“That is cool,” Addie laughs, grabbing a straw from the bag.
I look over and see Jessica eyeing me, the depth of her blue eyes soft and endearing as she watches me interact with her daughter.
“Who taught you that?” Jessica questions softly as she eyes Addie attempting to make her own caterpillar.
“My dad,” I mumble. She nods and opens the paper bag, digging for food. She doesn’t ask more. She never does when the conversation goes toward my parents. It goes against that crossing the line of simple and easy, to complicated.
Jessica and I eat in silence, listening to Addie talk about some boy she is crushing on. Jessica doesn’t seem to approve of her puppy love, but I say she’s young. She hasn’t lived unless she has had her heart broken a few times.
I crumple up the paper bag and throw it in the trash, and head to the bedroom to put the rest of my clothes on.
“I think we need to distance ourselves from one another.”
I pull my shirt over my head, the fabric brushing along my bottom lip as I groan loudly at Jessica’s statement.
“Why is that?” I ask, fetching my boots to pull on.
“I think it's best. So we don’t grow feelings for each other,” she mumbles, chewing on the pad of her finger. I know Jessica wants nothing of love; she has told me that before.
“The idea of falling in love with someone, giving them your heart, the organ that keeps you alive, is suicide.” She has said it repeatedly. Last night was more than emotional. I figured she would wake up freaking out, and my suspicion was correct.
I stand up after tying my bootlaces and stalk over to her, her hand wrapped around her body as she continues to nibble on her finger. I slide my hand under her chin and tilt it upward, making her look me in the eye.
“Are you growing feelings for me, Jessica?”
She begins to talk, but it comes out a stutter.
“Maybe I should have made the rule for you not to fall for me?” I interrupt, my voice low and rough. I saw the way she looked at me after we had sex. She looked at me with an entirely different vibe.
Jessica’s eyes squint in anger as she grabs my finger under her chin, pushing it away from her.
“This is just a game to you,” she hisses, her blue eyes vibrant with rage.
I smirk, and run my hands through my hair. “No, it’s not a game to me. I just think you are being ridiculous,” I continue, putting my hands in my pockets.
“Me protecting my daughter is not being ridiculous,” she snaps, placing her hands on her hips.
“I have been around for years, Jessica. I haven’t gone anywhere. Not when you pushed me away, and not anytime soon. So why don’t you really say what this is about. Stop using Addie as an excuse. Stop protecting yourself,” I respond, my tone coming off angry more than I intended it to.
“Excuse me!” she shrieks. Oh, shit! Here comes the crazy.
“I think you need to take a fucking chill pill. Stop over thinking things,” I clip, grabbing my cut off the floor. I need to split before this goes south. Besides, I need to get to the club anyhow.
“I—” she breaks off when I shake my head, and lean in, kissing her forehead.
I walk into the kitchen and ruffle Addie’s hair. She’s sitting at the counter still eating.
“See ya around,” I mutter. Addie turns her head and smiles as I walk toward the door and leave.
9
Jessica
What the hell just happened? I sit on the couch replaying everything that took place starting from yesterday. I saw the look in his eye last night when we were having sex, the feeling of his arms around my body as he comforted me, and the way he acted as if he was Addie’s best friend this morning. I close my eyes and sigh. Maybe he is right. Maybe I am the one breaking the rules, or maybe I am just over thinking everything in general.
“He seems really nice,” Addie remarks, sitting on the couch. I turn and look at her, trying to read if she is joking or not, but the smile on her face is proof she is completely smitten by Bobby.
There is no denying that Bobby and I have chemistry, but I won’t allow Bobby to fall for me and lay claim to me. I won’t be trapped like that again. But it doesn’t make Bobby any less alluring or charming. Even with the flaws of danger lurking around him, I am completely powerless to the way my body ignites for him.
“He is nice,” I reply. I lean over, giving her forehead a kiss and then walk over to the food sitting on the counter.
***
I’m looking at a chart for one of my patients, trying to focus, but my mind keeps replaying me and Bobby in my bedroom, my mind flicking through the images of how he and Addie clicked so well yesterday. I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to get a grip of myself.