Please

Communication

Disclaimer
This chapter contains naughty bits. Not suitable for underage readers. If you choose to consider these chapters inappropriate or not your thing, well... don't read them! The content here may not be for everyone but hey, that's fiction for ya.
Enjoy!
Or don't. Consent is key. 💋

Jo stared at the ceiling, finally brave enough to open the message again once she got home and relaxed. She sat for a while fidgeting with a quickly emptying cider bottle. After a few minutes, she held her breath and texted him.

Jo: hey, sorry I didn't text back. I've had a lot on my mind.

When she hit send, Jo had another, large sip, and sighed at the black screen of the TV. She should probably watch something to take her mind off things, but she wanted to clearly formulate a response to whatever he sent back. She needed to find the smoothest way out of this. After all, there was a slim chance he would lose interest now that she ended the chase, maybe he'd had enough of her and might be ok with not seeing her again.

The phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts and making her jump a little. Jo told herself just to pick up the phone and consider the message like it wasn't someone she had any emotional connection to. She could handle this like a survey questionnaire. Yes, yes, no, no thank you.

Marco: no worries.

The text wasn't what she expected. Short, abrupt, and confirming her suspicions from the previous text. He was being intentionally short with her. The few times she'd had conversations with Marco, he'd never shied away from long explanations, and he wasn't afraid to let her know when he was irritated with her. He wasn't afraid to let her know when he was interested either. Jo found herself blushing again and fought for control over her face. Her fingers flew, she should double check that his shortness wasn't just a one off.

Jo: I needed time to think, what happened was a lot for me to deal with.

Marco: sure.

Ok, now she was certain. And she was mad. Jo flicked to Kate's messages. She frowned as she typed.

Jo: is something going on with Marco? His messages sound a bit pissed.

It took a minute for Kate to notice the message, but Jo knew she was at home. She waited. Sure enough, the tell-tale '...' thought bubble appeared and Jo put the finished cider on the coffee table to hold the phone with two hands.

Kate: I don't know, what's he saying?

Jo: not much, that's the problem.

Kate: well, he's been a bit off since he came home the other night... did something else happen between you two?

Jo: no I haven't talked to him until now.

There was no answer after that and Jo realised Kate was probably going to talk to Marco. Panic stabbed at her spine and Jo started spamming Kate with messages.

Jo: what are you doing?
Jo: please don't ask him
Jo: Kate!
Jo: what are you saying to him?
Jo: just wait a second!

Jo was halfway through another text when the phone started ringing. Kate's face appeared on the screen and Jo almost dropped the phone. She hesitated but answered, one hand pushing her hair back so she could lean forward, curling over a pillow on her lap. It helped a little.

"Kate?"

"I'm handing the phone to Marco, the two of you have some shit to sort out." Kate's voice didn't sound mad but Marco must have said something that made her decide to keep out of it.