Chapter 53 — The Mistake

Heck. He was drunk again. He shouldn't drive in his condition. Worse: the rain poured harder now. Poor visibility plus alcohol intoxication...

Darn it! Was he suicidal or just plain careless?

"Shit." Jessi hastily wiped her tears off before rushing out of her bedroom to run after him. The loud thunderstorm prompted her to grab a hoodie before dashing out the door.

She sighed in relief when she recognized his black pickup truck parked on the other side of the street. His headlights were on. Why hadn't he left yet? Maybe the alcohol made him hesitate now.

"What're you doing?" She stood outside the driver's seat, her hoodie not doing much to shield her from the downpour. "Get out."

"You told me to leave, so I'm leaving." The guy wouldn't even look at her now. His window was rolled down, and the engine stayed running. He didn't look like he had any plans to get out of the vehicle.

"Are you trying to piss me off?" She winced when the roaring thunder hurt her ears, her face and clothes already wet. "You can't drive. You're intoxicated. Get out."

He sighed and kept still in his seat, just staring past the windshield as though he didn't hear her.

"Joss, get out."

"Go back inside."

"You can't drive." She backed away, summoning what's left of her patience and just waiting for him to unlock the door. She would drag him out of the vehicle if she had to. She couldn't let him drive home like this.

Drunk. Angry. Driving alone on a stormy night.

For a moment, he just gripped the steering wheel while his scowl wrinkled his brows and lips. His almost clean-shaven jaw made him look younger, and it stayed tense as if he was gritting his teeth.

"Babe, please..."

He grunted and closed his eyes after hearing her request. He unbuckled his seat belt, turned the engine off, then finally stepped out of his truck.

"Come on." She grabbed his arm after another lightning flash. "Let's go back inside."

×

"Change your shirt. It's wet." She handed him a clean and loose shirt to use. She should call him a cab now, but the grim look on his face hinted that he had no intention of leaving yet.

Jenson sat hunched over on the couch, his blank gaze focused on the floor.

"Joss."

He grabbed the blue shirt she held in front of him without glancing up at her. The frown on his face told her she was being a pain in his ass right now.

But she really didn't care. She just wanted to confirm that his mother's death and funeral were the only reasons he had decided to drink a lot tonight.

If he would explain himself and his involvement with Magnus, then good. If not, then she wouldn't push her luck. She would just send him home in a cab, make sure he's safe, and then carry on with her plans.

"Why are you drunk again?" she asked calmly while sitting beside him. She'd already changed into a dry shirt and gym shorts, but her hair was still damp like his clothes.

Jenson didn't reply and just took off his shirt. He put on the clean one she gave him, got up from the couch, then walked off without bothering to look at her.

Great. Now she had to apologize. Apparently she just upset him even more. Jessi sat back and watched his quiet steps towards the front door. She stifled a sigh with her fist and ran after him before he could leave her apartment again. "No. I'm not letting you drive."

"Why didn't you call me back?"

Ah jeez... Back to this again? She blocked the doorway and tried not to frown. It was such a petty issue to argue over, but it seemed to bother him a great deal.

"You think I'm just stringing you along?"

"Can we not—"

"Why? You think I'm that kinda guy?" He stood closer to her, his deep-set eyes focusing on her face, awaiting a response.

She took a few steps backwards till her head touched the front door. It trapped her between his arms, his hands now on either side of her head, pressed onto the hardwood and keeping her immobile. She held her breath when his face inched closer, her pulse almost racing against her heartbeat now.

He didn't reek of beer or hard liquor, but his droopy eyelids and pinkish cheeks told her he had one too many shots tonight.

"Were you drinking with Darren and the guys?"

Jenson kept staring into her eyes, his nose almost touching her forehead now. "You know I like drinking alone," he murmured with a little smirk that didn't even last a second.

She looked away. Her breathing just grew shallow at their closeness, but she couldn't just shove him off. "Does Charm know you're here?"

