another fight. She was already in serious trouble after getting caught taking a hit from a friend''s joint behind the gym at school. It wasn¡¯t like she constantly did it or anything. Hell, it had been the first time she smoked at all. She just wanted to feel something besides stress for once. She let out another sigh and stopped looking around. ¡°I don¡¯t think they are here anymore. We looked everywhere. We should go back and tell that lady my dad won¡¯t stop gawking at¡ She does have a pretty nice rack, though,¡± Kelsea admitted. June couldn¡¯t help but giggle sweetly, looking away. Kelsea blushed deeply, the dark brown skin of her cheeks turning a shade pink. ¡°W-what? Why are you laughing?¡± She tried to scowl, but it just looked more like an embarrassed frown. June just shook her head and smiled at her. ¡°Nothing. It''s just funny that you would say that. My mom has serious boob envy when it comes to Miss Katia. But she is very nice. You are right, though. We should head back.¡± The two agreed and started to make their way back to the adults. Back at the produce stall, Katia and Chris were still deep in conversation. She was picking up ideas about Jason¡¯s dietary needs. It turns out that Katia had been unintentionally doing things wrong, cutting out good fats and proteins and loading him with high sodium seasonings and artificial flavorings. Chris told her about which meats and veggies Jason should be focusing on to keep his muscle growth up and bad cholesterol down. He¡¯d been doing Keto for ages and suggested it for Katia but not for Jason. Not that he thought Katia needed to diet. He found her perfect just the way she was. Mid-chat, a small voice piped up next to Katia. ¡°Um¡Miss Katia?¡± Katia glanced over to see who was whispering to her and spotted June standing there with Kelsea not far behind, her arms folded and the same scowl on her face as when she left. She gave June a warm smile. She had never actually heard June speak before, so she was rather surprised but happy. ¡°June? What¡¯s wrong, sweetie?¡± she asked, quickly noticing the troubled expression on June¡¯s face. ¡°Oh... I uh, stopped to look at some flowers... and I lost my phone, and got separated from my sister and Jason¡ I... I-I¡¯m really scared for them. We tried looking for them but couldn¡¯t find them anywhere.¡± She looked troubled but not as troubled as Katia expected. She looked to Kelsea, who was looking away, trying to seem like she had nothing to do with June, but it was pretty obvious that was far from the case. ¡°It¡¯s okay, honey. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call your sister for you. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s looking everywhere for you too. Everything will be fine,¡± she comforted June, reaching out and gently rubbing her back with one hand while pulling out her phone with the other. Katia tapped on Jillian¡¯s name in her contacts, and the phone started ringing. She put it to her ear and waited for Jillian to pick up, but it just kept ringing until it went to voicemail. ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s weird,¡± she muttered to herself. Deciding to try Jason next, she dialed his number. Again, it just rang and rang until it, too, went to voicemail. She frowned deeply this time, feeling a bit confused as she glanced at her phone. She hoped they weren¡¯t off fooling around while poor June was left all alone. But that didn¡¯t really sound like something her son would do. And with how doting Jillian was on her sister, the thought was quickly banished from her mind. Katia turned to Chris and gave him an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry, Chris, but I need to go sort this mess out.¡± Chris nodded understandingly, offering her a sympathetic smile. ¡°Please, it¡¯s not a problem. If there¡¯s anything you need, just give me a call or text. You¡¯ve got my number, so please don¡¯t be shy about it. I¡¯ll do whatever I can.¡± Chris flashed a friendly grin at the older woman. Kelsea¡¯s scowl returned at her father gushing over this new woman. She just knew that once Katia was in the picture, the already meager amount of time her father spent with her was going to diminish even further. Katia returned the smile and nodded appreciatively. ¡°Thanks, Chris. I¡¯ll be sure to give you a shout when things settle down. And thanks again for the veggies.¡± She reached for the basket, but it was too heavy for one hand. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to make a return trip for these.¡± They shared a chuckle as June nestled into Katia¡¯s arms, even more scared now that they couldn¡¯t reach her sister or Jason by phone. She just knew something was very, very wrong now. Leaving the market, Katia and June headed towards the parking lot, but the car wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Okay, something really isn¡¯t right,¡± Katia remarked worriedly. ¡°Jason mentioned going back home, but I figured he¡¯d be back by now.¡± Checking her phone, she saw no missed calls or messages. With few options left, they could only reach out for help or call a taxi. Katia hesitated to bother Ginny, who was looking after a sick child, so she nervously dialed Chris instead. He picked up almost immediately. ¡°Katia, hey! What¡¯s up? Didn¡¯t expect to hear from you so soon. Everything alright?¡± Chris said, sounding concerned. Katia let out a nervous laugh.¡°Well, actually, Jason took the car we drove here somewhere, and he is not answering his phone,¡± Katia explained to Chris. ¡°That¡¯s not good. Well, let me close up the stall, and I can give you a ride wherever you need to go if you¡¯d like,¡± he offered. ¡°Oh, I couldn¡¯t impose like that! I can just call for a taxi or something,¡± she said, a bit surprised. ¡°Please, it¡¯s no trouble. I want to do it. This stall is just a hobby anyway, and I wasn¡¯t planning on staying past lunch. Whatever I don¡¯t sell, I eat. Although, I might need your help to finish all these leftover veggies one of these nights, haha,¡± he said with a laugh. But there was a long silence before Chris spoke again. ¡°Um, Katia? You there?¡± he asked, sounding a bit nervous that he might have crossed some line. ¡°Yeah... but, um, did you just ask me out to dinner?¡± she asked, sounding a bit stunned. There was another long pause between them. When Chris finally came to his senses, he cleared his throat. ¡°Um... Well, I was just thinking of sharing some extras with you, but since that seal is already broken... Yeah, if you¡¯re okay with it, I would love for you to join me for dinner sometime, Katia.¡± She blushed at his words, grateful he couldn¡¯t see her. June stood beside Katia, still glancing around and looking for any signs of her sister or Jason. not willing to give up hope, but just standing there in the parking lot was not helping her nerves. ¡°Oh, umm,¡± Katia said, her voice slightly shaky. ¡°¡I¡¯d really like that, Chris,¡± she finally managed, a bashful smile on her face. It seemed there was a silver lining to all this worry, at least. ¡°Great! So, why don¡¯t you two start heading back over here? I¡¯ll give you both a ride wherever you need to go. I don¡¯t have much to pack up, so I¡¯ll probably be ready by the time you get here,¡± Chris said cheerfully over the phone. ¡°Alright, sounds good. See you soon!¡± After saying their goodbyes, Katia turned to June. ¡°Chris is going to give us a ride back home. I¡¯m sure those two will show up eventually. They¡¯re adults and can take care of themselves. But let''s get you back home first, okay?¡± June nodded in agreement as they headed back into the farmer¡¯s market. When Chris got off the phone, his smile looked like it almost reached his ears. But when he looked over at his daughter, she had a pain-filled scowl that screamed that she was upset. ¡°Kels¡ what''s wrong?¡± His smile vanished as he tried to talk to his daughter. ¡°Nothing, everything is just fine, so don¡¯t worry about me or anything,¡± Kelsea said as she quickly grabbed the car keys from her father¡¯s jacket pocket and stomped away, heading for their truck. He watched his daughter rush off towards where they parked the car with a deep frown. His heart hurt seeing his daughter so upset. It seemed that Katia had only added fuel to the fire, which was Kelsea¡¯s raging emotions. He continued packing up his stall, tossing everything into a wagon to haul it back to his truck. He let out a big sigh as he took down the pop up canopy, his mind stuck on his daughter. Shortly after, Katia and June returned, with Katia offering a shy smile to Chris. Feeling a bit bashful himself, Chris waved at them. ¡°Hey there, any news from those two yet?¡± he asked as the two women approached, but Katia shook her head in response. ¡°Dang, well, I¡¯m almost done here, then we¡¯re good to go,¡± Chris assured them as he finished packing. ¡°Let me give you a hand,¡± Katia offered, jumping in to help. ¡°June, if you want to wait with Kelsea, my silver truck is just around the corner of that building. I promise it''s not far,¡± Chris said with a smile. June was a little hesitant, but she nodded and headed around the corner, easily spotting the truck. When she opened the back door, she was greeted by Kelsea, who looked like a deer in the headlights, if a deer had bloodshot eyes and black smudges along her face. Her mascara stained cheeks and red eyes, along with a few tears still rolling down her chin, were quite the sight to behold. June stared at her for a moment before Kelsea cried out. ¡°What are you doing?! Close the door!¡± There was a bit of anger in her voice and June jumped a little, but quickly climbed into the truck¡¯s back seat and closed the door. ¡°Are¡you okay?¡± she whispered to Kelsea, who had quickly scooted to the opposite side of the truck, bringing her long legs up into her chest and wrapping her arms around them. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she grumbled with a loud sniff, pressing her lips against her knees as she sulked. Obviously not fine. June looked at her for a few moments before scooting closer. Looking around, she spotted a small pack of makeup wipes, which pretty obviously belonged to Kelsea. Grabbing them from the floor of the truck, June pulled out a wipe and moved even closer to Kelsea. ¡°Can I help?¡± she asked, trying her best to smile for the other girl. June held up the wipe to help clean up the streaks of mascara. Kelsea resisted at first but eventually relented, leaning back to give the smaller redhead access to her face. June¡¯s smile widened a little as she leaned in and started to wipe away the black smudges. Kelsea stared deeply into June¡¯s bright blue eyes, a pang of jealousy shooting through her. She wished she had those eyes instead of the ugly blackish brown she had. June suddenly reached out and placed a hand on Kelsea¡¯s cheek, moving it softly, but didn¡¯t remove it as she continued to clean. Kelsea felt her heart thump in her chest. Her eyes started to really take in all of June¡¯s features. The soft pale skin, the massive amount of reddish brown freckles that covered her face, and the sharp yet delicate shape of her nose and chin. She was almost sad when June was finished cleaning. She smiled at her, closing the pack of wipes. ¡°There, all done. Feel better?¡± Her sweet smile once again made Kelsea¡¯s heart beat faster as she nodded dumbly. ¡°Good.¡± Chapter 47: Knowing Who You Really Are, Is Impossible Till You Know Those Around You. Chris parked his truck on the street outside the Lins¡¯s place. Almost as soon as the car stopped, June rushed out of the truck and made a mad dash for the front door. Her mom was in the living room, glued to the TV and folding laundry while her sick son slept in his room, and Calvin had gone down for a nap. With them both asleep, Ginny¡¯s head snapped to the door, seeing her youngest daughter rush into the house and nearly dive into her embrace. June pressed herself tight against her mother, feeling another wave of emotion wash over her once again. ¡°June, sweetheart? What''s wrong? What is going on?¡± Ginny asked, but June kept her face buried in her mother''s chest. Katia walked in shortly after June, gesturing for Chris to follow. They both carried a large basket of veggies and set them down on a nearby coffee table. ¡°Kat, what is going on here¡ is this?¡± Ginny said looking up at her best friend then to Chris, taking in every inch of the man. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, I¡¯m afraid, Ginny, but first, this is Chris. He was the doctor that took care of Jason in the hospital. He also wanted to share some of the produce he grew himself. One of those baskets is for you,¡± Katia introduced Chris to Ginny, then turned back to him. ¡°Chris, this is my best friend in the world, Genevieve Lins,¡± Katia said proudly. Ginny who was still sitting on the couch with her daughter wrapped around her smiled up at Chris. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Chris. Please, call me Ginny,¡± she said with a teasing smile and a wink. Usually, Ginny¡¯s playful and flirtatious nature didn¡¯t bother Katia, but she couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange pang of intense jealousy. ¡°Please, just Chris is fine. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Ginny.¡± Chris seemed unphased by the flirty greeting, and the two shook hands for a moment before parting. The three exchanged pleasantries for a few moments before Ginny¡¯s attention was brought back to the small girl still clinging to her. Glancing up at Katia, Ginny gave her a look that told her that she was going to need an explanation as to why June was in such a state. Chris himself could sense there was a lot for the women to talk about, especially with Jason and Jillian missing, so he didn¡¯t want to overstay his welcome. ¡°I should really get going. Kelsea seems pretty anxious to get home. Again, it was nice meeting you, Ginny.¡± Ginny thanked Chris for the gift and said goodbye before Katia offered to walk him out, earning a knowing smirk from her friend. Katia stuck her tongue out at Ginny when Chris turned to head out. As they walked outside, Katia paused. ¡°Thank you so much for your help, Chris. You really saved us today,¡± she said with a warm smile. Chris tried to brush off the compliment, returning her smile. ¡°Oh, come on. I didn¡¯t do much. Anyone would¡¯ve done the same if they could. I just did what was right.¡± Katia chuckled softly at his modesty.¡°Well, I¡¯m still truly thankful, regardless...¡± She paused, averting her gaze for a moment, feeling a flush creeping up her cheeks like she was back in high school. But as she glanced down, she caught sight of the indent where her wedding ring should be on her finger, a heavy reminder of her late husband. Her heart sank as memories came flooding back. ¡°It¡¯s been over ten years, Katia,¡± she thought to herself, feeling emotions welling up. ¡°I¡¯ll always love Frank... But I can¡¯t keep living like nothing has changed. It¡¯s time... to move on.¡± ¡°Katia?¡± Chris¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Oh! Sorry, Chris,¡± she said, clearing her throat and smiling. ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to our dinner.¡± ¡°Me too. I¡¯ll text you, and we can figure out the date and time,¡± Chris replied, his hands fidgeting from resting on his waist to his arms and then his pockets. Kelsea, who was watching from inside the car, rolled her eyes harder than ever watching the two. ¡°That sounds great. I guess I will see you later then, Chris.¡± Katia felt another tinge of jealousy hit, remembering the flirty way Ginny stared at him. It steeled her nerves as she moved in closer and pressed her lips against his cheek, giving him a soft peck. She was truly grateful for all his help today. Chris was left speechless, staring at Katia, who blushed a little more before stepping back. ¡°Um, yeah... see you¡,¡± he managed to say as she waved and headed back inside, closing the door behind her. Chris lingered for a moment until the honking of a horn brought him back to reality. He turned to his truck, realizing Kelsea must be tired of waiting. Shaking off his daze, he hurried over to the vehicle. ¡°Sorry, sorry. Ready to go?¡± he asked his daughter as he got in. Kelsea shot her dad a glare, and their eyes locked in a silent standoff. ¡°What?¡± Chris prodded her, sensing something was off. ¡°Nothing¡,¡± she mumbled, then turned to stare out the window, her silence speaking volumes. It drove the man mad that she clearly had something on her mind but wouldn¡¯t tell him anything. With a sigh, he started driving back home, the tension thick in the air. Most of the ride passed in silence, but halfway there, they both began to fidget. Almost simultaneously, they blurted out, ¡°Dad?¡± ¡°Kels?¡± Their eyes met briefly before Chris had to focus back on the road. ¡°Go for it, kiddo,¡± Chris said to his daughter, who shook her head immediately. ¡°No, you go,¡± she insisted. He sighed again as he gave in. ¡°Kelsea, I love you. So much so that I can''t help but worry about your future,¡± he began, but she cut him off. ¡°You¡¯re scared I¡¯ll turn out like mom,¡± she interjected, her tone sharp. Frowning, he nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯m not fucking mom!¡± she snapped. ¡°I know, Kels, but I see so much of her in you, and it scares me. You¡¯re smart and talented. You excel at everything you try... just like your mother,¡± he said, his expression sinking at the thought of his ex-wife. Chris kept talking as he drove. ¡°You know, your mom was the most amazing woman I ever met. She¡¯d dive into a new hobby and master it in no time at all. I see that same talent. The cheer coach called me last month. She was amazed at how quickly you got all the routines down, even though you just joined this year.¡± Chris didn¡¯t know much about cheerleading, but the coach explained that there were girls who¡¯d been on the team for years and still hadn¡¯t memorized everything she had. ¡°So what? Me being good at things gives you the right to treat me like some future criminal?¡± Kelsea said, arms folded, staring out the window with a pout. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be proud of me.¡± ¡°I-I am proud of you, sweetheart. I couldn¡¯t be more proud, I swear. But...¡± Chris paused, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as they waited at a red light. ¡°Your mom... She just couldn¡¯t handle the pressure her success brought. It was too much for her. Everyone expected great things from her every single day. It wore her down little by little, and even with therapy and meds for her anxiety, it just kept getting worse.¡± He felt his voice falter. ¡°The first time I caught her taking pills¡ I didn¡¯t know what to do... We fought and argued with each other, but she promised she wouldn¡¯t do it again¡ It just wasn¡¯t enough, I¡ didn¡¯t do enough.¡± He sniffed, trying to keep his emotions in check and focus on the road ahead. Chris could see Kelsea¡¯s tear-streaked face in the reflection of the window as she was turned away from him. They¡¯d talked about her mom¡¯s situation before, but it didn¡¯t make this any easier. ¡°That¡¯s why I flipped out when your school called me about you smoking at school,¡± Chris admitted, struggling to keep it together. ¡°I panicked, thinking it was the beginning of the end. It scared me... I¡¯ve already lost your mom to drugs. I couldn¡¯t bear to lose you too, Kelsea.