Exactly What I've Been Waiting For

Chapter 11

Jesy got home late, but earlier than the day before. She left the house way before Harry woke up, and was sure that she'd come home to a dark house.

She was proven wrong when she entered the house with the lights still on and saw Leigh Anne instead.

"Did André throw you out of the house or ...?"

Instead of acknowledging the ginger haired girl's statement, Leigh replied, "Dinner's in the oven."

Jesy nodded, sensing the seriousness on her tone. They haven't spoken to each other, despite the fact that they have nothing to fight about. "Where's Harry?" she asked, looking around.

"Tucking the kids to bed."

"Are you not speaking to me?" She asked, getting straight to the point.

Leigh Anne looked at her. "I thought I just did."

"Barely. I'm the one who should be pissed off. You have nothing to be snotty about." Jesy walked to their kitchen while the raven haired girl followed.

"I'm being snotty?" she repeated.

She opened a cupboard and took a plate, also opening the oven and removing the tin foil. "I don't expect my friends and family to lie to me. Even lie by omission. And when they do-"

Leigh Anne grabbed the plate from her hands and placed it on the counter. She didn't want anything breaking.  "Okay, first of all, I didn't know that you didn't know. Second, it wasn't my story to tell. It was between you, Perrie, and Jade. And third, I agree with you." She shoved the plate back to the older girl.

"Can you just wait and listen --. You agree with me?"

"Yeah, I was pretty much surprised when I found out about them. I said you'd be mad when you find out, and that was two months ago. I assumed they spoke to you about it during that time."

"Well, thanks. And sorry."

"However,"

Jesy groaned.

"However," she repeated. "You might want to ask yourself why they didn't tell you. And look back on that night when you acted like a superior, tight-ass jerk."

Jesy raised her eyebrows at her, surprised at the choice of words. "Excuse me?"

"Look, I said I agree with you. But you didn't have to be all Jesy Nelson about it."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Leigh Anne took at one of the stools by the counter. She could see this going on for a while. "Honey, telling you then or now won't make a difference."

She took her full plate and sat across from Leigh Anne. "This is such a cop out."

"Jesy Nelson, the corporate officer. Jesy Nelson disapproves. Jesy Nelson knows best. Jesy Nelson will manipulate and maneuver until she positions you where she wants, because it's for your own good."

Jesy's eyes widened at the description, especially coming from the woman that she treated as her own sister. "That's cold, babe."

Leigh Anne sighed. "No, it's not. Well, it's not supposed to be."

"I manipulate people?"

"Is that a trick question?" Harry joined in the conversation, a teasing smile on his face while walking over to the two women and pulled a chair next to Leigh so that they were both facing the ginger haired girl.

"Damn it." She muttered.

"Sweetie, yes, of course you do. You're a problem solver. You manipulate people for a living, and sometimes bring it at home with you. Come on, if you haven't manipulated me to some extent, we wouldn't have gotten married and had three wonderful kids together." His statement tugged a smile on her face. "I'm sorry you found out about the two of them like you did. But I think the situation is a little strange to all of us. Even more so for the two of them than us outsiders."