Chapter 27
Iwake up to the soft light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. For a moment, I lie there in bed, my gaze fixed on Jessy as she sleeps peacefully beside me. Her hair spilling over the pillow in a cascade of curls. Her features softened in the gentle light.
I remember how she had fallen asleep last night, her head resting against my shoulder as we watched the movie together.
I had carried her to bed, unable to bear the thought of leaving her alone. And now, here we are, tangled together in a mess of sheets, her body pressed close to mine.
I can feel the steady rhythm of her breathing, the rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps. At this moment, she looks so vulnerable, so utterly human, and I find myself overcome with a sense of protectiveness.
Carefully, so as not to wake her, I reach out and brush a stray lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear with gentle fingers. She stirs slightly, a soft murmur escaping her lips, but she doesn’t wake.
Despite her insistence that we can’t be together, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s wrong about us. There’s something between us—something deeper than just sex—that I can’t ignore.
I’m certain that someday she’ll realize that we’re meant to be together and that she’ll give us a chance to explore what could be between us. Until then, I’ll be here, patiently waiting for her to see the truth.
I watch as Jessy’s eyes flutter open, and she’s momentarily disoriented and unsure of where she is. But as her surroundings come into focus, she realizes she’s in her own bed.
“Morning,” I offer her a gentle smile.
Her eyes flutter open, and she blinks a few times before focusing on me. “You’re still here,” she says, surprise evident in her voice.
I offer her a small smile. “I couldn’t leave you last night,” I confess softly. “You seemed like you needed me around.”
Her expression softens, and she reaches out to touch my arm. “Yeah, I did. Thank you,” she says, her voice filled with sincerity. “I really appreciate it.”
I shake my head slightly. “It’s nothing,” I reply, though deep down, I know it means more to me than I can express. I’m glad I could show up and be there for her.
We sit in companionable silence for a moment, the only sound in the room the soft rustle of sheets as Jessy shifts beside me.
“Would you like something to eat? I could make us breakfast,’’ she offers.
“No, I’m good. Watching you is fulfilling enough.”
“Ethan…” she warns.
I raise my hands, stopping her before she says anything else. “We can’t be more than friends. I already know that.”
She sighs. “Thanks for coming over.”
“It’s my pleasure, but I do need to be on my way.”
I get up from her small bed and start putting on my shoes. And when I’m done, I see she’s looking at me with longing in her eyes.
“May I ask the real reason you don’t want to date me?” I ask. “Is it just because I’m your boss?”
“There is that.’’ She sighs softly. “But we are from two different worlds, Ethan. It just won’t work out between us.”
“Why wouldn’t it? I’m here and so are you. I don’t see two separate worlds, and we could just merge our worlds.”
“It’s not that easy, please, Ethan. We already had this conversation.”
“I know we did,” I interrupt, feeling a twinge of frustration. “But I can’t help but wonder if there’s more to it than just our positions and this ‘worlds apart’ you keep saying.”
Jessy hesitates, her gaze dropping to her hands in her lap. “It’s complicated,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.
I step closer to her, my heart pounding with anticipation. “I’m willing to navigate the complexities if you are,” I say, my voice gentle yet determined. “I care about you, Jessy, more than I can put into words. And I’m not willing to give up on us without a fight.”
“Ethan, I...” She trails off, seemingly at a loss for words. “We can’t…I…I don’t know what to say,” she admits, her gaze meeting mine.
I reach out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from her face. “You don’t have to say anything,” I assure her. “Just know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”
She nods, a small smile playing on her lips. “Thank you,” she says again, her gratitude evident in her voice.
I lean in and press a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment before pulling back slightly. “You will take the day off, and don’t argue. Just take the day off. You need it.”
She closes her eyes briefly, a small sigh escaping her lips. “I appreciate that, Ethan,” she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
With one final glance, I turn and head towards the door.
Throughout the week,I find myself constantly thinking about Jessy. I check in on her regularly, sending her messages to make sure she’s sleeping well and taking care of herself.
Each time I receive a response from her, a sense of relief washes over me, knowing that she’s okay.
As the weekend approaches, I realize that I need to take a break from work and clear my head. So, I decide to visit my mom.
“It’s a good thing to have you around. Would you like something to eat? Or are you rushing off as usual?” Mom asks in an accusing tone as I sit across from her in the living room.
“I don’t run off whenever I visit. I spend time with you,” I try to defend myself.
“Oh yeah? The longest you’ve spent with me was that day we all had dinner with your sister, and you kept looking at your watch the entire time.”
I chuckle at her playful accusation, knowing that there’s some truth to it. “Okay, maybe I was a bit preoccupied that day,” I admit with a sheepish grin.
“You always seem to be preoccupied whenever you visit.”
“Guilty as charged. But I promise, I’m not in a rush today. I’m here to spend quality time with you, Mom.”
Her expression softens, and she smiles warmly at me. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. How about I whip up something special for dinner? Your favorite, perhaps?”