¡± Kelsea turned to her dad. What was left of her makeup was smudged by fresh tears, but she was wearing a scowl. ¡°I¡¯M. NOT. MOM!¡± Kelsea shouted, her voice echoing through the truck¡¯s cab. ¡°You act like you were the only thing that lost something that day.¡± Her tone was full of sadness and anger. ¡°I lost both my mom and my dad that day.¡± Chris almost slammed on the brakes right then and there, his heart pounding in his chest as he looked back over at her for a moment. ¡°K-Kels... What are you saying?¡± His voice was shaky with fear of why she thought that. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Dad. You became someone else entirely after Mom was taken away,¡± Kelsea continued, still glaring at him as tears continually streamed down her face. ¡°I was only twelve, and suddenly you were this... shell of yourself. All you care about is keeping me out of trouble and my grades. I feel like I¡¯m your prisoner, not your daughter.¡± Chris couldn¡¯t keep his focus on the road any longer, so he pulled over into a parking lot and stopped the truck. ¡°Kelsea... I...¡± He began, feeling like he¡¯d been run over. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± ¡°But you did!¡± Kelsea interrupted, crossing her arms tightly and turning away to look straight ahead. ¡°H-how long have you felt like this?¡± Chris wondered. How could he have missed the signs? He thought he was being a good father, even going so far as to grow his own organic produce. All he wanted to do was make sure Kelsea was safe, healthy, and doing well in school. But he never stopped to ask how she actually was or how she felt. ¡°Since mom left¡but it''s gotten so much worse these last few years. You shipped me off to private school away from my friends and forced me into cheerleading because you thought it would impress colleges. And you drag me to those stupid farmer¡¯s markets to sell stuff from that goddamn garden! You care more about that garden than you do about me!¡± she paused, seething with anger. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Ever since you started that thing, you¡¯ve become more attached to those plants than to your own daughter! Worst of all, you don¡¯t even fucking realize it!¡± Kelsea¡¯s last words came out as a near screech. Chris flinched at her intensity, stunned beyond words. Had he really been so wrapped up in everything else that he¡¯d neglected his daughter? He had to pause and really reflect on everything. Yes, he did spend a ton of time in the garden. There was just so much to do... was it all¡ too much? It was massive, and it always seemed something needed his attention. Chris had a huge garden that was way too big for just one person to handle easily without it being their actual job. He spent most of his precious free time dealing with weeds, watering, and soil care. Being a doctor meant he barely had any time for himself. When he wasn¡¯t gardening, he was making sure Kelsea was doing okay in school, making food or sleeping. ¡°Um...¡± Chris felt overwhelmed as he thought about his conversations with his daughter. ¡°Did you finish your homework? How was the test? Dinner¡¯s ready, I¡¯ll be out in the garden.¡± These phrases kept popping up in his head, repeating over and over like a broken record. ¡°I¡¯m a horrible father¡,¡± Chris muttered, tears escaping his eyes and rolling down his face as he stared blankly ahead through the windshield, whole body slumping forward. When Kelsea looked back at him, she wanted to keep being angry. She wanted him to feel the pain she felt every day. But seeing her father like this¡her heart ached, and her scowl quickly faded. ¡°You¡¯re¡ you¡¯re not a terrible father, Dad,¡± she said in a whisper. ¡°You¡¯re just stretched so thin there isn¡¯t any room for anything else.¡± She sighed, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her. ¡°I just miss you, Dad. It feels like I hardly ever see you, and when I do, it¡¯s like...¡± Kelsea hesitated. She didn¡¯t want those thoughts out in the open anymore. She wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed herself tight. ¡°I don¡¯t think the market is stupid... It¡¯s the only time we actually spend together without worrying about school or your garden. It¡¯s the only time when I feel like you actually care,¡± she admitted, prompting Chris to snap out of his daze a little. Chris glanced at Kelsea, noticing the sad and lonely expression on her face. Without any more hesitation, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Kelsea... I didn¡¯t realize you were hurting so much. I hate that you felt so alone. I should have been there for you. I am so¡.so sorry,¡± he murmured softly, holding her tightly. At first, she seemed unsure, no longer accustomed to physical affections, but gradually, she relaxed into her father¡¯s arms, her own trembling arms slowly wrapping around him as well. With her face buried in his shoulder, she let out a heavy sob. Chris kept whispering apologies, repeating them over and over, comforting her as best he could as he held her close. The two hugged tightly until a calm settled over them. Finally, when they felt a bit better, Chris gently pulled away slightly. He put his hands on the back of his daughter¡¯s head, looking straight into her eyes. ¡°Listen, Kelsea, things are going to be different from now on. Trust me, I promise. Now that my eyes are open, I¡¯m not letting you out of my sight again.¡± He leaned in, planting a kiss on her forehead before hugging her tight once more. ¡°I swear I won¡¯t smoke anymore either, Dad. Honestly, I didn¡¯t even enjoy it. It smells awful and tastes worse. I just desperately needed something to take my mind off everything,¡± Kelsea confessed. ¡°Thank you, sweetheart. I promise I¡¯ll spend much less time out in the garden. I should have hired some help a long time ago. We will spend more time together, just the two of us. Be a family again¡like old times,¡± Chris said, giving Kelsea¡¯s back a gentle rub. There was a pause before she spoke up. ¡°What about... Katia?¡± she asked quietly. Chris paused when the woman he was obviously courting came up. ¡°I¡¯ll¡I¡¯ll stop seeing her if that¡¯s what you want, kiddo,¡± he replied, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought. But if this was what he had to do to win back his daughter''s trust, he would do it. Kelsea pulled back with a frown to meet her dad¡¯s gaze. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Dad,¡± she said, staring at him with a soft glare. Chris looked a bit confused now. ¡°Umm, then what do you mean? I thought you hated her the way you were acting when she was around.¡± Kelsea rolled her eyes and sighed at having to explain. ¡°I only disliked her because it felt like I was going to get bumped out completely if you started seeing a new woman. You already barely spoke to me. What would happen if you got a new girlfriend? It felt like I was going to vanish completely, and you were gonna start saying, ¡®Kelsea, who?¡¯¡± she said with a deep frown. Chris felt ashamed again that his daughter felt like this. ¡°But¡ if you really promise to cut back on the garden and stop being so controlling¡ I can accept you dating someone if it makes you happy. I mean, you seem to really like her with the way you were talking to her, babbling like an idiot and trying to show off was pretty blatant. She obviously likes you, too. After that kiss she gave you.¡± He flushed slightly at his daughter¡¯s observation. ¡°You think she likes me like that? I haven¡¯t dated since I met your mother. I¡¯m really out of practice.¡± She rolled her eyes again at his question. ¡°Yeah, obviously. Why else would she kiss you? Come on, dad. You¡¯re not that clueless,¡± she teased. Chris rubbed his arm, glancing away from his daughter for a moment. ¡°It was just a peck on the cheek, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°A kiss is a kiss, Dad. It could¡¯ve been on your big toe, and I¡¯d still say the same thing... Actually, considering how your feet smell, I would think she liked you a bit too much if that¡¯s where she kissed you,¡± Kelsea quipped, prompting laughter between them. He eventually nodded to his daughter. ¡°You¡¯re right. I do like her. She¡¯s beautiful and very sweet. A little bit older than me, but that doesn¡¯t bother me at all. The fact that she has this mature¡,¡± Chris rambled. Kelsea stopped him with a playful hand over his mouth. ¡°Alright, Dad, I get it sheesh. Why not ask her out on a date, then?¡± she suggested with a soft smile. Chris removed the hand from his mouth, still smiling. ¡°We¡¯ve actually got dinner plans in the works, just haven¡¯t decided the day yet,¡± he said bashfully. Kelsea looked surprised but smiled back. ¡°That¡¯s awesome, Dad. I¡¯m really happy for you.¡± They shared another big hug. ¡°Who knows, maybe one day you¡¯ll bring a boy home, and I¡¯ll get to give you the dad talk,¡± he teased but got no response. ¡°Um, while we¡¯re on the subject, Dad... I¡ don¡¯t really like boys that way,¡± Kelsea admitted. It was her turn to look away, embarrassed. Chris pulled back from the hug, staring at his daughter. ¡°Wait, what?¡± His eyes widened in surprise. Back at the Lins¡¯s home, June and Katia filled in the details for Ginny. They talked about how Jillian and Jason disappeared when they separated from June. Ginny, understandably, was pretty mad that they left June alone and disappointed that June wasn¡¯t more careful to stay with her sister. But she also had this gut feeling that something just wasn¡¯t right. It was then that her phone started ringing. The caller ID showed the local hospital¡¯s business name. That definitely didn¡¯t help with her anxiety. She took a deep breath and picked up. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hello, is Genevieve Lins there?¡± ¡°Yes, speaking.¡± ¡°This is Grove Falls General Hospital. We¡¯ve got a Jillian Lins here that was brought in by ambulance about ten minutes ago, and you¡¯re listed as her emergency contact.¡± Ginny let out a shocked gasp at the news. ¡°Is she okay? What happened!?¡± Ginny asked, her voice tinged with panic, while those around her watched with concern. ¡°I can¡¯t give you all the details, but she was admitted with injuries that weren¡¯t life-threatening. Right now, she¡¯s resting comfortably after getting some meds for pain and nausea. They¡¯ll likely move her to a regular room soon, so I just wanted to let you know.¡± Ginny let out a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat reassured that her daughter wasn¡¯t in mortal danger, though still worried. ¡°Thanks for letting me know. I¡¯ll head down there as soon as I can.¡± After hanging up, she turned to Katia and June. ¡°Jillian¡¯s in the hospital,¡± she explained, her voice shaky. Katia gasped and covered her mouth in shock. ¡°Oh, no! What happened?!¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t give me many details, but they mentioned she arrived in an ambulance, so it must have been pretty serious,¡± Ginny explained, tapping nervously through her phone. ¡°D-did¡did they mention anything about Jason?¡± Deep down, Katia knew they wouldn¡¯t mention him to Ginny, but her concern for Jillian was only overshadowed by the worry for her son. Ginny shook her head, her expression solemn, not faulting Katia for the question. She might have done the same if it had been her they called. ¡°No, they didn¡¯t mention him. But there¡¯s a chance he might be with her at the hospital,¡± she said, attempting to offer some comfort to her friend, who nodded in response. Ginny couldn¡¯t just leave Lonnie alone, still sick in bed. And taking him to the hospital wasn¡¯t really an option. Her only shot was to call her husband, hoping he could leave work early. Asking Katia for help wasn¡¯t a sure bet either, as Jason might be at the hospital. And even if her son was still missing, she couldn¡¯t just expect Katia to drop everything to watch Lonnie. Starting to obviously feel incredibly overwhelmed, both Katia and June noticed this and moved in close, giving Ginny a tight hug. She smiled softly, embracing her daughter and best friend. ¡°Thank you both,¡± she whispered. Jason sat in a big room filled with chairs lined up in the middle, surrounded by police officers buzzing around their stations. Some were busy with paperwork or processing people. Others were keeping an eye on the people sitting like him. Handcuffed to a chain around his waist, he waited as calmly as he could. He was facing two charges: one for brandishing a weapon and another for resisting arrest. The latter, he was pretty sure, was total bullshit. Thanks to his best friend¡¯s endless lectures on what to do if arrested, Jason knew better than to answer any questions without a lawyer. But he also understood it wouldn¡¯t speed up the process to clam up entirely about his identity or the reason he was there. Right now, Jason couldn¡¯t shake off the worry about Jillian¡¯s whereabouts and if she was safe. Time seemed to move at a slow crawl as he was forced to sit there. The half hour he had been waiting felt like years. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, trying to distract himself by counting the holes in the tiles above. The bandaged holes in his back still stung from where the taser probes were removed. That was probably the most pain he¡¯d felt physically in his life. And he had been punched in the gut by a heavyweight boxer before. Finally, a detective came over and took him to a separate room to discuss the situation. Jason kept reiterating that he was just trying to prevent his girlfriend from being kidnapped and only had the gun because he feared for the life of his loved one. He refused to say anything else until he had a lawyer present. It was a long way to get out of there, but Jason understood the detective was just doing his job, trying to gather information. Jason couldn¡¯t even get a moment to make a simple phone call. The detective left him to stew in the room for over an hour. He finally got his phone call, though he was pretty sure they should¡¯ve done that way earlier, but at this point, he just wanted out of there ASAP. His first call? Marco. But he wasn¡¯t thrilled that Jason only called because he needed him to reach out to his ex, who happened to be an amazing defense attorney. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of splainin¡¯ to do, Lucy,¡± Marco quipped in his best Ricky Ricardo voice, which made Jason chuckle a bit as he passed on all the details she would need. He thanked his friend before he ended the call. It wasn¡¯t long after that Gabriella Vasquez called the precinct and tore into them for holding Jason for so long without giving him access to a phone. In the end, Jason went in front of the judge for a misdemeanor brandishing charge, which he pled not guilty to. His bond was set, and fifteen minutes and a thousand dollars later, he was free. Once Jason got his belongings back, he got an Uber to the impound lot to retrieve his rental car first. His vacation was starting to run well over budget, but at least he was finally out of that damned police station. On the way there, he called his girlfriend¡¯s cellphone. His call went straight to voicemail. He was still blocked. ¡°Damn it, Jill,¡± Jason said with a sigh. Once he got his car out of the impound, he just sort of sat there, feeling kind of lost. He continually checked his phone, hoping for a message from Jillian, but there was no luck. He¡¯d sent her several more texts, but she never replied. Eventually, he checked his other missed calls. There were a few calls from his mom. He figured she was probably really worried as well, and he felt guilty for making her stress out. But his protective instincts still struggled to involve her in the mess that was the last few hours of his life, even though it seemed like everything was going to work out in the end. Jason took a deep breath to try and ease his nerves before he tapped his mom¡¯s number and hit call. She picked up halfway through the first ring. ¡°Jason is that you, hun?!¡± she exclaimed, sounding panicked and relieved that he was finally calling back. ¡°Yeah, mom, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m okay,¡± he said, bracing himself for the conversation ahead. Chapter 48: Rest, Recovery, and Desperately Needed Exposition. The first thing Jillian noticed as she slowly woke up was the beep of machines around her. Her head was pounding from a headache, only softened by the pain meds that were slowly wearing off. She groaned, lifting a hand to rub her temples. ¡°Jillybean!¡± Her mom¡¯s voice, familiar and comforting, broke through the fog. ¡°Ugh... mom?¡± Jillian murmured, her head throbbing at the loudness of her mom¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯s me, honey. We¡¯re so happy you¡¯re okay, baby,¡± Ginny said with a twinge to her voice like she was on the verge of tears. She reached out, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze. Jillian¡¯s scraped up hands were wrapped in bandages, and there was a big bandage on her cheek where she had been cut from being thrown down and struck by Luis. Jillian couldn¡¯t shake off the image of the man¡¯s horrid face, which made her scowl. ¡°June¡¯s here too. So is your father, but he¡¯s out getting some drinks.¡± It was surprising to know even her father was there. But it was also a little confusing that June was there. She guessed it meant she¡¯d been rescued from Luis, which was a huge relief. ¡°Is June alright? He didn¡¯t touch her or anything, did he?¡± she asked, barely opening her eyes enough to see the confused expression on her sister¡¯s face. She still didn¡¯t have the energy or willpower to open her eyes fully. ¡°Umm, no? I went to find Miss Katia, and Mr. Chris drove us home,¡± June explained to her sister. Jillian looked completely lost. ¡°Wait, so Katia got you from the police?¡± she asked. ¡°Hun, the cops were never involved. You should rest. Your head is still healing,¡± Ginny said, gently running her fingers through her eldest daughter¡¯s hair, figuring that she was just very confused right now. She could see Jillian was struggling to make sense of things after whatever had happened. ¡°But... that¡¯s¡,¡± Jillian mumbled and closed her eyes, resting her head back, trying to piece it all together. ¡°So, then, that must mean... Jason?¡± she said, reaching out, but all she got back was silence. ¡°Um¡,¡± Ginny interrupted. ¡°We have no clue where he is,¡± June chimed in as well to help her mother. Jillian''s eyes shot open completely at this news. ¡°What?!¡± She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her blurry vision. The last thing she remembered was the chaos of the police and people yelling, especially at Luis and his crew. Her guess was that Jason might¡¯ve gotten himself arrested, too. She hoped not, but it seemed pretty likely if he wasn¡¯t here with her already. Worry wracked her brain, praying to god that Jason didn¡¯t get caught in the crossfire or something. Ginny sighed deeply, ¡°Both of you disappeared, and everyone else was left clueless to your whereabouts.