AN: Greetings, people. Sorry, it's been forever. I hope you like this chapter.
Jesse decided that watching a movie he loved so much as he turned thirty was a very reasonable way to start his thirties.
He should have gone to sleep early because he was sure he wasn't going to get any sleep the next day but what the hell.
Beca joined him when he told her his plan, so that was nice… her company was nice.
"Jesus." He heard Beca murmur and snorted. "Is it because the house is so big and is like echoy or are they really loud?" she asked.
"They're loud."
They were in the living room while Chloe and Adam were upstairs and they could hear them very well.
He grabbed the remote control and turned the volume up a few notches to cover the sex noises.
He didn't have to tilt his head to notice the way she was rubbing her thighs together, he could see her from the corner of his eye. He considered teasing for getting turned on by what they could hear then decided on another approach.
Jesse threw his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her arm, pulling her slowly towards him until she was leaning against him.
The only time they took things slow was on the first they hooked up and only because they had to take it slow since it was her first time, so he figured they should do that again.
She liked it when he stroked her hair so he sneaked his hand up and gently caressed her hair.
«You can't give me shit for falling asleep watching a movie if you don't stop doing that,» she mumbled, resting her head against his shoulder and snuggled up to him.
Lulling her to sleep wasn't his intention but he continued to stroke her as he thought of his next move. He chuckled as he realized that he was so off his game and was struggling to initiate sex with his fuck buddy... well, not actual sex, a make-out session.
Come to think of it, he realized that he never really initiated sex with Beca, they'd just do it which arguably was pretty normal for their kind of relationship.
«Okay, what are you doing?» she asked, feeling him rub his hand between her thighs.
He shrugged, moving his hand up and sneaking it under her t-shirt. «Warmth helps with period cramps, doesn't?»
«Yeah, but I feel fine now,» she said, taking his hand and holding it to keep it still.
«You have really small hands,» Jesse remarked as he interlocked their fingers.
«Comes with being five-foot-two,» she replied. «Now, either shut up and watch the movie or let's turn it off and just talk instead.»
«Sorry,» he apologized and looked at the movie that he had lost interest in.
He saw an opening when she rotated her neck and went for it, kissing her behind the ear.
«Jesse?» He could hear the confusion in her voice. She made fun of him for how seriously he took watching movies and compared it to a religious practice which made what he was doing beyond strange.
«Don't mind me,» he said to her ear before he moved to her neck.
«But what about the movie?» she asked, tilting her head so he'd have better access.
«I've seen it a million times,» he mumbled into her neck. «You keep watching, though.»
She pulled her head back to look him the eye. «I won't just sit here like a freaking corpse and let you do all the work.»
«I'm trying to be seductive here, Becs.»
«Just ask, dude.» She rested her palm on his chest. «That's all you gotta do, no need for the extra effort.»
It's how things had always been between them, they'd just ask if the other person is up for some casual sex.
«You're right,» he nodded. «I just thought some change of pace would be nice. And, no, this isn't me telling you I can't keep up with you anymore. I can, I just want to take it slow for a change. Would that be okay with you?»
She took a little too long before she nodded.
«Awesomesauce,» he smiled at her.
He could tell from the way she responded to him that she liked what they were doing, she liked a slow make-out session. At first, he felt like he was trying to tame a freaking wild animal, which wasn't a surprise since he always matched her pace and was her only partner, but she stopped unintentionally trying speed things up eventually.
«Well, well, well, what do we have here?»
Jesse covered Beca with his body at the voice of his brother to keep him from seeing her breasts.
«Don't, not now,» Jesse said, tilting his head to look at Adam.
Adam let out a sarcastic laugh. «You should have thought twice before you decided to pull your shitty prank,» he sighed and sat on the coffee table facing them. «Beca, I'm sure you're a lovely person and I'm sorry you got lumped into this. He should have known better.»
«I understand,» she replied, hoping the heat she felt on her cheeks wasn't visible.
«Could you get fucked for a second so Becs could put a shirt on?» Jesse wondered.
Adam shook his head. «Couldn't you take it to a bedroom, you horndog? Our parents nap here and might even bone here.»
«Ew, man,» Jesse said in disgust.
«Yeah, think about that,» Adam smirked. «Our parents flopping on top of each other on this very couch.»
