After several more clients, Jess left and retreated to the store after picking up Jack from Tracy and Doug. It felt like it took forever, but the two arrived back at Phil's apartment. He exited with a smirk and jumped into the passenger seat.
"I enjoyed our appointment earlier," he smirked strapping in and turning to say hello to Jack. The boy cheered and began talking incoherently as Jess and Phil debated over what to make for dinner. When they arrived at their destination, Phil got out first and went to grab a cart then strapped Jack in. They entered the grocery store together as Jack felt the bumps of the crosswalk.
"Mama! BUM-BE!"
"Lower your voice please? We are inside," she laughed as Phil smirked at the two. A passing couple smiled at them and then Jack. A busty woman was standing beside a tall, thin man and bumped into Jess slightly as they both reached for the baby carrots.
"Oh, sorry!" said Jess stepping back a few steps. The woman stood up and eyed Phil and Jack who were picking out bananas.
"You dad must be so proud of you," she sneered. "Such a young grandfather and mother you both are."
Frozen by this woman's words, she stared at trying to think of something to say, but a moment later, she felt Phil's hand fall on her shoulder.
"Did you get them? You know he loves his carrots," he asked pointing at Jack. The woman eyed both firmly, her expression not changing. Grabbing them, she felt their eyes on her and she quickly turned thinking her face was ten shades red.
"Phil! That woman thought you were my dad!"
"Well I sorta am," he chuckled. "What did she say exactly?"
"She implied you are such a young grandfather."
Phil stopped, his mouth dropping in shock. She watched his eyes scan the area before their eyes fell on the women standing alone near the bakery. Here, they stood in the meat department, simply trying to grab a few days' worth of dinners before they were to leave for Thailand. The woman was maybe about ten feet away and it was that short distance that made him react. Stepping forward, he pulled Jess closer to his body and casually teased her cheek before planting a soft, lingering kiss on her panting lips. A loud gasp emitted from the woman who screamed forcing them to separate.
Walking past, Jess avoided eye contact looking down, and Phil, well, he smirked at the woman as he grabbed the small cake right beside her, hoping this bitch would leave them alone. Steering the cart, which was filled with chicken, pasta, canned soup, and some fresh fruits, they made their way to the checkout. Trying to ignore the growing blush on her face, she tried to pay but it was already done by Phil. Taking the keys, he drove them back to his place and there they unloaded the car with Jack getting most of the way up the stairs. He got to the front door and ran inside to find his toys. They were in a green bucket under the TV next to the books he loved.
Phil and Jess set out the food and began dinner before gathering Jack up, eating, and getting his bath done, then being put to sleep after watching a movie with them. The boy was fighting but within twenty minutes, he had quieted up and when going to check, Jess nodded to Phil the boy was asleep cuddling with his small tiger.
"I can't believe that Alan bought him that!" laughed Jess taking her spot within Phil's open arm.
"Yeah, I can't believe it either. I also don't believe you really have feelings for that boy either—" Sitting up, Jess pushed her body away from him, feeling very hurt by the comments. "Oh come on! You can't sit there and tell me you want to be with me every chance he aint in town."
"I— I— I enjoy spending time with you," she stuttered out on the edge of the sofa. Her fists clenched as Phil motioned for her to join him again. "You have no idea the things he feels!"
"You know," he said sitting up and putting his elbows on his knees. "I want the real answer."
"Why would I lie? To you of all people?"
"I don't know. Maybe because we have lied our asses off for years and when finally, we can be together, that boy comes along and keeps you playing house. So, I want my answer; do you love him? Or I am wasting my fucking time!"
Jess stood up and turned slowed toward him, trying her hardest to find the words and courage without screaming at him. She was certainly tired of feeling trapped between the two men.
"Jason—," she started slowly watching the wonderful man in front of her stiffen up to the name being said. "— is the father of my son. I must be civil with him for Jack. I want you of course, but I want him too. We messed up keeping this a secret, but I told you I couldn't kept it a secret anymore. I didn't mean to hurt you, but I know I did—"
"Do you love him," he muttered under his breath.
Jess felt her hand clench so firmly that she couldn't feel her knuckles and after a moment, she saw red lines from her nails.
"I don't know."
Phil stood had stood up and wrapped his arms around her, seeing the tears slowly forming.