¡± She shared what she knew, and June pitched in with the rest. Jillian was surprised by how much her little sister was talking now, it brought a smile to her face each time. What didn¡¯t make her smile was discovering that June had never been abducted by Luis. It clicked when June explained she¡¯d lost her phone. Luis hadn¡¯t taken Jillian¡¯s little sister, he¡¯d taken her phone, which June refused to put a password on. He¡¯d used it as bait to make it seem like he did. Jillian was relieved her sister hadn¡¯t actually gotten abducted and put through that trauma. Though she did kick herself for not figuring it out sooner. The fact that she had run off and left her sister alone at the market bugged the crap out of her as well. While Ginny was there tending to her eldest child, Katia had insisted on keeping an eye on Lonnie and Calvin while they all went to see how Jillian was doing. Despite Ginny¡¯s protests, Katia¡¯s determination won out in the end. June accompanied the worried parents to the hospital. Damon wasted no time leaving work when he heard Jillian was hospitalized. He knew he might catch some heat for it later, but family came first. Damon walked back into Jillian¡¯s room carrying a couple of drinks. When he saw his daughter finally awake, he set the drinks down and quickly updated the nurses. Once he was back in the room, he gave his daughter a gentle hug and a kiss on the forehead. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you are alright, Jill. I don''t know what I would do if I lost you again,¡± he whispered into Jillian¡¯s ear, surprising her slightly with the emotion in his voice. She didn¡¯t even know what to say back to that. The nurse came in soon after to check on Jillian¡¯s vital signs and overall condition. After everything was sorted out, something unexpected happened, except that Jillian, had been fully expecting them. Two detectives strolled in, duty-bound to chat with her since she was finally awake. They politely asked everyone else to give them some alone time with Jillian. She reassured everyone that it was okay and she knew what was going on. Once the room was reluctantly cleared, they shut the door and started their questioning. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± One of the detectives asked. Jillian scowled a little at the question. ¡°I would probably feel better if you guys had gotten there sooner,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Sorry, we got there as fast as we could. We appreciate your and Mr. Kilpatrick¡¯s support in apprehending Luis Vargus. Your eventual testimony will be invaluable in keeping him locked away for a long time. We are already in the process of getting warrants to raid his properties.¡± Jillian let out a heavy sigh. As annoyed as she was about getting hurt, at the very least, it meant she would never have to be afraid of Luis again. ¡°I just hope¡ Hold on, my boyfriend showed up suddenly to try and rescue me. Where is he?!¡± she asked, finally remembering Jason. The detectives looked at one another and shrugged. They had followed the ambulance that took Jillian to the hospital to provide protection and talk to her when she was awake. She warned the two that if they tried to pin him together with Luis or charge him with anything, that Lina, or rather Mr. Kilpatrick would be very upset. Once they promised to do what they could, Jillian allowed the two to question her, and they placed a recorder between them to get everything on record. It turned out that Luis was already a wanted man in a bunch of states long before today. He was suspected of embezzling money from the company he was CFO of. And there was now evidence to support the suspicion of him being involved with the cartel, moving drugs and weapons. Jillian spilled all she could to the cops about Luis, detailing his shady dealings and dropping any names she could recall from the parties he dragged her to and what went on there. For good measure, she would occasionally declare into the recorder: ¡°And Luis has no connection or even knows the man known as Jason Merris.¡± The detectives tried to assure her it was unnecessary, but she felt it was best to ensure he was totally unrelated aside from wanting to rescue her. She might have gotten a bit too pushy about it, but they again assured her they¡¯d sort it out as soon as they could. After chatting for a good twenty minutes, they figured they had what they needed for now. After the cops left, the family rushed back in, giving Jillian some strange looks. With Luis hopefully out of the picture, she felt it was time to truly come clean about her past and why she was gone for so long. Why she never had anything put in her name, gotten her license, or any other things like that. It was like a story out of a movie, but she swore every word was true. Many hugs and kisses were exchanged as they all talked, and she couldn¡¯t help but let out a few happy tears of relief. No longer would she have to cower in fear, wondering if that day would be the day Luis found her. Finally, she could live her life exactly how she wanted, on her terms. Hopefully, with her boyfriend once he showed up again. As Jillian explained the day¡¯s events, Ginny¡¯s phone pinged with a text from Katia. She smiled as she pulled up the text, and her eyes widened as she read the message. ¡°Jason was arrested!¡± she blurted out, catching everyone¡¯s attention. Jillian let out a sigh, realizing she was just a few moments from that part. ¡°I knew that boy was trouble,¡± Damon said angrily. ¡°He¡¯s not that bad,¡± June mumbled out. His head snapped to his other daughter. Had he gotten to her as well? ¡°He ended up in jail because he showed up with a gun to try and protect me, but the cops showed up as well and I bet he got rounded up with the rest of them. I was literally just about to explain all of that,¡± she said, trying to calm her dad down. ¡°That actually reminds me. Where¡¯s my phone?¡± Jillian scanned the room, and thankfully, June fished it out from Jillian¡¯s bag hanging off the bed. She scrolled through her messages, finding nothing new except thee missed calls from the man. No other texts or anything. She was very confused at first. But then she realized her grievous error. She¡¯d blocked him after he had started blowing up her phone earlier while she was trying to make a different call. ¡°Son of a bitch,¡± she muttered, biting her thumbnail. Her thumb hovered over the unblock button, fearing the worst, before finally pressing it and unblocking him. His flood of texts appeared in an instant, each one more gut-wrenching and desperate than the last. She knew she¡¯d have to get on her knees later and do some serious begging for forgiveness. Not that she minded being on her knees for him. Jill: Heyyyyyy. *Sweating Emoji* Jase: Hey yourself. Jill: Yeah, I knowwwwww I¡¯m sorrrrrryyyyy! When you come to get me I¡¯ll explain, I promise! Jase: Mmhmm. Jill: I didn¡¯t mean to keep you in the dark, baby. I was just trying to keep things under control and it kinda worked. Jill: Well, mostly. I just freaked out a bit when I found out he had June. Jase: Figured as much. Is she okay? She isn¡¯t too traumatized, is she? I was worried about her as well. Jill: Turns out he didn¡¯t take her, just her phone, the bastard. Jill: Anyway, where are you? Just get out of jail? I¡¯m sorry that happened, babe. *Crying emoji* Jase: Yeah, just got released half an hour ago and had to pay to get my car from impound. I¡¯m heading to the hospital now. Jill: Please hurry! I have booboos that need kissing. *Loads of heart emojis* Jill: And some flowers, perhaps? *Winking kiss emoji* Jase: Ha, no chance. I¡¯ll be lucky if I leave this town with my credit card in one piece. Both Bail and impound fees were not cheap. Jill: Awwww, well as long as I have you I think I will survive. I''ll give you kisses as well to make up for it all. There was a brief pause in the chat before Jason texted back. Jason: Hoping I get a good return on those kisses, ¡®cause it¡¯s been one hell of an expensive day. Jill: Haha, guess you¡¯ll have to wait until tonight to find out, won¡¯t you? *A series of suggestive emojis follow* Jillian finally glanced up from her phone with a much brighter expression. Then she remembered everyone looking over at her. She froze for a moment, her face flushing slightly. ¡°Umm, Jason is on his way over. Can someone find out when I can ditch this place?¡± Despite her headache, she seemed eager to get out of the hospital bed. Damon nodded solemnly and went off to ask a nurse. Ginny glanced at her oldest daughter, who was back, grinning at her phone, fingers dancing across the screen. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Now that Ginny knew all that Jillian had been through, it weighed heavily on her as a parent. But seeing her happy after so much happened was a small comfort. She couldn''t help but move closer and gave her eldest daughter a tight squeeze and a hug, eliciting a mild protest. ¡°Moooom, I¡¯m in the middle of a text here, haha,¡± Jillian playfully complained like a whiny teenager, but hugged back as best she could. Jason arrived at the hospital right after he finished texting Jillian. At last, this crazy day was winding down. The worst was obviously over, and he was looking forward to relaxing and spending time with his girlfriend while she got better. He parked his car, shut off the engine, and opened his door. It was almost like his phone knew and decided to ring at that moment. His eye twitched as he saw the caller ID. The name ¡°V¡± popped up. His jaw instantly clenched, and he tried to keep himself calm but failed. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a split second before answering his phone. Bringing it to his ear, he greeted, ¡°Hey, Vince, what¡¯s up?¡± The more Vince spoke, the angrier Jason got. He argued back and forth with his boss, but in the end, they reached a sort of compromise. ¡°Alright, good deal. Catch you later, Jase. Enjoy the rest of your vacay, pal. Don¡¯t disappoint me,¡± Vince said cheerfully before hanging up. Jason was seething with rage as the call ended. He felt like throttling something, and if he had a choice, it¡¯d definitely be Vince. Instead, his phone creaked under the strain of his grip. Once Jason¡¯s anger waned, a wave of intense sadness washed over him. He looked up at the hospital building, feeling a heavy ache in his chest. Why couldn¡¯t things just go right for once? Why did everything seem to always go wrong, especially for him¡for them? Maybe their relationship was just doomed. But even with all these doubts and obstacles, his feelings for Jillian remained unchanged. He still longed for her and hoped they would be able to make it through everything. Even if the odds felt stacked against them. With a deep breath, he finally mustered the courage to step into the hospital. As Jason entered Jillian¡¯s room, he found Ginny, June, and Damon sitting around, clearly battling against boredom, either on their phone or reading. Jillian noticed Jason¡¯s arrival first as she sat up in her adjustable bed. ¡°Baby!¡± she exclaimed excitedly with a grin, though her bandaged cheek seemed to protest a bit. Despite his low spirits, seeing her smile brightened his mood immediately, his own smile mixed with a hint of concern. He hurried over as she eagerly reached out to him, her bandaged hands making grabbing motions. She looked absolutely adorable, and he couldn¡¯t help but give in. He leaned over cautiously, and she embraced him tightly as he did. The hug lasted for a few long moments, with Jillian letting out cute noises as she squeezed him as hard as possible. ¡°Oooo I missed you so much,¡± she cooed, before pulling back to meet his gaze for only a second before their lips met in a passionate kiss. It felt like it had been years, not just hours since they had last kissed. Jillian¡¯s whimpers and sounds of delight were less than appropriate as the sound of their kisses echoed in the small hospital room. His hands ran up and down her back, teasing the open slit in the back of her hospital gown. A throat clearing from across the room interrupted their moment and brought the couple back to reality. Jillian reluctantly stopped and pulled back, whispering, ¡°We¡¯ll pick this up later, handsome.¡± Even in front of her parents, the feeling of yearning she had right now was overwhelming. It seemed almost dying was one way to get her in the mood. Jason stood up, and looked back over at the family seated nearby. Ginny had a sweet smile. June seemed embarrassed, and Damon looked quite displeased, crinkling the magazine tight in his hands. Clearing his throat, he spoke, ¡°So, is everything okay?¡± he asked, trying to keep it simple. ¡°Yeah, just waiting on some blood work, and then I¡¯m out of here. How about you? How was jail? Did you make any new friends?¡± Jillian teased, reaching out to grasp his hand gently with one of her injured hands. ¡°Pretty dull, honestly. Lots of waiting and more waiting. Plus, it cost a fortune,¡± he sighed, his thumb absentmindedly stroking her hand. After hanging out and chatting for a bit longer, Ginny got up from her seat. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re doing okay, sweetie, I should head back to relieve Katia. And you should probably get back to work before everything falls apart, dear,¡± she said, looking affectionately at her oldest daughter and then her husband. ¡°I think they can survive without me for half a day. I can take care of her just fine,¡± Damon said, glowering at Jason again. Ginny just rolled her eyes and walked over to her husband, clinging to his strong arm. ¡°That''s very sweet of you, dear, but I think our daughter is a lot tougher than you give her credit for. Please relax, besides I¡¯m sure Jason will make sure she gets home safe and sound, right?¡± She smiled at Jason, who returned a small smile and nodded. ¡°You can count on me, ma¡¯am,¡± he replied politely. Damon didn¡¯t seem thrilled about the whole situation, but he reluctantly stood up when his wife nudged him. One by one, they all lined up to give Jillian a big hug and more. When it was Damon¡¯s turn, he embraced his daughter tightly before straightening up to face Jason, who held his gaze without flinching. ¡°We¡¯re still having that talk, boy,¡± Damon stated firmly. ¡°Daddy, please be nice,¡± Jillian interjected, reaching out to place a comforting hand on her father¡¯s arm. ¡°I love you. Everything will be okay. Promise,¡± she said with a reassuring smile, trying to ease his tension. Damon let out a small sigh and rested a hand on her knee, giving it a gentle squeeze before giving Jason one last stern look and then headed out. ¡°Your dad is quite intense,¡± Jason remarked once the older man had left, letting himself finally relax now that he was out from under Damon¡¯s harsh glare. Jason stayed with Jillian the whole time she was in the hospital. When everyone else finally left, a nurse came in shortly after finding the two at the beginning of another impromptu make-out session. She cleared her throat to break the spell they were under, and they reluctantly pulled back from each other, though it was obvious they were eager to pick up where they left off. The flustered nurse hurriedly checked Jillian¡¯s vitals and bolted out of there. Jason and Jillian weren¡¯t fazed in the slightest as they went right back to kissing until Jillian¡¯s injured cheek started hurting too much to continue. Once her blood test results were in, she got the green light from the hospital to leave. When they were finally in the car, Jason relaxed and couldn¡¯t help but wonder aloud how Jillian had managed to summon so many cops to the scene so fast. Jillian smirked from the passenger seat. ¡°Remember when Lina came to the house?¡± she teased. Jason¡¯s eyes widened in realization. ¡°Lina arranged this?!¡± he exclaimed, prompting laughter from Jillian. ¡°For the most part. It kinda went like...¡± Jillian had dragged Lina into Jason¡¯s room for a bit of Girl Talk to hash things out and give her some advice on not going overboard when it comes to boys. Mainly, she emphasized that centering your whole world around someone or some sexual desire was a surefire way to get hurt or into a situation where there was no easy escape. Since Lina didn¡¯t have much female guidance, growing up without her mom around, she soaked up Jillian¡¯s advice like a sponge. When Jillian finished sharing most of what she had to say, she got up to leave. But Lina wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°You¡ seem like you¡¯ve been through a lot... What¡¯s it like?¡± What Lina really wanted to know was what it felt like to be in love, but Jillian¡¯s mind went straight to her own trauma. ¡°Well, it¡¯s... not something I¡¯d recommend. You end up feeling worthless, used up, and just altogether awful. I was lucky that I was able to get out when I did. But so many others aren¡¯t and get stuck for the rest of their lives.¡± Lina¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Holy¡I had no idea that truly being in love could be so terrifying!¡± She was no longer sure she wanted to even try to date anyone now. They sat in silence for a moment before Jillian started laughing. ¡°Haha, no, no, no. I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were asking about being stuck in a bad relationship like I was.¡± ¡°That sounds a lot worse than just a bad relationship.T hat''s like slavery or something,¡± Lina said with a frown. They started chatting again, with Lina asking more and more questions. Jillian shared openly. More than happy to express the dangers of getting herself into the same situation. ¡°What?! He¡¯s still out there looking for you?!¡± Lina exclaimed, hugging her knees close, her eyes wide with shock. Jillian gave a weary nod, her expression heavy. ¡°I think so¡ The worst part is that I accidentally dialed his number a few days ago. With all his connections, he probably already has an idea about where I am. I need to lay low from now on and hope he loses interest,¡± she confessed, her fingers nervously fiddling together. ¡°Can¡¯t you get some security or something? Or go to the cops?¡± Lina suggested, her curiosity piqued. Jillian shook her head. ¡°My family and I can¡¯t afford bodyguards, and the police won¡¯t act without proof that my life is at risk. They promised to send patrols every few days, but it¡¯s not much more than a cop car driving by occasionally.¡± The two fell into a heavy silence. Lina frowned, deeply troubled by Jillian¡¯s situation. ¡°What if I pitched in to help you?¡± she blurted out, catching Jillian¡¯s attention. ¡°Huh?¡± Jillian responded, puzzled. Lina shifted on the bed, moving closer to Jillian. ¡°What if I have some people dig into this guy and arrange for some help to step in when he pops up again?¡± Jillian looked taken aback by Lina¡¯s suggestion. ¡°I couldn¡¯t...¡± She tried to refuse ¡°But I insist. It¡¯s the least I could do after causing so much trouble for you and Jason. Plus, it¡¯s the right thing to do. I would hate myself forever if something happened to you or Jason that I could have helped prevent.¡± Lina reached out, taking one of Jillian¡¯s hands. Jillian hesitated, then let out a sigh. ¡°It would be reassuring to have a backup plan if he shows up again.¡± With a nod, she finally agreed to accept the help. Lina beamed and pulled Jillian into a hug. ¡°Thank you so much for everything! I¡¯ll make sure nothing can hurt you like that again!¡± Lina bubbled with enthusiasm, causing Jillian to laugh softly. ¡°Alright, alright. I should be the one thanking you, though. You aren¡¯t going to blow up Jason¡¯s phone with texts anymore, right?