«Stop,» Jesse dragged the word, burying his face into Beca's neck who was chuckling while playing with his hair.
«Is it working, have you lost your boner?» Adam wondered.
Jesse groaned so Beca decided to answer for him. «No.» She could feel his erection very well through the fabric of their sweatpants. «He's good.»
«Huh, well, if a mental image of our parents having sex doesn't do the trick I don't know what would.»
«Grandparents doing kinky stuff?» Beca suggested.
«Don't encourage him,» Jesse grumbled.
«I like her, Schmuck,» Adam laughed.
«Don't you have a wife to go back to?» Jesse asked, looking up from Beca's neck.
«My wife is currently in deep slumber and you should be asleep too, with the amount of stuff she's so thoughtfully arranged for us you gonna need to be well rested.»
«Then what are you doing up?» Jesse countered.
«Got up for a snack,» Adam said as he stood up. «You kids keep doing your thing, I'll be right back.»
Beca smiled at the annoyed look on Jesse's face as he watched his brother walk to the kitchen, she found it sort of cute.
«I'm sorry about Adam,» he apologized, grabbing her t-shirt from the floor while still on top of her because he wasn't going to risk letting Adam see her boobs.
«A little sibling rivalry doesn't bother me.» She shrugged.
«Yeah, but you shouldn't have to endure it, I only mess with him when Chloe is around 'cause I know for a fact she really doesn't mind.» He threw the t-shirt over the couch when she didn't take it from him.
«I really don't mind either,» she told him, calming his hair that she was responsible for the messy state it was in. «Besides, he didn't really do anything worth getting pissed at like cutting the power while I'm in the shower.» She saw a smile form on his lips and leaned in when he did, not fighting the smile that crept on her face once he kissed her.
She had a weird feeling that she didn't mind or think too hard about because she figured it was due to taking it slow, something she wasn't used to it.
«Oh, I see what's going on here. Reverse psychology doesn't work on me, Schmuck,» Adam said before he took a bite from the sandwich he just made himself.
«What are you talking about?» Jesse asked, pulling away from the kiss he and Beca were sharing.
«Acting like you don't mind the cock-blocking so I'd leave you alone.»
«I actually don't mind a crowd,» Beca lied smoothly. «If you're comfortable watching the guy you shared the womb with have sex you have my permission,» Beca said, mustering her best indifferent tone.
Jesse found the tone of her voice impressive because he knew her, she wouldn't even let him see her naked unless they were doing the deed, having his brother watch them would probably be the reason she'd go see a therapist.
«I can't tell if you're bluffing or are for real,» Adam said after maintaining eye contact with Beca for a few seconds. «Remind me to never play poker with you.» He swallowed the bite he had been chewing then left.
«Night, A-Town,» Jesse called after his brother, grinning like a child on Christmas morning.
«What's with this?» he asked, placing a peck on the frown that formed on her forehead.
«Your brother is gonna think we're a thing,» she stated.
«Probably, yeah.» He shrugged. «Well, until I correct him, I guess. Does it bother you to wait until I clear it up tomorrow or do I have to go and tell him now?»
She shook her head. «That won't be necessary, weirdo.»
«Good. 'Cause I'd rather not,» he mumbled, leaning in slowly until his lips were pressed against hers.
«Morning, nerd,» Beca lazily mumbled, barely opening her eyes to look at Jesse who had just entered the room. «Generic birthday wishes,» she said and hugged the duvet.
«Thanks,» he chuckled.
Noting the fact that he was in a towel, she checked him out before she pushed herself up to check her surroundings then she laid back not recalling ever going to bed.
«I took the liberty of carrying you here when you fell asleep.»
He went to clean up after the make-out session and found her asleep when he came back.
«What?» he asked hearing her groan after a few moments of silence.
«I don't wanna get out of bed yet but I don't wanna get TSS either,» she told him. «TSS is no laughing matter,» she added hearing him snort.
«Sorry,» he apologized, placing clothes he picked for the day on the bed. «It's super serious and dangerous, get up,» he said and watched her cover her head with the duvet.
He got dressed quickly then took matters into his own hands, removing the duvet and grinning at the death glare she shot him. «You can't kill me, it's my birthday,» he said in amusement.
She sighed and pulled herself up, climbing out of bed and scratching her head as she looked for her bag.
