Lost In Time

★ Chapter 20 — Jealousy and Playful Teases

“Why ain’t you at the hospital, gettin’ them doctors to check on yer feet?” Pat asked, her face etched with concern. I turned to Jessica, who wore a sheepish smile, but my eyes couldn’t help but fixate on her feet, wrapped in bandages and confined within slippers.

Preston chimed in, explaining with worry in his voice, “When her folks gave me a call and told me what happened, I quickly gathered some medical supplies from my mom, who works as a nurse. I took care of Jessica’s feet myself.”

“Looks like luck was on yer side, Jessica. We all know how much ya hate hospitals,” Josh said with a smile, his hand gently patting Preston’s shoulder. But his eyes betrayed a hidden uneasiness.

As I observed the four of them, a sense of secrecy lingered in the air, leaving me with a nagging feeling that Jessica’s story ran deeper than they let on.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. I’ve seen my mom handle situations like this countless times,” Preston tried to lighten the mood with a hint of jest, but his words couldn’t hide his underlying concern completely.

“Sure ya have, buddy,” Josh teased Preston, giving him a playful push, a hint of skepticism in his voice. But as Preston countered with a mock punch, Josh’s feigned hurt didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I’m feeling a bit chilly, Preston. Mind takin’ me home?” Jessica’s voice carried a slight shiver, her breath visible in the crisp evening air. Preston’s beaming smile faded, but he nodded in understanding and mustered a comforting smile in return.

“Can I tag along too?” I chimed in, directing my question to both Jessica and Preston. Preston’s face lit up with enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with warmth as he replied affirmatively. He walked me to the car, and with heartfelt farewells to Josh and Pat, I hopped into the backseat, settling in behind Preston.

As Preston fired up the engine, its growl reverberated through the vehicle, awakening a sense of anticipation within me. Jessica closed her door, and the click echoed like the sealing of a barrier between us and the outside world.

The journey began in silence, with only the faint tunes of the radio seeping into our surroundings. Time passed, and after a few minutes, Preston subtly adjusted the rearview mirror. I glanced at it, a gentle smile gracing my features as I realized he had tilted it to steal glances at me. Our eyes would occasionally meet in the mirror, sharing unspoken sentiments.

“What are ya starin’ at?” Jessica’s voice cut through the calm, prompting her to inspect her own side mirror, revealing nothing but an empty road. In response, I silently mouthed a reminder to Preston in the reflection, urging him to concentrate on driving.

Preston’s eyes widened slightly in realization, and he quickly averted his gaze from the rearview mirror, focusing his attention back on the road ahead. I could sense a tinge of embarrassment in his expression, but he nodded silently, acknowledging my unspoken message.

The atmosphere in the car shifted, as if the interruption had upset the delicate balance of unspoken emotions. Jessica’s eyes darted between the two of us, her curiosity growing evident. She leaned forward, peering at me with a quizzical look.

“What’s going on between you two?” she asked, her voice laced with a mix of suspicion and amusement. “Are ya secretly communicating through mirrors now?”

A faint blush crept up my cheeks as Jessica’s perceptiveness caught me off guard. Glancing at Preston, I noticed a playful twinkle in his eyes as I chuckled awkwardly. “What? No, why would you say that?”

I stumbled, trying to regain my composure. “We were just… sharing knowing glances, you know, like friends do.” I shrugged, hoping to dismiss any suspicions Jessica might have.

But she wasn’t convinced. Leaning back in her seat, a mischievous grin played on her lips. “Hmm, friends, huh?” she teased, her voice dripping with playful skepticism. “Well, whatever it is, just remember, secrets don’t stay hidden forever.”

Her words hung in the air, causing a ripple of unease to spread through the car. Preston’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. I could feel the weight of unspoken truths and concealed emotions pressing against the boundaries of our silence.

As the journey continued, Jessica leaned back in her seat, her attention focused outside the window. The city lights painted vibrant streaks across the night sky, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on her face. Preston occasionally stole glances at her, concern lingering in his eyes.

“Are ya feeling any better, Jessica?” I asked, breaking the silence that had settled over us.