¡± Lina nodded, still smiling as they both got up from the bed, each wrapping an arm around the other, leaving Jason¡¯s room looking like they were best of friends. ¡°So she and I have been texting pretty much every day. It turns out that a bunch of agencies already wanted Luis. So Lina pulled some strings and got a whole sting operation set up. I basically dialed the number Lina gave me for the guy running the show and told him where Luis was gonna be. I thought he had June otherwise I would¡¯ve just let the cops handle it. But Luis gave me a twenty-minute deadline and instructions to come alone to save my sister, so I had to keep stalling him until the cops arrived,¡± Jillian explained, and Jason just looked totally blown away at this revelation. His girlfriend really had it all under control when she told him to leave at that time. ¡°Fuck¡ so I almost messed everything up, got tazed and arrested..for nothing,¡± Jason grumbled, but Jillian quickly reassured him, giving his thigh a comforting squeeze. ¡°It wasn¡¯t for nothing. You are my hero, baby. You rushed in to save me, and that¡¯s everything to me,¡± she said, trying to cheer him up. He let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck before he asked, ¡°Is that also why you blocked my number?¡± Jillian nodded sheepishly. ¡°Yeah, sorry ¡®bout that. I was trying to call the number, but you kept blowing up my phone. Had to block you to get through. I¡¯m sorry for not unblocking you sooner.¡± She ran her hand up and down his leg, trying to ease the tension. Her hand slid to his inner thigh, giving it a squeeze. ¡°No, I¡¯m the one that needs to apologize. I made it take longer for you to call the cops,¡± Jason said, as he reached down and gently held her hand. ¡°You were just worried, I get that. It shows how much you care about me, and I¡¯ll never hold that against you,¡± Jillian replied with a soft smile, leaning over and resting her head on his arm.¡°Honestly, it¡¯s my favorite thing about you. You can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but you¡¯re also my sweetie wumpkin snuggle bug.¡± Jason almost dry heaved at her unbearably cutesy words, which made Jillian burst into laughter at his reaction. As Jason drove, it became obvious they weren¡¯t heading home, and Jillian finally noticed. ¡°Hey, where are we going?¡± she asked curiously, taking in the quickly disappearing civilization. ¡°Somewhere more private,¡± he replied quietly. ¡°Oooo, sounds fun. Even if I¡¯m hurting, you have no idea how horny I¡¯ve been since you showed up at the hospital,¡± she confessed with a purr, her hand instinctively moving to his crotch, tracing her fingers along his package. However, to her surprise, Jason gently removed her hand. She pulled back, puzzled, to see a serious yet saddened expression on his face. There was something obviously not right. ¡°Jason¡ why the secrecy? Why drag me somewhere private if not for sneaking off for sex?¡± Jillian¡¯s tone was firm, suspicion prickling at her. ¡°Because I need to talk to you without interruptions or others listening in before I tell you,¡± Jason said ominously, setting off alarm bells in Jillian¡¯s mind. ¡°Jason, seriously, you¡¯re freaking me out. What¡¯s going on?¡± Her demanding tone betrayed her growing unease. There was a tense silence before Jason let out a heavy sigh. ¡°I... I¡¯ve got some bad news,¡± he finally confessed, his expression darkening, leaving Jillian to watch on with growing worry. ¡°Bad news?¡± she echoed, her voice small. What? Was he about to drop on her now? Jason headed out to a quiet lake that was practically deserted this time of year. It was too chilly for a swim or fishing and too mild for ice skating. He parked his car under a big shady tree, rubbing his face, trying to muster the courage to say what was weighing so heavily on him. Meanwhile, Jillian sat beside him, her nerves on edge as she impatiently waited for him to speak. Unable to contain herself, she unbuckled her seat belt and sat up on her knees, turning to him. Jillian reached out and gently turned Jason¡¯s head to face her. ¡°Whatever is going on, we can handle it together, okay? We just took down a psycho with millions of dollars at his disposal. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything we can¡¯t do now.¡± She tried to keep her tone upbeat as she leaned in, sharing a deep kiss with him. When they pulled away, their eyes met. ¡°I... have to head back to Florida,¡± he said somberly Jillian¡¯s first thoughts were, ¡°Is he still unsure about the long distance relationship? Well, I¡¯ll make sure to-¡± Her thoughts were cut off as Jason finished his sentence. ¡°Thursday.¡± Chapter 49: Coming Together Only to Be Ripped Apart Is a Cruel Joke, and I Hate Physical Comedy. ¡°What?! Why?!¡± Jillian exclaimed, her voice laced with panicked frustration. ¡°I got a call from my boss just before I came to see you at the hospital. He said he had urgent work needed at his place, insisting only I could be trusted to do it, and it has to be done by the weekend,¡± Jason attempted to explain, but Jillian¡¯s anger only intensified. ¡°So, you¡¯re his personal slave now? Why should you have to cut short your fucking vacation just to sort out his personal mess?¡± Jason let out a heavy sigh, feeling much like Jill did, but he couldn¡¯t really tell Vince that. ¡°Yeah, I hear you. I¡¯m just as annoyed as you are, Jill,¡± he said, though Jillian didn¡¯t seem convinced. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you more upset? Why are you just sitting there instead of giving him a piece of your mind? Tell him to fuck off and leave you alone!¡± She was pretty upset and didn¡¯t realize, in her anger, that her suggestion might not have been the best move. ¡°I was earlier, but now I¡¯m trying to remain calm because I¡¯m doing my best not to upset you!¡± Jason raised his voice a bit, feeling Jillian¡¯s frustration rubbing off on him. ¡°Well, it¡¯s too late for that now. I¡¯m already fucking upset that you¡¯re just gonna bail on me! On us!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not giving up. I still care about you and want to be with you, but I can¡¯t pass up this opportunity.¡± Jillian only seemed to get even more angry at Jason¡¯s explanation. ¡°Opportunity?! You¡¯re seriously calling leaving early an opportunity? Wow, okay.¡± Jason groaned at her misunderstanding. ¡°I¡¯m not saying leaving is the opportunity. It¡¯s the job that comes with it. Every time I do one of these bullshit personal favors for him, I end up getting promoted or at least get a bump in pay. That¡¯s how I¡¯ve gotten to a position that should have taken way longer. If I do this now, I could get promoted to upper management. Do you have any idea what that would mean?¡± Jason explained, hoping to shed some light on his situation. But Jillian seemed dead set on arguing. ¡°Oh, right, I forgot how much you love sucking up to that D-bag. You let him control you like his loyal pet as long as he gives you a treat. He has you trained good, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Jason felt his jaw tighten at her words. He wasn''t just angry at her insult, but at the fact that It was kinda true. Though, he didn¡¯t appreciate her pointing out how much he had to bend over backward to please his sack of shit boss. Jason¡¯s next words came out more heated than he meant them to, but that was pretty much the norm for their relationship. ¡°I have busted my fucking ass every day, working and doing whatever it takes to secure my future. If I don¡¯t step up, someone else will and take my place. Then all the shit I¡¯ve done and been through all these years would be for nothing. Yeah, I¡¯ve made my fair share of mistakes, and I feel like shit catering to that son of a bitch. But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯ve worked and suffered most of my life to get where I am today, and I refuse to let anyone stand in my way¡ Not even you...¡± Jillian leaned back, eyes wide, and settled into her seat, staring at Jason. With her silence, his expression softened slightly. ¡°I... really fucking like you, Jill... Maybe even more than just that, but... I can¡¯t just drop everything else in my life for you¡,¡± Jason said, his voice soft as he glanced away from her. Jillian¡¯s mouth hung open like she wanted to reply, but nothing came out. She eventually just slumped in her seat, fiddling nervously with her thumbs and staring at her bandaged hands. Jason let out a sigh, grabbing the back of his headrest, trying to steady himself as he stared out through the windshield. The two sat there in long, uninterrupted silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡,¡± Jillian¡¯s voice quietly broke the silence. The tension between them still hung in the air. Jason glanced at her, not fully turning his head, peering at her from the corner of his eye. ¡°Yeah... me too,¡± he responded after a moment. With all traces of anger gone, Jillian couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. She gingerly maneuvered herself over the center console and crawled into his lap, nestling against his chest. He enveloped her in a warm embrace as she buried her face in his shirt, holding on tight. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you, you big jerk,¡± she whispered with a bratty tone. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be in your way. I want to be with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too, and I want you with me,¡± he said, keeping it simple. She glanced up from his chest, giving him a playful glare. ¡°You better promise to call me every night, text me every hour, and video chat at least once a week,¡± she teased, taking a cue from Lina¡¯s playbook. Jason couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little as he gave her a squeeze. ¡°Whatever you want, princess,¡± he said, teasing her back slightly. ¡°I want to stay, but I also want you to not leave,¡± she added, earning a confused look from him. ¡°Isn¡¯t it supposed to be more like, I want you to stay, but I know you gotta go?¡± Jason attempted to correct the woman sitting in his lap. ¡°I know what I said, jerk,¡± Jillian retorted as she crawled up his chest, coming face to face with him. ¡°I wanna be selfish... I want you here, I want my family, I want it all,¡± she complained, gripping the collar of his shirt. ¡°You brat,¡± he teased, leaning in to kiss her, but she unexpectedly pulled away. ¡°You don¡¯t get to call me a brat and then try to smooth it over with a kiss,¡± she pouted. ¡°So you get to call me a jerk, but I can¡¯t call you a brat? That doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡± ¡°Life is hardly fair.¡± Her lower lip started to quiver slightly. Jason gently reached up, and his hand rested against the side of Jillian¡¯s face. She closed her eyes, melting into the warmth of his touch, even though her cheek was still sore. A sigh escaped her lips, and her expression shifted to a deep frown. Her lower lip trembled even more as she opened her eyes and met his gaze again. ¡°I... I want to stay with you,¡± she whispered, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. ¡°I don¡¯t want this to end so soon.¡± Another tear followed, tracing the same path down her cheek. ¡°Babe...¡± Jason whispered gently to the woman sitting on his lap. ¡°I know, I feel the same... But trust me, this distance won¡¯t last forever. We¡¯ll be back together before you know it, I swear,¡± he said, trying to reassure himself as much as Jillian. She gave a small nod, a few more tears escaping. ¡°I know... I just wish I had a bit more time to prepare myself. I¡¯m worried I will forget the feeling of your arms around me or the taste of your lips. I don¡¯t want to forget any of it.¡± Unable to hold out anymore, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, holding the kiss for as long as she could, as if trying to imprint the moment in her memory. He kissed her back, his arm squeezing her tight while his other hand was lost in her red curls. When they finally pulled away, their eyes met once more, and they held each other¡¯s gaze for a long moment. ¡°Please¡don¡¯t let me forget,¡± she whispered before she dove back into the kiss while her hands trailed down and started to undo his pants. The couple used the alone time to slip into the back of the vehicle and make love. Luckily, the back seats folded down in the SUV, giving them a bit more space. They took it as slow as possible, stripping each other¡¯s clothes off slowly. Lips tasting each bit of exposed flesh as they did. The desire to savor every moment between them burned like a fire. Soft music played on the radio as they got lost in each other¡¯s bodies. They were there for what felt like ages, chasing one peak after another. Surrounded by a chorus of their moans and screams of pleasure. Eventually, the windows fogged up completely, and they were both sweating profusely from the marathon of sex. Jillian snuggled up on Jason¡¯s chest, her cheek resting against his chest, loving the warm, cozy feeling. Her hand below, mindlessly fondling him. He made do with his clothes as a pillow, even though there wasn¡¯t quite enough room for his legs to stretch out fully. They were both just lying there, content to lay there in the nude, basking in postcoital bliss. Jillian gently played with his chest hair, enjoying the powerful scent of his sweat and musk. ¡°I wish we could stay like this forever,¡± she said, knowing it sounded cheesy but meaning it nonetheless. ¡°Maybe if I could stretch my legs out,¡± Jason joked, both laughing a little. ¡°Haha, so romantic,¡± Jillian teased, tilting her head to look up at him. Just as she was about to say something, her phone started buzzing from where she had tossed her pants. She let out a sigh and removed her hands from both his chest and package. Quickly grabbing her pants, she pulled out her phone just in time for the buzzing to stop. She saw she had missed a call from her mom, followed by a text. ¡°Everything alright? You guys have been gone for quite a bit,¡± Ginny messaged. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°I guess we¡¯ve been out here for quite some time. Mom¡¯s starting to wonder where we are,¡± Jillian remarked as she shot a quick text, reassuring her mom they were okay, just enjoying some alone time before heading back. They¡¯d been there almost two hours already. ¡°Should I let my folks know you¡¯re heading home early, or do you want to explain?¡± she asked, looking over at Jason. He just shrugged slightly. ¡°You can tell them. They would figure it out soon anyway,¡± he replied, sounding a little exhausted. ¡°What time do you have to leave on Thursday, anyway?¡± Jillian asked, realizing she forgot to ask before they started their sex-athon. As she moved back to her position with her head on his chest, Jason shrugged again. ¡°I told Vince he¡¯d better book me a first-class ticket for as late as possible on Thursday if he wants my cooperation.¡± Vince was supposed to confirm by tomorrow at the latest after his secretary arranged the flight. ¡°That guy really pisses me the fuck off, you know?¡± she said with a grumble, sitting up and crossing her legs with a scowl on her face. ¡°Thinks he can do anything he wants just cause he has money. Little bastard.¡± Jason propped himself up on his elbows and looked over at the fiery redhead. He took in the sight of the exposed pale skin of Jillian¡¯s nude form sitting beside him. His gaze lingered on each freckle that dotted her body, committing each of their placements to memory. From her arms to the delicate curve of her small bust, up to her neck, and the spotting along her beautiful face, framed by her red curls. When he got to her eyes, Jillian caught him and was staring back. With a raised brow, she asked, ¡°Do you really wanna go again? I mean, it might have to be oral, but I don¡¯t mind.¡± She was a bit sore downstairs at the moment. Jason shook his head with a small laugh, smiling in response to the question. ¡°Haha, no, I was just admiring the view for a moment.¡± Leaning over to kiss her on the cheek, he grabbed his underwear and slipped his boxer briefs back on. ¡°Mmhmm?¡± Jillian said suspiciously, setting her phone down. She moved closer as he started to pull on his pants, her hands running up his broad back and along his shoulders. His body tensed as she began to rub, recalling the last massage he received from the wannabe masseuse. Thankfully, Jillian was mostly just being affectionate, and soon her bare chest pressed into his back, the firmness of her nipples poking against his skin. Jillian wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gently planted a soft kiss on his neck, moving up to his earlobe. She lightly nibbled on it and then gave it a gentle suck, making him let out a slight grunt of pleasure. ¡°Are you looking for another round?¡± Jason asked, unable to resist. Jillian giggled in response, running her nails lightly along his chest from behind. ¡°Hmm, maybe. Mostly, I just want to soak up as much affection as possible and indulge myself while I can,¡± she explained, peppering his neck and ear with kisses. He closed his eyes, simply enjoying the sensation as a smile came to his face. ¡°Mmhmm¡ I see,¡± he said softly, taking a deep breath. ¡°I could maybe hop on for one more ride, but I am happy with this¡ for now.¡± The sound of her lips smacking against his neck intermingled with her words. Goosebumps ran along Jason¡¯s skin from her words and kisses. Noticing this, Jillian let out a small laugh, and her lips brushed against his ear as she spoke. ¡°I can stop if it bothers you, baby?¡± She offered, but Jason quickly shook his head. