Chapter 55 — No Hard Feelings

"Eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"Why not?"

"I dunno..." Jessi tried to keep a straight face while her gaze focused on her phone screen, waiting for a new message. Or a call. She just texted her parents to remind them of her flight details.

The arrival time in Minnesota might change a little, but they should be there at the airport around midnight to pick her up, like her dad had promised yesterday.

"I'm just not."

"You're not feeling well?" Jenson asked.

"No. I'm fine," she said calmly, hoping he would buy her lie. Physically, she felt fine. Just sore. No surprise there. Especially after his ridiculously impressive performance last night. But her mental state? An entirely different story.

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

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

She'd decided to cook for him just so he would leave without a fuss and without feeling the need to ask her out to have brunch somewhere. She just didn't have it in her to spend another hour alone with him. As if they were just another couple on a date.

"Have a few bites at least."

"I'll eat later," she sighed. Even after a long night and with messy hair, he still looked gorgeous. Just manly and attractive in every way. But still approachable and comfortable to be around. Well, for the most part.

It was painfully unfair that his mere presence just kept giving her more reasons to never forget about this weekend. It should be a crime that he had this much effect on her.

Or maybe...she was just so in love with him already. Ugh. Stupid, gullible heart.

"Fine." Jenson suddenly got up from his seat to start cleaning the table. "Let's just grab lunch somewhere later, then dinner before I drive you to the airport."

"No." She made a face and dropped her phone on the table.

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

"You don't have to."

"I will. Just get over it." He stood by the sink now, already washing his plate. "You goin' somewhere? Why're you dressed up?"

"Just need to buy something."

"Where?" he asked after turning off the faucet. He tidied up the sink in just seconds.

"Just, uh, at a store. It's nearby," she murmured while trying to sound casual, "I'll be quick." She'd rather walk alone to the drugstore than have him accompany her all the way there so she could get the emergency pills.

"Gimme a minute. I'll get dressed now."

"No. I'll—"

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

"Buy me what?" Jessi scowled.

He chuckled. "Patience, my love."

"My love"? Her breathing paused when his warm hands held her cheeks and tilted her head up. Her back stiffened. She closed her eyes, thinking of prying his hands off of her face.

What on earth was he doing?

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

× 11:02AM ×

"What?" She squinted at him before they could step back inside his truck.

The drugstore and the parking lot were almost empty, but they were still wearing masks. When he didn't say anything, she got in the front passenger seat and waited for him to turn on the engine.

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

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

His total silence now said enough about his current mood. He hadn't said anything since they left the counter after the pharmacist explained the dosage and side effects in detail. Almost like...Jenson was unpleasantly surprised that she bought the pills.

The thought made it difficult for her not to frown while she buckled up and waited for him to start driving.

What did he expect? Was he that drunk last night that he completely forgot they had unprotected sex? And more than twice? He didn't seem that inebriated the previous night, though.

Still, it was a huge mistake that shouldn't have happened. He should just understand her concerns on the matter, without her having to intricately explain her choice of a contingency plan.

While she stayed in the passenger seat with the crumpled paper bag on her lap, he sat in silence behind the wheel and tossed his face mask onto the dashboard. Then he asked her a question she didn't quite expect to hear. "What's your exact address? In Rosenville?"

The surprise almost choked her up. Jessi looked away, internally swearing at herself. "Why?"

"I just wanna know."

Darn. Would he actually pay her a visit in her hometown? What for?

She'd already promised him she would keep in touch. It was kind of a lie, but he didn't need to know that. He also shouldn't know exactly where her parents lived. It just wasn't necessary.

While her breaths grew short and unsteady, Jessi kept looking out his tinted window as she distractedly massaged her forehead, her heartbeat almost going a thousand miles per hour now. Her palms, armpits, and nape were actually starting to sweat.

He just sounded so...determined. As though he wasn't letting her leave California without telling him exactly where he could find her afterwards. "We're not goin' anywhere till you tell me."

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

"Where in Rosenville?"

"I'll text you the address later."

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

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

Then he broke off their staring game and glanced out his window after shaking his head faintly, looking discouraged and disappointed.

"What'd I do now?" She took off her mask and didn't bother to hold back a sigh. "Why're you pissed again?"

"You know why," he murmured.

"No. I don't."

He turned on the engine, then drove out of the parking lot without saying anything else, leaving her questions unanswered.

They drove back to her place in total silence, the awkwardness and unbearable tension just making her break into a cold sweat. Without another word, Jessi got out of the passenger seat. Then she waited for him to step out.

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

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

"No." Jenson got out of the vehicle without putting on his mask. He looked her in the eyes now. They stood beside his truck, the dim and cloudy sky failing to hide the faint lines on his face while he frowned.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No." His brows knitted amid his pout. "Just upset that you're just freakin' out," he muttered after glancing down at the paper bag she held. "Like last night's the biggest mistake you've ever made in your life."

She sighed and glanced away. As his words sank in like a dozen blunt knives in her chest, she kept her mouth shut and opted not to react again or say anything harsh. She wasn't "freaking out" anymore. She just wanted to get it over with, then get ready for her trip while waiting for the pills to take effect.

But it seemed he didn't really appreciate her idea of a contingency plan after their utter carelessness last night.

"Put your mask on." She glanced around them furtively. Darn it. Someone might recognize him any second now. "Go home. Rest up. Thanks for driving me to the store."

"You want me to apologize? For last night?" Jenson caught her wrist to hold her still. He clasped her hand when she didn't respond, as though he wasn't letting her walk away from him until they hashed everything out. "Okay. Sorry." His brows scrunched up. "But I'm really not."

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

"Mess?" He frowned before he finally let go of her hand. "That's what you think of last night?"

"W-What else would you call it?"

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

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

It was probably just his confused feelings and fragile emotional state that wanted to convince her otherwise. Sleeping with her was a mistake he should definitely regret. But the grief and other issues he was dealing with clearly blinded him from the truth.

"No one needs to know. Okay?"

He just stared at her.

"Please?" She held his hand, ignoring how her throat and chest ached at the hopeless look in his beautiful eyes. She waited for another reaction, but he didn't even blink. "Joss. Please..."

"Fine." Jenson turned to his side and propped his hands on his hips. Then he let out a noisy sigh. "I won't bother you anymore." He turned his back to her to open the door to the driver's seat. "And I won't tell anyone to spare you the embarrassment. Bye. Safe flight."