by Alex Riordan
Jessie shook her head and kissed her. “Stephanie, whether you had shown up or not, I wouldn’t have changed my mind. I can’t say why. I just know. I could never have loved her…she’s not you.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “Jessie…”
Jessie fell silent for a minute, thinking about the past few weeks. Finally, a thought ghosted through her mind. “How did you find out how she felt? I can’t imagine she just blurted something like that out,” she asked, curious. She knew Alex well enough to know that she never would have told Stephanie, or anyone else, something like that on purpose.
Stephanie’s face turned a slight shade of pink, before she answered. “Well…I kind of asked her. You know, ‘How long have you been in love with her?’ She didn’t deny it. Just asked how long I’d known.”
“And your answer?”
“I knew that night at The Blue Rose, when I met her for the first time,” Stephanie answered. "It was obvious in the way that she looked at you." She ducked her head and nosed at Jessie’s chest, taking in her scent; Irish Spring soap, Aussie shampoo and ‘Jessie.’
“I never understood why she would say that to me, you know, about loving her. It made me wonder…but at the time…” she shook her head and sighed, burying her nose in Stephanie’s hair. “I’ve been so fucked up for so long. I couldn’t imagine anyone would want me.”
Stephanie debated telling her what Alex had said. How Jessie had called Stephanie’s name…but she just couldn’t do it. Jessie didn’t need to know how badly she’d hurt the brunette without realizing it. Instead, she addressed her statement. “Jessie…fucked up or not, you’re the most gorgeous, deserving woman I’ve ever met. Anyone would be lucky to call you theirs and have all your love and passion directed at them. I couldn’t imagine where I’d be right now if we’d never gotten together.”
Jessie squeezed her tight and closed her eyes. She’d never been as grateful in her life for someone as she was right now. Whispering into Steph’s hair, she said, “I’m the lucky one, Steph. If you’d never come here, I’d still be floating along, going nowhere. You saved me.”
“No more than you saved me, Jess. I love you,” Stephanie whispered back, looking up and into her eyes. “You have no idea how badly I needed you when you showed up. You aren’t the only one who’s had bad relationships and was afraid to take a chance.”
She wanted to ask…Stephanie had never mentioned any of her past relationships before. Not in detail, anyway, but she chose not to. If Steph wanted to elaborate, she would. In the meantime, she chose to focus on how lucky she was that Stephanie had given her this second chance. Pulling her into a kiss, Jessie whispered, “I love you.”
* * * *
By the time five o’clock rolled around, Jessie and Stephanie had done all the apologizing and plan making they could. Having fallen asleep sometime between Stephanie’s revelations about Alex’s feelings, and plans to keep Jessie busy in LA, they were both wide awake now.
“Mmm, we should probably get up,” Jessie said, nuzzling into Stephanie’s hair.
“Do we have to?” Stephanie whined, plainly not wanting to get out of bed.
“Theresa’s going to think I killed you or something if we don’t come out soon,” Jessie said in answer. “Besides, I didn’t eat anything after you left last night, and I’m hungry.” As if on cue, her stomach growled loudly.
Stephanie looked up at her from where her head was resting on her stomach. “Jess, what did you do last night…After I stormed out?”
Embarrassed and none too proud of how she’d handled things, she said, “I uh…” she sighed and decided to tell the redhead everything. She wasn’t going to pretend she’d handled things well when she’d gone right back to her old ways so quickly. “I threw a book, kicked a hole in the bedroom wall, and then I drank an entire bottle of Vodka. That’s what I was doing when you came in this morning…cleaning up the aftermath.”
“Oh, Jess…” Stephanie felt terrible, having put the brunette through that.
Stroking the auburn hair, Jessie said, “It’s okay, Steph. I actually managed to learn something from the way I reacted.”
“Yeah?” she asked dubiously, not sure she really wanted to know what Jessie had learned by putting her foot through a wall and getting drunk.