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t bother me... It feels nice, actually,¡± he confessed, leaning back into her a little as she continued. Her nails teased his chest, lips continuing to gently kiss and nibble on his neck and ears while her perky boobs pushed against his back. It was the closest thing to paradise he could imagine. It had the bonus effect of making her happy that she was, in turn, making him feel good. ¡°I¡¯m glad. I like pleasing you, handsome,¡± she whispered as she continued. They stayed like that for a while longer before they realized they really should head back since the sun was starting to set. They got dressed and moved back to the front seats of the vehicle, heading back home. As he dropped off Jillian, she reminded him that he still had to talk with her dad tomorrow night. He assured her that he hadn¡¯t and wouldn¡¯t forget. They shared one more long and rather intense kiss, as she promised to be over later that night. There would be no more sleeping alone while he was here, especially with the news of his early departure. They had already planned to spend almost all their time together, but now they had to somehow condense it into the next two days. At the Lins¡¯s place, Jillian shared the news with her mom and sister. They felt horrible for her, but not enough to cry about it. But that was okay since Jillian¡¯s tears seemed to make up for it. Each tear she managed to hold back while with Jason in the car found its way out now as June and Ginny tried to comfort her. Jillian couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of how unfair it all was. They¡¯d been through so much bullshit over the past week and a half, and now their time together was being cut short. After she let out her feelings, she eventually calmed down and returned to a semi feeling of normalcy. Jason and Jillian¡¯s relationship wasn¡¯t exactly typical, but that didn¡¯t make it any less real. Jillian went back to Jason¡¯s place early again, and they spent the evening watching a movie while his mom played on her tablet nearby. Katia called it an early night after a hectic day. Jillian was happy to doze off with her head resting on Jason¡¯s chest. He was the last one awake, managing to finish the movie before carrying Jillian to bed. As he was about to walk into his room, he heard laughter from his mother¡¯s room and her voice. His eye twitched slightly, but he let it go. He had to. If this made his mom happy, then he would get over it¡ somehow. So he hurried into his room, and they both settled in for the night, ready for some rest. Jillian stirred awake not long after being settled in bed, though still groggy. But she wasn¡¯t keen on just sleeping. Jason wasn¡¯t hard to convince, and the couple lost themselves in each other¡¯s body for the final time that day, but they spent much longer than normal, simply indulging in one another. They knew their time together was running short and wanted to savor every moment. It was early morning by the time they finished. They had planned to shower together but ended up falling asleep, Jason lying on his back with Jillian resting her head on his chest, her hand loosely wrapped around his dick. The next day arrived, and the couple slept in for a little while. They cuddled for a bit before diving into another round of lovemaking. By this point, Jillian was more than a bit sore, more so than Jason, but he wasn¡¯t completely unscathed either. He was using muscles he didn¡¯t even know he had in ways he hadn¡¯t experienced before. But none of that mattered much; despite the soreness, they were happy and enjoying every moment. Happy to share this connection, the intense desire, and genuine feelings they had for each other. They continued their sexy antics in the shower, shamelessly enjoying each other¡¯s company to the fullest. As the day went on, their personalities started to clash again, like they usually do. But instead of shutting down or getting into a full-blown fight like they might have in high school... or a week ago, they just argued and bickered but then quickly made up and teased each other. ¡°Oh my god, what are you doing? That¡¯s disgusting,¡± Jillian said, making a face like she was going to be sick. ¡°What? I don¡¯t like the taste,¡± Jason replied, looking annoyed. ¡°So you turn it into an abomination? I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t be with someone who commits such atrocities.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the one who wanted to come here! I told you I didn¡¯t like coffee. You¡¯re lucky I even agreed!¡± ¡°Yeah, well, if I knew you were going to act like a heathen, I wouldn¡¯t have brought you,¡± Jillian growled as they continued to argue loudly. ¡°You are the one that asked me to tag along, so here I am. So I will enjoy my coffee any damn way I please,¡± Jason insisted as the couple bickered over his coffee concoction that leaned heavily towards a cup of French vanilla creamer with a splash of coffee. Meanwhile, Mika, barely awake, sat between them on the other side of the table, nursing her espresso. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure why she was there other than Jillian¡¯s invitation. Now, she found herself simply observing the stupidest coffee debate ever unfold. ¡°It¡¯s not even coffee anymore! It¡¯s just fuckin¡¯ wrong!¡± Jillian persisted, while Jason just rolled his eyes in response. ¡°Why does it even matter so much to you?¡± he grumbled in frustration. ¡°Because it¡¯s not fuckin¡¯ right!¡± Jillian yelled. Mika was silently grateful they were outside on the patio of the cafe otherwise they might have been kicked out by now. She wasn¡¯t gonna get banned from her favorite coffee shop thanks to these idiots. Ten minutes later, Jillian found herself cozied up in Jason¡¯s lap like a content kitten while he cooed sweet nothings into her ear. Much to Mika''s disgust. The three of them started talking about what was going to happen later. It turned out that Mika had always dreamed of visiting Florida. She imagined its beaches and vibrant nightlife, along with all the sexy tan bodies that came with those things. Especially when Jason mentioned the Latino clubs he and his friend Marco often hit up. Jillian practically pleaded with Mika to join her on a future trip. But it wasn¡¯t like it took much to convince her. ¡°Hey, warmer weather and a chance to meet some Latin hotties? You don¡¯t have to threaten me with a good time,¡± Mika quipped with a sly grin. The rest of the day went on pretty much the same way. They¡¯d banter back and forth, maybe argue a little, and then wind up making out, talking about their future together, or sneaking off for some more intimate fun. Mika didn¡¯t hang around after coffee, but that was probably for the best. Once Jason left, Mika knew she¡¯d have to clean up the mess that would be Jillian. Dealing with her drunken friend wasn¡¯t exactly her idea of fun, but she¡¯d do what she could to support and keep her happy. Even though she was still a bit peeved about the stain the two left on her couch. The couple tried hard to take their minds off the looming reality. They went out for lunch, did some shopping, and even hit up the fun center again for another round of mini golf, just the two of them this time. Turns out, Jillian didn¡¯t take losing too well without June there, pouting when Jason didn¡¯t go easy on her. Jason wasn¡¯t exactly graceful in victory either, teasing her whenever she missed. This led to another playful argument, ending with him giving her a piggyback ride back to the car. The day was packed full as they tried to live it up like there was no tomorrow. The back of the car got more action than the rental company would have probably preferred, but Jason and Jillian couldn¡¯t care less. Sex had become a big part of their day to day, as they tried to make the most out of every second. Without all the anger and stubbornness, they found they were more than just simply attracted to each other, and they took every opportunity to show it with every touch, grab, and kiss. By the end of the day, they were exhausted but fulfilled. Neither could fathom how hard it was going to be, being apart. There was a constant bittersweet feeling hanging over the couple as the clock ticked down on their time together. As night fell, the big moment was approaching fast. ¡°Okay, remember to sit straight and speak clearly. My dad can¡¯t stand it when he has to ask for people to repeat themselves. And make sure to really listen as well because if you have to ask him to repeat something, he¡¯ll be just as pissed,¡± Jillian coached Jason before his talk with her father. He wore a casual but nice polo shirt and creased slacks that she picked from his clothes, aiming for a nice but not too fancy look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much, babe. Trust me, I know how to handle guys like him. I¡¯ll just treat it like dealing with an exec. That isn¡¯t Vince,¡± Jason reassured her, looking down at Jillian. She let out a frustrated grunt at the mention of that name. ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t even bring up that dick. I swear if I ever meet him, I will shove my foot so far up his...¡± She stopped mid-sentence, opting for a growl of frustration instead. Jason laughed a little, wrapping his arms around his woman. ¡°Yeah, you and lots of others feel the same way,¡± he said, pulling her close and cradling the back of her head. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine working for someone like him. Can¡¯t you just like¡not?¡± She sighed, looking up at her boyfriend with a cute pout. ¡°I don¡¯t have much of a choice,¡± he said, now massaging her scalp and rubbing her back. ¡°Mmm, baby¡¡± she murmured, looking up at him with that gaze, one he started to pick up on after the fourth time she¡¯d used it on him. Jason knew he shouldn¡¯t indulge, and they didn¡¯t have time to. But as he leaned down to kiss her, Jillian¡¯s alarm went off, and she let out a groan of disappointment, signaling Jason¡¯s time to face the music. Chapter 50: The Final Showdown Begins and Ends With Daddy. The plan was simple. Jason and Damon were to have a private chat, just between the two of them. No one else was allowed, and both agreed to keep it that way. Walking towards the two-story house, Jason gripped his girlfriend¡¯s hand. Earlier, he claimed he wasn¡¯t nervous, but truthfully, it felt like walking into a boxing ring for a fight. He¡¯d always feel a tightness in his stomach before a match, and this was the same feeling. He tried to think of it as an interview, but Damon''s overly hostile nature made it impossible. ¡°You¡¯re gonna do great, baby,¡± Jillian reassured him with a soft smile, standing by his side and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze as she pressed her body into his arm. Jason looked down at her for a moment before leaning in for a kiss, which she eagerly reciprocated, wrapping her arms around his neck to prolong the moment. He gladly fell into the deepened kiss, and she responded with a soft moan as he moved his own arms to wrap around her and hold her close. Their embrace intensified as he lifted her slightly, his hands finding purchase by grasping her plump butt. Lost in the heat of the moment, their kisses grew louder and more fervent as their lips smacked together. Even after a day filled with sex and passion, it seemed like it hadn¡¯t diminished much as the night fell. Really, the tension of the meeting only made them want it more. The couple¡¯s spontaneous make-out session was interrupted by a throat clearing. They quickly turned to see a doorbell camera lit up, capturing their moment. Jason¡¯s eyes widened with a hint of fear. ¡°You¡¯re lucky my husband never bothers to check the cameras,¡± Ginny teased over the intercom. ¡°S-sorry, Mrs. Lins,¡± he stammered, setting Jillian down, much to her annoyance. ¡°Mom! Don¡¯t be such a pervert,¡± Jillian added with a grumble, crossing her arms as they finally entered. Walking inside, it was surprisingly quiet since everyone had been instructed to stay in their rooms for the next hour or so. Ginny, June, and Jillian were in charge of keeping the smaller kids entertained. Jillian pulled him down to give Jason a quick kiss on the cheek. ¡°You¡¯ve got this, stud,¡± she said with a wink, offering him more encouragement before making her way to the kids¡¯ room. Jason had to resist the urge to playfully smack her butt as she walked away¡ªit had become a bit of a habit at this point. Taking a deep breath, he stood just outside the entranceway to the kitchen, preparing himself for the task ahead. When he finally walked in he quickly saw Damon reading a paper, waiting at the head of the table. He was still in his work clothes that were covered in bits of grime and what seemed like concrete dust lingered on his plaid shirt. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Lins. Good to see you again,¡± Jason said as he confidently approached the man and offered his hand for a shake. Damon glanced up at Jason¡¯s face, then at the offered hand, with the same stern expression that hardly ever changed when Jason was around. Damon stared at the hand for a long moment, but Jason kept it extended without retracting. After another second of nothing, Damon finally folded the paper he was reading and placed it neatly on the kitchen table. Then, standing, he reached over and grabbed Jason¡¯s hand with a grip like a vice, shaking it firmly. They held the handshake for a long while as they competed in a silent test of strength before finally letting go. ¡°Take a seat,¡± Damon said in his gruff tone, sitting back down as himself. Jason nodded and sat nearby, keeping his back straight, and his hands clasped together on the table. Damon couldn¡¯t help but let out a huff as he eyed the young man who was trying to win over his daughter. It seemed like Jillian and Jason were already more than simply interested in each other. Even though she seemed happier than ever before, Damon couldn¡¯t shake off his concerns. He was her father, and he was determined to stop anyone he didn¡¯t approve of from taking her away again. Ever since he found out about the past and how his daughter had gotten basically kidnapped, he¡¯d been feeling like a failure of a father. He couldn¡¯t protect his eldest daughter from being used before, and it was like a searing brand on his heart that marked him unfit as a parent. Just the thought of that Luis guy made him sick to his stomach. He really wished he could just have a chance to talk to him. All he would need would be a couple of minutes to make him see the light. The current issue wasn¡¯t Luis though. It was this new Jason character. He was the blast from the past, the old flame who Damon suspected was probably defiling his precious little girl! Even though she was in her late twenties, she¡¯d always be his little girl. Just looking at the man sitting across from him made Damon furious, but he promised himself to give the guy a mostly fair chance. Yet, all he¡¯d done so far was glare at him for what felt like ages. Jason just sat there calmly, not saying a word, waiting for a question or something, which annoyed Damon even more. Was he too scared to speak up, or what? ¡°How old are you?¡± Damon asked. Jason replied promptly, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-six, sir.¡± He spoke clearly and confidently. ¡°Twenty-six? When I was your age, I was working fourteen-hour shifts, married, and already had my first child, Jillian.¡± It almost sounded like bragging, but Jason sensed the unspoken question behind it. ¡°What about you? Why don¡¯t you have these things? Why aren¡¯t you more put together?¡± Quickly catching on to the older man¡¯s style, Jason knew he¡¯d need to read between the lines during this conversation. Jason quickly explained about his job and hobbies and how he oversaw a whole team at work and typically worked most weekends. He also mentioned his amateur boxer career to stay fit and protect himself and those he cares about. Mainly adding the last part to sweeten it up a little. Then, ending with, ¡°I have always been quite busy and never really met someone I wanted to date until now, so I haven¡¯t gotten the chance to start a family of my own¡ yet.¡± Damon seemed intrigued by this, his brow raising for a moment. ¡°No past girlfriends? I find that hard to believe. A guy like you surely has plenty of prospects lined up,¡± Damon continued, still glaring hard at Jason, who shook his head. ¡°No, sir. In all honesty, until recently, I never had any kind of romantic interest in women... Not that I was interested in men either, mind you,¡± Jason explained. Damon grinned slightly at this. ¡°Not even in your younger years?¡± he asked, his tone carrying a more sinister edge. Jason was wary but answered nevertheless. ¡°No, sir. None that I can recall.¡± Damon¡¯s eyes flashed like he had just caught Jason in a trap. ¡°Oh? Well, my daughter mentioned you both attended the same high school. Care to elaborate on that?¡± Damon¡¯s tone carried a hint of triumph. Jason¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Had Jillian explained their shared history to her parents? He paused, momentarily stunned. Damon¡¯s smirk seemed to suggest he had just sealed his fate. Unexpectedly, Jason lowered his head and released a sigh. ¡°Yes, sir... we did attend school together. But I¡¯ve since moved past any grievances and forgiven her.¡± Damon¡¯s smile faded, and he sat there blinking a few times, a little stunned. ¡°Grievances?¡± Damon was a bit confused by this twist. Why would Jason need to forgive his daughter for what went on in high school? He had figured Jason was just another boyfriend who didn¡¯t measure up to Jillian¡¯s standards and got dumped like the rest of the pathetic idiots she dated. If Jason was seriously about to say he forgave his daughter for breaking up with him, Damon was about to get very angry. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Yeah, even though she made my high school years pretty miserable, I wouldn¡¯t be who I am today without her. And I forgave her a few days ago for it,¡± Jason explained. Damon frowned deeply at the young man. ¡°Did she now? And how long were you and Jill dating that she made your high school life so bad?¡± He wondered just how overdramatic the boy was if a single relationship had ruined all those years. Someone so fragile could never handle his headstrong daughter, no matter how long ago it was. ¡°Dating?¡ Umm, sir, we never dated in high school. She used to bully me...¡± Jason felt a knot forming in his stomach, feeling that something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Bully you?!¡± Damon growled out. ¡°So, you¡¯re trying to say that my daughter bullied you into a relationship, and now you¡¯re trying to get her back after all these years? And you had her apologize for it?¡± Damon¡¯s rather outlandish accusation caught Jason off guard. Jason quickly shook his head. ¡°No, sir, I¡¯m telling you we never dated. We weren¡¯t even friends back then. She was just a regular bully, you know? She teased and insulted me about my looks and weight. I was pretty overweight back then. She¡ didn¡¯t tell you?¡± The knot in his stomach tightened even more. ¡°Boy, I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Damon said, looking rather confused and even more angry now. ¡°Shit,¡± Jason whispered to himself. He had just accidentally exposed Jillian¡¯s past to her father. ¡°Um, could we just forget about what I said earlier?¡± Jason suggested, feeling a dry lump in his throat. ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Damon retorted firmly. ¡°You¡¯re now accusing my daughter, who was under five feet tall in high school, of being a bully. She has suffered enough at the hands of some random bastard. So I don¡¯t take kindly to people like you spreading rumors about her!¡± He slammed his fist on the table with a loud thud. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not trying to spread any rumors. I honestly thought Jill had already told you about it. And I¡¯ve already forgiven her for it, I just-,¡± Jason tried to explain, but another slam on the table interrupted him. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯ve forgiven her for something you¡¯ve imagined. Get the fuck out of my house right now, and don¡¯t you ever come near my daughter again!¡± Damon yelled, rising from his seat. Jason looked up at the man who was now yelling at him. He didn¡¯t appreciate being called a liar, and even more so, hearing someone say he couldn¡¯t see his woman. Jason stood up, a tiny bit taller than Damon, but Damon didn¡¯t back down even a little. ¡°Respectfully, sir, I¡¯m going to have to politely decline,¡± Jason said, trying to keep his cool. But Damon didn¡¯t seem to calm down at all. His face twisted in rage now. ¡°What the fuck did you just say to me?¡± He heard Jason perfectly well, but he was daring the young man to say it again. The two men stared each other down, tension crackling between them. ¡°I¡¯m saying I refuse to give up on Jillian so easily, no matter what you say or think. You are her father, and I will respect you in that way. But I love her, and neither you nor anyone else will change that.