«Why are you up so early?» she asked as she grabbed a tampon.
"I have to go pick Sarah up from the airport," he informed, taking a seat on the bed to wear his shoes.
«Your sister?» she checked.
«Yep,» he replied, nodding. «You cool staying here or do you wanna come with me?»
«I'm gonna go back to bed for a few more hours,» she yawned, walking to the nightstand to grab her phone when it rang.
«Who's calling you this early?» he wondered when she rejected the call once she saw who was calling.
«Nobody,» she answered. He eyed her speciously, making her roll her eyes. «It's just mom,» she told him. «We had a stupid argument.»
He wanted to know more but knew he shouldn't ask because her dysfunctional family was a sensitive subject that she avoided talking about.
«Generic comforting words,» he mumbled, getting up, and smiled when she did. «Get in here,» he said and opened his arms, embracing her in a tight hug.
«You smell different,» she mumbled into his chest.
«I used Adam's aftershave, do you like it?» he wanted to know, loosening his hold when he felt her pull away.
«Yeah, it's nice.» He nodded making a mental note to change brands of aftershave not just because she liked it, he also did. «So are you heading out right now?» At her question, he looked at his watch.
«No, her plane won't land until ten am. I woke up early 'cause you kinda kicked me in your sleep.»
«I did not!» she didn't want to believe she did.
«You did, it was kinda cute... it hurt but I imagine it's how it would be like if an elf attacked me.» She took the jab at her height in good humor and settled for rolling her eyes at him and also punching him in the guts.
«Is this why you don't like spending the night over? 'Cause of your mad ninja skills?»
«Why do you care so much about where I spend the night?» she countered with a question.
He shrugged at her question. «I can't cuddle with you when you're not around, now, can I?»
«Hold a pillow in your sleep,» she told him despite knowing very well that he did hold a pillow in his sleep.
«I prefer holding a human being,» he replied, anticipating her next suggestion would be to hold his cat. «You happen to make a perfect snuggle bunny.»
«I don't care that it's your birthday, you can't call me that and live to see another day,» she told him.
He rolled his eyes. «You let me get away with worse and have proven yesterday that you master the art of bluffing. Besides, you can't get rid of me.»
«Excuse you?» She arched an eyebrow at the statement he made.
«You heard me.» He stood up.
«You're so full of yourself, Jesse,» she said in amusement. «You are also very replaceable.»
«Am I now?»
She nodded. «Finding dudes who are up for some casual sex is pretty easy when you're in college. So, yeah, totally replaceable.» The main reason she wanted friends with benefits relationship with Jesse was the fact that he had experience: he would be perfect at showing her the ropes of having a good sexual encounter, which he did.
«Good luck finding someone who would not only rock your world but also break the law and purchase liquor for you and hook you up with pot. I have never been arrested in my life, I'm putting my clean record at risk for you.»
«Willingly,» she added. «No one is pointing a gun at your head.»
«True.» He nodded. «I guess, I just like to live my life dangerously.» He grinned at the eye roll his words got.
«Is your friend still asleep?» Adam asked, glancing away from the stove and bringing his mug of coffee to his lips.
«Good morning and happy birthday to you too, Adam.» Jesse rolled his eyes, walking to the coffeemaker to pour himself a mug of freshly brewed coffee. He took the empty mug Adam held up silently asking for a refill.
«Making Chloe breakfast?» he guessed, noting that his brother was making chocolate chips pancakes that he knew were Chloe's favorite.
Adam nodded in response.
«She's really put a lot of effort into putting this together,» Jesse noted, guessing that making Chloe breakfast was Adam's way of thanking her for all the work she had to do to make sure all of their close friends and relatives could attend and celebrate their birthday with them, get the right kind of drinks and food, and probably get them the most considered birthday gifts.
«Chloe plans weddings, this is child play for her.» Adam sipped his coffee once Jesse refilled his mug, flipping the pancakes. «It's just that nausea ain't bad anymore,» he casually said. «Thought I'd make her something she likes since she won't throw it up.»
It took Jesse a split second before it hit him. «You're having a baby?!» he exclaimed.
Adam froze and almost spilled his coffee when Jesse threw an arm around his shoulder pulling him into a hug.
«Congratulations, man! This is so awesome.» Jesse grinned letting go of his brother.
