Is It Revenge Or Love?

So Close

I look between Amber and Monroe, trying not to spiral. I never would have guessed he would just show up here unannounced. I thought that by turning him down again, he’d let it go. “Hey, girl! How was your day?” I slowly turn my head toward Amber and give her a look that I know she’ll be able to read.

“It was okay. Can we…” I motion with my eyes and hope that Amber catches on. I turn and head to the kitchen, ready to get the wine I’ve been waiting for.

I pull a wine glass down from the cabinet and a wine bottle out of the counter fridge. “What’s up? Isn’t it amazing how a certain someone came to surprise you?” I use the wine opener to uncork my nectar of calm.

“What makes you think he’s here to see me?”

“He sure as hell isn’t here to see me. You’re all he can talk about. He’s asked a lot about you, but I haven’t told him much. I figure he can ask you himself.” I slowly turn around as I pour the wine into my glass.

“Why is he here, Amber? What the hell is going on?” Amber looks surprised and moves closer to me.

“Is everything okay? I thought you’d be happy to see him here. I mean, it’s a romantic gesture, definitely.” I don’t know what to say to Amber right now. After the dinner, I told her about my conflicted feelings, and I thought she understood. Her inviting him here without talking to me first makes me question if she got what I was saying or not. “Look, I know you’re torn about everything, but he’s making an effort. Doesn’t that count for something?” I sigh and take a long sip of my wine.

“Hey, ladies, is everything alright?” I look up to see Monroe in the entryway, eyes on me. The scar on his face calls out to me, but he looks as handsome as he did in high school. I guess there’s nothing wrong with spending a little time with him. It isn’t like we are alone. Amber’s here, so it shouldn’t be hard to avoid any intimate situations.

“Everything is fine. Do you want some wine?”

“Sure, why not?” Monroe takes the wine bottle out of my hand while I grab him a glass. I follow him to the table and place his glass in front of him. I get comfortable in a chair next to his and sip on my drink. “So, how was your day?”

“It was long, but it gets like that sometimes. How about you?”

“Just being here makes things better.” I busy myself drinking my wine, so I don’t have to respond to his comment.

Amber flits in and out of the dining room, placing different platters and bowls on the table. “Dinner is served.” I grab the plate in front of me, ready to fill it up. My bath can wait until later. “Damn, would you look at that? I have to handle a small issue. I’m sure you two can get along without me. Bye.” Amber twirls out of the room before I can respond. That bi.tch really just set me up, didn’t she?

~Monroe~

She’s good, I mean she’s really good. We talked about how I could get Jaylene alone, but I didn’t think she’d work that fast. I owe her for this, and I plan to pay up.

I watch as Jaylene quietly fills her plate. If I’m being honest, she looks like she’s trying to find a way to escape. That is both funny and distressing. I don’t know what it is about me that makes her so wary, but I know that I can’t let her keep running away. “Tell me about your students.” Jaylene looks up at me, and I notice a sparkle in her eyes. She starts to discuss her students and their different personalities animately. She has stories about their interactions with each other and their interactions with her. I sit back and listen to her with a smile on my face. If I didn’t truly know her, I would think she was a person who had a big heart and that helping others was her goal. I know her better than that, so I won’t be easily fooled.

“I… I’m sorry. I just get a lot of joy from my students, and I love sharing stories about them. Let’s talk about you, though. You never told me what you’ve been doing since high school or where you’ve been. I don’t even know why you left.” I push some chicken around on my plate. I’ve thought about this moment but haven’t figured out how to address it.

I shift in my seat and sit up tall. “I’m more interested in what your life has been like over the years. How are your parents?” Jaylene’s hands still and she stares off into space. “Are you okay?” Jaylene shakes her head slightly and gives me a weak smile.

“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.”

“I saw your parents at a party a few weeks ago. I was surprised that you weren’t with them.”

“I don’t really go to things like that anymore. It’s never really been my thing and I’m finally at a place where I can avoid it if I want to.”

“Yeah, I guess that crowd can be exhausting at times.”

“What do you do? Are you some kind of assistant or something?” I look up at Jaylene and say nothing. “It’s just that my parents don’t go to everyday places. That says a lot if you were at the same party as them. Not to mention that restaurant you took us to, which is one of my mom’s favorites and a place I generally avoid.” I’m not sure what game she’s trying to play, but I think it’s time to do some research. Before, I just looked up her locations, but now it’s time to dig into her background. I will have Dixon go to our contact to get the type of information that isn’t available to the public.

“I… made some good investments. Just lucky, I guess you can say.” Jaylene eyes me, but I focus on my plate. After a while, I toss my fork to the side and lean into the table. “Let’s quit playing this game, hmm? I’m attracted to you, and you are attracted to me.” Jaylene chuckles.

“What makes you think I’m attracted to you? Last I checked, our meetups have been initiated by you, not me. You’ve sought me out, not the other way around.” I move my chair so I can be closer to her. I pull at her chair, easily placing it in front of mine. I lean forward, letting my fingers graze her knees. She wore a skirt to work today and it’s risen to mid-thigh with her sitting in the chair.

“Those goosebumps that just erupted on your knees when I touched you tells me that you are.” I let my fingers gently dance up her thigh, stopping midway. “The fact that you haven’t moved from this spot tells me how you feel. Let’s not forget your body’s reaction to me. Do you really want to deny how you feel?”

“I don’t feel anything. You’re a former classmate, and it’s been good to reconnect.” I stare at Jaylene for a bit before making a bold move. I grab her thighs and pull her onto my lap. She straddles me as I let my fingers run up and down her lower back. I know my body is reacting to her, and I’m sure she feels it.

“Don’t lie to me, Jaylene.” I pull her closer so her chest presses against my body. “I’m pretty sure you want me, so why deny it? We can quench both of our desires right here and right now.” I slowly reach up to meet Jaylene while pushing her body into mine. Our lips are mere inches apart, and a part of me is excited for this to happen. This isn’t how I saw this going, but the opportunity has presented itself.

Right before our lips touch, Jaylene speaks and causes a shiver to go through my body. “Get out now.”