The long drive back
1058 Words
Rain dotted the windshield lightly as Aston drove Jessica home through the quiet streets.
The radio played softly in the background, low enough that he could hear her humming badly beside him.
Hammered.
Completely hammered.
Jessica sat curled toward the passenger window with her heels kicked off somewhere on the floorboard, one hand lazily holding the melted remains of ice water Aston had forced her to drink before leaving the bar.
"You had fun tonight?” he asked with a grin.
Jessica looked over dramatically. “I had the BEST time tonight.”
“You probably won’t remember half of it.”
“I remember you refusing to dance.”
“I danced.”
“You twitched awkwardly.”
“That counts.”
Jessica burst into laughter again, throwing her head back against the seat.
God, she was beautiful like this.
Messy. Loud. Unfiltered.
Real.
Aston glanced at her again at a red light.
“You okay?”
“Mhm.”
“You dizzy?”
“A little.”
“You drank way too much.”
Jessica smirked lazily. “You’re just jealous.”
“I’m definitely not jealous.”
She reached across suddenly and rested her hand against his forearm while he drove.
That simple touch lingered longer than it should have
The air changed slightly after that.
Not awkward. Just heavier.
Charged.
Jessica stared at him quietly now instead of joking constantly. The alcohol had slowed her down enough that her thoughts were slipping out honestly.
“You smell good,” she mumbled.
Aston laughed softly. “You told me that already too.”
“Still true.”
The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence.
When they finally pulled into her parents’ driveway, the house sat mostly dark except for the kitchen light left on for her. Aston parked and killed the engine while Jessica stayed sitting there for a second.
Neither moved immediately.
Then Jessica sighed dramatically.
“Welllll…”
Aston smiled. “You alive over there?”
“Barely.”
He got out first and walked around to help her. The second Jessica stood, she stumbled slightly again and grabbed onto his shoulders laughing.
“Okay maybe I’m a little drunk.”
“A little?”
“Shhh.”
Aston steadied her carefully by the waist while guiding her toward the front porch. The cool night air hit her flushed skin immediately.
Jessica fumbled with her keys for nearly thirty seconds before Aston gently took them from her.
“Lemme do it before you unlock the neighbor’s house.”
“I can do it.”
“You’re trying to put the key into the doorbell.”
“…Oh.”
Aston laughed under his breath and unlocked the door for her.
Jessica stepped inside quietly, slipping her shoes off near the entrance before turning around dramatically in the dim hallway light.
“So…”
Aston leaned against the doorway casually. “So?”
“You coming in?”
Aston hesitated.
He looked at her carefully.
Hair messy. Lipstick faded. Eyes glossy from alcohol.
Hammered.
“You’re drunk, Jessica.”
“I know.”
“I should probably head home.”
Her face dropped immediately. “What? Why?”
“Because you’ve had a LOT to drink.”
Jessica crossed her arms stubbornly. “I invited you in.”
“And I’m saying maybe tonight’s not the smartest night.”
She stared at him for a long second before stepping closer.
“You drove eight hours to see me.”
Aston stayed quiet.
“And now you’re just leaving?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
He exhaled slowly. “I don’t wanna take advantage of you.”
That softened her expression instantly.
For a second the joking disappeared.
Jessica looked at him differently then.
Like maybe nobody had said something like that to her before.
Her voice came quieter this time. “Aston…”
She reached for his hand carefully.
“I want you here.”
The honesty in her tone hit him hard.
Not drunk party-girl honesty. Lonely honesty.
Aston studied her face another few seconds before finally sighing.
“Alright,” he muttered.
Jessica smiled immediately. “Yay.”
“But water first.”
“You’re bossy.”
“You’re intoxicated.”
“Fair.”
He followed her inside.
The house was quiet. Everyone asleep.
Jessica moved through the kitchen lazily while Aston grabbed her a glass of water himself because she nearly walked into the counter trying to do it
“You laugh at me a lot,” she observed.
“You’re entertaining.”
“You think I’m hot.”
“I do.”
Jessica grinned triumphantly. “Ha.”
After drinking some water, she wandered toward the hallway and motioned for him to follow.
Aston’s heartbeat picked up slightly.
Jessica stopped near her bedroom door and turned around slowly.
for one suspended moment, neither spoke.
Then Jessica reached for the hem of her shirt.
Aston’s eyes stayed fixed on her immediately.
Slowly, she pulled the fabric over her head and tossed it aside carelessly.
His breathing deepened slightly.
Jessica’s confidence grew under his stare.
One hand moved to the button of her jeans next.
“Aston,” she whispered teasingly.
He stepped closer this time.
Closer.
Closer.
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
Jessica slipped the jeans down her legs slowly while Aston watched silently, tension thick between them now.
His restraint was fading fast.
She stood there in only her underwear now, flushed skin glowing softly under the bedroom lamp.
“You still gonna pretend you don’t want me?” she asked quietly.
That did it.
Aston crossed the distance between them finally, hands finding her hips carefully at first.
Jessica inhaled sharply when his hands settled there.
Warm. Firm. Steady.
He looked down at her for a long second.
“You have no idea how hard tonight’s been for me,” he admitted roughly.
Jessica smiled faintly before reaching for him herself.
The kiss that followed wasn’t rushed.
It was months of tension finally crashing into reality.
Slow at first. Hungry seconds later.
Aston held her close while Jessica melted into him completely, fingers tangled into his shirt as the night wrapped around them both.
And upstairs, behind a closed bedroom door, the distance between online fantasy and real life finally disappeared.
- Writer