"I have always been there for you! For everything! Or did you forgot about all those early mornings, in my classroom, when you would cry on my shoulders, hidden away from staff! I fought for you all those years! AND NOW! Have you ever stopped long enough to realize how much this is hurting me?"
Every word deep down, she always wished that he was the one she was with at each day's end. But right now, he was screaming at her like she was a child and completely at fault.
"I don't know my feelings right now! I'm trying to sort them. I know what I did was wrong, but please know I still love you."
"The only thing you've done wrong is live with a boy who can't give you everything you want!"
Walking away, Jess could tell that Phil was still pissed and it was becoming a frequent thing they ended up fighting over Jason. She forced her attention toward her phone which lay on the counter and had vibrated several times. Picking it up, she saw a text from the man in question making her growl. Not realizing the tears on her face, she slumped over at the kitchen table and wiped her face dry. It was hard to understand when she was sorting out the feelings but was it really that hard of a debate?
Fitfully, she went to check the doors and locked the windows in place as she retreated to the bed, hearing Phil's light snores. The man slept topless so easily she could turn him over, but tonight she sat watching his face contort as he dreamt. Reaching out to brush his hair, she crawled under the blanket and snuggled his arm ignoring the tears coming out. It was hard to remain quiet there but eventually she fell into a sleepless dream, her mind questioning Phil and Jason and if either loved her truly. Or was she just a pawn in the game?
*dot*
Jess was sleeping beside him looking so exhausted. Her hair was pulled up in loose bun, but it was coming un-done, as he awoke finding her curled against his chest. She looked peacefully; despite the harsh words he kept asking of her. He knew by his actions, he could face her leaving permanently, and he feared that result. Sitting up against the wall, Phil played with her dark brown hair admiring the beauty in this moment. Her phone kept vibrating and it caused him to pick it up and read her most recent texts. It reminded him how he had grown to love Jess. How they sacrificed everything for one another, and how she could no longer hide what they had anymore. That was one of many texts she sent to Stu about them. He figured at some point she would confess to their loyal friend about the truth between them.
Stu hadn't judged him but warned of his true nature, and that confused him deeply. Perhaps it was Jason, Jess should worry. Another set of texts showcases the lovey appearance Jason and Jess showed in person, but mostly fighting over a woman from his past named Betty. His eyes got big when they began cussing each other out about the involved Betty person and it made him realize she had her own set of problems with Jason. He shouldn't push so hard; it appeared the boy would fuck himself more with any mention of Betty. It hadn't surprised him the language used in the messages, some even questioning the results of Jack's paternity. Jess was never one to simply set aside anything and brush it under the rug.
Phil and Jess had sex several times since Vegas and the constant amount could only mean him, as Jack's father, but surely the test had been done wrong. He begged her to get the results, but she refused at first, claiming Jason had the only copy. Finally, after much pleading, he stared at the results with a sense of defeat. It was a result neither he nor Jess wanted, that much both confirmed on that fateful night long ago. He never had the change to research the place used, but something always felt off about it. He had cried for about an hour as his mind went through the stages of grief and self-doubt repeatedly. The words explained clear as day that the boy was not his.
Sharing something so deeply as a child with Jess and it not being his was what defined his attitude toward Jason. Despite his jealously of the other man, he had taken every opportunity to be with Jack. Looking down at her, he saw a broken young woman who had small tears in her eyes even as she slept. She was having a bad dream again probably. Setting her phone down on the night table, he wiggled himself out and went to get a drink of water. Checking the clock, it read near six in the morning.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" a voice called behind him. Jess was rubbing her eyes and let out a meowed yawn. She was wrapped with a light blanket around her shoulders, covering the messy bed hair. Looking down, he noticed she was reaching for his hands.
"You always were a light sleeper," he smiled taking her hands sensing the apologize forming in his mind.
"I felt you get up and wondered is all." Jess rubbed her eyes and those blue cloudy eyes looked at him with innocent intent as he rubbed her knuckles with his thumb.
"Just couldn't sleep," he answered truthfully.
"Thinking about your appointment with Stu? You really should floss more." Phil shook his head.
"No. Just us." Phil glazed in her eyes smiling about her tremendously improvement over the last year. He cupped her cheeks and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "Come on."
Jess took his arm and gently pulled him inside. They checked on Jack, who was sleeping with his Winnie the Pooh under his arm, before returning to the bed. After some snuggling, they let go of each other with smiles crossing their faces.
"You are wonderful," he muttered as he cradled her body once more.
