Jealousy

Chapter One

Steve made it all the way to the hotel suite he'd planned to stay in until he found a new place to live. He checked in, took the suitcases and trunk inside and sat down on the bed with only one thought, loud and insistent, pounding in his head: What the hell am I doing here? He couldn't believe he'd actually left Jaime.

It wasn't like he'd caught her in bed with Oscar, although they were probably there by now, since he had practically handed her over to him and walked away without a struggle. Jaime was the only woman Steve had ever loved, and he knew he had to rectify his mistake before it was too late. He left the luggage in the suite, got back into his car and broke the speed limit the entire way back to the house. He squealed the tires on purpose as the car roared into the driveway. He hoped they'd hear that and have enough sense to get dressed. Steve knew what was likely to be happening in there, and he had no desire to see it. He gave them a couple of minutes, then headed up the sidewalk. He'd left his key on the coffee table (never intending to return) but for Steve this wasn't a problem. Rather than shatter the door, he kicked the doorknob with the same result: he gained entry into his own house.

Jaime and Oscar stood in the bedroom doorway. Jaime had merely wrapped herself in the sheet, but - thankfully - Oscar was partially dressed. Steve walked toward them and stood almost nose-to-nose with his former best friend. He was nearly quivering with the effort it took to not punch Oscar in the face. He looked him square in the eye, glaring with animosity, until he saw Oscar flinch. Then, Steve had only one thing to say to him:

"Get the hell out of my house!" He looked at Jaime and his whole face softened, along with his voice. "I'd really like it if you'd stay, just for a little while. I need to talk to you. Please?"

Jaime looked up at Oscar. "Don't let him make decisions for you - you're stronger than that," Steve told her. "And Oscar, I told you to get out. This is my house. Jaime, I don't know how long he's been influencing you, but I'm not asking for equal time, just a little while to talk to you - alone. After everything we've been through together, I think you can spare me one evening."

Jaime wasn't looking forward to facing him and seeing the pain she'd caused, but she knew Steve was right. "You'd better go," she told Oscar. "I'll be ok."

Oscar turned and kissed her on his way out the door, knowing how much that would get to Steve. To his credit, Steve said nothing and simply watched him go.

"I'm - gonna go get dressed," Jaime said in a shaky voice. When she re-joined him in the living room, Steve was standing by the fireplace, thinking over what he wanted to say.

"Jaime..." he began, her name catching in his throat as his heart ached for things to magically return to the way they used to be. Steve knew he'd need to make his own magic now. "I'm really sorry I left so quickly today. There were so many things I should've said; the most important being - I don't wanna lose you."

"Steve..."

"More than anything, I want you to be happy. If being with him is the only thing that's gonna do that, then I'll have to live with it. But if you stop and think it over, you might see I'm not the only one making mistakes here. We've been together since we were little kids. After everything we've accomplished, everything we've been through, are you really ready to throw it all away for...what? Passion? The excitement of something new? 'Cause it won't be new for very long." Steve walked over to where Jaime was standing. "And if it's the passion, I can give you passion."

Before Jaime could protest, Steve grabbed her tightly and kissed her with all the passion they'd ever shared poured into that one single kiss. He bent her over backwards as the kiss grew deeper, and Jaime was shocked to feel her body and her heart responding, melting, wanting more. Steve didn't let her go until she could barely breathe. He saw the passion in her eyes and smiled at her triumphantly.

Steve caressed her face and looked directly into her eyes. "Are you really ready to throw that away - to throw us away?" Tears began cascading down Jaime's cheeks, and Steve tenderly wiped them away. "I love you, Jaime. I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love you."

"I - I love you, too..." she whispered. "I'm so confused."

"I'm not trying to force you into something you don't want. If you truly want Oscar, I'll accept that, and learn to deal with it. But please, make sure you've considered all your options before you decide. That's all I"m asking."

"I...don't wanna talk about this anymore."

"Promise me you'll think about it - all of it, not just his side?"

"I can't handle this," she told him through fresh tears. Jaime bolted out the door at bionic speed and, leaving her car behind at the house, ran off blindly into the night.

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