Winter's Role, page 17
And, as she’d spent more time with Jessie, Joanie finally decided that she actually kind of liked her. As a matter of fact, she was beginning to trust her, if only a little bit. In the time she’d known her, Joanie had never seen Jessie do anything that would suggest that she had anything other than the actress’ best interests at heart. For that matter, she’d gone out of her way more than once, to make herself available for Stephanie for the smallest things. From Tommy’s birthday, to the art show, Jessie had proven herself over and over. Occasionally, she found herself wondering how Jessie was managing to maintain her job at the law firm, she spent so much time with Stephanie. When she had casually mentioned it to Stephanie one day, the actress had explained that Jessie was using her accumulated vacation time. It made her wonder what was going to happen when the vacation time ran out, but she didn’t mention it to either of them again. For some reason, she thought Jessie might be planning something. Although, she had yet to discover what that something was. Still, she had no intentions of letting Jessie know she liked her. She kind of liked keeping the confident brunette on her toes.
Now, sitting in the coffeehouse with Stephanie, she asked, “So Steph…any plans for the holidays? The show’s going on hiatus pretty soon.”
Stephanie looked at her over her salad and smiled. “Actually, I’m hoping Jessie will agree to go home with me to New York.”
Joanie’s eyebrow rose toward her hairline. “Oh? Taking her to meet the family?”
“Well, she’s already met Mom…you know, in Ohio, when she came to stay with us after the attack,” Stephanie said. It felt odd, thinking about it now. She hadn’t thought about the attack in months. Not until she came out, anyway. That’s when the nasty phone calls had started. She was beginning to think that Bob had somehow escaped to come after her again when Jessie had mentioned in passing only last night that he had been sentenced to a minimum security facility with a strong mental health program. Knowing that he was safely locked away made her feel better. Still, the phone calls and social media posts had her on edge. She tried not to think about what had happened with Bob. Being attacked, especially by someone that she knew, even if only in passing, had been terrifying. The fact that Jessie and Theresa had come back to the hotel, stopping him from raping her, had been a miracle. She had worked hard to put it behind her, though. Even though the event was always in the back of her mind, it seemed like something out of a bad dream, more than anything else, now. She smiled to herself, remembering how instrumental Jessie had been in helping her through that.
“They’re going to love her, Steph,” Joanie said.
The comment surprised her and had the added effect of drawing her attention back to the present. “Really? You think so?”
Joanie nodded. “I do. And, before you go thinking I’m just saying that, I’m not. Over the last few months, she’s grown on me. I have to admit…I think I was wrong about my original assessment of her.”
Stephanie set her fork down and swallowed before taking a drink of her water. “You know…I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say you were wrong, before.”
Joanie shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything. But if you tell her I said that, I’ll deny everything.”
To her credit, Stephanie just laughed and didn’t dwell on the subject. If Joanie could admit she’d been wrong, far be it from her to rub the woman’s nose in it. Instead, she turned the conversation toward other subjects as their entrees arrived. By the time they’d finished lunch, she found she was missing Jessie all over again.
* * * *
Jessie’s cell phone buzzed and she looked down to check the caller ID. Smiling, she picked up and answered. Whispering, so she wouldn’t interrupt Mr. Mason, she said, “Hey. Yeah, my meeting’s about to wrap up. I’ll call you back in about fifteen. Okay, bye.” Closing the phone, she turned her attention back to the meeting.
Theresa looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. She knew who it was without even asking. No one made Jessie smile quite like that but Stephanie. Checking her watch, she noticed it was almost lunch time. That would make it around ten out in LA. Stephanie must be on a break from filming right now if she’s calling this early.
Ten minutes later found them back in their office. “So, was that Stephanie calling?” Theresa asked with a knowing smile. She already knew the answer. She just wanted to see Jessie smile that shy little smile. Stephanie’s voice always did that to her.
