CHAPTER THREE: MISTAKEN IN BED

JESSIE

My eyes flutter open, and pain shoots through my forehead until it settles in my eyes. I shut my eyes once more, and the events from last night flood back into my mind. 

How I kissed Stephen on the dance floor and how he pulled me through the club and into his car. How I kissed him again and ended up in his penthouse. 

Every single action I took while intoxicated is clear as day in my mind. I had always thought that blacking out while drunk was irresponsible, but now I wished I didn't have to remember the details of last night. 

My eyes flew open as I looked around, scrambling in bed. My eyes finally fell on Stephen’s frame, sleeping so peacefully beside me. I stared at his face and tried to ignore how my heart leapt to see him. 

I had always known him to be extremely good-looking, but never in the way of ending up naked on his bed after a breakup. I push away the cover and realise that I had fallen asleep stark naked. 

I tiptoe out of bed and try to pull my clothes on, ready to do the walk of shame out of here before he can wake up. “This shouldn’t have happened,” I mumbled over and over to myself as I picked up my clothes from the ground and put them on.

“Where are you off to?” 

The bass of his voice startled me and made my entire core shake. I had heard of angelic morning bass voices before, but this was the first time I was hearing one for myself. I gripped my dress and turned to him slowly. 

He was now in an upright position, his hair fallen to his forehead so casually, and his abs glistening from the morning sun peering in from the blinds. 

My eyes dropped to his chest, and I forgot how to breathe almost instantly. I swallowed and pulled my gaze away, trying my best not to look at him. 

“I…uhm… did we sleep with…” I trailed off, allowing his mind to finish the sentence. 

He blinked rapidly, eyes fixed on me. His mouth opened and closed multiple times. I knew the answer to that question, but I wanted to hear what he was going to say. 

When he didn't say a word, I clapped and pressed my lips into a thin line. A nervous chuckle barely escaped my lips. “Does it really matter?” 

His face fell, but he was still stoic as ever, barely showing any emotions. I was confused, not sure what I was supposed to do. 

My head was throbbing every time I moved or opened my mouth to speak, but I had to resolve this matter before it got out of hand. This was a mistake and nothing more than that. I had to make sure we both knew and agreed on that. 

“What?” 

“It was the alcohol, Stephen. We were both drunk and…” 

His eyebrow furrowed, and his mouth opened, but I beat him to it. “Let’s just act as if none of this happened.” 

“I do not want to…” 

“You are my best friend’s brother; this is wrong,” I added. 

“Does that really matter?” 

“Stephen, I am just getting out of a relationship; I don’t think this is right.” I waited for him to say something else. 

I was not sure what I really wanted to hear from him, but I waited. When he didn't say a word, I took a step forward, swaying on my feet. 

“So we don’t ruin our relationship with whatever this was, why don’t we just forget it ever happened?” 

His face tightened, and his jaw, which was already so sharp, looked sharper. I tried not to let the action affect me; I looked away from his body, but my eyes continually dropped to his chest. 

I clenched my hands by my side to stop myself from wanting to get closer and run them across his well-defined abs. 

“You want to forget about last night?” His voice, which always sounded cold and distant, had a hint of disappointment in it, but they stayed glued to my face. 

“That is the best for us, isn’t it?” 

He looked away for a moment and then snapped his gaze back to me. “Right” 

I stood still, waiting for anything to happen, and when extreme silence met my ears, I coughed and turned to the door. 

“You must be severely hungover.” He stopped me before I could pull the door open. I trudged to him, and he was already out of bed in his trousers hanging dangerously low on his waist. 

“Let me make you a cup of tea to…” 

“No,” I screamed too loudly, stopping him. 

He jolted back in shock, but his face didn't seem to change one bit.  I had fallen into bed with him so easily that I feared that any small, affectionate action from him might pull me closer to him. 

“It’s just tea,” he murmured, picking a shirt and throwing it over his head. 

It wasn't just tea. It was me lingering over and reopening my crush on him. That crush was long gone and dead. There was no need for me to try to linger. It was a teenage crush that meant nothing, not anymore 

“Yes, but I have to get to…” My mind went blank, almost exposing me for the lie. “I have to get home.” I pushed out the lie. 

He raised his eyebrow, and I swallowed hard with a small nod. “Yeah, my mom must be expecting me,” I lied through my teeth. 

My heart was beating out of my chest in fear that I might be caught by him. 

He stood there now fully clothed, but his eyes made my insides tumble in excitement. “Okay.” 

I turned on my heels and pushed through the bedroom and the entire house until I was standing outside his. I knew he might offer to drop me off at home if I didn't leave immediately. 

Who knew leaving Alen was going to bring all sorts of complications to my life?”