"I don't wanna talk about her," he muttered while his thick brows knitted. "Just answer the question."

"I don't wanna talk about it." She placed her hands on his warm chest to try to push him away, to try to put some space between them.

But he didn't budge. He just stared at her, standing still before her while she leaned against the front door. "We have to. I'm not lettin' you leave till we sort this out."

"Ugh. Give me a break..."

Sort what out? Did he want her to be brutally honest? Maybe he actually wanted a confrontation. Well, too bad she was too tired and distracted to be bothered.

"I just wanna talk. You're leaving in a couple of hours."

"Yeah. Like I said." She added a weak shrug. "You know why I have to leave."

"But you didn't tell me the truth."

"What?" She squinted at his poker face. "W-What else d'you want me to say?"

"She wanted to be there. I didn't ask her to stay for the funeral. Okay?" He leaned in to kiss her cheek. Just a quick brush of his soft lips on the corner of her mouth. Then his fingers caressed her face. "I'm sorry if that upset you."

"You don't have to explain," she mumbled, trying not to sigh at how warm and comforting his touch felt against her cold skin. "I'm not your girlfriend. And we're not in a relationship."

"Then why're you acting like you're jealous? You didn't even text me back."

She scoffed. "Because I've been busy packing. Okay? I don't know what else you want me to say." She tried to push him away, but he wouldn't even move an inch. Darn.

It was like he weighed more than his truck. "I'm just trying to keep it friendly with her. Alright?"

"Jenson..." Jessi breathed out a sigh. Her mounting frustrations coupled with his obstinacy were giving her a bitching headache already.

Why wouldn't he stop talking about the woman? It was just the last thing she wanted to talk about tonight. But it seemed he didn't care. "To fend off the press finding out."

"Then why are you here? You could've been followed. You know a few snapshots is all they need. That didn't cross your mind?" She glanced away and shook her head.

"I wouldn't be here if you just answered my calls and texts."

"Ugh! Fine. I'm sorry. I didn't wanna talk to you 'cause I know she's gonna be with you all day. That's it. Can we move on now?"

"I didn't spend the whole day with her."

"That's not the point, Joss..." Jessi sighed.

"Can I come visit you? In Minnesota?"

Good heavens... Was it just the alcohol talking? Probably. But something in the fairly desperate look in his eyes told her he was dead serious. "No."

He frowned and took a step backwards. Finally he stopped touching her face. "Why not?"

"Where is she?"

"On a flight to Beijing."

Oh. Of course... So he was just feeling sad and lonely tonight. Hence the booze binge and him being here with her again. How convenient.

"Y'know what? This is why I don't..." She grunted and took a deep breath, then covered her face with her hand to hide from his intimidating stare. The tears started hurting her eyes again, but she had to keep calm.

Otherwise he would think she was just being dramatic, acting like an irrationally jealous side chick who didn't know any better.

"I care about you. Yes. But you can't just keep dumping all this on me every time you need someone to make you feel better. Okay?"

"I know." Jenson stepped closer to hold her face. His palms just felt soothingly warm on her cheeks. "Sorry."

"Then you just...show up with her like nothing happened..."

"Sorry."

She turned her face to the side. Looking into his eyes for more than a few seconds just made her chest feel like it would implode from unease alone. "I'm done."

"But you know what I want."

"I don't."

"Hey. I said I'm sorry." He grabbed her wrist to stop her from walking away. "I know I fucked up. But I didn't mean to hurt you." He pulled her in for a hug, then gently kissed her forehead while she tried her best not to cry.

Tears brimmed her eyes for a moment till she eventually regained her grip on her emotions. She wiped her eyes dry. His arms stayed tight around her back, keeping her still and unable to shove him off. "You should go home now. Get some sleep."

"I don't wanna leave yet."

"I'll call a cab for you."

"No." Jenson pulled back to look into her eyes again, his forehead and dark brows creasing. "Stop pushing me away." He sighed, tilted her face, then leaned in to kiss her lips.