«Yeah,» Adam scratched his stubble. «Don't say anything to Chloe, we're not supposed to let anyone know yet.»
Jesse nodded, chuckling a little at his brother inability to keep a secret. «How far along is she? And how are you two adjusting?» he wanted to know.
«A little over three months. It's been going pretty well overall. She just sleeps a lot more now. Yesterday you interrupted the first time we had sex in like two months,» Adam grumbled.
«I feel kinda bad.» Jesse rubbed the back of his neck, deciding to not mess with his brother unless he's the only one affected by the prank. «But you got back at me so we're even and I don't owe you an apology,» Jesse reasoned, moving to put bread in the toaster.
«Chloe is gonna want to know why you introduced your girlfriend as just a friend,» Adam said.
«Becs isn't my girlfriend,» he told him, sipping his coffee and pulling jam from the fridge.
«What were you doing on top of her last night, giving her a breast exam?»
«We just hang out sometimes, it's not serious,» Jesse said, deciding not to straight up tell Adam the nature of their relationship.
He just didn't want to hear what Adam would say, the asshole knew him too well, he knew Jesse didn't do casual sex and would want to talk about it and make sure he was okay. He didn't want to talk about his feelings with his brother, he was paying a professional to do that.
«She seems young, how old is she?» Adam turned off the stove, putting the plate full of pancakes on a tray then grabbing some peaches to wash and make juice out of.
«Nineteen,» Jesse answered and watched Adam tilted his head to look at him as he washed the fruits.
«And, how exactly did you manage to get her to notice you? Girls her age wouldn't usually go for older men unless they're looking for a sugar daddy and you're neither old enough or rich to be one. Either that or they have mad daddy issues.» He began slicing the peach and putting the slices in the blender.
Jesse rolled his eyes at him, throwing what was left of the toast into his mouth and washing it down with coffee. «Try to remember that you're not alone in the house when you wake Chlo up,» he told his brother who nodded.
«Baby brother,» Sarah called, walking towards Jesse while holding two drinks.
«Sarabara,» he retorted, accepting the glass of whiskey she handed him.
«This is great,» she stated after swallowing the sip she took of her own drink while looking around her.
«Yeah,» Jesse agreed.
The party was a banger to no one surprise, Chloe excelled at planning parties. Jesse had a really good time catching up with his close friends and family who flew from different states just to celebrate with him and his brother.
«I'm totally asking Chloe to plan my wedding if I get married, not just for the family discount,» she told him.
«Pretty sure Chloe would get mad if we let anyone but her plan any important party,» Jesse said in amusement then glanced for what would be the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes at Beca who was chatting with a cousin of his.
«Do mom and dad know you're dating a kid?» she asked him. He glared her for half a minute for her choice of words until she snorted. «Fine, a young adult.»
«We're not dating, we just hang out sometimes,» he told her what he told his brother.
«Well, what are you waiting for to ask her to be your girlfriend?» she wondered.
«We just hang out sometimes and aren't looking for a serious relationship,» he answered.
«If you say so,» she muttered.
«You and Kelly patched up,» he noted to change the subject to his sister's complicated and hard to keep track of love life.
«Yeah,» she nodded, glancing at her significant other who was busy beating someone's ass at drowning shots.
«When?» he wanted to know, genuinely interested. Last time he checked up on her, two months ago, they had been on a break for about six months.
«Last week.»
«Uh huh.»
«She got fired and just needed to talk about it with someone, I told her to come over...» she trailed off.
«Got it,» he nodded, cutting her off before she got into details of how they made up—he could do without a mental picture of his sister and her girlfriend.
«Things are good,» she said with a sigh and he truly hoped they stayed that way. «Really good.»
«Good sex doesn't equal a good relationship, Sarah,» Jesse reminded.
«I know,» she said in annoyance.
«I know you do, a reminder wouldn't hurt.» He shrugged, tilting his head to check on Beca again.
«So, whose idea was it to just hang out sometimes?» Sarah asked, following his gaze.
«Mutual agreement,» he mumbled. Beca was being a little too friendly, it wouldn't be long until his cousin Seth made a move.
«Chloe will start drafting the guest list of your wedding if you don't stop looking at her and Seth all jelly.»
«Jelly? How old are you?» He snapped his head back to look at her.
«I teach high school kids,» she said in defense.