"You're welcome," and Jess returned to her side of the bed, pulling the duvet over her shoulder, a slow sorrowful pain crossed her face. Nearly an hour passed before Jack began to stir in his bed. He was playing with a nearby train along with a plastic book that sat inside the bed with him. As she opened the door, Jack turned with a huge smile on his face. While the boy had learned recently to stand by himself, he slowly made his way with his tiny hands clenching around a shirt.
"Mama! Guk!" he said holding up the shirt. The young boy handed the shirt to his mother and as Jess changed him, Phil peeked in and smiled back at him.
"Hey big guy!"
"PILLY!" he shrieked reaching up for the older man.
Phil ruffled up Jack's hair and handed him back to Jess as she dressed him fully. They too began to get ready for the day. Jack was released to wander the living room as Jess picked up the small clothes and tidied up.
"He'll just do it again," Phil muttered under his breath as they left together.
After leaving Phil's place, she received a call from Doug asked to go to dinner that evening, them and Tracy. Agreeing, she took Jack with her on the errands for Lauren, which included spending most of the day with Tracy as well. Jess smiled seeing the happiness pour from the bride as they took her to the airport for the prewedding flight to see her parents. Promising to bring Stu's special gift, Tracy and Jess dropped Jack off at her parents and went to get Doug. At dinner, her brother and sister-in-law sat cozy beside one another as they chatted about their growing family, which Jess vaguely remembered being told a few months. It didn't shock her that Doug was going to be a father, but she was certain that he would be a parent before her. Laughing, with picking out names, they left piling into Doug's car.
"Oh my God, I just realized," Tracy said suddenly making Jess sit up from the back seat.
"What?" asked Doug and Jess.
"I forgot to update my passport," she said breathless. "I so forgot!"
"I'm sure we can get it done on Monday," Jess offered from the back seat. "I've been so busy with work myself that I forgot check mine too," she laughed and squeezed her sister-in-law's shoulder.
"Jess, you and me, in the morning then! I'll ask Mom to watch Jack," she said with a smile.
"Oh no," Doug said quietly looking at the two women. "Good thing I did them last week and it's in the kitchen drawer." Jess and Tracy looked at Doug with surprise. They let a sigh of thankfulness and Jess thought of how he had gotten hers.
"You're the best!" said Tracy happily grabbing for his hand. Jess smiled seeing her brother so happy.
"We're a team!" Doug said smiling at her quickly before trying his attention to the road again.
"Oh, Jason showed me yours Jess, but it didn't need updating," he added looking at her briefly to change lanes to the right. "It was when I was booking all the tickets in case you're wondering. Jason helped me with the mass planning, and I was extremely thankful for his help. I had never gotten tickets for nearly ten people.
"That's odd. I don't remember giving him my passport," she muttered to herself. "He told me that his didn't expire until 2013."
"I saw that. He must travel a lot for work or something because his book was covered. I remember him pointing out the issue date and it should 2003. Must have been when he was sixteen. He also had Jack's too with him."
Tracy smiled holding Doug's hand. "You're a really good guy. Really good guy!"
"Thank you," said Doug happily.
"So, I know you won't get mad," she said quietly a moment later. Doug looked over at her with concern.
"Mad? Mad at what?"
"Alan found out we're going to Thailand for Stu's wedding," admitted Tracy.
"So?" asked Jess cautiously. "I mean did he just assume he was coming too?"
"SO, he's heartbroken Doug. You guys are like his family!" insisted Tracy turning in her seat a bit.
"No, your family is like his family," said Doug again with worry in his voice.
"All Alan talks about is you three and Jess. And that weekend—" Tracy went on to say.
"Wait a second? Is he the one that keeps calling and hanging up?" asked Doug.
"You get that too? I wouldn't ever answer after the seventieth call from that number. I just stopped answering the phone unless I knew the number!" laughed Jess pulling at her hair.
"He does that when he's upset. He doesn't understand why he's not invited," Tracy said trying to convince Doug, who tried to stop her, but she kept talking. "Could you just run it by Stu? Just run it by him. For me?"
Jess watched as her brother flinched and caved in. He would talk to Stu but made no guarantee. As they arrived back to the apartment, Doug walked her up.
"Hey, I'm glad you came out with us. Like before when we were younger," he smiled, rubbing her arm.
"It's been a long time since it was just you and me, Doug," she replied giving him a big hug.