“Yeah.” She released the redhead and rolled over, preparing to get out of bed and get dressed. “Back in the day, I would have gone out to a bar, gotten drunk and picked someone up. I probably wouldn’t even know who I was in bed with. So, staying home and getting drunk there, was a change for me. It never even occurred to me to go out and look for someone else.”
Stephanie raised an eyebrow, unsure of exactly how to take that little revelation. “Well… that’s good I guess.”
Jessie leaned back over and pressed her forehead to Stephanie’s. “Trust me. For me, that’s a minor miracle.” She kissed her, long and slow. When she released the redhead’s lips, she said, “I love you. And there is nothing in this world, or any other, that will ever change that, Steph. I never say things I don’t mean, and I will never lie to you. You have my word.”
For Stephanie, Jessie’s words rang a bell, reminding her that Alex had said the same thing just last night. ‘Jessie never says things she doesn’t mean,’ the brunette had told her. At that moment, trying to think of something to say, her stomach growled as well, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since some time yesterday, either.
* * * *
Theresa and Brian looked hesitantly toward the doorway when first Stephanie, and then Jessie, appeared. The look on Theresa’s face almost made Jessie laugh, before she managed to control herself. Theresa was already pissed off at her for the way she’d handled things. She didn’t need to irritate her any more by laughing at her. So, holding Stephanie’s hand, she followed her into the living room and sat down next to her on the couch.
“So…” Brian finally cleared his throat and took the plunge, since it didn’t look like anyone else was going to. “You two work things out?”
Stephanie smiled brightly and nodded. “Yeah, I think we did.”
“It took you long enough,” Theresa muttered under her breath, sitting in the recliner and fervently trying to ignore Jessie.
“What’s that, T?” Jessie asked, hearing her say something, and highly suspecting it was a smartass remark but not upset about it. Theresa had every right to be mad, she thought.
Theresa looked over at her, then, and said more loudly, “I said…It must have been tough.”
Jessie smiled, knowing she was full of it. Instead of calling her on it though, she just shrugged. “We took our time, making plans and uh…working things out.”
Theresa raised a brow but only said, “Working things out?”
Jessie, knowing she was still pissed off at her and not really blaming her, blushed. “You know, T. Working things out…make up sex?” Beside her, Stephanie rolled her eyes and fidgeted. She was sure if she looked, Steph would be blushing to the roots of her hair. Still, the stab at levity worked, and the tension in the room dissipated.
Theresa rolled her eyes and laughed. “Jessie, I swear. You are so crude sometimes.”
“Crude? What’s crude about it? You know that’s what people do after they argue. I’m not going to lie to you guys; you’re my oldest, best friends.” She stopped and looked at both of them. “And it isn’t like you two aren’t aware of the fact that we have sex.”
“Maybe Stephanie doesn’t want it announced, Jessie,” Theresa said, feeling like she was explaining something to a teenager.
“Theresa, “Stephanie said, leaning forward. “I know I come across as the innocent type, but…you have seen my movies haven’t you? I mean…I’m the one without clothes, most of the time.” She watched, as Theresa developed a sudden blush, herself. “And…if I remember correctly, you were the one asking for the porn version of my first time with Jessie just a few weeks ago?”
Jessie looked over at Steph with a look of pride and squeezed
her hand. “That’s my girl,” she said, leaning in and kissing her. When she backed away, she looked over toward Theresa, one brow raised toward her hairline. “Really, T? Asking Steph for the porn version?”
“All right,” Theresa said, getting tired of being the brunt of their jokes and huffing slightly. “You, of all people Jessie, have no room to talk. Not only have I seen more of you than I care to think about, you usually tell me every single little detail and then some. So, if you’re both done ripping on me…and you seem to be getting along for the moment, how do you feel about getting something to eat?” At that precise moment, Stephanie’s stomach rumbled again. Loudly. Cocking her head to the side, Theresa smirked. “Well, I guess I got my answer.”
