Chapter 37. A call
The scent of man filled the car, and I could barely swallow as my gaze fixed on his hand on the gearshift. A vein stood out near his knuckles. Then I looked at his profile, his perfectly groomed beard making him look quite attractive. I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss in the office...
"Why are you staring at me, Miss Bradley?" I jumped at the sound of his voice, realizing I'd been caught staring. I quickly looked back at the traffic ahead of us.
"I'm sorry, I thought that..." "Stop, Lilly." "Nothing. It's just that up close, you look very intimidating."
"Really?" he asked with a tone of surprise, glancing briefly in my direction before focusing on the traffic again.
"Yes, you really are intimidating. Especially when you talk..."
"Well, that's not my intention," he replied, and I noticed his forehead wrinkle. "You can call me Jackson. We're out of the office, and it's just the two of us."
"Alright... Jackson." I looked at his profile again and smiled when I saw him smile at hearing his name.
"So, Lilly, when we first met and I gave you a ride, that wasn't your house?"
I smiled.
"Of course not, my dad was working, and it was around the time he usually gets home."
"Oh," he said, and we fell silent until we got near the area where I lived.
"You can drop me off at that corner, I'll walk up from there."
"No way, I'll drop you off right at your door. I'm a gentleman."
"That's not necessary..." he interrupted me.
"I'll drop you off at your house. No more discussion, Lilly." I pressed my lips together, trying to suppress a smile at his "almost scolding." I directed him where to turn. "What...?" I heard him start to say but then stop himself.
"What's wrong?" He parked behind a car.
"It's my brother Jacob's car." I got out, and Jackson did too.
"Jackson!" we both heard. We saw Jacob coming down the stairs.
"What are you doing here?" Jackson asked in a serious tone.
"The real question is, what are you doing here?" Jacob stopped a few steps from the bottom.
"I came to drop off Miss Bradley." He waited for a response from Jacob, but none came.
"Good night, Lilly," Jacob greeted and said goodbye politely.
"Good night," I said, climbing the two steps. I looked at Jackson. "Thanks for the ride..."
"Ride? Funny, you always said you weren't one of those when I asked for a ride."
"Jacob." Jackson used a warning tone, but it seemed to amuse him. He looked in my direction.
"Did Mr. Johnson treat you well?" they both looked at me.
"Yes, like all the employees," I replied. Jacob winked before walking to his car.
"Good night, Lilly," Jackson said, then turned to catch up with his brother. When he reached him, they began to argue about something. I stood there watching, but I couldn't hear what they were saying.
"What are you doing here?" I jumped on the stairs. It was Leah, who had come up beside me. "Hasn't he left yet?" she asked, looking at the parking lot in front of the building.
"Did your boss bring you home?" She smiled and nodded.
"And you?" I nodded too. "I have to tell you something..." I could see the excitement in her eyes.
"And I have something to tell you," we glanced at them, but they were already getting into their cars and driving away. As we were about to go up the stairs, my phone rang, and the screen showed Oliver. Leah noticed.
"Is that jerk still calling you?" I gestured for her to be quiet, and she twisted her mouth. "I'll see you upstairs." She climbed the stairs, leaving me alone. I didn't answer in time, and when I was about to call back, it rang again. Oliver. I slid the green button and answered:
"What do you want, Oliver?"
"You," came the reply from the other side of the line.
"It's too late. Anything else? I'm just getting home, and I'm tired."
"Why didn't you call during your lunch break?"
"Because I had a meeting, and I had a late lunch."
"You should have called, no matter the time."
"I was with someone." I paused. "Seriously, why are you so insistent on calling me? I thought we made things clear last time."
"This morning, you seemed different than how you're talking to me now. Are you in a bad mood?"
"I'm just tired, Oliver."
"Or is there another man?" he asked in a serious tone.
"If you don't tell me what you really want, I'm hanging up."
"It's another man." I raised an eyebrow.
"It's not another man. And if it were, what would be the problem? You were with other women when we were together."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Oliver said in an offended tone, though I should be the one offended by what he did to me.
"I'll pretend I never answered this call and that I don't know you anymore... so goodbye." I hung up, found the option to block calls, messages, emails, and more. If I moved, it was to start fresh, not to dwell on the past with Oliver. I thought about his words: "It's another man," and then Jackson's image popped into my mind. I touched my lips with my fingertips, remembering his kiss in the office. Then I realized what was happening to me... "Impossible."