No Rebound

Chapter 13

Chapter 13I left the bathroom promptly after that conversation before I gave in to the urge to jump into the bath with her, and embarrassingly I was still doing a little happy dance around her kitchen when she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towelling robe. Thank god she couldn’t hear me singing ‘I think she likes me, I think she likes me’ over and over as I danced!

I swallowed my embarrassment and sat her on the sofa, noticing the slight wince of pain caused by the hip that had hit the floor.

Looking straight into her gorgeous blue eyes I admonished her to be a good patient and to let me look after her, which prompted a little chuckle and she held her hands up in mock surrender.

Returning to the kitchen just as the microwave went ping, I doctored the hot chocolate I had made with a generous dash of rum that I found in her cupboards and took the two steaming mugs back into the living room.

‘Jesus Chris, how much booze did you put in this? I’ll be in no fit state to drive you home if I drink this!’

‘Well, I know this may be presumptuous but I thought you may need some company tonight. In which case I could sleep on your sofa this time if you like? If not I’ll just get a cab home, no biggie.’

‘But it’s Saturday evening, you must have plans?’

‘Nope. Young, free and single remember?’ I said with a grin

‘Oh now I understand. Your girlfriend dumped you so you thought you’d get the straight girl drunk on hot chocolate to see where it gets you huh?’

I snapped my head around quickly, fully prepared to defend my actions and state my innocence, until I saw the mirth on Jess’s face -- damn, she’d done it again!

‘Actually I’d love for you to stay with me; you’re right -- I don’t feel much like being alone tonight. Thanks Chris, you really are one in a million.’

We spent the evening sat together on her sofa watching TV and eating pizza. We talked a lot but there were also lots of comfortable silences. It amazed me how we would laugh at funny things on TV at the same time, despite the fact the Jess had to read the subtitles but when I commented on it she laughed at me.

‘I only read the titles when the character isn’t facing the camera silly!’

‘Oh yeah, sorry. I will get used to it I promise.’

She was just about to rib me some more, I could tell by the look on her face but just then I was startled by a red flashing light in the corner of the room.

‘What the hell is that?’

‘Doorbell’ she answered with a smile ‘Would you mind going for me?’ and she pulled the robe tighter around herself.

Opening the door I was met by one of the most impossibly handsome men I had ever encountered in my life (hey -- I’m gay, not blind!). He looked startled and then confused when I opened the door and started to speak while waving his hands around.

‘Oh. I was looking for Jessica.’

‘If you’re signing then don’t do it on my behalf, I can hear. She’s in the living room, go on through.’

Shutting the door I followed him in, a tinge of jealousy creeping over me as I watched him bend to kiss her hello and saw the way she embraced him. I assumed for whatever reason that this must either be the ex-boyfriend or someone intent on becoming the new boyfriend and was therefore prepared to dislike him on the spot, despite his good looks.

I stood there for a moment feeling like a 3rd wheel until Jess looked around to find me, waving me back to my place on the sofa.

‘Chris, this is my brother David. David, this is my extremely good friend Chris, who just happens to have saved my life today.’

David snorted ‘What -- she save you from buying an ugly pair of shoes, or something?’

‘No David, she literally saved my life. She put herself in extreme danger to throw me out of the way of a speeding car that was coming from behind me.’

‘Holy crap! You ok Sis?’

‘Yes I’m fine thanks to Chris and don’t you go breathing a word of this to Mum or she’ll worry herself sick every time I leave the house!

Anyway, what are you doing here on a Saturday night?’

‘I’ve come to ask a favour. I don’t get paid until next week and I’ve met this really nice girl and I want to take her out. Can I borrow some cash until Friday?’

Jessica rummaged through her handbag and dug her purse out, looking wistfully at the contents.

‘I’d happily lend you some money except I don’t have any cash; I’m guessing that £10 won’t be enough?’

‘Not unless I take her to McDonalds.’ Sulked David

I don’t know what came over me then. I don’t usually lend money to my friends, let alone strangers but I dug into my jeans pockets and came out with £30. I think I just wanted rid of him so I could be alone with Jess again.

‘Will this be enough?’

He looked at me in amazement, then back to his sister, then back at me again.

‘Chris, you don’t have to lend him money, you don’t even know him.’

‘Is he good for it?’

‘Absolutely, this is a regular occurrence and he always pays up on time.’

‘Well, any brother of yours is a friend of mine.’ And I shoved the notes into David’s hand.

David was still looking at me in amazement. ‘Okaaaaay, you save my sisters life and then you lend her brother money. Are you some kind of Samaritan or something?’

Jess swatted his arm ‘No, she’s a bloody angel, now get your handsome arse out of my door and let us go back to watching TV.’