Jessie, relieved that everything seemed to be settled and unable to hold her happiness in any longer, fell into Stephanie, laughing. “Oh, God, T! You are just priceless! I love you guys,” she said, jumping up and hugging the blond and then Brian, in turn. “Let’s eat, I’m starved.”
Two hours later, having braved the world of the fast food hamburger, they were all back at Theresa and Brian’s. Safely ensconced on the couch, Stephanie was curled up with her legs tucked under her, leaning against Jessie. Jessie’s arm was around her, trailing her fingers up and down Steph’s arm softly. Theresa had insisted they watch some cable show about guys who drive around the country searching old barns and warehouses for antiques, and it was finally, mercifully, going off.
“Well, we should probably get to bed,” Jessie said, when Theresa turned the TV off.
“What time’s your flight?” Brian asked, standing up and stretching.
“The plane leaves at ten.” Stephanie unfolded her legs, stood up, and stretched as well. Sticking a hand out to Jessie, she pulled the brunette off the couch.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you guys in the morning,” Theresa said, hugging each of them good night. She watched as the two women walked down the hall, arms wrapped around each other, and shook her head. Jessie never ceased to surprise her. Not only had she overcome her fear of letting someone in, but she was actually willing to take a chance and go to LA with Stephanie. It was a lot of changes in a short period of time, Theresa knew. Sighing, she headed for bed herself.
Around two, Theresa woke up. She was so hot and thirsty; she finally got out of bed and headed into the kitchen for something to drink. When she walked in, she found Jessie sitting at the counter drinking a Diet Coke. Reaching into the fridge, she grabbed a bottle of water and sat down across from the brunette. “Couldn’t sleep?” She cracked open the lid on her water and took a drink.
Jessie shook her head. “Kind of nervous, I guess.”
Theresa had been thinking a lot about Jessie the past twenty four hours. They’d known each other so long, she knew how hard this decision had been for Jessie. Not because she didn’t want to be with Stephanie, but because she was scared. Jessie had never taken a chance with anyone before. If for some reason her relationship with Stephanie didn’t work out, Theresa didn’t even want to think about what would happen to her oldest friend. Instead of saying anything however, she simply nodded in understanding and said, “I bet.”
Taking the blondes’ answer for continued irritation with her, Jessie set her can down and looked at her. “Theresa…I know you’re mad about being drug into our argument last night…and this morning. I’m really sorry that happened.”
“Jessie…” Theresa sighed, before finally finding the words she wanted. “I’m not mad at you. Not anymore. As a matter of fact, you’ve actually managed to impress me.” When she saw the look of surprise on Jessie’s face, she went on. “I never expected you to agree to go to LA with her, Jess. Not yet, anyway. I thought maybe…in a couple of months, if you guys were still together, you might go visit. But I never expected this.”
“I love her, T.” It was a simple statement. Spoken quietly, almost shyly. “I can’t live without her, and I don’t even want to try.”
Theresa got down off her stool and walked around the counter to take Jessie into a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Jess. You have no idea how glad I am that you two found each other. Stephanie loves you so much. I know you guys can work this out and stay together. Please promise me you won’t give up too easily?”
Jessie hugged her back and smiled. “I’m never giving her up, T. Last night was as close as I ever want to come to losing her.”
Letting Jessie go, Theresa went back to her side of the counter again. “Can I ask you something before you leave, Jess?”
“Sure, Theresa. Anything you want,” Jessie answered, curious and fascinated when the blondes’ face turned a bright, beet red.
Shyly, Theresa asked, “Just what the Hell were you doing to Alex in the shower to make her scream like that? And…can you teach Brian?”
Jessie burst out laughing, holding her sides. God, she was going to miss Theresa while she was gone!
Author’s Page:
Thank you for reading Drake’s Rock. If you enjoyed it, please leave feedback on Amazon.com. As always, I appreciate any constructive comments my readers may offer. Please visit me on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/Alexriordan123?ref=hl, for updates and info on coming stories.