¡± The words just seemed to flow out of his mouth as he spoke calmly. His determined gaze locked with Damon''s twitching eyes. ¡°You¡¡± His response devolved into a growl as they held each other¡¯s gaze until they were interrupted by a different voice. ¡°Daddy, wait!¡± Jillian dashed into the kitchen, followed by Ginny and June. She positioned herself between Jason and her father, even though they could easily see over her head. ¡°Dad... It¡¯s true,¡± she finally admitted, drawing her father¡¯s attention away from Jason. Damon stared at her, trying to process the words. ¡°I¡¯m not the sweet little girl you think I am¡ I never was. I was a terrible person back then.¡± She frowned, her courage quickly fading as she avoided eye contact. He frowned deeply at his daughter putting herself down. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying what he said was true?¡± Jillian sighed heavily, then nodded slowly. ¡°Yes... I bullied Jason all through high school, pretty much.¡± She paused, letting the beginning of her confession sink in. ¡°It all started with a stupid misunderstanding when we first met, and it just got worse and worse from there. I made his life hell until graduation¡ The person you thought I was back then...She never existed.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to see how her family was reacting to her words, especially her little sister. Damon felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over him, not sure how to react to all of this. ¡°That¡¯s... not true, it can¡¯t be. The school would have¡¡± he murmured softly, but Jillian¡¯s stern gaze met his. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t, and they didn¡¯t, But it is true, Dad. I used to be a terrible person... I guess I still am.¡± The redhead fidgeted, wrapping her arms around herself as her eyes dropped to the floor. ¡°Jason forgave me for everything I did to him, But...¡± Damon suddenly raised a hand to stop his daughter as he realized something. ¡°Hold on, how did you know what we were talking about?¡± Jillian¡¯s face blushed a deep red, reaching over to move some items on the table, revealing a hidden phone. They had set June¡¯s phone down on the table, connected in a call with Jillian¡¯s, while they eavesdropped from the nursery. June¡¯s phone was on speaker, but Jillian¡¯s was muted. Jason¡¯s face also flushed as he wondered if they heard the last thing he told Damon. ¡°Sorry, Dad, just please let me finish,¡± Jillian apologized, seeing her dad¡¯s disapproval of them snooping on what was supposed to be a private conversation. Damon sighed but gestured for her to go on. ¡°As I was saying, I used to bully Jason back in high school, and he decided to forgive me even though he didn¡¯t have to, and I definitely didn¡¯t deserve it,¡± Jillian explained. His scowl deepened, but he remained silent. She moved closer to her father, reaching out and gently grasping his hands. ¡°Daddy, he accepted me for who I am, even when I couldn¡¯t fully accept myself,¡± she said softly, taking a moment to look back at Jason with a warm smile. ¡°This past week has been so eye-opening. And even though it¡¯s only been a short time since we¡¯ve been together. I know in my heart...¡± She paused, taking a breath to summon her courage. Damon¡¯s eyes widened as he recognized the telltale flush on her cheeks, a familiar expression that his wife showed him the first time she had said it. ¡°Please don¡¯t say it,¡± he silently begged as Jillian turned her gaze back to him. ¡°That I...¡± There was another slight pause before she finally came out and said it. ¡°That I love him, daddy.¡± There was a stunned silence that filled the room as the confession hit everyone. ¡°You... love him?¡± Damon said, a bit dumbfounded. He had recognized the look, and his worst fears had come true. Jillian nodded shyly, looking away again. She could hardly believe she had said it, but she felt it deep down. Despite all the hardships they went through, she had known from the first time she got lost in his embrace that she might very well end up falling in love with this man. Jillian turned to face Jason again, feeling her cheeks still flushed. His stunned expression made her chuckle softly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to respond right away if you¡¯re not ready. I get it, take your time if you need. I just wanted to be upfront about how I feel.¡± She flashed a cute smile at Jason, making him want to whisk her away right then and there. It seemed she hadn¡¯t heard when he said it earlier as well. He shook off his surprise and finally found his voice. ¡°No!¡± he blurted out, causing her to raise an eyebrow. ¡°No?¡± she echoed, puzzled at the sudden outburst. ¡°I mean¡ well, I used to think I felt this way because I¡¯d never had a girlfriend before, and I was just overreacting. I didn¡¯t think I could say it to you just yet... but hearing you say it...¡± His words trailed off as he found himself lost in Jillian¡¯s mesmerizing blue eyes. ¡°I want you to know that I love you as well, Jillian,¡± Jason confessed, closing the distance between them, both their hearts thumping hard in their chests. ¡°Oh, Jason¡,¡± Jillian¡¯s voice was quiet and had a slight quiver to it as their eyes remained locked, completely lost in each other¡¯s gaze. Ginny moved up to her husband, who was still in shock as he watched the couple before him. How had their daughter fallen for someone right under their noses? Surely, Ginny would have told him if she¡¯d noticed, right? Feeling Ginny¡¯s arms wrap around his, he glanced over at her. She gave him a look that he was very familiar with. ¡°Let¡¯s give them some space. Let me take care of you, hun,¡± she whispered, gently guiding him away. Damon glanced between his wife and the couple, who were now even closer. ¡°But I¡They...¡± he began, but Ginny ignored him. She held his arm and led him over to where June was. He sighed heavily, feeling like he had no other option but to go with her. June watched the scene unfold for a bit, feeling a mix of happiness for the couple and a bit of unease upon learning about her big sister¡¯s past as a bully. But at least it seemed she earned Jason¡¯s forgiveness. Ginny noticed her youngest daughter¡¯s unease and wrapped an arm around her as well. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay, Sweetie. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll come talk to you later. For now, let¡¯s give them some space,¡± Ginny reassured her gently, leading the two of them out of the kitchen so the new couple could have a moment alone. Chapter 51: So Long and Thanks for All the f-...well So Long at Least. Love... What the hell even was love? You can¡¯t hold it, taste it, or see it but you can feel it. We make such a big deal out of this little four-letter word. Say it too soon, you¡¯re clingy. Say it too late, you¡¯re distant. For some reason, timing is a huge deal, which makes figuring out when it¡¯s okay to tell the other person far more complicated than it has to be. A lot of people end up resenting love and giving up on it. But¡that one moment where everything comes together, and you¡¯re praying they feel the same and they love you back¡when it finally comes out... nothing compares to it. The small room was filled with long, heavy gasps and pants as Jillian lay on the bed, struggling for air. Jason lay on top of her, his arms loosely wrapped around her body. Their sweat coated bodies pressed together as his dick was nestled deep in the warm embrace of her tunnel. ¡°Jase... I... I...¡± ¡°I love you too,¡± he interrupted, turning to kiss her neck repeatedly. ¡°N-not¡ what I was going to say, but I guess that works,¡± Jillian teased with a soft chuckle, still trying to catch her breath. She then lifted her chin to give him better access to her pale, freckled neck as he nibbled and sucked gently like he was her sexy vampire. Jason eventually lifted his lips from Jillian¡¯s neck and laughed a little as he gazed at her. ¡°Haha, sorry. What were you gonna say?¡± His hair was damp with sweat, a few droplets trickled down his face. She looked back at him, her breaths deep and steady, her arms shifting from around his waist to around his neck. ¡°I was gonna say I¡¯m so friggin¡¯ sore,¡± she revealed, and they shared a small laugh before sharing another deep kiss, their naked bodies pressed close once more. ¡°I do love you though... God, it just feels so good to say it and actually mean it,¡± she confessed, and Jason nodded in agreement. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose this feeling, so¡ maybe we should save it for when we¡¯re together,¡± Jillian suggested. Jason raised an eyebrow at Jillian¡¯s suggestion, giving her a puzzled look. ¡°What do you mean together?¡± he asked, a bit confused. ¡°Like, what if we only said it when we were actually together? You know, face-to-face. So it keeps its special meaning while we are apart. And when we see each other again, it¡¯s this amazing crescendo when we can finally say it again,¡± she explained, her smile tinged with a hint of worry. He just shrugged. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, I can go with it. I do wonder how long you will last, though,¡± he said, leaning in for a kiss, but his lips pressed against her cheek instead as she turned away from him. He pulled back, and looked down at her, his confusion returning. The familiar annoyed expression she wore was probably the one he saw the most in their relationship. They may be a couple now but that didn¡¯t change her stubborn nature. Not that he would want to change it. ¡°What?¡± He asked with a small sigh. ¡±Don¡¯t just go along with everything I say. If something bothers you, tell me. If we¡¯re gonna make this work, we¡¯ve gotta treat it like a team effort. I want this to last, damn it,¡± Jillian said, playfully scolding him. Jason couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes a little. ¡°Since when have I ever just gone along with stuff I didn¡¯t want to do or didn¡¯t like?¡± There was a brief pause as Jillian shot him a pointed look. ¡°Okay, scratch that. Forget I asked,¡± he quickly added, realizing she had plenty of examples to prove him wrong. ¡°Look, babe, I promise it¡¯s totally fine. I¡¯m not really used to saying it anyway, so it works out fine for me if you wanna hold back while we¡¯re apart. I¡¯ll make sure to get all my ¡®I love you¡¯s out before I go.¡± Jason said, trying to ease her worries, and she gave him a strained look in return. ¡°One more thing,¡± she suddenly added. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°How are you still fuckin¡¯ hard?¡± The question made him feel a bit embarrassed, but he just shrugged, ¡°I¡ haven¡¯t cum yet,¡± he admitted almost shyly. Her eyes widened at his confession. ¡°We¡¯ve been at it since we woke up. It¡¯s been over an hour?!¡± She was shocked, and her poor, sore lady bits were already crying out for mercy. ¡°I¡¯ve been slowing down or pulling out whenever I get close. I wanted to keep going.¡± ¡°Good lord, just what kind of beast have I awoken?¡± She tapped his arm, signaling for him to move as he reluctantly withdrew his length from her, making her let out a breath of relief as he rolled over onto his back. ¡°Sorry... I really enjoy¡spending this time with you.¡± Even after all their intimacy, he still found it hard to talk dirty. ¡°I feel the same, but honestly, getting fucked by that thing so frequently feels like someone lit a fire on my crotch,¡± she confessed as she got up from the bed for a moment. Jason was taken aback by Jillian¡¯s confession of how much discomfort she was in. ¡°Oh shit, it¡¯s that bad? I feel awful for not realizing you were hurting so much. My pelvis is sore as well, and my dick feels a little numb, but I didn¡¯t think you were that bad,¡± he said, genuinely sorry. ¡°You should have told me sooner, babe.¡± Jillian turned to him, hands on her hips, looking stunning in her nakedness. Despite the situation, Jason couldn¡¯t help but still admire the curves of her wide hips. ¡°Oh, so you think I¡¯m not pulling my weight in bed, is that it?¡± she suddenly accused him. ¡°What? No, that¡¯s not what I said at all!¡± he started to defend himself, but she cut him off with laughter as she picked up the bottle of lube they¡¯d been using. ¡°I was just teasing, babe. But seriously, that monster of yours has given the ol¡¯ girl quite the workout,¡± Jillian remarked, her hand drifting lightly towards her mound, though she refrained from touching any closer. ¡°Umm, sorry¡?¡± he replied softly, his gaze fixed on her lower half. ¡°Don¡¯t be. That¡¯s why we¡¯re going to switch things up,¡± she said with a grin, squeezing a generous amount of lube onto her hand. ¡°Get up from the bed,¡± she commanded, and he promptly complied, his still rock hard cock bouncing slightly as he moved, eager for action. Jillian grinned at the sight of his excitement, licking her lips playfully. She quickly applied the lube in her hand to the inside of her upper thighs and outer lips gingerly, a mischievous glint in her eye. Jason raised an eyebrow at her actions. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, clearly puzzled. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± she replied with a smirk, gesturing for him to come closer. As she knelt on the edge of the bed, he approached, standing behind her. ¡°Lube your dick up some more,¡± she instructed, her voice low and enticing.¡°I want you to fuck my thighs. Then, finish wherever you like, baby.¡± She turned slightly to gaze at him, using one hand to grab her butt, spreading herself for his viewing pleasure. Seeing him react with the same dumbfounded expression¡as if it were their first time all over again, she couldn¡¯t help but stifle a slight giggle. ¡°Well? I¡¯m waiting,¡± she teased, playfully winking at him. Jason snapped out of his trance and quickly took the bottle of lube, slathering his entire shaft. With a slight adjustment in angle, he guided himself between her tightly clamped thighs. The sensation of his slick cock sliding against her tender skin and the yielding flesh of her thighs was something else. It elicited a ragged moan from Jillian as the top side of his dick ground against her clit with each stroke. She hadn¡¯t really expected that, and she was still a bit raw, but it was just enough stimulation to be a good mix of pain and pleasure. Jason¡¯s hands found purchase on her waist, where the curve of her hips met her ass and made the perfect handle for him. ¡°Oh, fuck, baby!¡± she exclaimed with a gasp, surprised by the intensity of pleasure. Initially, just aiming to get him off, she found herself already in a lazy girl¡¯s version of doggy style, her face buried in the bunched-up comforter and ass stuck up in the air for him. The wet sounds of him slipping in and out came in time with her soft whimpers of pleasure. Jason¡¯s hips eventually pressed up against her plush bottom, with the base of his cock pushed against her thighs, feeling the tip of his penis pressing into her belly button. Pulling back, he started thrusting a bit faster, fucking her thighs as if they were her pussy. It honestly felt amazing. With his hands wrapped around her slender waist, he yanked her back with each thrust. ¡°Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh fuuuuuck!¡± Jillian¡¯s delightfully loud moans filled the room as she reached her first orgasm already. They were both grateful for the hotel room they decided to get in the city last night. There was no need to stifle their voices, and he discovered she was quite vocal in her pleasure when she was allowed to be. She practically screamed the night away during their multiple sessions, but he found it thrilling, knowing just how much she was enjoying it. He was much less vocal but still let her know how much he loved it. Jillian buried her face into the comforter and let out yet another ragged scream of overwhelming pleasure as an after shock wracked her body, excitement overflowing from her pussy. The sweet juices seeped down to lubricate their connection even more. Jason was fast approaching his climax as well. His hips smacked against her now soaked backside rapidly making a clapping noise along with the erotic squelch of their connection. ¡°Oh ba-ay-ay-ay-ay be-e-e-e.¡± her voice stuttered by his hard rapid thrusts as more girl cum escaped her overflowing pussy. ¡°Oh god, I¡¯m gonna..,.¡± He struggled to finish his sentence, gritting his teeth. Thankfully, Jillian was there to finish it for him. ¡°I changed¡ my mind¡ fill me again¡ Jase. Please.. Shoot your cum inside me. Fucking breed me!¡± she begged through ragged gasps, indulging in the fantasy as his thrusts slowed. His movements against her hyper-sensitive clit were too much to bear anymore. She needed him away from it fast. Without complaint, Jason withdrew slowly from between her thighs, angled his tip that was already seeping a bead of pearly white seed, and slipped into her drenched cunt with more ease than ever. Another moan escaped her lips as he split her insides once again. Despite the ache coursing through her sore pussy and her trembling legs, she held on, feeling his firm grip on her waist, pulling her against him as he plunged as deeply into her as she could handle. Her back arched and her scream became a high pitched whine as she still struggled to deal with the pain of his length. Yet she still craved all of him, even if her whole body was trembling in complaint. ¡°I-I¡¯m cumming for you, Jill!¡± Jason roared, gritting his teeth and shutting his eyes tightly, his voice echoing loudly, much to Jillian¡¯s delight. In the next instant, he emptied every last drop of cum he had into her. A shooting headache wracked his brain for a moment from cumming so hard. Edging for so long had made his release pelt her insides with surprising force. Thankfully the overwhelming pleasure nearly drowned out the pain. ¡°I love youuu!¡± she moaned loudly, her legs finally giving out as she collapsed against the bed. Completely spent, Jason fell with her, desperate to stay connected, pressing his chest against her back as they both savored the waves of lingering, intense pleasure. Jillian sucked in a deep breath once more, feeling his comforting weight squishing her into the soft mattress. The warmth of his seed and the fullness of his cock inside her had all of her senses completely overwhelmed. It felt like they were shorting out as her body twitched and spasmed. Jason¡¯s lips started peppering the side of her face as he breathed heavily through his nose. ¡°I fucking love you, Jillian,¡± he whispered into her ear, prompting a slight grin from her. ¡°Mmmm fuck is right,¡± she said between heavy breaths, the two laughing softly as they lay there, connected in a way only lovers could be. ¡°I fucking love you too, Jason,¡± she returned the gesture, feeling impossibly happy and sleepy. Very sleepy. The speakers above buzzed with announcements. The shuffle of luggage and the hum of conversation filled the silence that had settled between Jillian and Jason as they sat on the bench outside the airport terminal. They had spent the day together, squeezing every bit of enjoyment they could out of every last moment possible, at least after they¡¯d had a long nap to recover. With the sun dipping low, the inevitable moment of Jason¡¯s departure drew ever nearer. Side by side, they sat in silence, neither finding the right words to break it. The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of activity, leaving them with hardly a moment to spare, and anything they had left to say was overwhelmed by the sadness of the moment. They strolled hand in hand to the entrance of security after returning the rental car, lost in their own thoughts. Sitting down, words seemed to escape them, the impending separation weighing heavily on their minds. The fact that they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold each other, share kisses, or make love for a long time after this hit them hard. Eventually, the silence became unbearable, prompting them to break it. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. They both turned to speak almost simultaneously, locking eyes for a long moment. Staring at each other for almost a minute they both suddenly burst into laughter, drawing curious looks from passersby who probably figured they were crazy. But they were in their own world now, unfazed by those around them. Their hands found each other naturally, fingers intertwining, both squeezing the other¡¯s. Jason smiled at her and leaned in, Jillian meeting him halfway, their lips pressing together once again. The couple shared a deep kiss, a scene not uncommon in airports. Farewells often involved such displays of affection. Yet, what began as a simple kiss soon evolved into something much more. Jillian found herself in Jason¡¯s lap, her hands leaving his to wrap her arms around his neck. She leaned right back into it and their kiss grew increasingly passionate, bordering on inappropriate for the public setting they were in. Loud smacking noises echoed between them as their tongues danced inside of their mouths, throwing away the kissing lesson Jillian had taught him to avoid - being noisy. They drew more attention from passersby. Reactions varied from disgust, surprise, and some simply couldn¡¯t help but stare as the couple remained lost in their own little world. When their lips parted, Jillian took in a deep breath and leaned her forehead against Jason¡¯s, keeping her eyes shut. ¡°I¡¯m gonna miss you so much, Jason... more than I should,¡± she murmured softly, prompting a light chuckle from him. ¡°Haha, what does that mean?¡± Jason inquired, his nose brushing against hers affectionately. Jillian scoffed and opened her eyes to meet his gaze as she pouted slightly. ¡°Because you¡¯re just some jerk I met two weeks ago, who then had the nerve to call me a whore and tell me to go purge my dinner,¡± she retorted, causing Jason¡¯s eyes to widen in surprise at the memory she brought up. ¡°Wait, what? Why are you bringing that up again now?¡± Jason asked, puzzled and a tad apprehensive. ¡°Because I¡¯m going to bring up every moment where you were a jerk. So you can think long and hard about what you¡¯ve done,¡± Jillian said, sounding like a stuck up brat. He just stared at her, not exactly sure what to say. ¡°Remember the next morning? You slammed into me and made me almost break my assbone?¡± she added with a smirk. ¡°It was an accident, and it wasn¡¯t when I ran into you. That was when you tried to push me and fell on your butt,¡± Jason chimed in, attempting to defend himself. But Jillian was far from finished. ¡°Then there was the whole, ¡®Oh, let¡¯s avoid each other because I¡¯m an insecure jerk thing¡¯,¡± she continued. ¡°We fought literally every time we crossed paths before that!¡± he shot back as the back-and-forth banter between them continued. ¡°Then there was the time you dragged me out for a jog, and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes,¡± Jillian remarked with a touch of seriousness that bordered on melodrama. ¡°You weren¡¯t anywhere close to dying, and you know it¡¯s good for you to get out for a little exercise. You should keep it up while I¡¯m away,¡± Jason replied sharply. ¡°Yeah, sure, I will totally do that,¡± Jillian replied sarcastically, her eyes rolling hard. ¡°And then you hurt my hand with your stupid stomach.¡± ¡°You punched me, and somehow I¡¯m the bad guy here? Where¡¯s the logic in that?¡± Jason shook his head, feeling another playful punch to his stomach, albeit gentler this time. ¡°I guess life¡¯s just not fair,¡± Jillian quipped, with a hint of a smile. ¡°What you did to poor Ann back in high school was just awful, too. I mean, seriously, who tells a girl ¡®no thank you¡¯ when she asks them out? I can¡¯t even imagine how devastated she must have felt. Yeah, I bullied her, and I regret that a ton, but at least I didn¡¯t string her along with false hope,¡± Jillian added. ¡°I didn¡¯t intentionally lead her on, but I understand I should¡¯ve been more careful with my choice of words and let her down easier. But come on, is it really that cruel to be straightforward?¡± Jason countered as she playfully slapped his arm. ¡°It totally is!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I also wish you didn¡¯t react so strongly when I asked about your first time. But I get it, it¡¯s a touchy subject. I was just trying to be supportive, you know?¡± Jillian leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek, toning it down a bit with this memory. ¡°Yeah... I wish it was easier to talk about. I¡¯m still working on it,¡± he murmured, still a little touchy on the whole thing. ¡°Awww, baby.¡± Jillian cooed softly, feeling sentimental, thinking about how anyone could do something so cruel. Unable to help herself, she leaned in and kissed him again, their tongues meeting once more. She let out a soft moan as she started to lose herself in the kiss. That was until she finally remembered what she was doing. Suddenly, Jillian pulled away from him and slapped him across the face, causing a louder smack than she was expecting. Jason¡¯s eyes went wide in shock as he stared at her, completely caught off guard. ¡°Oh shit, I¡¯m so sorry, babe! I honestly didn¡¯t mean to hit you that hard!¡± she said in a panic, genuinely apologetic. Her hands reached up to gently stroke the cheek she slapped. Jason just let out a hearty laugh. ¡°It¡¯s all good, it didn¡¯t hurt that much. Just caught me off guard. It was actually kind of hot,¡± he replied with a grin, his hands sliding down to give her butt a firm squeeze. She gave him a small scowl at this. ¡°Ugh, now I have to try and get back into my angry mode again. Thanks a lot,¡± Jillian huffed, though Jason could detect the fondness in her gaze as she kept up their little game. ¡°Sorry, baby. Please keep going,¡± he said, laying on the sweetness, rubbing her butt slightly, which only earned him another pointed glare. ¡°Maybe I will be used to you being gone. I mean, after all, you did abandon me for three whole days that we could¡¯ve been spending time together,¡± she teased, attempting to make the memory of their brief hiatus before unexpectedly bumping into each other at the store seem as bad as possible. ¡°I missed you,¡± he admitted softly, causing her cheeks to flush. ¡°S-shut up, jerk,¡± Jillian shot back clearly trying her hardest not to kiss him again as she bit her lip. She cleared her throat before continuing. ¡°Ahem, anyway. What about when you thought it¡¯d be a good idea to keep bumping into me repeatedly? Seriously, what the hell was that all about?¡± Jillian folded her arms, giving her man a skeptical glance. ¡°Oh, that. Right, haha! I almost forgot about that. It was Marco¡¯s idea, actually. He thought if I bumped into you by accident a bunch of times, it would, uh, drive you wild?¡± Jason still couldn¡¯t quite grasp the logic behind it. ¡°That has to be the dumbest advice I¡¯ve ever heard,¡± she said, shaking her head with a sigh. ¡°Speaking of Marco... if he keeps using you as some kind of lure for his pick up tactics, he and I are gonna have some words,¡± Jillian said, her expression a mix of irritation and genuine concern. She couldn¡¯t stand seeing Jason get exploited any more than he already had been. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll stop hanging out with him, but I¡¯ll definitely talk to him about it,¡± Jason reassured her, his hands gently tracing up and down her back, scratching softly. Jillian let out a soft purr, leaning into his touch. ¡°Mmmm, alright. Fine. Just don¡¯t forget who you belong to, mister,¡± she teased, smiling and almost leaning in for a kiss before catching herself. This was getting harder by the second. ¡°And then you bring Lina into the mix, and everything goes haywire. You had me play the role of your girlfriend, doing all sorts of crazy stuff right in front of her,¡± Jillian said, arms folded across her chest as she shot him a glare. ¡°What?! Okay, fine. I did sort of suggest you play along as my girlfriend. But I never told you to go that far in front of her! You were the one that started kissing me and got on my lap,¡± Jason retorted, but Jillian was prepared for his comeback. ¡°Oh, so you didn¡¯t appreciate it when I went the extra mile for you. I get it now. My body isn¡¯t good enough for your impossible standards,¡± she quipped, making him roll his eyes hard. If anything, the last few days were more than enough to prove how much he loved her and her body. ¡°Then you pretty much break things off shortly after because you¡¯re worried about the whole long-distance thing. Cause you¡¯re only into me for my body,¡± Jillian winked playfully as Jason stared at her, utterly baffled. Her words were becoming increasingly erratic as she rambled on, basically contradicting herself with every sentence. Jason couldn¡¯t help but facepalm at this. ¡°So, let me get this straight. First, you claim that I think your body isn¡¯t good enough. But then you accuse me of only being attracted to you for your body? Which friggin¡¯ one is it?¡± He rubbed his eyes wearily as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s both. Now shut up and let me finish. What else was there...?¡± She paused, pondering for a moment. ¡°How about when you got all jealous because I was focused on June?¡± She asked curiously. Jason did actually feel kinda bad about this one. It was the first time he really felt the sensation of actual jealousy. He looked away with a small frown. ¡°I¡¯m not proud of that moment.¡± Jillian frowned at him. He wasn¡¯t supposed to feel bad, and she needed to change the subject quickly. ¡°Then you flipped out over your mom dating¡ Chris, right?" Struggling to remember his name for a moment. "I mean, come on. He¡¯s a doctor! You should¡¯ve been ecstatic that she found a nice guy who can take care of her. But no, you were all in a tizzy about it.¡± Jason¡¯s shift in mood and reaction was almost immediate, crossing his arms and looking away. ¡°Yeah, well, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s all bent out of shape about June and Kyle.¡± ¡°Hey, this isn¡¯t about me,¡± Jillian snapped back, more than a hint of frustration in her voice. She always made terrible decisions when that topic was brought up. This time wasn¡¯t really an exception either. ¡°You also pushed me into talking about why I can¡¯t have kids, jerk.¡± Jason decided to simply stay quiet on this one, feeling genuinely sorry for her. ¡°Alright, moving on... You then, um, you, you uh...¡± When Jason glanced back, he understood why Jillian was suddenly struggling to speak. ¡°Y-you came to Mika¡¯s and made me yours¡Now you¡¯re...Sniff¡ L-leaving,¡± Jillian sniffled, struggling to maintain her composure. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. ¡°Not just leaving¡but early,¡± she took a long, shaky breath, a tear escaping down her cheek. Jason frowned, his heart sinking as he reached out, but she halted his hand, grabbing it with both of hers. ¡°I won¡¯t get to... kiss your jerk face...¡± her voice wavered, mixed with soft whimpers. Watching her, Jason felt a pang of sadness grip his chest. ¡°I won¡¯t get to fall asleep next to you every night... My bed will be so empty and cold. It¡¯ll be... sniff... so great not having a warm jerk like you hogging the space. Who needs a big, dumb, caring man like you around to make me feel safe anyway? Someone to chase away all the bad memories and hold me tight when I¡¯m feeling scared or alone.¡± Tears finally started streaming down her cheeks, unabated as she leaned into him, burying her face in his chest. She clung to his shirt, gripping it tight as her body was wracked with sobs. No matter how many bad memories she brought up. They couldn''t keep her from the overwhelming sadness of him leaving away. ¡°Fuck you, Jason. Fuck you for making me feel all of this.¡± Her words were muffled against his chest amidst her tears. Jason enveloped her in his warm embrace, whispering softly into her ear, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jill... One day, we¡¯ll never have to say goodbye like this again. You¡¯ll always be by my side. In my bed, safe and sound, where I can protect you and keep you from feeling lonely ever again.¡± He caressed her back, planting a tender kiss on top of her head, his own eyes struggling to hold back tears. The last thing he wanted was to leave her; He yearned for her to always be by his side. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was just the new relationship talking, but he couldn¡¯t deny his feelings. ¡°I wanna have a million more arguments with you. I wanna bicker about the simplest things and about nothing at all. As long as it¡¯s with you.¡± Holding her tight still, she sniffed loudly, turning her head for some air. ¡°I love you, you jerk,¡± she sobbed out, her eyes leaking profusely onto his shirt. ¡°I love you too, you brat,¡± Jason said, feeling the first tear escape down his face. He did his best to hide it by pulling her up a bit more and burying his face in her hair. The two sat there for a long while until an alarm went off on Jason¡¯s phone. There were only thirty minutes until his flight arrived, and he was already pushing his luck, but he didn¡¯t care. ¡°You have to go¡¡± Jillian murmured quietly, almost as if she didn¡¯t want her words to reach him. ¡°Yeah... I know,¡± he whispered back, equally subdued. They both took deep breaths, trying to steady their emotions before even budging. Any tears had either evaporated or been wiped away. Only faintly reddened eyes remained as Jillian stood up from his lap. Jason did the same, standing from the bench and grabbing his suitcase and laptop bag, which held the computer that hadn¡¯t been used once on this trip. ¡°You¡¯ll call me when you land, right?¡± Her voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°Mhmm, of course,¡± he reassured her, trying to muster a smile. He gently lifted her chin, meeting her tearful eyes. ¡°And when you get home?¡± She continued mumbling. ¡°Yep,¡± he replied softly. ¡°And when you wake up, about to go to bed, or whenever you miss me?¡± she continued. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± he affirmed. ¡°And I can text you anytime¡ Maybe send some naughty pics. And you¡¯ll send some back when I¡¯m feeling horny since you won''t be around to fix it?¡± Her teasing made him chuckle a bit. ¡°That¡¯s right, you can text me anytime. But the pictures might take a bit if I¡¯m at work,¡± Jason said, his smile growing a little at this. ¡°And you¡¯ll still love me even though we promised not to say it while we¡¯re apart?¡± Jillian¡¯s needy side was revealing itself in full in these final moments. In response, Jason simply nodded, then leaned down to plant a deep kiss on her lips. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pouring every ounce of passion and love he had into this final kiss, pulling her tight against him. Jillian returned the kiss as best she could, her arms tight around his neck as renewed tears started to flow down her cheeks once more. After their lingering kiss ended and they separated slightly, Jason gently brushed away the remaining tears on her cheeks. ¡°Take care of yourself... I love you,¡± he murmured, planting a final kiss on her forehead before straightening up. Jillian, holding onto him weakly, echoed the sentiment. ¡°I love you.¡± As they finally parted, Jason reluctantly began to walk away, maintaining eye contact with her for as long as possible. Even as he passed through a pair of reflective automatic doors, he stole one last glance back at her, though she couldn¡¯t see him anymore. With a sigh, he tore his gaze away and headed towards security, picking up his pace to make his way to his terminal on time. Jillian found herself lost in her reflection while the hustle and bustle of people passed by. She couldn¡¯t quite say how much time slipped away at that moment. Eventually, she managed to turn and walk out of the airport, where she eventually spotted her family¡¯s van waiting for her. As she walked up to it, Ginny quickly got out of the van and approached her, wrapping her arms around her obviously distraught daughter in a comforting squeeze. Jillian¡¯s arm¡¯s hung limp at her side as she was embraced.. ¡°Everything will work out, Jillybean. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll see him sooner than you think. Let¡¯s head home, baby.¡± With a silent nod, the two made their way to the family van parked nearby. Jillian slid into the front passenger seat of the van, with Calvin babbling away in the back. Her mother settled into the driver¡¯s seat, clicking her seatbelt into place. The radio was tuned to a classic rock station, but it was all white noise to Jillian. Instead, her mind was fixed on the departing planes, carrying people away, including the man who once hated her with his entire being. It was amazing how just two short weeks had transformed everything. From anger and hate to declarations of love and tearful goodbyes¡ªlife had certainly taken an unexpected turn. ¡°I guess Love and Hate aren¡¯t that far apart,¡± Jillian mused, her smile gentle as she gazed up at the sky. Wondering what fate might bring the next time they cross paths once more. End of Book 1 Book 1: Epilogue ¡°Alright, homie, you¡¯ve been ducking me for the last few weeks. You promised to explain, so fuckin¡¯ spill it already, gringo,¡± Marco exclaimed, his voice rising over the thumping Latin music from the nearby beach club. His dark blue suit jacket hung open over his bright white dress shirt as he pounded on the table, demanding a response. Jason just smirked, sipping his whiskey sour, taking his sweet time with it. He set his drink down as he rolled up the sleeves of his silky black button-up that was tucked into the waistband of his jeans. He joined Marco, sitting down at the rare free table they managed to snatch. It had been just over two weeks since he¡¯d come back home to Florida, leaving his mom and new girlfriend back in his hometown. He¡¯d been so busy catching up with work and getting back into his training regime that he barely had a moment to breathe while trying to keep up with Jillian¡¯s frequent calls and texts. However, she had been a little quiet the last few days. ¡°Chill, man. Can both ass cheeks hit the seat before you start interrogating me?¡± he quipped, as they both laughed a bit. After the laughter died down, Marco nudged his friend gently. ¡°I¡¯m done being patient. You refuse to tell me anything at work, and dude, seriously, every time I catch you with that goofy grin while looking at your phone, it gives me the goddamn creeps. If I weren¡¯t worried you¡¯d catch me and grind my bones to make your bread, I¡¯d swipe that thing and do some snooping myself.