Jessie nodded and smiled, not disappointing her friend. “Yeah. She was on break. I’m calling her back right now.” She dialed the number and waited for the actress to pick up.
“Hello?” Stephanie’s voice came over the phone.
“Hey. Sorry I couldn’t talk when you called. Mr. Mason called a meeting this morning to go over a new account we’re getting.”
“That’s okay. I wasn’t calling for anything really important,” Stephanie said. “I was just…well...I talked to Mom this morning. She wanted me to tell you that she’s expecting you at their house for the holidays.”
Jessie nearly dropped the phone in surprise. “She is? She wants me to come to New York with you?”
“Well, she asked me to invite you. If you don’t believe me, I guess I could have her call you herself,” she teased.
“I do believe you. I’m just…happy, is all,” Jessie said, grinning from ear to ear. “And, I’m glad that your mom wants me to be there. It makes me feel really good.”
Stephanie could hear the truth of what Jessie was saying, but she could also hear the slight hesitation in her voice. “Jess? Is there a problem? You don’t have to go if you don’t want?”
“Oh, Stephanie, no! Of course I want to go with you,” Jessie said honestly, not wanting to upset her. “It’s just…well…my brother’s coming into town for Thanksgiving.”
“Oh,” Stephanie said, disappointed. “Now that you say that, I do remember you mentioning he’d probably be coming home with his family.”
“I’m so sorry, Steph. I’d rather go with you. There’s no place I’d rather be. I hope you know that?” Jessie felt horrible. She’d gotten a sudden bout of the stomach flu right before she was supposed to go to LA last weekend, which caused her to cancel their plans. She hadn’t seen Stephanie in two weeks now, and the separation was killing her. She really, really, needed to see her. “Maybe we could work something else out?”
“I miss you too, Jess.” Her voice became wistful, as she added, “I really miss you.”
Jessie laughed. “I can hear it in your voice. Maybe we just need to schedule a little get together for this next week?”
“How about this weekend? I can be there Friday night if you don’t mind picking me up late?”
“Really? You’ll come out this weekend?” Jessie asked, surprised that she’d fly in so soon. “I guess you’re saying the phone thing isn’t working for you?”
“Is it for you? I can’t touch you through the phone. And I really, really, need to touch you. My plane leaves Friday at six.”
“You’ve already bought the ticket?”
“I told you I missed you.” She laughed. “I’ll head to the airport right from the studio and get in around one.”
“I’ll be there waiting for you at the gate,” Jessie promised, excitement at seeing Stephanie again rushing through her system. “We’ll talk about the holidays when you get here.”
“It’s a deal,” Stephanie answered back, feeling better knowing she’d be seeing Jessie in two days. “And Jess…don’t make any plans to leave the house until Monday. I have plans for you.”
Jessie swallowed hard, her face turning red and her mouth going dry. “You’ve got it, Babe.”
In the background, she heard someone talking to Stephanie. A second later, she said, “They’re calling me back to the set. I’ve gotta go. I’ll call you tonight. And Jessie?”
“Yeah?” she said breathlessly.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She closed the phone and sat staring out the office window. God, she missed Steph! They were going to have to make some changes in this arrangement and soon, or they were both going to go crazy.
“What’d she have to say?” Theresa asked, walking up behind her at the desk. When Jessie didn’t answer right away, she said, “Jessie!” and pounded on the desk lightly with the flat of her hand.
Snapping out of the daydream she’d been caught up in, Jessie turned the chair around. “You need something, T?”
“I was asking how Stephanie’s doing?” she said, smirking at her. “But I can tell by the blank look on your face that she’s probably doing about as well as you are.”
Jessie groaned. “Is it that obvious?”
Theresa nodded, sitting on the corner of the desk with one hip. “Uhh yeah, just slightly. Why don’t you guys just make this thing official, Jess? I mean, it’s obvious you want to be together.”
