Again

Chapter 12

Rhea's impulsive decision to follow Jake lingered in her mind, a mixture of nerves and determination bubbling up. She hadn't planned on spying—at least that's what she told herself—but seeing him so comfortably wrapped around someone else was too much to ignore. Tonight, she needed answers, or maybe just a glimpse into a side of him he seemed to hide from everyone else.

As she trailed behind, careful not to be seen, she watched Jake's body language with this woman. The way he leaned into her, the way his laughter came so easily—it was like a different Jake from the one she saw every day. She swallowed, emotions mingling uneasily in her chest, uncertain if it was jealousy or pure curiosity pulling her forward.

Jake and the woman eventually settled into a quiet corner of a small café, oblivious to the world around them. Rhea found a seat where she could observe but not intrude, ordering a coffee she barely touched, her eyes glued to the pair. She couldn't hear their conversation, but the woman's laughter and Jake's genuine smiles said more than words could. She felt foolish and yet couldn't pull herself away.

What was she even doing here? Chasing a man who seemed, in this moment, so far out of reach, and lying to her friends to do it. As her gaze returned to Jake, she began to understand that she was venturing into dangerous territory—one where unrequited feeling was starting to consume her.

Taking a deep breath, she stood up, finally ready to leave. Maybe tonight was the wake-up call she needed. But just as she was about to go, Jake looked up, his eyes meeting hers. Rhea froze, feeling like she'd been caught in a spotlight.
Rhea's face held an easygoing smile, but beneath it, her nerves were razor-sharp. She could feel the crackling tension between herself and Jake, and it only worsened as she locked eyes with Jenna—a perfect stranger who seemed to know an entirely different side of him.

Jake's grip on her arm softened, but the tension in his gaze was anything but. "Rhea," he began, a hint of exasperation in his tone, "what was with that picture? You can't just send things like that out of the blue."

Rhea shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "It was just a stupid photo. Just... a random moment."

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. "A random moment that freaked me out. Are you stalking us?"

"What? No," she shot back, her smile slipping just a bit. "I just came here for coffee, and—"

"Rhea," Jake interrupted, his tone now a mix of irritation and forced patience. "Look, I get it. We shared a night, but we agreed: no strings. We both knew what it was."

"Yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "No feelings attached."

"Exactly." He released her arm, adjusting his stance as if that settled everything. "We were both... in the moment. Just a one-time thing. We were..."

"Horny," she finished for him, her voice flat, hiding a flicker of resentment. "Right. Thanks for the recap."

Jake sighed, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the awkwardness. "I'm dating Jenna now," he added, almost as if he needed to remind her of the situation.

"Of course," Rhea replied, forcing a tight smile. She turned to Jenna with a slight wave. "Hi, I'm Rhea. He's the father to our three kids."

Jake's face twisted in horror, and Rhea couldn't help but smirk at his reaction.

"I'm just kidding," she added quickly, laughing as if the whole thing were a joke. "We're just friends. Nice to meet you." But as she extended her hand, the words. Not really echoed silently in her mind. Jenna looked at her uncertainly, her grip on Jake's arm tightening just a little as if marking her territory.

"Well, enjoy your coffee," Jake said, already pulling Jenna away, leaving Rhea standing alone in the café with her untouched cup. As she watched them go, a bitter realization settled in: she'd been dismissed, not just as a one-time fling but as an afterthought.

She'd never thought of Jake as anything but a friend. Sure, he was hot, and they'd had a good time, but he was never her type, was he? Then why did seeing him with someone else bother her so much? She should be happy for him, she told herself. But the truth was that she wasn't happy. Not at all.

The soft glow of streetlights flickered rhythmically, casting fleeting shadows across Ashe's face as he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white against the leather. The gentle hum of the car was usually grounding, but tonight, it felt like the only thing holding him together. His thoughts kept circling back to the cramped restroom, the dark eyes, the predatory smiles, the helplessness. No matter how tightly he clenched the wheel, the memory lingered.

Arthur sat beside him, a quiet presence in the passenger seat. One hand rested gently on his own knee, but he kept glancing at Ashe, his gaze concerned, lingering.

Finally, Arthur spoke, his voice soft, careful. "Are you okay?"

Ashe swallowed, his throat dry, words reluctant to come. "Define 'okay.'"

Arthur tilted his head, attempting to catch Ashe's eye. "I mean... after what happened," he started, his voice trailing off. He seemed to search for the right words. "What they did..."

Ashe forced out a laugh, though it sounded jagged, broken. "You mean almost being someone's dinner?" He shot a half-hearted grin Arthur's way, but it felt empty, brittle. "It was humiliating. I felt..." His voice faltered, the words catching in his throat.

"Trapped?" Arthur offered, his tone gentle, as if afraid to scare off Ashe's honesty.

Ashe nodded, barely perceptible, his gaze fixed ahead. "Yeah. Trapped, powerless... Like I'd lost control," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper, haunted. He took a shaky breath, forcing the memories back into the shadows. "And then you showed up like some action hero." A faint smile ghosted across his lips. "Guess I owe you one."

Arthur shook his head, his voice warm but firm. "Consider it paid with this car ride." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "And I didn't do it to make you owe me. I did it because no one should go through that—especially not alone."

They fell silent, the car filling with an almost tangible weight, a blend of unspoken fears and guarded vulnerabilities. Ashe felt it all sitting heavy in his chest, emotions tangled and raw. He clenched his jaw, debating, but eventually he turned to Arthur, a playful glint barely masking the pain in his eyes.

"So... the whole 'boyfriend' thing. Was that just to get them off my back, or...?"

Arthur chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, it worked, didn't it?"

A genuine smile tugged at Ashe's lips, a small crack in the armor he'd managed to build in the last few hours. But as quickly as it came, the smile faded, a bitter tension tightening his expression. "Yeah... but I hated it. Hated that I needed someone to step in like that. I keep thinking it's karma, you know?"

Arthur turned to him; his brows furrowed in concern. "Karma? For what?"

Ashe's voice dropped, almost as if he didn't want to hear himself say it. "For what I did to Wayne. I was awful. Cruel. This just feels like... like payback."

Arthur let out a sigh, his hand reaching out to rest on Ashe's shoulder. His grip was steady, grounding. "Listen, no one deserves that. Not you, not anyone. What happened back there wasn't some cosmic punishment. And if you feel you were wrong with Wayne, maybe this is just a... a push to make things right—not some payback from the universe."

The words hung in the air, quiet but strong, sinking into Ashe's heart. He let out a long breath, as if trying to release the twisted knot of regret, shame, and fear that had settled in his chest. He glanced at Arthur, gratitude softening his gaze.

"Thanks, Arthur."

"Anytime," Arthur replied, giving Ashe's shoulder a comforting squeeze before letting go.

They rode the rest of the way in silence, a silence that felt almost soothing, as if some of the weight had finally lifted.

A/N: I am feeding you this one. Eat this up. Gobble it. I really appreciate your time and effort to read this story. Thank you.