58. Stars

Genre: Paranormal romance, drama

Type: Series
Characters: Leigh & Jesse

Prompt:52. Stars

Word Count:  1000+

Warning: none

Rating:  M- (coarse language, adult situations, nudity. N.B-Applies to the whole series)

Summary: Jesse proposes and Leigh says yes

52. Stars

________

Champs Les Sims, present day

Leigh was still not used to the smells and sounds of Champs Les Sims. The air here, felt crispier. Smelled cleaner too. And she didn’t think she’d ever tire of the heady fragrance from the grape vines and the apple trees. She’d never seen a more beautiful place, and her stay would have been perfect…If only he was there with her.

“No,” she shook her head firmly, reminding herself why she was there alone. “He doesn’t love me. Never did. Never will.”

She was watching the stars, with tears in her eyes, when Jesse came to find her an hour later. 

“Hey,” he smiled lazily at her, and she gave him half-hearted wave, before quickly turning away from him. She didn’t want him to see the tears in her eyes. But it was too late, he’d caught the glimpse of her heartbreak, and he eased her into his arms.

“It’s okay, Leigh. You can trust me. You can tell me anything.” He slowly ran his hands through her hair, before gently kneading her nape. Leigh let out a teary sigh, enjoying the coolness of his fingers, wishing he would dull the ache in her heart with as much ease.

“I wish I knew what to tell you. I remember being at Plasma 501, waiting for Krisis to arrive. But after that my mind’s a blank. I know I went back home after leaving the club, packed my things, and I left. I left him a note and Devon too. But I don’t know how I got here, or why I left. All I know is he doesn’t love me, never did, and he never will. I’ve been such a fool,” she wailed on his shoulder, feeling her tears soak through his cotton shirt.

“Did he tell you that? Did he say he doesn’t love you?” Jesse asked, holding her away from him.

“Yes. No. I don’t know!” She cried again. A deep frown creased her forehead, and she chewed on her lower lip, trying to think and make sense of the past few weeks.

“So which one is it? Did he or did he not say it?” Jesse pressed on, seeing her moment of weakness. Now was the only chance he’d ever have to get her to open up. Her guard was down, she was feeling vulnerable.

If he knew what was wrong, he would make her feel better. By the time his weekend at Ruth’s rolled around, she would look like the blushing fiancé Shaun wanted her to pretend to be, instead of a widow in mourning.

Leigh kept quiet for a while, thinking about his question. Krisis must have said those things to her, right? Why else would she be there? Where would the thoughts have come from? He must have. If only she could remember.

“He did,” she replied finally. Her voice sounded false as she said this. It was almost as if her subconscious knew she wasn’t telling the whole truth. But these past few weeks were so confusing. She didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t, which voice was hers, and which one belonged to the faceless person at Plasma 501. She remembered the person’s outline and the voice. She just couldn’t remember the face, and she couldn’t figure out how it all connected to her trip to this place.

Soon her head started to spin, and she forced herself to stop thinking. Jesse sensed her withdrawal, and he moved on to the next topic to keep her engaged.

“How do you feel about spending a weekend in Barnacle Bay?” He asked, wrapping his arms around her.

“I don’t know. I think it’s time I moved on. Found my own place,” Leigh replied as she turned around and, smiled up at him. She saw his own smile freeze in place, and she sensed it wasn’t the answer he was hoping for.

“But there’s enough room here for you,” he protested, refusing to entertain talks of her moving out.

“I think you and Shaun need your space. Having me here is putting a strain on your relationship. I’ve heard you guys arguing, and…”

“And I’ve heard you cry,” Jesse cut in.

She looked away, embarrassed. It was true, the nights were horrible, the loneliness crept in, the yearning for Krisis’ arms around her was at its worst, and she had nothing else to do but cry herself to sleep.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that you and Shaun are arguing,” she told him stubbornly, a defiant look in her eyes.

Jesse paused for a while, before launching into his explanation about the financial pressure they were in, Ruth’s clause in her will, and Shaun’s plan.

“Our arguments have nothing to do with you,” he finished off his explanation.

She smiled for the first time in a long time. It felt good to be needed and appreciated. Jesse needed her; it was her turn to show him kindness.

“I’ll do it,” she announced, ignoring everything else he’d said.

“You mean?” Jesse asked in a small voice, not daring to hope.

“Yes, I’ll pretend to be your fiancée. I don’t think it’s right to trick an old lady, but it wasn’t right of your family to cut you off. And that’s the only reason I’m doing this.” She searched his face, wondering if there was more he wasn’t telling her. He held her eyes, and all she could read in his was sadness, and relief.

 “Thank you. I was so afraid to ask you,” he said as he crushed her in his arms.

“You should know by now there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Jesse Williams,” she reached up to kiss him on the cheek, but he quickly turned his face so their lips brushed lightly, and they both burst into laughter.

“Still up to your old tricks, I see,” Leigh smiled up at him, remembering the numerous times he’d tried to steal kisses from her, back in college.

“Come, there’s a bottle of wine in the fridge with our names on it,” Jesse laced their fingers, and they began their leisurely walk towards the house…