The Marshall Boy

Eight

Eight
Jessica 
Three Years Earlier...

Blake and I started dating three months ago, moved in with him two months ago, and no one's happier about it than Marlee. She's very pleased with herself since she now thinks she's a matchmaker. It does get lonely though, since Blake is gone a lot on business trips; I trust him when he leaves though, I know he'd never cheat on me. I spend the weeks hanging out with Marlee and Nate when he's gone, since Blake's apartment is lonely without him; being the southern boy he is, he was a bit hesitant about us living together but I assured him it was a normal thing for couples our age to do. We're at a club tonight, and I watch as Marlee hangs out with a friend she knows from the art school she attended two years ago. I watch and suddenly feel a wave of longing hit me; I had wanted to go to college when I was young, I would dream about the way I would meet new college friends, and years later we would meet for barbeques, with ours kids running around and our husbands cooking, while we sip champagne.

"I brought you a drink," Nate tells me as he hands me a shot, and I raise it to him before downing it. "Woah," He laughs, "You alright?"

"I'm lonely." I grumble, as I set the shot glass down, and take Nate's from him. "Sue me." I down the other shot, then set it down next to the other one.

"Yeah," Nate says, as he scoots closer to me so a few girls can get past. "Blake's away a lot for the company."

"So I've noticed." I grumble, as I frown down at my sandals. "I wish he was home more."

"Well, I'm always here if you need me." Nate shrugs, and I give him a strange look.

"What's that mean?" I ask, crossing my arms protectively over my chest.

He raises his shoulders in a slow shrug, and moves closer so we're only inches away. "Whatever you want it to, Jess."

"Nate, you're my cousin's boyfriend, and I'm dating your boss." I remind him, though he does smell really good; I remind myself I'm tipsy, and lonely. Not a good combination.

"It would be our little secret." He whispers, before moving away and collecting the glasses, then smiles charmingly behind me. "I'm going to get some more of these."

"Okay, babe!" Marlee says loudly, over the music. She smiles as she grips my arm. "Come dance with me!" My conscience rattles against my body, but I shove it down; nothing happened, Nate's drunk and it doesn't matter. 

Everything's under control.