“Yeah, but we both have careers to think about, too. I could never ask her to give hers up, and she’ll never ask me, either,” she said, sighing in frustration. They were stuck in limbo, both of them wanting the same thing but afraid to ask the other for anything more. It really sucked, although she had taken a few steps in what she hoped was the right direction.
“Jessie, you can be a lawyer in LA. As a matter of fact, I hear they have plenty of them out there,” she said, watching Jessie for her reaction.
“Exactly, so why would they need one more?” Jessie asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Well…you could pursue your music a little better out there,” Theresa suggested carefully. She knew Jessie wanted a music career. She also knew she was scared to death to take a chance at a recording contract again. Then again, she’d been afraid to take a chance on Stephanie, and so far that had worked out all right.
Jessie gave her ‘the look’ at her suggestion. “Theresa, I don’t think…”
“Oh, come on. I know you want a recording contract. Go out there and get one,” Theresa said, trying to encourage her. “And I already know what you’re going to say…but…Why don’t you talk to your dad? Maybe he could help you out.”
“Theresa…” Jessie said in warning. They’d had this conversation before, and Theresa was well aware of the fact that she didn’t want to use her dad’s name to get ahead. On the other hand, JD had been more than helpful over the last few weeks. She just hadn’t told many people about the plans she was making. She wanted it to be a surprise. Although she had a sneaking suspicion that Theresa’s feelings might be hurt a bit when she finally found out what she’d been up to in her spare time.
“Jessie, shut up. Good God, you want this! You want Stephanie, and the recording contract. Give up the lawyer gig and go for it,” Theresa pressed. Sometimes, she just got so tired of listening to Jessie’s incessant whining about using her father’s name. JD Drake had offered more than once over the last two months to help Jessie out, and Jessie kept turning him down.
“I can’t just go out there,” Jessie explained. “Besides, I don’t want Stephanie to feel like she has to support me while I try for something that might never happen. On top of that…” she ducked her head down to suddenly stare at something fascinating on the desk, avoiding looking at Theresa. “She asked me to move in with her. When we were in Greece. I told her I couldn’t. Not until I had a job.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t be opposed to your being around more. And I seriously don’t think she would care if you have a job or not.” She leaned over the desk and got in Jessie’s face. “I can tell by the way you two were talking that she’s getting tired of the phone sex. And so are you, if I’m any judge.”
Jessie’s face turned bright red. “I…we’re not…I never said we were doing that!” she exclaimed, attempting to deny it.
Theresa rolled her eyes. “Jessie, please. I’m not stupid. First of all, you’ve never been shy when it comes to talking about sex with me. Since Stephanie’s come along, getting details out of you is damn near impossible, so I know something’s up. Second, it’s pretty obvious what’s going on when you disappear every evening when she calls you at home.”
“Maybe I just want some privacy?” Jessie suggested, grasping at any excuse.
“Jessie…” Theresa eyed her dubiously. “I walked in on you and Alex having sex in the shower, and the only thing you did was tell me to either join you if I wanted to talk, or wait in the living room. You never blinked! You and I both know that privacy isn’t something you’ve ever been worried about. So…I can only conclude…”
“All right! Jesus! You caught us. Are you happy, now?” Jessie was more than flustered. She was irritated, frustrated, and in desperate need of Stephanie’s hands touching her all over. Talking with Theresa right now was so not what she needed.
Theresa sat back and smirked. She knew she was right! “So? What are you gonna do about it?”
Jessie blew out a breath. “Actually, she’s coming into town Friday night,” she said, grateful for the chance to get Theresa off the subject of moving to LA. “And…Nancy’s invited me to New York to spend the holidays with the entire family.”
Theresa’s brows rose toward her hairline. Not because Nancy had invited Jessie to New York…she’d been expecting that. She was surprised because Jessie seemed genuinely surprised by the invitation. “Really? Well, it sounds to me like you’re already considered part of the family. I know Nancy really took to you when she was here. She did tell you then that she was expecting you for the holidays.”
