“You shouldn’t.” Ashleigh said after a few moments of silence. “I don’t fault you for caring, Alex. I just...” She didn’t continue, and Alex didn’t push her. They were pulling onto Jessie’s street, and he just wanted to get through the next few minutes because once they were done here, he had some more things he wanted to tell Ashleigh.
~~*~~
Ashleigh followed Alex up the driveway to the tiny little house. Her own curiosity had her glancing around, taking in the outside appearance. The neighborhood wasn’t fancy, but it was well kept, all of the small houses neatly maintained.
With the exception of Jessie’s.
The yard was... well, there was no yard, just brown, crispy grass, long since dead.
She returned her gaze forward, following Alex up the two small steps to the porch before he opened the front door and walked right in. He didn’t bother knocking.
Ashleigh was still reeling from Alex’s story, feeling as though she had been given a glance into his soul. She may not like the way he ran to Jessie’s rescue, but she couldn’t fault him for it. He was just that type of man, one any woman should be proud to be with. They just didn’t make them like Alex anymore.
“Jessie?” Alex called out as they stopped in the living room.
The house was a wreck. Empty bottles everywhere, food containers laying on every flat surface and it reeked to high heaven.
When Alex moved, Ashleigh followed. Jessie hadn’t answered when Alex called out to her, and a sudden nervous tension coursed through her. She may not like the woman, though she had never met her, but she hoped nothing was wrong. Well, other than the obvious. The woman had a problem.
Alex pushed open a door at the end of the hall, and Ashleigh stood at his side, unable to see into the room.
“Fuck!” Alex huffed. “Put your goddamn clothes on, Jessie.”
Turning away, he grabbed Ashleigh’s hand and pulled her alongside him.
“Wait! Alex, please.” Jessie called. “I need you. Please!”
Ashleigh pulled away, going back to the door and pushing it open with a rush. Before her was a very naked Jessie, sprawled out on her bed. Well! Apparently the woman needed Alex, but it had nothing to do with life or death.
“Who are you?” Jessie asked, sitting up in the bed, but not trying to cover herself.
Ashleigh stared at the emaciated woman. Jessie had to be in her mid-thirties, based on the math Ashleigh had done in her head, but she looked closer to fifty. Time definitely hadn’t been good to the woman. Or maybe it was the drugs and alcohol.
“Get dressed.” Ashleigh couldn’t believe the anger that had grown to the size of a beach ball in her chest. “Now.”
Slamming the door behind her, she walked back to the living room where Alex was standing.
“We should go.” He told her when she walked into the room.
They should, she agreed. But that wasn’t going to fix this little problem. “Not until you talk to her.”
“I don’t want to fucking talk to her, Ashleigh. You saw what this is about. I don’t have time for this shit.”
No one did, Ashleigh knew. “She needs your help.”
“I can’t fix that.” Alex said, his green eyes sparkling with fury.
Before Ashleigh could say another word, Jessie joined them, at least moderately decent with an oversized t-shirt and shorts on.
“Sit the fuck down.” Alex barked at Jessie.
Looking both pissed and a little remorseful, Jessie did as Alex told her.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Jessie?” His anger was a living, breathing thing and Ashleigh knew he needed to calm down before this situation escalated.
“Nothing.” Jessie cooed. “I just wanted to see you.”
Ashleigh watched in wide eyed wonder as the woman stared at Alex like he was a lollipop and she was craving sugar. It was almost as though she had no idea Ashleigh was standing right there, although they’d been inadvertently introduced not one minute before.
“Jessie,” Alex said, thrusting his hand through his hair, “I can’t keep doing this.”
He sounded defeated, and Ashleigh felt sorry for him in that moment. Maybe there was more to this situation than she had originally given him credit for. He didn’t look any happier about being there than Ashleigh was. But, since they were there, it was time they get some things straight.
“You don’t have time for me anymore.” Jessie whispered. “I just miss you.”
Alex groaned, turning his back on her like he couldn’t stand to look at her another second. Ashleigh didn’t know what to say, but she was getting more and more uncomfortable with every passing second.