"Thank you for everything Jess," she heard him whisper. He let her go but before she entered the building he pulled at her arm. "We'll get Jack from Tracy's parents tonight. You enjoy the night to yourself. Have a good night!"
Jess unlocked the door quietly and walked into the quiet apartment. Turning on the lights, she saw several papers laying on the kitchen table with Jason's slanted handwriting across several pages. Tidying up the paperwork into one pile, she took them to his desk and laid them there for when Jason came back, but one page caught her attention near the back of the pile. It was an invoice for a plane ticket to Kansas City, Missouri dated for the day Jason said he was leaving for family business. There were also itinerary for Betty and Darcy to be traveling to LA when they were out of the country
She shook a bit realizing he never stated where he was exactly going; not that he had to tell where he was going but it would have been nice to know since he was her child's father. Slow burned fury built in stomach as she threw herself into one of the puffy chairs in their living room. Listening to the sounds of a piano playing through the stereo, she stared at the paper wondering why he was in Kansas City. The page was probably harmless.
Right?
*dot*
The flight back to Kansas City felt like it took forever, and Jason hated lying to Jess, but he had to report to his father about family business, and he knew he could not bring her this time. She already questioned his wealth and its validity at times, but he could tell that Betty and Darcy coming to LA was bothering her greatly. At the airport, he found his driver and rode the short distance to his apartment. Inside, he sensed someone's present and could make out a solid form near the sofa. A soft plop came as he reached for the hidden blade in the island kitchen border. With it firmly held in the palm of his hand, he flicked on the lights on and frowned at the person. Betty smirked as she stood from the couch, a wine glass held in her hands.
"You took forever!" she said smiling take a long sip from her glass. Her eyebrows rose curiously at the item in his hand as she let out a giggle.
"How did you get in!? You have your own place to sleep in."
"I still have my key and I like yours Jay," she whispered finally reaching him and tracing a finger down his chest. Embarrassed at his body's reaction, he walked around her asking if Darcy was there. "No, she's with my mother. We have that meeting in the morning. I figured we could catch up on old times like before—"
Just then he noticed her travel bag. It was opened and its contents was half missing.
"Where are your toiletries?" he questioned watching her arms cross as he threw the bag on the coffee table.
"In the bathroom. Where they should be," she replied curtly grabbing his hands and pulling him to the sofa with a soft thud. "I'm exactly where I should be too."
Jason could tell what she wanted, but he swore he would never fall into her traps, and she was quite convincing by the attire. The short black dress landed right under her bottom and its deep V neck dropped into cleavage making him grunt under his breath. His hands, though forced, landed on her hips and he knew what he shouldn't do but ignored those feelings. The lack of sex from Jess was very infuriating and his sneaking suspicion was that she was seeking out Phil behind his back. So, maybe, here, well— Jess didn't know he was even here. Why not take the change and enjoy himself with a body he already knew well.
"Betty," he asked quietly before they sunk further into the sofa. "Why are you here?" She turned to face him as her eyes fluttered at his question.
"What do you mean?" she questioned unsure by the meaning. "I want to be with you."
Betty pushed her brown hair back and looked upset at the question. It worried him but he knew that it was only followed by the sadness in the reality of their situation. They were expected to continue the family's business into the next generation, which their fathers had been saying for four years now. Jason wanted nothing to do with it anymore but being locked in this vicious cycle with her only cemented their interwoven lives. His behavior now, he swore he would never do again with her, but there was no glory in admitting his hands found places memorized and they both fell into the darkness in their embrace.
She was quite skilled with her hands, and he surprisingly felt more alive than he had in a very long time. He felt her fingers tugging on his belt and its slow release made him firm as she tossed the item on the carpeted floor. He pulled her dress up over her bottom, savoring the memory of holding them firmly before. His mind flashed to a small set of hips quickly, but he pushed the image away as he unbuttoned his jeans, pushing them down to his ankles. Readying himself, Betty held a steady pace on him and when he was ready, she sat down on his lap again. She pulled his blond hair as he held her bottom, they committed once more to the sin they knew and despised of each other. But inside, they both knew this was how everything was supposed to be. They were expected to be together by their families, but their difference made it harder to realize that.
