When I awoke, Jesse was gone. But at least this time he left a note.
Dad phoned, wanted me home. Didn't want to wake you. Family dinner tonight, 7pm, Dad's house. Be there a little early - I'll act surprised.
All my love, Jess
I grinned reading the last line.
All his love.
I guess that settled things, didn't it?
I lay back on the bed with a wide grin on my face, thinking and waiting.
*
Jesse had left no indication of how fancy this dinner was, or who was all expected to come. Luckily, my mother had phoned me around noon to invite me to the gathering, as she didn't know that Jess and I were in contact. I was to dress semi-formal and Jesse's fiancé and her family would be there.
God, I'd have to meet
her.
I tried not to think about it.
Around 6:45 I parked on the street across from my father's house. I felt sick to my stomach at the prospect of having to go inside. I'd have to face him. Did he even know I was coming? What if he caused a scene?
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting. Should I go in? It's not too late to go back to the hotel.
God, I'm pathetic. Besides, I have to show up eventually. My mother knows that I'm in town. If I don't make an appearance soon she'll get suspicious.
With a sigh, I made my way to the house. Here goes nothing.
I knocked quickly on the door, holding my breath. Jesse answered immediately with a wide grin on his face.
"Mike!" He said, wrapping his arms around me, pecking me on the lips. He turned quickly, surveying the hall behind us, before pulling my face down to his to kiss me again, more passionately this time.
My arms moved around his waist and I held him closer to me. His lips moved urgently against mine, and reluctantly I could feel my cock starting to grow in my trousers.
"Son, who is it?" Jesse and I quickly broke apart, just seconds before our father entered the hallway.
"Dad! I didn't know you invited Michael! What a wonderful surprise." Jesse said with a grin, patting me on the back. I nodded, too fearful to fake a smile.
"Yes, you can thank your mother for that one." My father grumbled before turning and leaving the way he came.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I guess Mom already told him I was coming. That was a relief, at least.
"That was too close, Jess." I whispered, looking at him evenly. He nodded, a pink tint coming to his cheeks.
"I'll try to behave." Jesse said softly, giving me a small smile. We looked at each other for a few seconds, not saying anything.
"Come, sit down. You can meet my fiancé." Jesse said finally. My heart sank. I don't really know what I was hoping he'd say, but whatever it was, it most certainly wasn't that.
He led me into the living room. There were already a fair number of people there. Sitting in the room was my father, an older woman who I could assume to be his girlfriend (she wasn't introduced to me), an older man, another older woman, and finally, a beautiful red-headed girl with astonishing blue eyes.
My breath hitched. I knew I was staring, but I couldn't look away from her. It was as if seeing her in person finally made her real. This is Jesse's fiancé.
I knew that Jesse was telling me her parent's names, but I didn't register them.
"And this is my beautiful fiancé, Claire." Jesse said, motioning to her. I swallowed thickly. My heart thumped painfully in my chest.
I'm fucking your fiancé.
I thought the realization would make me feel like I'd won something. Instead I just felt guilty. I felt like I was going to be sick. But even still, I couldn't bring myself to regret what Jesse and I were doing. I'd loved Jesse for twenty years. She hadn't even known him for two.
"Well, Jesse, you never told me your brother was so handsome." Claire said, standing and giving me a warm smile. She hugged me, but it wasn't one of those A-frame hugs. Her body pressed against mine, her large breasts rubbed against my chest. It was a weird way to hug someone you'd only just met, but I pushed the thought aside.
"Yeah, it runs in the family." Jesse said, nudging me with his elbow. Jesse seemed so comfortable. I didn't understand how he could be. I guess he'd gotten better at acting.
Our mother arrived shortly after I did, with her boyfriend, Jason. He was a hit among all the women at the gathering, which wasn't all that surprising. He's charming enough, I guess. I could tell he grated on my father's nerves, which was really the only enjoyable thing about the whole evening so far. Maybe he isn't so bad after all.
The rest of the night went all the same. Everyone seemed so relaxed. Everyone, that is, except me.
Jesse sat beside Claire, and they made eyes at each other all throughout dinner. I could handle that. I could handle the fact that Jesse always had his hand on her thigh. I could handle watching him lovingly brush her hair away from her face. But I couldn't handle watching them kiss.
It happened right after dinner, before dessert was brought out. They made eye contact and slowly, moved in to kiss each other. They pecked a few times, before finally connecting their lips in a passionate, slow, loving kiss. Just like the kind Jesse and I shared the night before.
I stood up abruptly from the table.
"Excuse me, I need to go have a smoke." I said quickly.
"You don't smoke, dear?" My mother asked, turning to face me as I hurried out of the room.
"Just started." And with that, I was gone.
I sunk down onto the cold porch stairs, biting my lip.
I wasn't expecting this. Not after last night. Not after this morning. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Jesse was supposed to be distant and cold to her not... happy. This is all wrong.
I was outside in the cold for a few minutes before I heard the door open and shut behind me. I didn't look to see who it was. Instead I watched my breath. In the cold of the night it came from my mouth in a fog, creating white clouds in the dark before quickly dissipating.
