Into The Woods (Dark Fairy tales), page 33
“No, darling, that’s what I have these girls for,” Mrs. Kay teased as she gestured to Jarvis’ five teenage foster sisters cleaning up and putting away food. “So, my Jarvis tells me that you go to Emory. Is that where you met?”
“Um…yes,” Sutton replied nervously. The last thing she wanted to tell the sweet lady was that she met Jarvis when he felt her up at a sex club. “We met in the elevator.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but close enough.”
“Oh, do you want to be a lawyer, too?”
“No, I’m a business major. I don’t think I have enough courage to be a lawyer.”
“Oh, my Jarvis is a natural-born lawyer. He will fight you on anything. The boy has more moxie than any child that has ever walked through these doors. It just took some coaxing to get it out of him.”
“Coaxing?”
“When Jarvis first came to me he was a tall, skinny, quiet thing. He would never stand up for himself; just let the bigger kids push him around. So I asked him, ‘why don’t you stand up for yourself?’ He just simply shrugged. I told him that he was more courageous than he knew—that when the day came to fight, he would be the strongest thing coming. Sure enough, from that day forth he continued to be the quiet observer, until he felt he needed to stand up.” Mrs. Kay looked out the window at Jarvis playing basketball with the little kids, and smiled. “I would always put him in charge of the new arrivals. He’s always been the protector of the weak, because he knows how it feels to be one.”
Sutton looked out the window and couldn’t help but share in Mrs. Kay’s smile. Jarvis was a great guy. Once she pulled back the sexy bravado he’d adopted for The Woods, he was a simple and sweet man. He was the protector who helped her through a place that for most would have been completely consuming. He was still the one standing by her as she found her way. Sutton couldn’t help but be thankful for her friend and his loving heart.
“He’s a great man,” Sutton said with a smile.
Mrs. Kay gave Sutton a knowing grin. “He likes you. He likes you a lot.”
“No, Mrs. Kay, we’re just friends.”
“Child, don’t give me that ‘just friends’ business. Jarvis likes you as more than just a friend. Wanna know how I know?”
Sutton hated that her curiosity was piqued. She didn’t want to feed Mrs. Kay’s suspicions about what their relationship really was. But Sutton couldn’t help wanting to know. “How do you know?”
“He never talks about girls. I actually haven’t seen him bring one home since freshman year of college. For a while I was starting to wonder if he was gay. I mean, he changed his whole way of dress from baggy jeans and t-shirts to dressy pants and fancy shirts. Then he became so secretive about his life. I was waiting for the day that he would bring home some guy. Not that I would’ve cared.”
Sutton almost burst into laughter at the thought of Jarvis being gay. There were many men who were secretly gay, but the idea of her man-whore friend being one of them was a far reach. “I can assure you, he’s not gay, Mrs. Kay.”
“I know, because he likes you. You are the first girl he’s talked about in a long time. The first one that he’s had that fire in his eyes for. When he came over to tell me you’d be joining us for dinner, I could see it right then.”
“You could see what?”
Mrs. Kay looked out the window at her son then turned back to Sutton. “That he was falling in love,” Mrs. Kay said, as she turned her attention back to the girls cleaning the kitchen.
Sutton looked at Jarvis through the window and felt her stomach knot. Since the night he’d busted into her apartment and made love to her, she’d been stuck. Stuck on a rollercoaster of wanting his touch, but not wanting to make it more than it was. Jarvis was amazing, and if she’d met him before The Woods, before Maddox, before her life changed, he’d be just what she wanted.
Now he was nothing more than a friend. He was a dear friend, who she loved more than anything and didn’t want to lose. Sutton knew it was her fault. After Shay’s party she’d let herself fall into the trap of having sex with him for days, even though she knew he secretly wanted more. Jarvis never admitted it, going along with the ‘friends having sex’ agreement, but she knew he wanted more, and she did nothing to stop him. She couldn’t deny that since they’d started having regular sex, her feelings were a bit blurred, but the one thing that rang true was that she didn’t want to lose the one piece of normal she still had.
Her friendship with Jarvis was more important than sex. Yet she couldn’t stop herself from wanting him. She couldn’t stop herself from wanting to be in his arms and feel his touch. Sutton knew his growing feelings were caused by her lack of resolve and by the fact that she’d put her needs before his feelings. Sutton sighed as she replayed Mrs. Kay’s words. “He’s falling in love.” Why was he falling in love, Sutton thought, as she watched her friend.
***
“You seem a little out of it. Is something wrong?” Jarvis asked, as he walked Sutton to her door.
“No, I’m fine,” Sutton replied curtly.
Sutton tried her best to hide her true feelings, but she found it a hard task. The rest of the evening was spent thinking over the past few days spent with Jarvis. How no matter how many times she said she just wanted friendship, she still fell into bed with him. That he’d spent every night since Shay’s party at her apartment, making heart-stopping love to her. How she knew he had feelings, but never knew they ran deeper than a fascination with her body and sex.
