Everything She Wanted

09 Let the Games Begin

JAXX

After a year of peace, Grace suddenly made an appearance in the office one day and it was Cara who warned me. And like any other time, we ended up at her place. However, the morning after my first night with Grace, I knew I was over her completely.

I thought I would be heartbroken again, I was afraid that I'd call in sick again because I would be too smashed from crying and drinking. But this time, when I woke up, I felt like a dick because all I could think of was, "Damn, that was fantastic sex, but I gotta go."

I knew that we could never be anything more than fuck buddies, but there was still that tiny party of me that was still drawn to her. That part still held on to our good times, the same part that made me hold to her up to now, as friends. After everything she'd done to me, I should be running in the opposite direction but I guess it was the familiarity that made me stay.

I smiled to myself as I gathered my clothes that were littered in her condo. Our clothes were everywhere. It was a wild night and I think I took her all over her place. When I ran out of protection, she had a box of them stashed in her bedside table. It was not the usual ones I used. In fact, she knew I despised the orange flavor on it.

Come on, people! Orange flavor? If I wanted Robitussin, then I'd buy Robitussin, not a god damned condom!

Damn, how am I seeing through her just now? How was I so blind to realize that, of course, I was not the only one she was sleeping with when she's here?

God, Jackson, you dumb goat. I placed my free hand over my eyes and shook my head as all of the other things that pointed to that same conclusion dawned on me. I slipped my hand to cover my mouth as I quietly laughed in disbelief. But there was no hurt or sourness, just shock at my realization and disappointment in myself for taking too long.

I looked at the clock in the microwave oven; it said 4:15. Damn, I've been here for nearly ten hours. I was now very hungry and thirsty for real food. Too bad only McDonald's would be open at this time. I quickly got dressed and slipped out the door soundlessly.

Grace dropped by a few more times in the next two weeks and each time we would end up in her place, and I would end up sneaking out in the wee hours of the morning. She wasn't pleased with this new blasé behavior of mine. She was used to me sticking around till the morning, cuddling. I used to hold off work when she was around but this time I simply told her that I had to be at work in the morning so I could not stay. I had been liberated from the shackles that was Grace, and I would be damned if I let her claws on me again.

When we weren't having sex, Grace would and I would talk casually. She would tell me about her work and all her adventures. She occasionally dropped hints that she was single and, very subtly, she insinuated that she is looking for someone to settle with. I was not used to this kind of conversation with her and I was a bit taken aback when we broached the topic of relationships, commitment, love, and settling down. She was making all these allusions about us, but I could not be bothered to pick up and continue the subject.

One thing that bothered me though, was Cara's absence. Ever since she met Grace at the office, hindi ko na nakita anino nya. She replied tersely to my messages, and she ditched band practice thrice already. That was not her at all. Something was up and I intended to get to the bottom of it.