She turned to me, offering a soft smile. “I am, thank you. And thanks to Preston too. He’s been taking care of me like a pro.” She reached out and squeezed his hand, a gesture filled with gratitude and affection.

Preston’s face lit up with a mixture of pride and tenderness. “It’s nothing, really. Just doing what I can to help.” His voice held a gentle sincerity that resonated with his words.

As the car glided through the familiar streets, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to their story than they had let on. Their subtle interactions, the unspoken words exchanged through glances—it all hinted at a deeper connection between them. But for now, I chose to be patient, trusting that they would share their secrets in due time.

The car finally pulled up in front of Jessica’s house, its exterior bathed in the soft glow of porch lights. Preston turned off the engine, and the three of us stepped out onto the quiet street.

“Thank you, Preston, for everything,” Jessica said, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and something else—something I couldn’t quite pinpoint.

He smiled warmly, intertwining his fingers with hers. “Anytime, Jessica. Take care of yourself, okay?”

With a final exchange of heartfelt smiles, they bid each other goodnight. Jessica made her way up the steps and disappeared behind the front door, leaving Preston and me standing on the sidewalk.

As I watched the door close, a flicker of curiosity ignited within me, urging me to uncover the untold chapters of their story. There was an unspoken connection between them—one that went beyond friendship—and I couldn’t help but wonder where it would lead.

The night air hung heavy with unanswered questions as Preston and I stood on the dimly lit sidewalk, our gazes fixed on Jessica’s house. The weight of the unspoken lingered between us, tempting me to break the silence and inquire about the hidden depths of their relationship.

Finally, unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I turned to Preston, my voice laced with gentle intrigue. “Preston, there’s something more, ain’t there? Something between you and Jessica that goes beyond friendship?”

He met my gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of vulnerability and resolve. For a moment, he seemed torn, as if battling the urge to share the truth while protecting the fragile boundaries they had established. But then, he let out a sigh, as if surrendering to the weight of the unspoken.

“You’re perceptive,” Preston admitted, his voice tinged with a blend of hesitation and honesty. “Jessica and I… we share a history. A connection that’s hard to explain. We’ve been through so much together, and it’s shaped us in ways that are difficult to put into words.”

Intrigued, I leaned closer, urging him to continue. “What kind of history?”

Preston hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. “It’s a story that stretches back to our childhood. We were always there for each other, through thick and thin. We understood each other in ways no one else could. But we are just friends and only friends. We are more like brother and sister from another mother and father.”

He suddenly tilted his head, a mischievous smile gracing his lips, and took a deliberate step closer to me. My heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, I took a step back, my back colliding with the cool metal of the car. His voice reached my ears, tinged with playful curiosity, “Are ya jealous by chance?”

Suppressing an eye roll, I replied with a hint of feigned indifference, “No.”

A soft chuckle escaped his lips, barely audible as he leaned down to match my height. In that moment, our proximity sent electric shivers down my spine. His warm breath brushed against my skin, and his hand gently clasped the nape of my neck, pulling me closer, and his lips descended upon mine, a soft and tender pressure that sent a surge of warmth throughout my body. My stomach fluttered like a wild menagerie of butterflies.

He briefly broke the connection between our lips, and I released a sigh, already longing for his touch once more. But before I could dwell on the intoxicating sensation, he claimed my lips again, pressing his body firmly against mine, the car serving as a backdrop to our passionate embrace.

Time seemed to stand still as our lips danced together, a symphony of desire and longing. Eventually, he reluctantly pulled away, his voice laced with both regret and concern, “I should take you home before anyone starts to wonder if you got kidnapped.”

I mustered a smile, nodding in agreement, but he made no move to untangle himself from our intimate proximity. Instead, his gaze locked onto mine, intensifying the connection between us. Feeling a surge of determination, I pushed him playfully, catching him off guard. A flicker of surprise flashed across his face as I leaned in, planting a tender peck on his lips before slipping into the passenger seat of the car.

Through the window, I watched as he ran a hand through his hair, a boyish grin spreading across his face before making his way to the driver’s seat. The anticipation of the ride home mingled with the lingering taste of his kiss, filling me with a delicious blend of excitement and contentment.