Hours later by the kitchen island sipping on his own wine glass, they were clearly drunk after their activities. Betty had pulled her hair into a mermaid tail braid and was wearing one of his longer shirts that fell barely to her thighs. He was leaning over the island, shirtless, wearing only his grey loose shorts. His hair had been pulled awkwardly several times by her but the reality washed over him as he stared at her, but not seeing her. Probably aided by the alcohol induced, he shook his head and saw Betty walking over and pushing his hair out of his eyes.
"I'm sorry for being a bitch in court," she replied tucking a piece of hair back. Soft music played in the background that he had started after dinner for them both. Jason leaned and gave her a light kiss on the lips before smiling. "I'm sorry."
Picking up their plates, he washed them ignoring her comment as she opened the balcony French doors to let the sounds and smells of the power and light district below his apartment. She stood there holding the wineglass, it seemingly refilling itself from Jason's stock supply, and never downturned smile appeared over her cloudy state. Walking over, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back in to slow dance to Adele's newest hit, Rumour Has It. She was an artist that Betty loved recently but the main verses struck him oddly as they fell into rhythm of the beat. Dancing around in the living room, he let her go when his drunken sober ended and he stared in disgust at himself in the eyes of a woman who had and would again use him and his body.
Betty Martinez always got what she wanted, even if meant breaking a few rules involving him.
It was a hard reality that made him pick up his phone and text Jess asking how she was doing. With no reply, he let it pass assuming she was busy with Jack, but after an hour and checking it was pass ten at night in California, it worried him. Sending another knowing this may not be seen till morning, as Jess always was in bed before midnight, he laid back down observing the brunette beside him.
On Monday morning, he drove them to her father's house in Mission Hill, where Mr. Martinez was waiting in casual conversation with his own father. The two men appeared as two old friends, but for those involved, knew that Mr. Marshall and Mr. Martinez were ruthless and would cut anything or anyone down to get to their goal. Arrived earlier, the maids brought coffee and tea for the four of them, then quietly retreated outside for them to talk.
Jason looked at his father waiting to start the discussion when Mr. Martinez cleared his throat eyeing his daughter.
"I see that you got my gift," he commented pointing at his daughter. Jason felt his cheeks turn a light pink at the implications.
"Papa!" she muttered throwing her hands into her lap.
"I thank you for your time this morning, Sir. Please I'd like to discuss the matter you mentioned in your email. From both of you. Are you saying Betty and I are to partner up again? I can't do that. I'm in a relationship with someone—"
"Someone you have no business getting with boy!" snapped his father throwing his hands onto the table. "You should have learned to keep your dick where it should stay."
"Well, I can't change that now can I, Father?" he retorted watching his old man's eyes challenge him. "What is it you want me to do?"
"Well, I need you to slip away and work an arms contract for me," said Mr. Martinez finally, after seeing father and son silently fight it out. Looking over, Jason saw the seriousness in the man's posture. "I understand you are attending a wedding in Thailand. We—" he motioned between him and Mr. Marshall "— need you to slip away for a few hours and get information on a transaction for us. You must work carefully and with no detection. I think I can assign Seth to help you but know that the man who robbed us because of your carelessness in Las Vegas, Leslie Chow, is seeking to purchase in the transaction. We must get our money back at all costs!"
"You want me to slip away during a wedding? And contract an arms deal? Halfway across the planet?"
"Precisely," agreed his father. Looking around the table, Jason eyes Betty seeing the confusion on her face. "And you two are to expand our, operations, in the California region. We need a footing there again after your grandfather lost it when he got involved in the underworld. You two must appear united or this will not work! Make your relationship work damnit!"
Standing, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Martinez nodded leaving Betty and Jason together. Sighing, he too left, with in Betty in tow. Driving the short distance back, they stopped off at her house where she was still packing up. It was due to be moved the weekend he was gone, so the remaining afternoon, he spent it packing the rest of the house and finally around nine that night, they collapsed on the floor wiping their brow. They had dinner delivered for them by an associate who frowned at the sight of them.
"What?" asked Jason accepting the bag of food. "Did anyone get berries to try and kill me this time?"
"No, Sir. I check the containers personally myself. No berries at all."
The man's face was blank as Jason rose an eyebrow and inspected it before turning away and returning to Betty who sat on a bean bag. He saw her chicken fried rice, and his salad, seeing not a single berry of any kind. Thanking him, he closed the door, and he heard the sound of a car open and close but not leave.
"They never leave me alone," stated Betty firmly taking her food. Sipping on her iced water, she dug in and picked up her phone whenever it would ding. "Daddy sends them so nothing happens to me or Darcy."