«You teach them English, and you're supposed to influence them not be influenced by them.»
«Well, I don't feel like a creep checking her out,» Sarah said, ignoring what he said, and checked Beca out.
«Don't check her out.» Jesse nudged her. «You have a girlfriend, leave mine alone.»
«A-ha! So you do admit she's your girlfriend.»
«That's not— it slipped my tongue... like your thing with jelly and your students,» he rambled, making his older sister laugh.
«Jesse, buddy,» she sighed, cupping his cheek. «It's fine that you're dating someone really young, no one is judging you. I for one am happy that you kick that whore out of your system and started dating.»
«We're not dating, we just have sex,» he told her bluntly. «We have an agreement, she doesn't want to date, and I'm not ready to date again.»
Sarah rubbed her thumb against his cheek. «Glad you're getting laid, baby brother.»
Jesse sighed, slightly relieved that Sarah didn't try to therapize him like he knew Adam would.
«Hooking up with the same person frequently without any strings attached is tricky, though,» she continued, dropping her hand.
«I know the drill,» he nodded. «No emotional attachments, keep it physical, yadda yadda yadda. We're both know what we want: Becs just wants someone with experience to gain experience. As for me it's basically an extended rebound hook up.»
«Damn, Jesse, out of the three of us, you're the last one I thought would have a successful friends-with-benefits relationship. I'm truly impressed. Does Adam know?»
«He knows...sort of.»
«Elaborate,» she demanded.
«I just told him we hang out and that it's not serious, didn't tell him we're sex friends.»
She looked away from him while sipping her drink. «Looks like your buddy is getting laid tonight.» At her words, Jesse tilted his head to look where Beca was standing: he saw nothing that indicated what his sister said.
He frowned looking back at Sarah and found a knowing look. «Be honest, did it make your heart clench to hear that she'd be sleeping with someone else?» she asked him.
«Yes, but it's not what you think,» he grumbled. «Seth is the problem. He's a sexist dick, you know him.»
«And since when are one night stands based on personality?» She rested her elbow on his shoulder. «It's a rhetorical question you don't have to answer,» she added when he shrugged her elbow off.
«So is Beca a hundred percent sure of her sexuality?» Sarah asked and snorted at the look of horror Jesse gave her. «Don't look at me like that, everyone her age gets a bit bi-curious.» She took a sip of her drink. «I'll be happy to show her the ropes.»
«Again, you have a girlfriend.»
«We're just got back together and haven't even had a proper talk about our situation, I'm sure Kell is sleeping with other people.»
«You should probably ask her if she is and not make assumptions, Sarah.» He shook his drink. «Why are you putting it off, the relationship talk?» he wanted to know.
«I've done it enough times to know how it'll go down,» she said in boredom.
«Sarabara,» he called slowly.
«I know,» she sighed, rubbing her forehead. «I know, alright? I know I shouldn't be doing this... it's just easier to just have sex and not talk.»
Jesse pulled his sister into a hug and rested his chin on her head.
«I made a coke, coffee, and vodka cocktail, there's a fifty percent chance we have a heart attack if we drink it, you guys in?» Adam was saying as he walked towards his siblings.
«Wait, am I interrupting a sappy moment?»
«No,» Jesse answered while rubbing Sarah's arm. «And, no to the cocktail, you of all people should know better than to do something as stupid.»
«Yeah, think about your amazing relationship, fucktard. It would be a shame if it ended because you drank rat poison in the liquor form and died of a heart attack,» Sarah mumbled before she chugged down some of her drink.
«It's a joke. Of course, I'm not that dumb. This is coke and rum,» Adam said and held his drink up. «You okay, Sarah?»
«Yeah,» she answered bitterly. "I'm great."
Adam looked at Jesse who shook his head.
«I think you could use a group hug,» Adam told his older sister and stepped closer.
«Aw, look at them,» Chloe coed, eyeing the siblings hugging, gaining Beca's attention who had just excused herself from Seth to go get a refill.
Beca followed Chloe's gaze and smiled at the sight.
«Swansons like to hug, huh?» she mumbled, and Chloe hummed in response while she snapped a photo of the siblings on her phone.
Beca snorted, noting that Chloe had zoomed in on Adam's ass and realized another thing about the Swanson siblings: all three had great butts.
