Chapter 9 Chapter 5 (i)
Fae
"Had it never crossed your mind that what you desired with Carl would never come to fruition? Fae, you possessed beauty, intelligence, and all the qualities that could make a man fall for a woman. If he truly had feelings for you, you would have known by now. You would have been together long before he even met Sarah.”
Countless tears had streamed down my face in the last hour. I must have cried out all the alcohol I had consumed and more. Now I was regaining composure, though I still sniffled like a two-year-old as I leaned on him, his arms still loosely around me on the couch. Jigo fetched water and Tylenol from the kitchen a while ago, hydrating me, ensuring I wouldn’t drown in my sorrow. We started to talk. After a quick trip to the bathroom—apparently, even heartbroken souls needed to relieve themselves—I found myself back in Jigo’s arms, crying softly now, finding solace in his gentle words because they held the same truth I recognized.
And they were soothing.
“It was embarrassing... at the party,” I sniffled again. “I hate myself!”
“Shhh...” Jigo’s hand rubbed my back rhythmically, providing comfort. We shifted on the couch, searched for a more comfortable position, but his touch and familiarity started to unsettle me. Not because I didn’t enjoy it. Quite the contrary.
It reminded me of the attention I longed for from Carl that I never received. Carl had hugged me before and engaged in countless conversations. He even took care of me when I fell ill with the flu before the days of COVID. But those encounters were never like this. Carl’s actions were always pure and brotherly.
But this... attention from Jigo... it felt like how a man would care for a woman. I couldn’t explain how I knew the difference, but I had hoped Carl would treat me the same way. Talk to me. Touch me. Even kiss my hair, as Jigo just did. A few times. And there it was again, he did it again. Jigo might have thought I hadn’t noticed, but I had.
A small sob escaped my lips at this thoughts.
Jigo’s arms tightened around me, holding me close. I allowed myself to sink deeper into his embrace and the emotions it stirred within me. I drew warmth from his body as it intimately pressed against mine.
It felt like intimacy, didn’t it?
We sat in silence for a few moments.
And then, I made the first move. Lifting my head from his shoulder, I turned my face towards him to meet his gaze. In that instant, I knew he understood exactly what I was thinking. If our experiences about this were compared, mine would pale in comparison. He must know what he was doing.
But strangely, in his arms, I felt a sense of purpose. I felt comfortable with him. I didn’t feel like I was being taken advantage of.
I needed Jigo’s experience.
However, Jigo knew which women he could engage with and whom he should keep at a distance. Unfortunately, I could see in his eyes that I fell into the latter category. In the next instant, he released me and swiftly rose from the couch.
It was evident in his eyes. He might have forgotten himself for a moment there, but he wouldn’t indulge.
But he moved so quickly that I nearly face-planted into the throw pillows behind him. He seemed... panicked. It surprised me. I never expected someone like Spencer Jigo Myrick to get nervous about this over someone like me. I expected him to stay cool and tell me I should start thinking about resting now.
“I’ll fetch you more water to help sober you up before you sleep. You’ll have a milder hangover in the morning,” he babbled as he walked away, heading towards the kitchen, putting distance between us.
I let out a long, deep sigh as he disappeared from my sight. The poor guy was trying to be a gentleman, which was silly because it only made him more intriguing.
And several degrees hotter.
God, he even made babbling sexy.
I stood up. A mild buzz remained in my system. Or was it the sexual tension I sensed between us that was giving me this sense of confidence? It didn’t matter. I wanted this. It was exactly what I needed to bring closure to my relationship with Carl.
Slowly, I shed every piece of clothing I was wearing. The silly white lace dress, my white bra, and panties. I had discarded my high heels ages ago. Standing there, completely naked, I still felt warm despite the air conditioning in the suite. I also felt bold and confident, which were the more important things.