“Does anyone need a drink?” Jessie asked, sounding bubbly and cheerful, the complete opposite of just a few seconds ago. Ashleigh was going to have a headache just trying to keep up with the woman’s personality changes.
“Don’t you fucking move.” Alex stated adamantly, turning back to face Jessie, but then looking over at Ashleigh. “We should go.”
Ashleigh couldn’t have come up with a better plan, but she knew they had to get this settled, or he would never be at peace. For the last few months, they’d been tiptoeing around the phone calls that went unanswered and now that they were presented with the opportunity to do something to fix it, she wanted to jump on it. If they didn’t, she feared this woman, and her destructive need, was going to come between them. Something Ashleigh wasn’t willing to let happen.
“Jessie,” Ashleigh turned to the woman, suddenly more determined than ever, “what do you need from Alex?”
That surprised Alex as much as it did the woman sitting on the couch.
“What do you mean?” She sounded sincerely confused.
“Why do you keep calling him?” Ashleigh asked, realizing she was totally ill equipped to handle a situation like this.
“Because he loves me.” She said, making direct eye contact with Ashleigh.
“He’s your friend.” Ashleigh confirmed. “But you can’t keep doing this to him.” Or yourself. She kept that last part to herself.
“Doing what?”
“Jessie,” Alex interrupted, his patience obviously worn thin. “I don’t know how to fix this.”
“There’s nothing to fix.” Jessie said with a huff. “I just want to see you. I want...”
Ashleigh hung on the woman’s every word, waiting to hear what it was she wanted. Or rather what she thought she wanted.
“I want you to take me back.” Jessie finally said, looking down at her feet. “I need you.”
Alex shot her a look, and Ashleigh saw the apology in his eyes.
“Have you been drinking again?” He asked, not moving.
“Yes, I’ve been drinking.” Jessie yelled, standing up immediately. “It’s the only thing that makes me feel better.”
Ashleigh wasn’t sure how this made her feel better. The stench of alcohol and old food filled the air, singeing her nostrils and making her want to vomit. How Jessie could live like this, day in and day out was shocking.
“Do you want to push Alex away?” Ashleigh asked, deciding they were getting nowhere and she felt entirely too awkward being there. She should have never asked to come along because it was obvious there was nothing that she could contribute.
“Are you deaf?” Jessie blurted, turning to face Ashleigh.
“No, I’m not.” Ashleigh held her ground. “But I know what you’re doing to him. Your frequent phone calls. Have you not noticed he doesn’t answer the phone?”
“That’s just because you’re there. If he was alone, he’d answer my calls. He always does.”
Ashleigh wasn’t so sure anymore.
“You need to go back to rehab.” Alex stated, coming to stand beside Ashleigh, putting his arm around her. The warmth of his body, his apparent need to hold her close was comforting.
“Fuck you.” Jessie screamed, turning vicious. “She’s turning you against me. The fucking bitch –”
“Don’t.” Alex’s stern tone had Jessie flinching.
Ashleigh put a hand on Alex’s arm and took a step closer to Jessie. “He’s your friend, you know that, right? He cares about you. Even I know that.” She did. “But you’re tearing him apart, Jessie. Do you really want to do that to your friend?”
“He’s my husband.” She argued.
“No.” Ashleigh said defensively. “He’s not your husband. He was at one time, but not anymore.” Taking another step closer, Ashleigh continued. “If you want him to be your friend, you’ve got to get some help. Like today.”
“I don’t want him to be my friend. I want him to be my husband.” Jessie clenched her hands into fists. “That means you need to leave.”
“It’s not going to happen.” Alex said, inserting himself between the two women. “I love her, Jessie.”
Ashleigh’s heart seized. He what?
“I’ve always loved her.” Alex continued. “I don’t want to choose between being your friend, and being with her because I will choose her, Jessie. Do you hear what I’m telling you? There is nothing that you can say or do that will get me to love you that way. I care about you. I’ll always care about you, but I can’t keep doing this.”