The Jarvis she was dealing with was the young protector his mother spoke of, not the suave playboy from The Woods. Somehow she’d been able to do something that tons of women at The Woods could not. She’d made Jarvis fall in love with her. This was a task that many women would be excited about, but it scared Sutton to her core. Not only did she not share his feelings, she wasn’t exactly sure how to tell him this fact. Sutton couldn’t help but feel that no matter what she did, Jarvis was going to be hurt.
“Something’s wrong. Earlier today you were all smiles and now…did I do something to upset you?” Jarvis asked, concern filling his eyes.
“No you didn’t do anything. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Would you like to talk about it?”
Sutton wondered if she should say something. Get her feelings out before it went any further, she thought despairingly. “You mother said something to me that has my mind going a mile a minute.”
“Oh, is that all,” Jarvis said, a bit relieved. “My mother is just an old southern lady. You know they say whatever comes into their minds. What did she say? Was it something about your weight?”
“My weight?”
“She just said something to me about how you could stand to eat a little more because you were thin. It was more joking than anything.”
“This has nothing to do with my weight, Jarvis. This has to do with you and me,” Sutton replied, as seriousness filled her face.
Jarvis’ smile faded, as he took in Sutton’s words. “So, spill it.”
“What do you feel for me, Jarvis? I want you to be honest. Your mother said I’m the first girl you’ve brought home in years. That you talk about me, and she thinks you’re falling in love with me.” Sutton looked at a stoic Jarvis. “Are you falling in love with me?”
“Do you want me to be honest?” Jarvis asked, not breaking Sutton’s gaze.
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want to hear the truth.”
“I’m not falling in love with you, Sut,” Jarvis said, never breaking Sutton’s gaze. “I’m not falling in love with you because…because I already love you.”
Sutton felt her stomach drop. “You love me? You mean as a friend, right?” Sutton asked, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.
“Come on, Sut, I think you know I love you as more than that.”
“No. No, I didn’t know that Jarvis. How long have you felt like this?” Sutton asked, still in shock from his admission.
Jarvis ran his hand over his head, as he paced a bit. “I think in a way I’ve cared about you from the moment I first saw you. From the second I touched you on that elevator. Even when you were with Maddox, I’ve cared for you. Over time it just grew into more. I didn’t know how to tell you, because you were with Maddox, and I didn’t want to step into your relationship.” Jarvis stopped pacing and looked at a stunned Sutton. He moved in closer, placing his hand on her cheek, “Then you broke up and something in me just…you weren’t his, and you were in my bed. You were making love to me. It had nothing to do with The Woods, it was just us. I guess I’ve always loved you, Sutton. I’ve loved you for months. I can downplay it, but that’s how I feel. I could see myself with you for the long run. For me, that’s huge. I haven’t been able to say that in years, but that’s how I feel.”
Sutton broke Jarvis’ gaze staring at her shaking hands. “I can’t say that I feel the same. I can’t say that I feel more for you than just friendship,” Sutton choked out as she confessed. “I never meant to lead you on.”
Jarvis looked at Sutton his eyes full of surprise. “You don’t feel anything? Nothing?”
“I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel anything, Jarvis. I love you, but I think it’s more as a friend than anything else. You’re an amazing guy, and if I’d met you before The Woods…”
“So, it’s because I still work there? I can quit, Sut. I planned to quit soon anyway.”
“No Jarvis it not that.” Sutton felt tears begin to sting her eyes. “I’m not the same girl who was on that elevator, months ago. If at that moment I’d known how amazing you were, I would have walked away from The Woods and been yours. Now…now I can’t see myself being in a relationship with anyone, let alone someone I love and hold so dear. Jarvis, I don’t want to lose you as a friend. I could lie and just go with this relationship, but then it would only hurt you in the long run. I wouldn’t be honest about what I want.”
Jarvis looked at Sutton with a mix of pain and anger in his eyes. “What do you want, Sut?”
Sutton closed her eyes and took in a calming breath. “I don’t know. I just know that…”Sutton stopped not knowing how to finish the sentence.
A sardonic smile washed onto Jarvis’ face. “You just know it’s not me. It’s cool, Sutton, I get it.”
“Get what?” Sutton asked, as she pushed back her tears.
“That like many woman from The Woods, you want the thrill. You want to feel the rush of off-the-wall sex and expensive gifts. How could I ever give you half of what Maddox gave you? I’m not your guy.”
“Jarvis, that’s not true,” Sutton murmured.
Jarvis dismissively shook his head, as he gave Sutton a kiss on the cheek. “It is, but you’ll never admit it. Really, it’s cool.” Jarvis gave Sutton another kiss. “Good bye, Sutton.” Jarvis gave Sutton a pained smile before walking to the elevator.
Sutton watched him get on and felt her heart stop. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him. The last thing she wanted was to lose her best friend. There was nothing I could do, Sutton thought, as she let herself into her apartment. He was in love with me long before I started this thing. Sutton wandered into her room and fell onto her bed. Tears fell down her cheeks as the realization of losing her friend hit her hard. She didn’t know why, but losing Jarvis hurt more than losing Maddox. Sutton wiped her tears as she tried to convince herself that it was best to let him go.