"It was nice to see her yesterday. She's gotten bigger than I remembered. That damn hair of hers just like yours," he smiled, pulling his phone from his pocket and check his own messages. It had been pinching his hip when he was sitting, and the lack of dings bothered him a bit. Not a single message from Jess since he had left.
"She was nervous. But I'm glad you saw her. She's eager to move to California. Apparently, she believes that we'll be surfing on the beach a lot."
Jason looked over, seeing Betty staring at the ceiling. "You know once you come to LA, I can't protect you like you want."
She turned over and smiled at him with a smile unlike one he had seen in a while.
"But you will. Like you always have," she said curling her hands against his. "I know where I sit for you. I will always be first over anyone else."
Taking several bites from his food, he felt, like yesterday, the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach meant he felt awful being with Betty, but to be enjoying it willingly with her in these moments, troubled him significantly. This was just a game to her, he knew, but he couldn't help but feel understood by the brunette woman sitting cross legged beside him. Her hair was pulled up on top her head in a messy bun, her plumb rose red lips munching on Asian cuisine, curious brown eyes watching his actions closely, her baggie clothing curving her body elegantly, and for once, light make up instead of a face full of it.
Betty understood the world they lived in. It was exhausting to get others to understand, but for her to know the challenges he faced it meant having an ally in his pocket, even if it meant destroying other relationships. He also knew that neither would get what they desired unless they were ruthless about it. He, as a man, was expected to protect her too. Just as she had said, it would be demanded of him to care for her no matter what anyone said.
Finally, bidding her goodnight, Jason was dropped off at home and sighed heavily feeling the soreness settling in. Checking his phone once more, he sat it down and collapsed on the sofa, promptly falling asleep. This night too, he kept waking in a sweat dreaming of Jess leaving him, or of Betty taking him away. It felt so real as he struggled with the jacket still on him. Throwing the thing to the floor, he stripped down fully, pulling a pair of shorts, and drinking a tall glass of ice water to clear his head.
No, his mind begged. Betty coming to LA isn't the end of the world. Just need to get both of them to understand I must be shared. But then, his subconscious screamed he was already sharing Jess with Phil. Clenching his fists, he threw the glass in anger, knowing it was probably the truth, but he refused to investigate her activities because it was Betty and Seth telling the info. How they even knew surprised him, but he wanted to believe that Jess was his and his alone. Remembering her still form and fainting hearing her light snores from memories, he tried to reason why the man had such an impact on her life. Before he left, he had requested dinner with Stu to help him understand, but it gave little information, more clarification than he expected. Stu stated that for the better part of her youth, Phil had always been there to comfort her in anything she needed, if he or Doug weren't available.
Jason also knew how much Jess meant to him. It pained him to say the older man's name because of everything. How he desired to knock the man out on several occasions meant Jess was more than a toy to him. In the conversation, Stu admitted that Phil was more afraid of losing that constant in his own life was the main problem. Something that they needed from each other, and their rich history strengthened the matters until Vegas happened. It was extreme difficult to hold back his tears as Stu explained Jess' past, from her abusive mother and rocky upbringing to living with Doug in New York and California. Learning that Phil had begun giving up everything for her showed Jason just how deep in their relationship was. Far too deep than he liked but he had to sit back and see what it meant now instead of focusing so much upon the past.
"Sometimes when we are challenged against something that is complete new," he explained, "we get scared. We weren't built to be this way. Our brains have a horrible way of tear us apart and against each other. Never stop believing that Jess loves you unless she says so otherwise. She's a human with emotions that you don't understand. Learn and understand her fears too. She's just as afraid of losing you as you are for her." Stu had spoke so clearly and calmly without any judgement but the statement, made him blink suddenly as it began making a lot more sense.
It was a deeper friendship than he wanted to admit but it was one that was pure. It was a relationship, platonic or romantic, that was vastly different than his with Betty. Phil and Jason were very similar he realized, they cared too far to let go and were determined equally to protect the ones they loved, even if it meant Jason still harbored feelings for Betty somewhere hidden far in his psyche. For Phil, it meant keeping the status quo but remaining hidden with his real intention with Jess. Their relationships, with each woman respectfully, was laced with details and emotions no one knew of, and it was that fact alone that stopped him in his place.
How he hated Phil Wenneck. He could bet that at this moment, that's exactly where Jess was – inside his arms.