She was taking a sip from the diet coke she was holding when Chloe spoke, «Is that a grasshopper on your arm?»
«Yeah,» Beca nodded, extending her arm to give Chloe a better look at the grasshopper tattooed on her arm.
«I have a ladybug on my wrist,» she shared, showing Beca the tattoo.
«It's nice,» Beca said while eyeing the small tattoo.
«Thanks, yours is too. Got more?» She glanced at Beca's other arm.
«Um, yeah,» she nodded and showed her the headphones on her wrist. «Got stuff on my back, too.»
«Can I see them?» Chloe requested, giving Beca puppy dog eyes.
«Er—okay,» she found herself agreeing as she rubbed her nose.
«Awes.» The redhead grinned.
«Bathroom?» Beca suggested, not wanting to take off her shirt in a roomful of people, to which Chloe nodded.
«I love tattoos, but I can never decide on like a big one,» Chloe was saying as they walked. «I'm a Libra, I can never decide on anything, really.»
«Indecisiveness is a Libra thing?» Beca asked, reaching to open the door—she wasn't big on astrology but it was a good conversation topic.
«Yeah,» Chloe nodded. «What are you?»
«Scorpio,» Beca answered, placing her drink on the sink while Chloe locked the door.
«Oh, okay,» Chloe nodded.
«Know anything about Scorpios?» Beca wondered as she unbuttoned her shirt.
«Yep,» Chloe replied. «Scorpios are known to be secretive and like have super reserved personas.»
«Huh, I guess I can use that next time dad nags me over being distant,» Beca joked, trying not to maintain eye contact as she took off her shirt, staying only in a bra.
She turned around and gave Chloe her back.
«Wow, this is really cool.» Beca then felt Chloe's fingers trailing the details on the rose tattooed on her shoulder.
«Thanks.» Beca looked over her shoulder.
«Is there a story behind it?» Chloe wondered.
«Yeah, it's a really personal one,» she mumbled.
«Oh, that's okay.» Chloe smiled at her. «I get it, you're a full-blown Scorpio.» She moved her fingers down to the horizontal thin lines tattooed on Beca's lower back. «These are pretty intriguing, bet their story is as interesting as the rose's one.»
The two tilted their heads towards the door when it got opened. «Sorry,» the person that opened it said and was about to back out when they did a double take. «Chloe?»
«Adam,» the redhead smiled.
«What going on here?» He frowned, looking between the half-naked brunette and the redhead he married.
«Oh, Beca's just showing me her tattoos,» Chloe told him and stepped a little to left so he could see them, too.
«Nice ink you got there,» he noted.
«Thanks,» Beca awkwardly said as she grabbed her shirt, quickly putting it on.
«Well, you should go find Jesse, he's looking for you,» Adam was saying as he stepped inside the bathroom and walked to the sink.
«What happened to you?» Chloe asked, seeing that he had something spilled on his t-shirt.
«Accidentally spilled my drink on myself,» he answered.
«Just take it off and try to wash the awful smell off, I'm gonna get you a clean one,» Chloe sighed.
«Thanks, babe.» He pecked her cheek before she left.
«Hey, Bec, there you are. Wow!» Jesse exclaimed, stepping into the bathroom to find Beca tugging her shirt into her pants while his brother stood shirtless near her.
«What is happening here?» he questioned, closing the door behind him.
«Jesse, come sniff me,» Adam said as he glanced at his brother. «I can't tell I still smell like rum. And, Beca's had enough invasion of personal space for the day.»
Jesse walked over to his brother and shook his head after he smelled him. «You smell like soap.» He looked at Beca, a frown on his forehead.
«Chloe wanted to see the tattoos on my back,» Beca shed some light.
«Okay,» Jesse nodded slowly. «Where's Chloe?»
«She left to get me a clean shirt,» Adam sighed, drying himself with a towel.
«If I didn't know you, I'd think something really nasty happened here,» Jesse mumbled, gaining an eye roll from both Adam and Beca.
«When I walked in and found Chloe's hands on your girlfriend's back, I thought something beautiful was happening if you catch my drift.»
This time it was Jesse rolling their eyes while Beca arched an eyebrow at the label Adam used to describe her.
«Gross,» Jesse deadpanned.
«Not,» Adam shrugged. «Nothing gross about two women getting on. Our sister is gay, Jesse! How would she feel if she heard that's what you think?» he said in mock disappointment.
