before the bus comes
1067 Words
The afternoon sunlight had started turning gold by the time Jessica finally looked at the clock.
3:07 PM.
Her stomach tightened instantly.
Carson’s bus usually came around 4:15.
Which meant Aston needed to leave soon.
The thought alone made the house feel heavier somehow.
Aston lay stretched across her couch comfortably like he belonged there already, one arm behind his head while some random action movie played ignored on the TV.
Jessica stood in the kitchen pretending to wipe already-clean counters while mentally arguing with herself.
Part of her wanted him to stay.
Badly.
The other part?
The mom part.
That side of her stayed louder.
Jessica finally sighed and turned around.
“Aston.”
“Mhm?”
“You should probably go before Carson gets home.”
Aston groaned dramatically without even opening his eyes. “No.”
Jessica laughed despite herself. “Yes.”
“Im serious.”
“So am I.”
Aston finally sat up slowly, looking genuinely disappointed now.
“You’re kicking me out already?”
“I’m not kicking you out.”
“Feels personal.”
Jessica leaned against the kitchen counter with crossed arms.
“You’ve already met him this morning.”
“Yeah. He likes me.”
“That’s not the point.”
Aston looked at her carefully then.
The joking faded a little.
Jessica’s expression had softened into something more thoughtful now.
“He’s eight "she said quietly. “Kids notice things.”
Aston stayed quiet.
Jessica walked closer slowly.
“I don’t want Carson thinking some guy just suddenly moved into our lives overnight.”
That landed differently.
Because Aston understood immediately.
This wasn’t rejection.
This was protection.
Not just for Carson either.
For herself too.
Jessica sat down beside him on the couch finally.
“He’s been through enough instability already,” she admitted quietly. “I try really hard to keep his life feeling normal.”
Aston looked down at his hands briefly.
“You think I’d mess that up?”
“No,” Jessica said immediately.
Then softer:
“That’s what scares me.”
Aston looked over at her again.
Jessica exhaled slowly before continuing.
“You being here already feels… easy.”
There it was again.
That dangerous comfort between them.
The kind that makes people move too fast without realizing it.
Aston leaned back into the couch cushions with a sigh.
“I just don’t wanna leave.”
Jessica smiled faintly despite herself.
“Why?”
He laughed quietly like the answer was obvious.
“Because I’m comfortable here.”
Jessica’s chest tightened hearing that.
Aston rubbed the back of his neck before continuing more honestly this time.
“I like waking up beside you.” “I like hearing you yell at Carson about missing socks.” “I like your house.” “I like you.”
Jessica looked down immediately to hide the smile threatening her face.
“And honestly?” Aston added quietly. “I’m way too attracted to you to willingly leave.”
Jessica laughed softly through her nose.
“There’s the Aston I know.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Outside, a car drove past slowly while the TV continued playing unnoticed in the background.
Aston looked over again. “What if I leave like… an hour before he gets home?”
Jessica immediately gave him a look.
Not angry.
Mom look.
The one that meant absolutely not.
Aston groaned dramatically again. “Come onnnn.”
“No.”
“He won’t even know.”
“That’s not the point.”
Aston leaned his head back against the couch dramatically like life itself had become unbearable.
“This is emotional damage.”
Jessica laughed harder now.
“You are so dramatic.”
“I drove eight hours.”
“You stayed two nights.”
“Still not enough.”
Jessica shook her head smiling before standing up again.
“Aston.”
He looked up.
“You barely know us yet.”
His expression softened slightly at that.
“Feels like I do.”
Jessica paused for half a second because honestly?
It kinda felt that way for her too.
Still, she crossed her arms again trying to stay firm.
“You should go two hours before he gets home.”
“Two hours? Jessica that’s basically exile.”
“That gives you time to drive safely and gives Carson space too.”
Aston stared at her another second before finally sighing in defeat.
“…Fine.”
Jessica smiled immediately. “Thank you.”
“but only because you did the stern mom face.”
“That face works.”
“It’s terrifying.”
Jessica laughed softly while Aston stood up from the couch finally.
The mood shifted then.
Not sad exactly.
But quieter.
Realer.
Because now the temporary little bubble they’d been living in all weekend was ending.
Aston walked toward her slowly until they stood close again in the kitchen.
“You know I’m coming back right?” he asked quietly.
Jessica looked up at him.
“You sure?”
“Jessica,” he said softly, almost laughing. “I’m obsessed with you already.”
Heat rose instantly into her cheeks.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love it.”
She kinda did.
Aston reached forward carefully, fingers brushing against her hips gently.
Jessica melted into him without thinking.
That comfort again.
That terrifyingly natural feeling.
“You’re a good mom,” Aston said quietly after a moment.
Jessica blinked slightly.
The compliment hit harder than the flirting ever did.
“You barely know me.”
“I know enough.”
Her throat tightened unexpectedly.
Because most people noticed her looks first. Or her sarcasm. Or her mess.
But Aston kept noticing the way she loved Carson.
And somehow that mattered most.
Jessica looked away briefly before muttering, “You better text me when you get home.”
Aston smiled immediately. “So you do want me around.”
“Don’t push it.”
He laughed softly before leaning down and kissing her gently.
Not rushed. Not hungry like before.
Just warm.
When he pulled away, Jessica kept one hand lightly against his chest.
“I mean it,” she whispered. “Thank you for understanding.”
Aston nodded once.
“Carson comes first.”
Jessica smiled softly at that.
Exactly the right answer.
- Writer
