Support Group ( Jai Courtney )

Night 24

Lately I've been going back to the support group everyday, in all honesty it wasn't to get help or to talk, everything was said and I didn't know how talking more about it would help in any way. I only went for Jai, because as much as Anna and Christoph were more lax with me going out and all, I was working from 6.30 pm to 8 pm because Anna decided that she wanted to come later in work in the morning so that left me less time to do my job and so I was forced to continue later in the day. So we couldn't see each other at any other time in the day, he was himself doing extra hours in the afternoon.

But tonight, here I was in a restaurant, a real one, where I hadn't been since Jai paid me lunch. Waiting for the waiter to get our food.
I was reluctant at first but it was cruelly nice to sit around a rather big table with laughing people, people usually looking sad and having a tough life. It seemed like as if everything going on was just put aside for the night.
Being on Jai's right side like always was comforting me, beside him and Sarah, I still wasn't very familiar with any of them. Plus I have been really anxious, more than before since I was told the truth. I was afraid, afraid of loosing the little bit I had left, I had a huge trust disorder since I became aware of how everyone had been lying to me my whole life. Only Jai and those people with a so very imperfect life seemed to keep their word true.
But again this could be a matter of time until I discovered something hidden, and in all honesty it would destroy me.

So as much as I wanted to I couldn't fully share their happiness. I wasn't unhappy or even sad, but I was closed up on myself.
As we all waited for our food to be served, I was deep in thoughts, imagining everything that could and would happen to me if I were to not come to this support group ever again and not to see Jai ever again.

Jai.

I didn't know what we were, we weren't a couple for sure but we weren't just friends either. He was older than me yes but it wasn't too much.
I wasn't focusing on anything special, staring into the void between Annie and George's heads, my right elbow resting in the table as my hand mindlessly played to contour around my nose.

A sudden warm feeling rushed in my left thigh making me jump a little only for the hand that was placed on it to soothe me by rubbing circles with its thumb.
Jai discretely leaned near my left ear.

" Are you okay ? "

This was a question he was asking so often it felt like it was a thing between us when it really wasn't.

" Yeah just a bit intimidated I guess. "

" Alright but I'm here okay ?"

I nodded not looking at him and he resumed in his conversation with Rebecca his hand still unmoved from my thigh.

Soon enough our food came and we all dug into it. I didn't talk for the whole diner but it didn't feel out of place, everyone was content it all felt great. Jai would from time to time pick into my plate and put some of his in mine for me to taste. No words were spoken but I knew we understood each other at that point.

At the end of our meal, it was time to pay. And that was when I realized that I didn't even pay attention to the price of my plate, something I usually do all the time. My palms great sweaty terrified of the numbers I would face. I wasn't really close-fisted but the end of the months never missed to be hard and Ben wouldn't always be there.
I nervously wiped my hands on my thighs forgetting about Jai's hand. And he probably thought I wanted to take his hand in mine because that's exactly what he did but I didn't want him to feel my sweaty Palm so I quickly pulled away. He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, probably confused at my behavior. But he probably caught on the reason of my anxiety when I shakily reached for the bill. And before I could get a good view on it Jai's hand engulfed mine.

" I'm taking care of this. "

He paused looking in my eyes.

" I'm taking care of my baby. "

A blush crept through my cheeks easily.

Everyone paid and receptions said their goodbyes because leaving in their own way. The man I liked to call my Australian was driving me home and I felt again his hand on my thigh and before I could protest he broke the silence between us.

" I'm beginning to feel like this is where my hand belongs. "

I could hear that damn smirk in his low voice.

" And I really think that right now your hand belongs on the wheel I don't wanna end up dead tonight. "

I removed his hand and placed it on the right side of the steering wheel.
But of course being that damn stubborn Australian he is he placed it back on my thigh but this time higher. I didn't think anything of this knowing him though.

" You know my calloused hands really need softness. "

You bastard.