***
What’s worse than arrogant rich men, Sutton thought as she sipped her drink? Boring arrogant rich men who didn’t know how to keep their hands to themselves. Sutton finally found her way to the balcony of the elaborate mansion where Charlotte had brought her for a not-so-thrilling party. Sutton was happy to have a few minutes alone where she could get some air, and her ass could get a break from being fondled.
The party was everything Charlotte had said it would be. Some of the familiar faces from the Platinum level were in attendance, mixed with others Sutton had only seen on the news and in the papers. It was as if The Woods had been placed inside someone’s lavish home. Sex ran rampant, and it seemed as if the men were more than expecting Sutton to strip at their command. She didn’t know why, but the idea of some guy screwing her, then leaving a couple hundreds on the nightstand, made her feel more like a whore than when she was actually a whore.
Sutton finished her drink and began to plot her escape, wishing she’d opted to drive herself, rather than ride with Charlotte in her limo. She didn’t have the number for the limo service, which had long since gone after their arrival. She also had no clue where Charlotte was, since she, too, disappeared after their arrival. Sutton looked through her phone numbers, wondering who she could call to come to her rescue. Jarvis instantly popped into Sutton’s mind. It had been about two weeks since their breakup, and she couldn’t get it out of her head.
She’d run the events through her mind over and over, wondering if there was anything she could have done to make it better. Was there anything that she could have said to spare his feelings and his heart? Sutton always came to the same conclusion; it was best to be honest. Yet, she wasn’t really sure if being honest was worth losing her best friend.
Over the two weeks she’d called every day, but never got an answer. Her text messages went unreturned, and even a surprise visit got her nowhere. Sutton didn’t know why the fight with Jarvis was bothering her so much. The only reason she could think of was that he was a great friend. Jarvis was her best friend, and the thought that he was hurt made her feel horrible.
However, Sutton also knew that the reason she wanted to talk to him was because she missed him. Jarvis was her only piece of normal. She missed being with him. He was the only one that she truly felt herself with. Yet she was still unable to see him as more than a friend. Was it because she didn’t want to lose him as a friend, or was it because she was scared to take a chance? Was she scared that giving her heart to Jarvis would be too much for her to take? After her time in The Woods, Sutton had begun to wonder if she even believed in love, let alone the idea that she could be everything Jarvis needed.
Sutton pushed Jarvis out of her mind and decided to rescue herself, opting for a cab instead of a man. Making her way back downstairs, she began to search for anything with an address on it. Sneaking into the study, she searched about the desk for any piece of mail she could find. There was nothing there except documents that looked very familiar. She picked up a file and began to read. This is from Maverick Industries, Sutton thought, as she looked through the paper work.
She now began to wonder who the house belonged to. There was no telling who at Maverick industries would throw a party full of wealthy men and loose women. Sutton had stopped judging a book by its cover shortly after meeting all the upstanding Atlanta citizens who loved to have kinky sex when they were hidden in the dark. Sutton put the folder of documents down and began looking through the drawers.
“Do you make it a point to go through everyone’s desk? It’s funny how I keep finding you in this position.”
Sutton jumped as the voice filled the room, but was quickly relieved to see Jeremiah’s smiling face. “I was looking for mail,” Sutton replied as she closed the drawer.
“Mail? Just because the house is owned by Maverick Industries’ staff doesn’t mean you have to work,” Jeremiah teased, as he moved in closer to Sutton. “You sure know how to ruin a good time.”
“I was looking for mail so I could get the address. I want to call a cab so I can leave.”
“Why? This isn’t your cup of tea?” Jeremiah joked pointing toward the door.
Sutton listened to the loud music and the muffled voices outside the door. “No, I just had a long day and would like to leave.”
“I could take you. I was just about to leave myself, and since we live in the same building I don’t mind giving you a ride.”
Sutton walked around the desk. “That would be great,” she said, walking out the door with Jeremiah.
The cool December weather chilled Sutton’s bare arms as she climbed into Jeremiah’s Jaguar. “How is it you keep showing up just when I need you?” Sutton teased.
“I guess I have a sixth sense,” Jeremiah chuckled, as he started the ignition and took off down the driveway.
Sutton looked out the window, letting trees and then buildings pass in the night. She looked over at Jeremiah, who was concentrating on the road. She loved the way he looked outside work. His hair was always tousled and his clothes were stylish, but in more of a casual, sexy way. Jeremiah was one of those men who looked just as sexy dressed as he did naked. At least, Sutton assumed, seeing that she’d never made her way to being in the great Jeremiah’s bed, short of the one drink in his private room at The Woods. Now that he was her boss, she didn’t see it happening any time soon.
“Any plans for Christmas?” Sutton asked, in an effort to get out of her own head.
“I normally go on vacation for holidays. You know, skiing or some tropical island.”
