Chapter Fifty-Eight
Marley had just unpacked her clothes when her phone started ringing. It was Jesse. Marley looked at her phone before declining his call and the twenty after that one. He started texting her then and she switched her phone off. Jesse Owens could go fly a kite for all she cared! She wasn't going to play this game with him. She'd taken a chance and she'd lost, she'd move on and get over him, eventually.
The house was quiet for exactly five minutes before she heard Kelley’s voice in the foyer. “Mom?”
Marley rushed out of her room and down the stairs. “Hey …”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were at Jesse’s.” Kelley's frown spoke volumes and Marley sighed.
“Are you mad about that?”
Kelley looked at Marley for a few seconds. “No. Jesse’s a good guy.”
“Oh.” She hadn't expected that answer from him. Why exactly was Jesse so worried about Kelley's reaction?
“Where’s Mom?”
Marley walked down the last few steps and hugged Kelley tightly. She didn't want to answer his question. “I miss you, Kelley.”
Kelley's arms wrapped around her and he kissed the side of her head. “I’m always here for you, Marley, whatever you need.”
They moved to the living room and sat on the couches and talked. At lunch time they ordered pizza and Kelley seemed comfortable and relaxed. They talked about school, and what Marley was doing with her time and then Kelley looked at his watch.
“You should find a college you like, Marley. You have to do something with your time and getting a degree of some sort is never a bad thing.”
“I know. Look after yourself, Kelley, I love you.”
“Love you too, Marley. Call me when Mom gets back and stay with Jesse … it’s probably safer than being here alone.”
“I will.”
Marley hugged Kelley and watched him as he drove down the driveway and closed and locked the front door. When she turned her phone on again she looked at the last message that Jesse had sent her.
Jesse – I can see you’re at home so I know you’re safe at least. I’m sorry.
She deleted his messages and threw her phone on the bed. His rejection hurt and she still thought that she loved him and that he could love her, but she wouldn’t beg. She’d never do that. Either he wanted her in his life or he didn’t.
Marley spent the next week at home, sorting through her feelings, eating buckets of ice cream and sorting out her life. She got involved with two charities and then decided that enough was enough. She had a life and she was going to live it.
She planned an evening out with three of her friends and they met up at a restaurant. Marley had just settled into her seat when the others arrived. They ordered and laughed, enjoying each other’s company and talking about the future.
“Marley, this hot guy is staring at you, your six o’clock.”
Marley turned in her seat and looked into Jesse’s eyes. He sat by the bar with a clear view of the restaurant. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her friends. “He’s not that hot.”
“Are you kidding me? Do you know him?”
“No, and I don’t care to either.”
They finished at the restaurant and then headed to a popular nightclub. Inside the music was deafening, the club filled to capacity and drinks flowed freely. Marley didn’t drink though because she wanted a clear head.
They danced to the music and laughed every time someone bought them drinks. They were young and carefree. Marley looked around but she didn’t see Jesse anywhere. Her feelings were all muddled up because seeing him earlier had just made her think of him more.
Why was he there? Why did she care that he was watching her? He didn’t want her in his life and she needed to get rid of the desperate feeling inside her to see him again. Nobody bothered them and she tried to enjoy her night with her friends.
Marley took a breather at the bar and ordered a mocktail. If she wasn’t drinking she could at least look like she was drinking and having a great time. A young man in his early twenties sat down on the stool next to hers and smiled.
“Get lost.” The voice was deep and had almost growled those words out.
Marley turned to look at Jesse who now sat on her other side. “What’s your problem, Jesse?”
“What are you doing, Marley?”
“I’m having fun with my friends. You do know what fun is right? Why are you following me?”
“Someone has to make sure you’re safe.”
“You’ll have me believing you care, Jesse.”
Jesse’s eyes narrowed as he moved closer to her. “I do care.”
“No you don’t. Go home, Jesse.”
“I do care, Marley. Why did you leave?”
“Because I deserve better. I’m in love with you, Jesse, but I can’t be there if you don’t love me back and I don’t know what happened in your past but I’m not some victim that needs to be handled with care. I’m a woman and I know what I want. I’m not going to hurt you but I also won’t break if you’re not on top form all the time. We all have issues and I can see that you do too, but that’s your problem. Either you want me or you don’t. It’s all or nothing.”
Marley turned back to face the bar just as the bartender placed the drink down in front of her. Jesse sat unmoving and then he stood up from the stool. Marley turned to look at him as he bent forward and threw her over his shoulder.
Jesse carried her outside and all the way to his car. He put her down on the ground and unlocked his car. “Get in.” Marley looked at him for a few seconds before complying. Jesse closed her door and then rounded the car and got into the driver’s side.
He started the car and drove away from the club. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
