What The Heart Wants (Sebastian Vettel)

10. Bad Blood

Jessie picked up her mug of hot chocolate and made her way out of the kitchen, down the hallway and up the stairs.

She went into the spare bedroom that had been hers since their return from Greece and shut the door behind her. She tried to spend most of her time in there, not wanting to get in Seb and Ava's way.

When Seb was home he made a point of trying to include her in things, even small things like going to the supermarket, but he'd been gone now for over a week, gone back racing, and Ava hadn't really bothered with her. She'd just left her to her own devices, for which Jessie was thankful.

Greece had been hell, she'd barely come out of her room, and when she had she'd just got upset by the pitying looks Ava and Seb had given her.

She'd heard them arguing about her as well while they were there. From what she'd understood Ava had wanted to have sex but Seb had refused, saying he didn't want Jessie to hear them and get upset.

She'd not heard a word from Joel, not that she'd unblocked his number, but he could have contacted her on another number. He hadn't even tried.

Her belongings had arrived the previous week. Seb had managed to get in touch with Joel via text to tell him where to send them. She had no idea if they'd discussed what had happened. Seb hadn't told her and she hadn't asked. She didn't really care. She had to move on with her life. Joel had left her. That was that. She had to put him out of her head.

She heard a car pull onto the drive outside, then seconds later heard a car door slam. That would be Ava arriving home from her Pilates class. She always had Pilates on Mondays and Thursdays.  Jessie didn't even know what the hell Pilates was.

She knew that she should make some effort to go downstairs and actually socialise with her hostess, she was after all staying in Ava's house.  She knew though that if it wasn't for Seb's insistence she wouldn't be staying there.   She knew Ava didn't really want her there. 

Part of her felt hurt as she considered the German woman a friend. Hell, she'd been her bridesmaid, but she did understand.  Why would anyone want another woman living with her and her husband?  Especially when the husband was as caring and attentive as Seb was.

She knew she would soon have to leave.  She didn't want to cause any problems between Seb and Ava.  She'd thought about ringing Katie and seeing if she could stay with her for a while.  She hadn't seen her best friend for a couple of years, although they regularly FaceTimed.

It was something she seriously had to consider doing.  She was becoming too reliant on Seb and his caring nature.  She didn't want to take advantage. 

Seb.  Oh how she missed him, and he'd only been gone for nine days.   How had she gone years without being in his company?

There was a knock on the door. 

"Jessie?" Ava called out.

"Yes?"

"I was thinking of ordering some Thai for dinner tonight.  Did you want anything?"

Jessie was about to say yes, she loved Thai almost as much as she loved Italian, but the thought of having to sit with Ava wasn't appealing.  It wasn't Ava's fault, she just felt so guilty for invading her friends' life like this.

"No thank you," she replied. "I'll probably just have a sandwich.  I'm going to have an early night."

"Ok. If you change your mind before six let me know."

"I will do.  Thank you Ava."

She heard Ava's footsteps heading away from her room. 

Her phone beeped and she smiled as she saw Seb's name appear on the screen.