Chapter 5

Jo.

“Promise me not to tell Nate, Jess, please.” I curled up on my bed, while Jess was combing her hair on my bedside.
“Relax. Having him as a cousin doesn’t make him know everything. What you told me stays in this room. My mouth shuts,” she replied, “but, er... don’t you think you have to end it as soon as possible?”
“I don’t know. I’m having fun with him.”
“He’s married, Jo!”
“I know, I know. But… He makes me forget. His marriage is on the edge. He’s getting a divorce soon”.
“Because of you?”
“No! His wife cheated on him, before I knew him”
“Wait. Why do I see your relationship is just a bounce? Both for you and him.”
“Yeah, maybe it is.”
“Well, I don’t know then. You are the one who’s in it. But I’m here if you need me.”
“I know, thanks. Girls hug?”
“Sure!!!” It was not Jess. Kevin stood at my room door, showed off his white teeth.
“How long have u been there, freak?” I asked nervously.
“Long enough to join a group hug,” he walked toward us. I sighed.

“What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t you be at your coffee shop?” asked Jess.
“It’s 10 pm. I need time to relax, eh? By the way, I need your help, Jo.”
“It’s about that girl, eh?” I stared at Kevin curiously.
“What girl? What do I miss?” whined Jess. I had this impression that Jess was a little bit jealous every time Kevin hanged out with any girl, maybe because of her pride. I knew her my whole life, for 26 years. And every guy kneeled for her, except Kevin.
“Listen, you guys know that I am happy with my life. I quote unquote sleep a lot. And it makes me alive. But in two days, my mom is coming home. I can’t stand her whining over and over about my being single. So, please, I need one of you to be my fake-partner. But I guess Jo is better, because you are single, right? I don’t want make things more complicated for you, Jess.”
“Okay, Jo are willing to help you,” Jess said quickly.
“WHAT?? Don’t I have a say in this?” I argued.
“Pleaseeeeeee Jo….” Kevin begged as he clasped his hands.
“Damn you, Kev! Alright. Now you guys, get the hell out of here. I have a date to be with.”
“What date? This late?” asked Kevin surprisingly.
“Uh uh! What? You mind?”
“Ugh ogh, okaaaay,” he walked out of my room raising his hands, “whatever makes you happy, my baby.”

***

It was not a normal date, basically we just sat inside his car. We didn’t want to go to public places. Too risky.
“I need you to come at my trial.”
“Yeah, right,” I smiled looking at him.
“No, seriously, Jo. I think you should go this time.”
“You know I can’t, Steve. I don’t want to. It will seem like I am the third person in your marriage.”
“But I need you."
"To tell people that we are together? Gosh, we are not even together."
"Yes, we are."
“Are you crazy? It’s stupid”
“Don’t you wanna be with me?”
“Steve, don’t start! We both know that it won’t be possible. We had fun these times. Why should we change it?"

I was made from stone, I guessed. But don’t you think it’s normal? I didn’t want to be involved in Steve’s divorce. What I had with him was fun. I did like him, but it never crossed my mind to commit to a man, let alone marry a married guy. And the fact that he was getting a divorce bothered me. Plus, he wanted me to be with him in his divorce trial, he asked me over and over.

I met Steve on a bar about two months. He laid my eyes on me while I was drinking. He was tall, cute and most importantly, I could feel his charming aura. Call me stodgy, but he was like a prince with a white horse. He bought me a drink and tried to talk to me. But at that time, I was too drunk to realize what he said. I ended up in his apartment the next morning, and YES, with my clothes on.

“You were asleep after your third shots last night,” said Steve when he saw me walked out the room. He was having breakfast.
Embarrased I apologized and thanked him for what he’d done.
“Oh come one, I won’t let pretty girl like you sleep on a couch at a bar,” he smiled.
Gosh, his smile was the best smile I’d ever seen. I smiled back at him.
“Come, have a seat. There’s an omellete and hot milk for you. It will help you with your hangover.”
“Thank you, again, Steve. We barely know each other.”
“Hahahaha… at least you remember my name.”
BANG! That was right. I did remember. I wondered, really.

After that, we hung out a lot. We got closer and closer. And one night, we were both drunk, it started with one kiss, and you know what happen next. The next morning I found his arm around me. It was the first time I saw a circle mark around his ring finger. He realized I saw it and he pulled his arm back.

“I am sorry, Jo, I didn’t tell you sooner. And last night… it shouldn’t happen.”
“I am not sorry,” I replied.
He looked at me, astonished of what I said. “You aren’t?”
“Should I be? I had fun with you last night. I had great times talking and hanging out with you. The truth of you being married doesn’t change that, does it?”
He looked at me again, but this time it was silenced.
“I’m getting a divorce actually. My wife, she cheated on me. I knew it the day I met you at that bar. I don’t know…. but…. ,” he started to cry.
I hugged him. This was my first time seeing a guy cried in front of me.