“Well, let’s just wait and see what happens.” Jessie sounded defeated when she said, “David’s coming into town for Thanksgiving with Beth and the kids, and I’m not able to go with her. I am going for Christmas, though,” she said, perking up slightly. “I don’t care what’s going on…I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Theresa smiled. “You are so whipped.”
Jessie smiled crookedly, her face turning red yet again. “I know. But as much as I hate to admit it: I just don’t care. I love her so much, T. If I could spend every waking minute of every day with her for the rest of my life, it would never be enough time.” She looked at Theresa, noticing the way her best friend was staring at her. “What’s that look for?”
“It’s just nice…seeing you so in love.” Theresa smiled, her voice turning wistful. I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I never thought I’d see that from you, after…everything.”
“It’s nice being so in love,” Jessie agreed.
“And, I have to say this,” Theresa began, knowing she was risking making Jessie mad. “I think you’re handling this whole thing really well.” At Jessie’s questioning glance, she explained. “I was really worried about you when you got back from LA that first time. I mean, you seemed so lonely…I thought…well…and then you went back out there the next weekend.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what I thought. You’ve impressed me, Jess.”
“Theresa, I know what you were going to say. You thought I’d call Alex the minute I started missing Steph, didn’t you?” She watched the emotions play over Theresa’s face, knowing she’d hit the nail on the head. Before Theresa could answer, she continued. “It’s okay. I kinda wondered about that myself, at first. But you know, between flying back and forth, and the phone, we’re coping. It’s not a permanent arrangement, but it works for right now.”
“So, you do want this to be permanent then?” Theresa asked.
Jessie nodded. “More than you can know. I’m just not sure if…Well, Stephanie and I haven’t talked about making it more permanent yet. The necklace was my promise to her that I’d eventually move out there, but…I was actually thinking this weekend would be a good time for discussing that.”
Theresa smiled and hugged her. “You finally ready to settle down, Jessie Drake?”
Jessie nodded and smiled shyly. “Yeah, I guess maybe I am.”
* * * *
As promised, Stephanie arrived at the airport around one in the morning. Jessie was there, waiting for her at the gate, when the plane touched down. When their eyes met, Stephanie felt a sense of completeness come over her. For the last two weeks, she’d been craving something, though she couldn’t quite put a name to it. Now she knew. The ‘something’ she’d been craving was Jessie. Specifically, Jessie’s hands and mouth. Smirking to herself at the direction her mind had wandered, she greeted Jessie with a deep, hungry kiss, when she got close enough.
As they finally broke apart, Jessie smiled at her and said, “Wow! I missed you, too!”
Stephanie smiled brightly. “You want me to come through the gate and re-run that scene?”
Jessie shook her head. “Uh uh. I think I’m ready to move on to the next one. Let’s get your luggage and get out of here. I think you said something about having plans for me?”
Stephanie smiled at her enthusiasm and grabbed her hand. “I most certainly do. Let’s get going.”
Arriving at the car, Jessie placed Steph’s luggage in the back and went around to the driver’s seat. Climbing in and shutting the door, she looked over at Stephanie once more. “I’m so glad you came into town, Sweetheart. God, I’ve missed you.”
“Come over here, Jess,” Stephanie said, her eyes becoming a deeper shade of green. She watched as Jessie slid a little closer and she pulled her into another soul searing kiss when she was close enough. As the kiss grew deeper, she tugged at the waist of Jessie’s jeans, pulling her even closer.
Jessie, realizing what Steph was attempting to do, maneuvered over until she was sitting on her lap, facing her. “Is this okay?” she asked breathlessly, leaning in to take control of her lips once more. At Stephanie’s nod, she did just that.
Of their own accord, Stephanie’s hands moved to the front of Jessie’s shirt. As they kissed, she began unbuttoning the blouse, until she could push it back. When Jessie’s chest was exposed to her, she began kneading both breasts through her bra. At the first touch of her hands, Jessie arched into her, throwing her head back and inhaling deeply, trying to keep from crying out.
