J

It's been six weeks since I've last seen Lisa. I've started working for Jisoo and really enjoy it. My days are busy, and so far, my nights have been quiet. Her schedule is hectic, but she hasn't released a new book since I've been working for her. I know once she does, I'll have to work longer hours, but I'm fine with that. It keeps my mind off people I shouldn't be thinking about. Or one person, for that matter.

Tonight, I have a date. I haven't been on one in such a long time. I'm nervous as hell. With one final glance in the bathroom mirror, I go to the kitchen and drink some water to soothe my nerves. I'm not a drinker, so there's no alcohol in my apartment. A knock at my door lets me know my date is here. I slip on a pair of black sandals and grab my purse.

Opening the door, I see Chan Woo. We went to high school together. He was in Lisa's little group of assholes, but he always hung to the back. I don't have any memories of him ever laughing at me like the others did. Of course, he could have and I missed it.

I bumped into him at the grocery store the other night. I stopped on my way home and there he was standing in the bread aisle, trying to pick something. Not being the kind of person to draw attention to myself, I attempted to avoid him, but I didn't succeed. He saw me, and we started talking. He's nice, handsome, and on the quieter side.

"Jennie," he greets and leans in to kiss me on the cheek. "You look very nice." My face warms at his compliment. It's not something I'm used to hearing.

I decided on a light grey dress that has buttons from the top to bottom where it falls midthigh. A belt brings it in to show off my waist. I've left the top buttons undone and rolled the sleeves up to just below my elbows. It's like one big dress shirt but to be worn as an actual dress.

I brush my hair out of my eyes and smile up at him. "You don't look so bad yourself." In fact, he's handsome as hell, from his perfectly combed-back chestnut hair to his shaven, chiseled jaw, down to his blue and white checkered dress shirt, and his khaki pants. He looks like he belongs in a magazine ad.

He offers me his arm. "Shall we?"

I smile and loop mine through his, then turn to lock my door. We descend the stairs together and being a perfect gentleman, he opens the door of his sleek, black Mercedes coupe for me.

We have dinner at a trendy restaurant downtown, and he continues to be courteous and respectful to me the entire time. From my seat I notice the line of people waiting for a table, so I ask how he got reservations. He tells me it's one of the many restaurants his family owns. That explains where he gets his money. He even goes further to tell me this particular place is half his. He wants to buy and run the next one, all on his own.

After dinner, we stroll down the still bustling sidewalk toward a nightclub. I told him I'm not much of a dancer or drinker, but he explained we'd have VIP treatment and can be tucked away from everyone, if I want. I decide not to ask if this is another place his family owns. His money is of little importance to me. He's charming and seems to care about how I'm feeling.

His fingers tickle my palm for a moment before he laces his fingers with mine. It's nice holding hands and having contact with someone again. I wonder if he'll want to take the date further once the night is over. It's been many months since I've been in bed with someone. Well, if you don't count the night Lisa slept beside me. I shouldn't be thinking of her. Not while on a date with someone else.

"Here we are," Chan says as we step up to a black awning with no name or anything printed on it. I would have walked past if not for him. It's very unassuming. Well, until you peer around the corner and see the line of women and men waiting to get in. Directly in front of me I only see a bouncer, the rope line, and another bouncer who is off to the side. The man at the door smiles wide when he sees Chan. They clasp hands, and the man opens the door for us.

We spend the next three hours inside the club. The music isn't as loud from our booth as it is on the floor below us, but the thumping of the bass can easily be felt throughout the entire place. Neither of us drink, only enjoy each other's company and talk. A couple of men stop by the table to talk to Chan before we leave. They each look me over quickly before dismissing me. I don't meet up to the slutty bar they must hold. Each has a scantily clad, big-breasted woman on their arms. I flip my hair over my shoulder and glance away. I have zero interest in them. I'm tired, my head is starting to hurt from the noise, and I want to go home.

"Sorry, we need to get going," Chan says, cutting one of the men off mid-sentence.

He stands and holds out his hand for me. I gladly accept it as he helps me from the booth. The men leave once I'm standing beside Chan.

Placing both of my hands on his arms, I peer up into his eyes. With my heels on I'm closer to his height but not quite level. His hand comes up to cup my cheek a moment before he lowers his lips to mine. We kiss for only a second before he pulls back slightly to rest his forehead on mine.

"I've wanted to do that all night," he admits.

I smile and this time initiate the kiss. He gently coaxes my lips apart with his tongue. I welcome him in and kiss him back with as much passion as I can muster inside the crowded club. He presses in closer; the evidence of his arousal pushing against me.

My mind spins as he continues to kiss me. Do I want to take this further? Is it him I want? He's kind, caring. All my internal boxes for a man have been checked off tonight, so why am I even contemplating not going further? Lisa. She's always there in the back of my mind. I need to push her out. There's no space in there for someone who can't do the same for me.

I break the kiss and with my hand in Chan's, we wind our way through the dark club until we're back out in the warm night air. The city is a little warmer than our small town, but not by much. Fresh air fills my lungs, and I immediately notice my headache beginning to dissipate.

"Had enough of the loud music?" he asks.