“That sounds amazing. I will help out.”
As I stand beside my mom in the kitchen, the familiar sights and smells evoke a sense of nostalgia that takes me back to my childhood.
I remember being a little boy, barely able to reach the countertop but eager to help my mom with whatever task she had at hand.
Now, as I chop vegetables and while she stirs the simmering pot on the stove, I can’t help but smile at the memories flooding back.
With a soft sigh, my mom breaks the silence.
“You know, Ethan,” she begins, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness, “I can tell why you have been avoiding spending time with me.”
I pause, glancing over at her with a mixture of surprise and guilt. “I have not been avoiding you. I’m sorry, Mom. I never meant to make you feel that way.”
She smiles gently, reaching out to pat my hand. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I understand why you do it.”
I raise an eyebrow inquisitively, silently urging her to continue.
“It’s because I keep asking you when you’re going to get married, isn’t it?” she says, her tone apologetic.
“Yeah, that’s part of it,” I admit.
My mom’s expression softens, and she gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know it might seem like I’m nagging, but I only ask because I want you to find love, just like your father and I had.”
“I understand, Mom,” I reply, a hint of emotion in my voice. “And I appreciate that you want the best for me.”
She smiles warmly, her eyes sparkling with affection. “Of course, Ethan. I just want you to find love and be happy.”
I glance over at my mom, her gaze filled with concern. “I do want that, Mom,” I admit, my voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. “I want to find the kind of love that Dad and you shared. But... it’s not that easy.”
Her expression softens, a sympathetic smile playing on her lips. “You sound like you just had your heart broken. What happened?”
I hesitate for a moment, contemplating whether to divulge the complexities of my feelings. But then, with a sigh, I decide to confide in her. “There is someone,” I begin, my voice trailing off as memories of Jessy flood my mind.
My mom’s eyes widen in surprise, a hint of concern flickering in her gaze. “What happened, sweetheart?” she inquires, her voice filled with compassion.
“Well, let’s just say that she doesn’t want to be with me.”
“How is that possible? You are Ethan Reid. Every woman wants to be with you.”
Her brows are furrowed in confusion.
“Well, not this one. She believes we are better off being just friends.’’
“I’m sorry to hear that, dear, but how do you feel about her? Do you love her?”
I take a deep breath, trying to weigh my answer before I answer.
“I do love her, Mom,” I admit, my voice laced with conviction. “More than I ever thought possible.”
A soft smile graces my mom’s lips as she gazes at me with unwavering support. “Then go after her, Ethan,” she urges, her voice filled with encouragement. “Fight for what you believe in. Make her see the reasons why you both belong together.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I murmur.
Mom’s phone beeps with an incoming message. She glances at her phone and picks it up from the kitchen counter.
“It’s Amy,” she says as she reads the message my sister sent. “She’s coming over with a friend for dinner. There is this new friend she met that she is always talking about. Maybe that’s the one she’s coming over with.”
A faint smile tugs at my lips. “Well, that’s Amy for you, always making new friends.”
An hour later, I’m helping Mom finish preparing dinner, and I’m caught by surprise as Amy enters the kitchen, her friend trailing behind her.
It takes me a moment to register who it is, but when I do, I can’t help but feel a surge of astonishment.
It’s Jessy.
I hadn’t expected to see her here, especially not as Amy’s friend. I had no idea they were close enough for Jessy to be joining us for dinner.
In fact, I had always assumed they simply hung out occasionally, not that they were close friends.
As Jessy meets my gaze, her eyes widen in surprise, mirroring my own astonishment. I offer her a small smile.
“Mom, meet my friend Jessy. Remember the girl I have been telling you about who works at the Grand Princeton?”
“Welcome, Jessy, it’s good to finally meet you. Amy has told me so much about you.”
I watch as Mom, ever the hugger, wraps her arms around Jessy.
“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Reid.”
“Oh, just call me Carol,” Mom says.
“I see dinner is ready,” Amy says. “We will go and freshen up and come down for dinner.’’
“Alright, dear.”
As Amy and Jessy leave the kitchen, Mom—ever perceptive, turns to me with a knowing look in her eyes, her voice gentle yet probing.
“Is she the girl you were talking about, Ethan?” she asks, her tone tinged with curiosity.
I hesitate for a moment, caught off guard by her directness. But then I meet her gaze, and something in her eyes tells me that she already knows the answer.
“Yeah, Mom,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “That’s my Jessy.”
My mom nods, a small smile playing on her lips. “I thought so,” she says softly. “I knew there’s something about the way you were looking at her.”
“I care about her, Mom,” I admit, my voice filled with sincerity. “More than I can put into words.”
She reaches out to squeeze my hand, her touch warm and reassuring. “Then don’t let her slip away, Ethan,” she says softly.
“Life is too short to let love pass you by. Go after her. I’m sure she will change her mind.”