Chapter 4

JESSIE Back inside the sanctuary of my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, replaying everything that had just happened downstairs. Breakfast was supposed to be simple, routine, but it had turned into something entirely different when Olivia walked in. She looked breathtaking, even in her rumpled morning state—maybe especially so. Her tousled hair framed her face, and those silk nighties clung to her in ways I couldn’t ignore. Every time she bent or stretched, the glimpse of her underwear made my cheeks flush. I wasn’t used to feeling this way—this…awareness. It wasn’t just about how beautiful she was. It was the way she spoke to me, her voice soft and inviting, the way her fingers brushed against mine when she handed me the knife to chop the peppers. Was I imagining it, or was there something in her gaze, too? And Cal, the looks he kept giving me as we all ate. It was only the three of us, and it felt so intimate as if we had something going on. And the peck he gave me on my cheek, when he kissed Olivia, I wondered how his lips felt but did not expect him to actually give me a peck. I flopped back onto the bed with a groan, staring up at the ceiling. “Get a grip, Jessie,” I muttered to myself. But the flutter in my chest wouldn’t go away. I took a refreshing shower and stepped out of the bathroom. In only my towel, I stood in front of the wardrobe to pick out an outfit to wear, since Olivia asked me to dress comfortably for the hot sun, I decided on a tank top and shorts, that stopped right before my knees. I packed my hair into a high bun so it would be out of my face once I work and not stick to my sweats. I picked my airpods that were charged and my phone. Before making my way downstairs, I checked on Tamara who was still deeply asleep in one of her weird sleeping positions, and she never gets a kink in her neck. My best friend is weird. I quietly closed the door and took the stairs down. Olivia was already in the kitchen by the door that probably leads to the backyard. She was wearing a bumshort and tank top like me. She also had two hats in her hand. "You are here. Here, for you. The sun can be a pain in the neck when we are bent over working." She said handing me one of the hats. I took the hat from Olivia, our fingers brushing briefly, and for a moment, I couldn’t help but notice the warmth of her touch. She smiled at me, her usual playful grin, but there was something in her eyes—was it amusement? Curiosity? Whatever it was, it made my pulse quicken. “Thanks,” I said, slipping the hat onto my head. “Looks good on you,” she replied, tilting her head slightly as if appraising me. Her casual compliment made me avert my gaze, pretending to adjust the strap under my chin. “You too,” I mumbled, glancing up at her briefly before looking away again. Olivia laughed softly, a sound that seemed to wrap around me. “Come on, let’s get started before the sun gets too harsh. Cal’s already outside setting up.” I followed her through the door, stepping into the backyard where the heat was already making the air shimmer slightly. Cal was indeed there, shirtless and already moving heavy bags of soil. He looked up when he saw us, his smile easy and warm, but his eyes lingered on me just a second longer than I expected. “Jessie,” he said, his voice smooth, almost teasing. “Ready to get your hands dirty?” I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant despite the way his attention made my stomach flip. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Olivia nudged me playfully with her elbow. “Don't hesitate to speak up if it gets too much, okay. Cal can be a very overactive coworker. " Her comment made Cal chuckle as he tossed a pair of gloves in my direction. I caught them awkwardly, and he grinned. “I will go easy on you, don't worry." As we got to work, I couldn’t ignore the way both Olivia and Cal seemed to hover near me—Cal occasionally leaning in to show me the right way to plant a seedling, his hand brushing against mine, while Olivia would pause to check on my progress, her hand sometimes resting lightly on my shoulder. It felt like an unspoken game, one I didn’t quite understand but couldn’t stop playing along with. By the time we took a break, my cheeks were flushed—not just from the sun but from the proximity and attention of the two of them. I sipped the cold lemonade Olivia handed me, avoiding their eyes. Olivia went into the house leaving me with only Cal. We sat quietly and I stared at the new flowerbeds we had just made. Cal broke the silence first, his voice low but warm. “You did good out there today. I didn’t think you’d have the patience for gardening, but you surprised me.” I glanced at him, noting the way the sunlight caught the golden tones in his hair. “Thanks, I guess,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” He leaned back on his hands, watching me intently. “You’re full of surprises, Jessie.” The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine. I shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. “I think Olivia’s the one who really knows what she’s doing. I’m just following her lead.” "True, but still you did good." He smiled at me. I smiled back, even though he was just complimenting my work, it felt like something else. When we both walked back inside, Olivia was busy making lunch while Tamara sat still looking hung over. "Twelve hours of sleep was not enough for you?" Cal asked as soon as he saw her. "Shh, dad. You are too loud."Tamara said, her eyes still closed. Olivia gave her a cup of something hot and steamy. Tamara groaned after taking her first sip. "You are lucky Jessie was with you, and you puked over her." Olivia said. Tamara grimaced. "I'm so sorry bestie." She said. "At least it was not my own clothes." I replied. The atmosphere in the house shifted to something cozy and lighthearted. Olivia handed Cal and me plates of sandwiches, her face flushed slightly from the heat of the kitchen. “Eat up, you two. I don’t need anyone passing out in this heat.” Cal chuckled, his voice smooth. “We’ll survive, Liv. Jessie here is tougher than she looks.” Olivia raised an eyebrow at me, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “Is that so? Jessie, should I take it as a challenge to push you harder next time?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “I think I’ll stick to the basics for now, thanks. Baby steps.” Tamara, still nursing her drink, groaned from her corner of the table. “You all have way too much energy for this afternoon. I need peace and quiet.” Olivia shot her a mock glare. “You need food. Sandwich?” Tamara grimaced but nodded. “Yes please, save me from the torture of this hangover." As Olivia prepared a plate for Tamara, I couldn’t help but notice the easy way she moved around the kitchen, completely in her element. She caught me staring and winked, making my cheeks heat. I quickly busied myself with my sandwich, but Cal didn’t miss the exchange. His smirk told me he’d seen it all. And his facial expression only made me blush the more. ~~~~~~~~ The day ended well, Tamara and I watched a movie together but she retired early to bed. I was the only one left in the sitting room, even Cal and Olivia were already in their room. I turned off the TV and also prepared to go up to my room. I got a bottle of water from the kitchen. Once I finished ascending the stairs, I could not help but wonder what Cal and Olivia were up to. As if they wanted to give me a reply, I heard a loud familiar moan. Olivia's My silly curiosity got the best of me and I walked to their door that was half opened again. The sight I met made my pants wet. Olivia was kneeling while Cal fucked her throat. She also had a blindfold on. As Cal continued to fuck her, Olivia kept moaning. "Enjoying that toy in your pussy."Cal said, his sex laced voice even sounded much better. "You wish that was Jessie's mouth huh?" he said and Olivia nodded, moaning even louder. Hearing them talk about me was shocking, I dropped the bottle of water in my hand and managed to get their attention. Cal took off Olivia's blindfold and they looked at me, not even bothering to cover themselves this time. I picked up the bottle and bolted to my room. My heart was still racing when I heard someone knock on my door. "Jessie, it's Olivia, can we talk?"The person outside said.