One Deep Breath

Chapter Sixteen

Jolie tried really hard to shut the door to her room behind her quietly, but as soon as the door clicked Rachel shot straight up out of bed.

"Well, hello slut."

Her friend crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows playfully at Jolie as she made her way over to her bed.

"I gotta get out of this," Jolie muttered, throwing her coat on the bed and reaching around for her zipper before rifling through her drawer for a tee, wishing she still had Jesse's to put back on.

Once changed, she flopped onto her bed quickly followed by Rachel who jumped up next to her.

"So?" Rachel looked at her expectantly.

"So. He's kind of amazing," she resolved, waiting for her friend's reaction.

Rachel's face split into a smile.

"So you went home with him? Did you hook up?"

"No!  Almost. He's living in the hotel downtown currently, the tall building right in the middle of the city. In the penthouse."

"What? He's living in a penthouse?"

"Mmhmm, that's where I stayed last night."

"No shit. I woulda stayed too. So he's like, totally rich then."

Jolie nodded, not sure how much information she wanted to divulge. She usually told Rachel everything, but things with Jesse were different. She got the sense he was relatively private, and she liked the idea of keeping some of their conversations sacred.

"So you really didn't sleep with him?"

"No. Just some kissing," she said sheepishly.

"But you slept over?"

"We had been drinking. We were being responsible," she reasoned.

Rachel let out a laugh.

"So what now? When will you see him again?" Rachel questioned.

Jolie shrugged, hoping she'd hear from him soon. She already felt attached and was completely infatuated with him.

"Well I'm sure you'll hear from him soon," Rachel concluded, standing up and collapsing back into her bed. "Speaking of hearing from people, anything from Landon?"

Jolie froze before shaking her head no. She really hadn't thought much about him since their final talk. She was glad he hadn't really fought her when she had told him she was done, and she had no desire to talk to him at all now, something she felt guilty about. She figured he'd come back around at some point, but she felt more resolved than ever about ending it after spending time with Jesse.

She knew she couldn't possibly feel the things she felt with him with Landon. She doubted whether or not she could feel that way with anyone besides Jesse, though she hoped she might find it again, if things fizzled out.

He had been gone less than twenty minutes and she already missed him.

------

After replaying the night over and over in her mind, Jolie finally managed to fall asleep, taking a little midday catnap.

Awakening to a soft buzzing, she realized her phone was ringing, tucked under her pillow where she always kept it when she was sleeping. Pulling it out to see who was calling, she saw Jesse's name through her blurred, sleepy vision.

Waking up immediately, she bolted up to a sitting position while sliding her screen to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hey," he breathed into the phone, the sound of his voice making her giddy.

"Miss me already?" she bragged.

"Maybe."

She smiled before catching her roommates questioning stare and quickly putting on a straight face.

"What's up?" she asked into the phone as nonchalantly as she could.

"Well. What are you doing today?" he responded, making Jolie's stomach lurch. She glanced at the clock noticing it was quarter to two.

"I don't really have anything planned. Why?"

"Can I steal you for the night again? I want to show you something."

"Oh," she paused, not wanting to sound too eager but bursting with curiosity. "Yeah, okay. I'm free."

"Great," he breathed. "Can you be ready to go by three or is that too soon?"

Rachel was blatantly eavesdropping, desperate to know what was happening as Jolie hopped out of bed knowing she had to get going.

"Um, no that's fine. Will it be like last night? Do I need a dress?"

"No you can wear whatever you want. But we won't be back until tomorrow, so pack a bag this time. Unless you want to wear one of my shirts again," he added, and Jolie could basically hear his smirk through the phone.

"Two sleepovers in one weekend?" she teased, her interest piqued and her mind racing with possibilities.

"I guess so, yeah," he laughed, "but I promise to behave myself."

"Sure.  Alright let me go get ready."

"Sweet," excitement ringing clear in his voice, " I'll see you soon."