Twisted Devotion

Forty

As the night wore on, Jess felt her cheeks flush with warmth, a combination of the whisky and Marcus's steady, comforting presence. When she finally stood to leave, Marcus, ever the gentleman, offered to walk her back. She hesitated for a moment, but the idea of company, especially his, was too inviting to resist.

They left the pub, stepping into the still, snow-dusted night. Snowflakes floated softly down around them, catching in Jess's ginger curls as she pulled her coat tightly around her. The quiet of the town at this hour seemed to cradle their footsteps, the muffled crunch of snow the only sound between them as they made their way toward her father's house.

Jess's head felt light, her words loosening as she began to ramble about memories and childhood stories. "You know... this town feels the same, but so much has changed," she murmured, her voice dreamy. "Ava and I, we used to run through these streets like we owned them. Pretend we were on some grand adventure."

Marcus glanced down at her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He loved listening to her talk, the way her voice carried hints of nostalgia and mischief. "I can picture that," he said, his voice low and gentle. "You and Ava—sounds like you were quite the troublemakers."

Jess laughed, her breath a visible cloud in the cold night air. "You have no idea. We'd sneak into the woods, make up these wild stories about monsters and hidden treasures... I think part of me never grew out of it. That's probably why I worry about her so much. She was always the brave one."

She stumbled a bit on the uneven pavement, and Marcus's hand shot out instinctively, steadying her. His warm grip around her arm sent a pleasant shock through her, and she looked up at him, eyes wide with a newfound intensity.

"You know, Detective..." she slurred slightly, a faint smirk gracing her lips, "you're pretty nice to look at."

Marcus chuckled, but his gaze softened as he looked at her. "Is that so?" he asked, humoring her, though his heart was beating a bit faster.

"Uh-huh." Jess nodded with exaggerated seriousness, her face flushed with alcohol and maybe something else. "I might even say I have a bit of a crush on you."

A smirk played on Marcus's lips as he listened, amused by her bold confession. He felt his resolve waver, but he reminded himself she'd had more than a few drinks tonight, and he wasn't about to take advantage of that. But her voice, her laughter—it was all so captivating, and he found himself lingering on every word.

As they reached the front steps of her childhood home, Jess turned to him, her eyes shining with a mischievous glint. Before he could react, she leaned in, her lips nearly brushing his. The world seemed to pause, the night holding its breath as Marcus's heart thundered in his chest.

But he drew back gently, catching her shoulders, his hands steady but soft. "Jess..." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not like this. Not tonight." His gaze held hers, filled with a quiet intensity. "You're... you're not exactly sober."

A flicker of disappointment passed over her face, but she nodded, her cheeks flushed. "Yeah... yeah, you're right," she mumbled, pulling back, her gaze dropping to her feet.

Marcus wanted nothing more than to close the distance, to feel her lips against his, but he knew he couldn't. Not like this. He gave her a soft smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

Jess nodded, a soft smile tugging at her lips despite her disappointment. "Okay."

When he turned and started walking away, Jess watched him until his figure disappeared into the night. She entered the house, the warmth enveloping her, but her thoughts remained with him. She made her way up to her childhood bedroom, a bittersweet feeling settling over her.

Sitting on her bed, she gazed out the window as snow continued to fall, covering the world in quiet. Her thoughts wandered to Ava, alone out there somewhere, but also to Marcus—his smile, his strength, and the gentleness he'd shown her tonight. As she lay back on the bed, a soft sigh escaped her lips, her eyes closing as she drifted into sleep, the night carrying her into dreams where snowflakes and whispered words mingled in a comforting haze.