«Okay, I'm out of here before it gets out of hand,» Jesse decided, reaching to take Beca's hand in his and leading her out of the bathroom.
«Why did you brother call me your girlfriend?» Beca asked, pulling her hand from Jesse's once they were away from the bathroom. «You didn't tell him we're not together, did you?»
«Why does it even matter?»
«Why didn't you tell him?» she asked in response.
«Can we go somewhere quiet?» he wondered, not wanting to get any attention from the people at the party. She took a moment before nodding then taking his lead.
Jesse waited until they were outside the house before he gave her an honest answer.
« I wanted to tell him about us, but being in therapy changes things,» he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
He hadn't told his brother about the meltdown despite the fact he had and he and his brother had the kind of relationship where they told each other everything.
«I'm not comfortable telling him personal things because I will end up over-sharing and I don't want to make him worry. And for the record, I never said you're my girlfriend, I just told him we hang out and that it's not serious.»
«Adam said you were looking for me,» she recalled and tilted her head to look at him. «What's up?»
«Nothing.» He shrugged. «I just wanted to check up on you.» He couldn't see Seth anywhere, he wanted to know if she was with him. «You look really calm which is kinda scary,» he told her after eyeing her for a few seconds. «Is it the calm before a storm type of situation?» he continued.
She rolled her eyes in response. «Relax, I'm not gonna throw a hissy fit. Should have just told me, but it's fine.» She sighed.
She understood where he was coming from, keeping people closest to him out of the loop just to not make them worry. She also could tell he hated doing it, it wasn't like him to keep things from his brother. So she figured it would be best if she let it go. He was feeling melancholic and she didn't want to make it worse.
«I'm sorry,» he apologized, scratching the stubble on his chin. He stood still when he saw her close the distance between them and hesitantly give him a hug, making his heart swell.
His heart was going to explode, he was sure of it. He wasn't sure why he was receiving a hug, though.
He could feel her loosen her hold and didn't want to let go, she felt good.
«What was that for?» he asked, willing himself to let go.
She shrugged. «You like hugs.»
«I love hugs,» he corrected, his heart growing a few sizes at the second hug he received. «I could get used to this,» he mumbled into her hair then snorted. «Snuggle bunny,» he teased and felt her pull away instantly. «Oh, c'mon, it's a cute nickname.»
«I don't do cute,» she glared at him but didn't fight him when he enveloped her in his arms. He was going through some serious shit, and hugs seemed to be a great source of comfort so she figured she'd give them to give to him.
«Thanks,» he smiled at her, breaking the hug before he truly ruined the moment.
«You welcome.» She crossed her arms across her chest and putting some distance between them.
She cleared her throat, looking away when he stared for too long making her uncomfortable. He was certain she was uncomfortable when she bit her bottom lip. He wanted to kiss her the way he did the night before, all nice and slow.
'This is bad,' he thought to himself, feeling the dread amazing feeling in the pit of his stomach at the thought of being intimate with her. 'This is really bad.'
Inhaling deeply he tried to keep a poker face in front of Beca.
«We're having a three-legged race, you two in?» Adam asked, peeking his head out of the front door.
«Er, yeah, sure,» Jesse answered then glanced at Beca who nodded.
«Great, here you go.» He threw a scarf for Jesse to catch. «May the odds be ever in your favor.» He did Rue's Whistle from the Hunger Games as he walked back inside the house.
«Everyone is drunk in there, we're totally goin' win,» Jesse said, hoping he sounded normal, and he stood right next to Beca and bent down to tie their legs together.
«What?» he asked as he straightened up and spotted a distressed look on Beca's face.
«Last time I played this game I fell and my front teeth fell, too.»
«Ouch, you getting flashbacks?» He watched her suck her teeth. «I'll have your back. Don't worry, you won't lose teeth tonight.» He patted her back when she nodded slowly. "Does this mean these are fake?" He tapped his own front teeth.
"No, the ones I lost were baby teeth."
"Aw, you were that young?" he coed, throwing his arm around her shoulder as they walked inside the house. "Please, tell me the tooth fairy made it up to you," he was saying as he thought of how they had to talk and inevitably end things and decided it could wait until they were back in Barden.
"You poor thing," he sighed when she shook her head.