"Yeah." We walk down the sidewalk toward the valet for the restaurant, which is still open. I imagine when you half-own the place, they will hold your car for as long as they need to. "I'm not much of a club girl," I tell him. "I like being home in comfy clothes, reading or watching Netflix."

"Ah," he says. "A woman after my own heart."

"I find that hard to believe. You fit in down here. I'm the one who's out of place."

"That's only because you don't know me well yet." Yet. Does this mean he wants to see me again? That he wants to go on another date? I don't ask, afraid I'll sound stupid and desperate. Instead, I keep my lips pressed together all the way to my apartment.

He shuts off the car and comes to my side to help me out and walk me to my door. I smile over at him as we take the stairs to my apartment. I'm busy watching the steps, so I don't trip as we climb them, when Chan says a name, which causes me to release his hand as I stumble up the last step. "Lisa Manoban."

I trip forward, my hands almost meeting the landing before strong arms grip me and the scent of peppermint and pine trees engulfs me. I don't have time to formulate a thought before I'm brought up to my feet by Lisa.

I blink a few times, taking in her disheveled appearance. "What are you doing here?" I whisper. She's warm. Her arms are wrapped around my back, holding me up. Without them, I'd collapse to the ground at the shock of seeing her. She made it very clear the last time she was here she didn't want to see or talk to me again.

"I...I wanted to..." She looks over my shoulder. It's then, in the lights lining the stairwell and outside my door, that I notice her bloodshot eyes. Concern for her has me lightly touching her jaw, bringing her gaze back to me. "I shouldn't have come," she states quietly. Sge tries to move from me, but my nails dig into her arms, not wanting her to go.

Chan clears his throat behind me, reminding me of his presence and how I'm on a date with him. A man who I was kissing not long ago, and holding hands with only seconds before I stumbled. "Jennie?"

I turn my head but don't release Lisa. "I'm sorry. Just give me a minute." I reach into my purse with one hand and withdraw my keys. My other hand stays on Lisa, afraid she'll flee if I let go.

I quickly unlock the door and bring her inside with me. "Stay here. I'll be right back," I tell her. She doesn't respond but stays put as I back out the door and close her inside.

Turning around, I find Chan propped against the railing, his arms crossed. "I'm sorry," I say as I walk toward him. "I didn't know she'd be here."

"Why is she here, Jennie? I heard you two don't talk." Who told him that? Does he still talk to Mino, or are people just so bored in Arrow Falls that they make everyone else's business their own?

"I haven't talked to her in a while. Honest. I'm not sure why she's here, but I have to speak to her."

He uncrosses his arms and takes my hand in his. "I like you, Jennie. I want to see you again, but I can't and won't compete with someone else."

"There is no competition. Lisa doesn't like me that way, or really in any way, for that matter."

He cocks his head to the side. "I saw the way she looked at you. That's not a look that said you were only friends."

"She's been through a lot. I can't talk about it, but she needs me right now."

"Who do you need?" I bite my lower lip and don't respond. I don't need anyone, but I want Lisa. All it took was for her to touch me to know I missed her and still care for her, but in what sense? As a friend? More? "Your silence tells me all I need to know."

I shake my head. "No, you have it wrong." I'm saying it more to convince myself than him.

Chan leans down and brushes his lips over mine. "I want to take you out again but won't get between you and Lisa."

"Chan…"

"Goodnight, Jennie." He squeezes my hand then turns to go down the stairs.

Everything in me is at war. My head knows nothing good will come from Lisa being in my apartment, but my heart is being pulled toward her, wanting to ease any worry she has; wanting to be there for her, regardless of everything that happened between us.

Opening the door of my apartment, I find Lisa exactly where I left her. She doesn't appear as distraught as she did when she first caught me. Her eyes are assessing me, looking me over from head to toe.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Were you on a date?"

I lift my chin. "I was, not that it's any of your business."

"I need to go." She tries to step around me, but I'm blocking the door.

I place my hand on her chest; she stops immediately, only a breath away from me. "You're not leaving. Not this time. You came to me. I want to know why."

She bends her head down and crushes her lips to mine in a punishing kiss. I immediately part my lips, my tongue greedy for hers. Her arms reach around my back to pull me as close as possible to her. I do the same with my arms around her neck, trying to feel every inch of her against myself. I want more. I want all of her.

She grips my thighs to lift me up, and my legs wrap around her waist. Each heel drops from my feet as she walks us to the bedroom. My center is right over her hard length.

With her hands on my back, she lowers me to the bed, then kisses a path from my lips down my neck to my collarbone and begins unbuttoning my dress, then undoes the belt. Her lips find the top of my breast as she pulls the cup of my bra down to expose my nipple. Jolts of pleasure rocket through my body as she nips and sucks on me.

I'm writhing against her, wishing she would strip me bare and sate the need coursing through me. Her lips glide down my stomach to the apex of my thighs. She lifts her head to look me over, her eyes moving from my thighs to my face, then she stops. She stands suddenly and rakes a hand through her hair. "We have to stop."

I kneel on the bed and grip her t-shirt in my hand. "No, we need to continue."