Chapter 5

JESSIE I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor, my mind reeling from what I had just seen. My heart was still pounding, my thoughts scattered. I never expected to walk in on that. Olivia and Cal—together, so close, in a way that made my pulse race. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, about the emotions that were bubbling up inside me. A soft knock on the door pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. “Jessie, it’s Olivia. Can we talk?” I swallowed hard, my throat dry. What did she want to say? Was she going to be angry? Embarrassed? Or maybe… maybe she just wanted to explain. I hesitated for a moment before opening the door. There she stood—Olivia, as calm as ever, her soft smile making my stomach flip. She looked genuine, like she always did. It was hard to believe that moments ago I’d seen her with Cal in that way, with my nae on their lips. “I’m sorry for what you saw,” she said softly, her voice calm but warm. “But I wanted to be honest with you.” My heart skipped a beat. Honest with me? Was she going to apologize for what happened? I didn’t know what to expect. “Cal and I…” Olivia hesitated, her gaze steady as she looked at me, “we’ve been talking, and we both feel something for you.” I froze. My mind went blank for a moment, my pulse suddenly deafening in my ears. I could barely process the words she had just spoken. Feel something for me? This was too much. “Feel something for me?” I finally managed to ask, my voice barely a whisper, as if saying the words out loud might make this whole situation more real than I could handle. Olivia nodded slowly, her expression gentle but firm. “Yes. We both care about you—more than just as a friend. We’ve been talking about it for a while, and we wanted to be clear with you. We don’t want to pressure you, Jessie, but if you feel the same…” She paused, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. “You’re welcome to come to our room. No expectations. Just… honesty.” I could feel the weight of her words sinking into my chest. It wasn’t just an invitation. It was an offer, a chance to explore something I never thought I would even think about. And yet, the idea of being with them both—of giving in to the feelings I had been ignoring—scared me more than I could explain. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “I don’t know what to think,” I admitted, staring at my feet. My heart was racing, my stomach a mess of nerves and excitement. “I mean... it’s you and Cal. You’re my best friend’s parents. I’ve known you forever. This is... a lot.” Olivia took a step closer, her eyes soft with understanding. “I know, Jessie. I get it. But sometimes feelings don’t follow the rules we set for ourselves. I’m not asking you to make any decisions right now, but I want you to know that whatever you decide, we’ll respect it.” Her words were comforting, but they also made everything more complicated. I felt something for both of them—something deep and overwhelming. But it was so much easier to ignore those feelings when they were just my secret. Now, it was out there, in the open. The idea of crossing that line, of stepping into their world, made me want to run and hide. But there was another part of me, a quieter part, that was drawn to them both in a way I couldn’t explain. Olivia smiled softly, sensing my internal struggle. “Take your time. Think about it. If you’re not ready, that’s perfectly fine.” She stepped back, leaving the door open, giving me space. “Just know that we’re here, Jessie. Whenever you’re ready.” I watched her leave, her footsteps quiet against the wooden floor. And then it was just me. Alone with my thoughts. The silence in the room was deafening. I stared at the door for what felt like hours, my mind running in circles. I had always admired Olivia and Cal, respected them. They were my best friend’s parents, the kind of people I looked up to. But now… I couldn’t stop thinking about them in a different way. The way they cared for me, the way they made me feel special, like I was more than just a friend. But was I ready to take that step? Was it worth the risk of ruining everything? Of complicating things beyond repair? I tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered. I couldn't stop thinking about how their touch had felt—how the way they looked at me made my heart race. It was dangerous, I knew that. But I couldn’t ignore it any longer. Minutes passed, or maybe it was hours—time seemed to stretch, and I found myself standing up without even realizing it. My feet moved before my mind could catch up. I grabbed my jacket, pulled it on, and headed for the door. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, or what I would find on the other side. But I knew one thing for sure—I couldn’t stay here, lost in my thoughts. I had to see them. I had to know if what I felt was real, if this thing between us was something worth exploring or just a fleeting fantasy. The house was quiet as I made my way down the hall, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I reached Olivia and Cal’s room, I hesitated for a moment, my heart thundering in my chest. But then I pushed the door open. “Olivia? Cal?” Both of them looked up from their seats, surprised but not shocked. Olivia’s smile softened, a warmth that felt almost like home. Cal’s gaze was intense, though not unkind, his eyes studying me as if waiting for me to make the next move. “Jessie,” Olivia said softly. “We’re glad you came.” I stepped inside, the door closing softly behind me. The weight of the decision felt heavier than ever, but somehow, in this moment, I knew it was the right one. And as I looked at them both—Olivia’s understanding gaze and Cal’s quiet intensity—I couldn’t deny that what I was feeling was real. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to see where it could lead.