¡± Jason chuckled and sipped his drink, his grin widening. ¡°I wasn¡¯t quite ready to say anything yet. And I know you¡¯re a fuckin¡¯ loudmouth when you hear something juicy for the first time,¡± he shot back, setting his glass down and reaching for his phone. ¡°You used to be the guy that no one wanted to be around cause you never left work mode. I could barely get you to relax when we would go out. Then you take a vacation for once and come back as someone I don¡¯t even recognize¡ I swear if you start ignoring me for that phone, I¡¯m gonna make you pay,¡± Marco said, sounding a bit fed up as Jason started staring at his phone. ¡°Sorry, man. I''m just a little worried. Haven¡¯t heard from her all day after she said good morning, and she has been kind of quiet,¡± Jason sighed, trying to explain. Marco let out a long, frustrated groan. ¡°Annnnnnnnd?¡± He was tired of vague responses or none at all. Jason glanced back at his friend, lifting a hand and scratching the back of his head. His friend gave him a hard glare at the indecision on Jason¡¯s face. ¡°Alright, alright, fine... I uhh, she is¡¡± He hesitated, then flashed a shy smile, unable to contain it. ¡°What are you, a seventeen year old girl? Just fuckin¡¯ spit it out, dude!¡± Marco¡¯s fist thudded on the table, just enough to make the drinks rattle. Jason let out a groan. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ve got a girlfriend, alright? Her name is Jillian. Are you happy now, dick?¡± he said, a hint of annoyance in his tone. Marco held his friend¡¯s gaze for a long while. ¡°Not at all! What¡¯s there to be happy about?¡± he blurted out, leaving Jason looking a bit taken aback. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not?¡± he asked tentatively, but Marco just groaned in response. ¡°Why would I be thrilled that my best friend got himself a ball and chain? Weekends like this are basically gonna be a thing of the past before you know it. She¡¯ll start wanting you to spend every one with her. And then, bam, she¡¯ll want you to ditch me altogether. It¡¯s what they do, y¡¯know? They slowly start to strangle your social life until it revolves solely around them. Girlfriends are like vampires when it comes to that shit,¡± Marco grumbled, his expression souring with a scowl. Jason¡¯s mouth gaped slightly, a little stunned by the sudden rant. ¡°Wait, what? Then why were you giving me all that advice over the phone?¡± Jason queried, very perplexed. Marco let out another groan, his voice full of exasperation. ¡°Dude, I wasn¡¯t trying to get you a fuckin¡¯ girlfriend. I just wanted to get you laid! It¡¯s not every day I hear my boy even mention a woman, so I thought. Maybe if I get your balls drained, you will stop being so angry all the time. But I guess it was too effective.¡± Jason¡¯s expression shifted to a silent acknowledgment of understanding, also trying to hold back a laugh at his friend¡¯s confidence that the advice was what had done it. ¡°I see, I see,¡± he replied with a chuckle. ¡°I mean, I definitely got some¡ well, more like a lot once that seal was broken. But she¡¯s still out in Colorado, so unless she is visiting, I don¡¯t see our weekends going anywhere.¡± He took another sip of his drink. This information slowly sunk in, and suddenly, it clicked for Marco. ¡°Hold up... Colorado... girlfriend¡Jillian¡¡± he murmured as if the pieces of a puzzle were finally falling into place in his mind. ¡°Easy there. Don¡¯t hurt yourself, Einstein,¡± Jason teased with a grin. ¡°So, that girl you were seeking advice about? She is officially your girlfriend now?¡± Marco clarified before asking a continuous stream of questions. ¡°Yup,¡± Jason replied casually to them all. ¡°While you were on vacation?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°The same one who made your high school days feel like a marathon of misery?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°You two fought like crazy while you were there, right?¡± ¡°Sorta.¡± ¡°And you said that she was freaking about some other guy in her sleep?¡± ¡°¡Yes.¡± Jason desperately wanted to explain, but he didn¡¯t want to say anything too much. There was a moment of silence that hung in the air, the music still thumping in the background. ¡°Well...my friend, have you ever heard the saying, ¡®Don¡¯t stick your dick in crazy¡¯?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°And you still fucked her and made her your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°¡She a freak?¡± Jason burst into laughter, Inhaling his whiskey mid-sip. ¡°Haha! Seriously, what the fuck, man?¡± He laughed heartily with a cough, pounding his chest. ¡°What?! It¡¯s like a rule of nature or something. The psycho ones are always the best in bed. They¡¯ve got to compensate somehow,¡± Marco remarked casually, shrugging. ¡°I¡¯m not saying there¡¯s anything wrong. I¡¯m just stating the facts.¡± Jason shook his head in amusement. ¡° Well, first off, calling my girl a psycho isn¡¯t a smart thing to do if you like your teeth arranged how they are. And she¡¯s not crazy, just a brat. But she more than makes up for it. She¡¯s sweet and caring, smart, and has a butt that doesn¡¯t belong on someone her size,¡± he said, trailing off as if lost in the memories playing in his mind. ¡°I¡I actually miss her a ton.¡± He said, letting out a heavy sigh He stared down at his drink for a long moment, lost in thought. Marco watched his friend get lost in his own melancholy before deciding to change the subject. ¡°You came back early, right? I wasn¡¯t expecting you at work that Friday. What¡¯s the story with that, anyway?¡± The mention of being forced to leave early brought a harsh scowl to Jason¡¯s face. The image of Jill¡¯s tearful expression haunted him. ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started, man. It¡¯s all thanks to that dick face, Vince. I swear when I found out why he dragged me home early from vacation...¡± He had to stop. His eye twitched in anger just thinking about it. ¡°Damn, what did Bitch Boy do this time?¡± Marco asked, taking a swig of his beer, curiosity piqued. Jason was fuming as he recounted how Vince had him rush home from the first vacation he¡¯d ever taken just to set up his surround sound at his house for his upcoming party. It was a stupidly simple task for anyone with a brain. Plug in a few things, check the wireless connections, and move the speakers in place. It was done in about an hour. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I swear, I was this fucking close to popping him in the mouth the next time I saw him. He doesn''t know how lucky he is I don''t fuck up his life. I have seen so much shady shit on his laptop that would get his ass thrown in jail,¡± Jason muttered through clenched teeth. Marco¡¯s eyes widened at his friend¡¯s revelation. ¡°So why not do something about it?¡± he asked. Jason let out a heavy sigh and took a long drink of his whiskey sour. ¡°Because I know that if I did, the most I could achieve is getting him booted from the company, maybe sentence him to some jail time if his lawyers don¡¯t get him off. Then, while he¡¯s on bond or something, he¡¯d just use his daddy¡¯s cash to make my entire life around me a living hell. If it was just me I had to worry about, maybe, but there is no way I¡¯m risking my mom and Jill.¡± The two sat in silence, wearing matching frowns as they mulled over the situation. The silence was broken as Marco chimed in. Another change of subject was the only thing he could do. ¡°So, about this Chica you¡¯ve got.¡± Jason''s head shot up quickly to look at his friend, swiftly cutting him off. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t call her that, dude. I can¡¯t say much, but just don¡¯t.¡± There was a seriousness in Jason¡¯s expression that halted Marco in his tracks, prompting only a slight nod from him. ¡°Alright sure... Well, with all the bad blood you and her had, I am pretty surprised you didn¡¯t just hate fuck her but made her your woman,¡± Marco said, taking another pull from his bottle of beer. Jason nodded subtly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you why, but after spending just a little time together¡¡± He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. Looking down slightly, he wrapped both hands around his drink. It was hard to admit just how quick and easy it was to fall in love with Jill. Marco let out a long sigh, leaning back in his seat and draped one arm over the back of his chair. ¡°Man, who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d go all soft for a woman like that? And the one that¡¯s the reason you had problems with them in the first place,¡± he said, finishing his beer with one last swig. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know. I didn¡¯t see it coming either. It just sorta happened. One moment I¡¯m minding my own business, the next I¡¯m at the bottom of the stairs staring up at her big, soft, plump...¡± His voice trailed off as his eyes glazed over, and he drifted into space. Observing the expression in his friend¡¯s eyes, Marco felt an overwhelming curiosity bubbling up. ¡°Alright, homie, come on, let''s see it. You gotta show me a pic,¡± he demanded casually. Jason¡¯s distant gaze snapped back to reality at the request, his eyes narrowing as he gave Marco a scrutinizing look. ¡°¡A pic of what?¡± A flame of jealous rage tinged his voice. Marco couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t play dumb. A picture of her, dude.¡± Jason wasn¡¯t really catching that real request his friend was asking for. He briefly glanced down at his phone before confirming, ¡°Errrrm, fine, just gimme a sec,¡± he muttered, not exactly thrilled about sharing a picture of his woman, his selfish side coming out of hiding. Jason took a deep breath, giving his friend a serious look. ¡°Listen up. I¡¯m telling you this because you¡¯re my closest friend, and I trust you. But keep this shit close to the chest, got it? I don¡¯t need the Monday morning office gossip hens knocking my office door down.¡± He said it with all the gravity he could muster. Marco just rolled his eyes, nodding eagerly, making a grabbing motion with his hand as he anticipated the promised juicy picture. ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let''s see it already,¡± he said with a grin. When Jason finally turned his phone and revealed the photo on his phone, Marco¡¯s smirk vanished instantly. ¡°What the fuck is this? Some Canela smooching your cheek? Where¡¯s the culo?¡± Marco protested, his voice rising in disbelief. ¡°What? You wanted a pic of her, so here it is. What were you expecting?¡± Jason¡¯s confusion was palpable. Marco couldn¡¯t help but facepalm and groan audibly. ¡°One of her ass! I¡¯m not asking for a nude, just...¡± ¡°Yeah, no. Not gonna happen,¡± Jason cut in, a hint of annoyance in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for it. She¡¯s your girlfriend, so she¡¯s a dead fish to me already. I just wanna see what¡¯s got my best friend swooning like he¡¯s crushing on the high school quarterback,¡± Marco retorted, and Jason rolled his eyes. ¡°Oh, fuck you, man.¡± Jason grumbled as he scrolled through his phone, holding it close as he searched for a picture that captured the junk in her trunk. He needed one that didn¡¯t show off too much, something he could actually share with Marco. There were several that were very much for his eyes only, and he could feel himself grow aroused as he scrolled through them. His jeans shifted as he crossed his legs. Fuck he missed sex. Going from multiple times a day to nothing was rough. Eventually, he settled on a photo from their second mini golf outing. She was concentrating on her shot, bent over slightly. The leggings she wore did an amazing job accentuating her curves. The fabric clinging to her bubbly butt. He had no idea this would be so hard, but he sucked it up and tapped the picture and turned the phone again to show his friend. Marco scrutinized the picture, his eyes narrowing as they focused on her slender upper body, which bordered on being unappealingly thin. But as his gaze moved to her waist, it was as if she transformed into a completely different person, albeit still believable. He had tried to get Jason with many posterior gifted ladies. Many were bigger than this, but none had such a dramatic change between their asses and the rest of their body as this. ¡°El culo del diablo,¡± he whispered, performing the catholic cross on himself as he stared. Jason hastily pulled his phone back. ¡°Satisfied?¡± he grumbled. Marco glanced back at his friend in mild shock. ¡°May God have mercy on your penis, my friend.¡± This brought back a small smile to Jason¡¯s face. He was about to say something else, but his phone suddenly started buzzing. A picture of Jillian¡¯s face, hands up in her hair, casting a sultry gaze at the camera while biting her lower lip, popped up on his screen. ¡°Oh, speak of the devil!¡± He tried to sound casual but couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. ¡°Just a sec, dude. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± He might have ignored the call if he had heard from her earlier in the day. Despite his affection for her, spending time with his best friend was still important to him. He didn¡¯t want what Marco was talking about earlier to actually come true. He took his phone and casually rose from the table, strolling a few feet away. ¡°Hey, babe, there you are. Been wondering where you¡¯ve been all day. What¡¯s up?¡± A grin played on his lips as he spoke. ¡°Hey, yeah. It¡¯s been one heck of a day over here. Sorry if it¡¯s a little late for you? I always forget you¡¯re two hours ahead. I can hear music. Am I interrupting anything?¡± Jillian¡¯s voice had a bit of uncertainty. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s all good. Just out grabbing a few drinks, catching up with Marco,¡± he reassured her, pacing a bit as he chatted on the phone. ¡°Marco, huh?¡± As Jillian¡¯s uncertainty escalated into suspicion, Jason chuckled. ¡°Relax, babe, it¡¯s just a guys¡¯ night. We aren¡¯t going to any clubs. I was actually planning to bring it up with him tonight, actually,¡± he said, attempting to reassure her. ¡°Mmhmm, well, never mind that. Do you have a moment to talk? I can call back later or tomorrow if you¡¯re too busy,¡± she offered, almost as if she hoped he¡¯d take her up on it, but he completely missed the cue. ¡°Nah, it¡¯s all good. I haven¡¯t heard from you all day, so I can spare a bit. What¡¯s on your mind?¡± he said, glancing over at Marco, who was now engrossed in conversation with a busty waitress. There was a little pause before Jillian spoke in again. ¡°Oh, you know, I just wanted to hear your voice mostly. Today¡¯s been a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least, haha,¡± she added, though her laughter sounded forced. Jason couldn¡¯t help but pick up on the change in her tone. It was at this point that he noticed she wasn¡¯t really using any pet names or terms of endearment either. ¡°Is everything alright, babe? What¡¯s been going on today?¡± he inquired, growing more concerned by the second. ¡°Yeah¡sort of...I mean, it¡¯s a bit of a mixed bag full of ups and downs. I had a regular check-up with the doctor the other day,¡± she explained, though it didn¡¯t do anything to ease his worries. ¡°Oh, how¡¯d it go?¡± Jason asked, pausing his pacing as he held the phone to his ear. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve packed on another five pounds since last time,¡± Jillian said, with a touch of cheer in her voice, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, hun. You¡¯re kicking this thing¡¯s butt. I¡¯m really proud of you,¡± he said, doing his best to encourage her on her journey back to a healthy weight. ¡°Thanks...¡± Her short answer was not helpful and, of course, only made him more worried. ¡°Jill? What¡¯s wrong? Did they say something else? Honestly, you¡¯re really starting to worry me. I don¡¯t like being kept in the dark, you know that,¡± Jason said, his patience wearing thin from her fluctuating moods over the phone. Not being able to gauge her expressions or body language made it hard to understand what was going on. ¡°Alright... but... I need you to promise me something,¡± Jillian said, her voice trembling as if she were on the brink of tears. ¡°Anything, babe,¡± he assured her, confident in his tone. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t get mad?¡± she whispered timidly. That phrase really rubbed him the wrong way. Horrible thoughts swirled in his mind, wondering if she was slipping back into her eating disorder and lying about her progress with her weight. Or maybe¡ she cheated on him. ¡°Whatever it is, we can talk about it without letting anger get the best of us. I promise... no anger,¡± Jason reassured her, hoping that he could keep his promise. The sound of her taking a deep breath came over the phone. ¡°Thank you, Jason. I know we said we wouldn¡¯t say it until we saw each other again, but I really, really need to hear it from you now,¡± she confessed, her voice already choked with tears. Jason didn¡¯t need any hints to know what Jillian needed to hear. ¡°Of course, hun. I love you, babe.¡± She sniffled, trying to steady her breathing. ¡°I love you too¡Thank you, I feel better...¡± ¡°Now tell me what¡¯s wrong. I can¡¯t help unless I know.¡± There was a quiet moment as he waited for her to collect herself. He didn¡¯t want to pressure her, sensing she was trying to stay calm. ¡°I¡¯ve been panicking about this all day, debating whether to tell you or not. But my mom pushed me to tell you. And¡ you of all people deserve to know more than anyone... sniff.¡± It was obvious that she was crying at this point. ¡°I¡¯m just so scared, Jase... I wish you were here. That''s all I want right now.¡± Her teary words made his jaw clench with painful force. Trying to keep his heart and mind open, he braced for whatever she was about to say. ¡°Jill...¡± he murmured before she finally shared what was weighing so heavily on her mind. ¡°Jason¡I¡¯m pregnant.¡± The Art Of Two Weeks Between Love and Hate! I hit 100 followers! Thank you everyone!!!!! Sorry if you were expecting the start of book two, I am working on it, while also working on my entry for this year''s writathon. Instead this is a chapter full of all the art that was commissioned for the story during the release of book 1. There are also a lot of pieces that haven''t been posted on the chapters so there is new stuff for you as well! I hope you all enjoy and are eagerly awaiting the second book! Jason and Jill couples art! Of course, I have to start with the amazing cover. Jason Art! Jillian Art! June art! (This one is an AI gen that came out really well that I would like to share. I will always prefer real artists, but a little ai art isn''t too bad) Mika art! If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Katia Art! Ginny art! The rest are mixes of characters or characters that don''t have enough for a dedicated mention! But are no less important! Kyle Young Frank and Young Katia Two versions of Kyle, which do you prefer! Another two versions. Just between you and me, glasses June is my favorite <3 Marco Sneak peek at some Comic commissions that will be finished someday.... Hopefully. ( of course as soon as I post this I get an update on one of the comics! God I love this so much! Last but not least the NSFW ART! Yeah no lol, PM if you are 18+ and wish to see that album! If you want the artists for any of these, please send me a message, and I will get them to you as soon as possible. Just listing them all here was going to be a nightmare!