Chapter 78

Jesse

The helicopter landed on the top of Hal’s building, and Jesse allowed Hal to help her out of the chopper to stand on the landing pad. No sooner had she gotten out of the helicopter, Jesse saw someone standing a little way away from them on the landing pad.

Jesse squinted at him and was soon able to make out Adam’s features. She smiled over at him and gave him a wave, which he kindly returned as he started to make his way over to where she stood, waiting for Hal to get her things down from the helicopter.

As Adam neared them, Hal turned to face him, and a smile spread across his face.

“Adam,” Hal spoke, his voice amicable. “I have to say, I’ve actually missed you.”

Adam only returned the comment with a tight scowl, and Hal laughed easily.

“Oh, don’t be so uptight,” Hal waved at him dismissively. “Now here, take my things into my room and then find the keys for the Rover and bring them up to me.”

“I really must insist that I drive you,” Adam said, his voice hard, and Jesse felt a little intimidated by him again.

“Nonsense,” Hal dismissed the idea once again.

“Sir,” Adam protested. “The cabin may be relatively safe, but here in the city, there a myriad of dangers to your person that you seem to have completely forgotten about. I, fortunately, have not.”

Jesse looked up at Hal and saw a scowl cross his face. It seemed, though, that he was at a loss for an argument to make.

“Alright,” Hal conceded. “Go ahead and wait for us in the Rover. We’ll be down in just a few minutes.”

Adam gave Hal a stiff nod and Jesse a soft smile before he gathered up Hal’s bags and turned to go back toward the elevator that would take him all the way down to the garage.

When Adam had gone, Jesse turned back to look at Hal, only to find that he had moved over to converse with Phillip, who was just now getting back into the helicopter.

Jesse smiled at Hal as he began to return to her, and he returned the smile. Hal gathered up Jesse’s bags in one arm, and with his free hand, he took hold of Jesse’s.

As they headed toward the elevator, Phillip took off behind them on the landing pad.

Jesse allowed Hal to press the button for the elevator, and the two stepped in. Jesse was grateful for the quiet that this indoors offered, as opposed to the sound of the wind produced by the helicopter.

Jesse released a soft sigh, relaxing a little, and Hal turned to face her.

“Glad to be home?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Jesse let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Not really,” she answered with a sigh. “But I am excited about this interview. A little nervous, but excited.”

Hal nodded and then was quiet.

“Are you?” Jesse asked in return. “Glad to be home?”

Hal blinked and seemed to think for a moment.

“Not really,” he said with a soft smile. “I like having you all to myself back at the cabin.”

Jesse flushed a little at the statement, and she felt butterflies in her stomach.

“I mean it’s not like you have to share me with anyone here,” she pointed out gently.

“I will if you get this new job,” Hal said, his sadness evident in his tone.

“We’ll still be able to spend plenty of time together,” Jesse said and stood closer to him, pressing her body into his side.

They were quiet for a moment more before Hal turned his head to look down at her.

“Are you sure you just don’t want to spend the night here?” he asked, and Jesse heard the edge of a plea in his voice. “I can make sure you have clothes for the interview, and I can take you there myself.”

Jesse felt a little spark of guilt, but she knew she couldn’t accept his invitation. She knew she needed to spend some time by herself to collect herself for the interview and prepare the answers to any of the questions they were liable to ask.

“You know I’d love to,” Jesse smiled regretfully and looked up at him. “But I really need to spend some time getting ready for the interview, and you know I don’t want you to go out and buy me clothes.”

Hal released a sigh and smiled down at her.

“It was worth a shot,” he said with a shrug, wrapping his arm around her. “Will you at least let me take you out to dinner before you abandon me?”

Jesse laughed at his terminology.

“Not tonight.” Jesse shook her head, and she heard Hal release a soft breath through his nose, though he did not protest verbally. Jesse felt a twinge of guilt in her stomach, and she looked up at Hal.

“Hey, I’ll tell you what, though,” she spoke, and Hal raised an eyebrow as he listened. “Tomorrow, after my interview, I’ll call you up. Maybe we can go get lunch or something, okay?”

Hal smiled and nodded. Jesse did not miss the way the tension seemed to leave his face.

“That sounds great,” he said.

Just as he spoke, the doors of the elevators slid open and revealed the expansive parking garage.

Hal took her hand and led her out toward the Range Rover that Adam had already pulled up close to the elevator so they could easily get in.

Jesse watched as Hal strode toward the back and opened the rear of the vehicle, putting her minimal luggage there before returning to her side and opening the back door to help her into the car.

Jesse was left alone in the car with Adam for a moment while Hal crossed to the other side, and Jesse thought it would be rude not to speak to him.

“How have you enjoyed your few days off?” Jesse asked.

“Honestly?” Adam turned back to give her an aggravated look. “I haven’t. I worry about Hal when he’s gone for so long.”

Jesse was a little taken aback. She had never seemed Adam’s face quite so distressed, and she was also sure she had never heard him say so much in one sitting.

“I’m sorry to worry you,” Jesse with concern.

“Don’t be,” Adam said with a chuckle. “I just don’t do well with time off.”

Jesse would have pressed further if it hadn’t been for Hal getting into the car at that moment.

“Alright,” he said as he got into the car. “Let’s get Jess home.”

“Right on it,” Adam said and began the process of pulling out of the parking garage.

Jesse was silent all along the ride home, and once again she slipped her hand into Hal’s as Adam drove. Her mind was partially going through a mental checklist of all she had to do to prepare for her interview, but another part of her was thinking about Hal, and how she would miss him over the course of the night. She could hardly remember what it was like to sleep alone.

Even so, she knew that she had to focus, even if just for one night, and that she would probably see him for lunch the next day. So, she decided that they could probably both survive.

Jesse was prepared to give Adam directions to her apartment, but it seemed that there was no need as he remembered the route on his own. In no time, they were parked on the street outside the doors to her building.

Hal immediately got out of the car, and as he moved around, Jesse looked to the front to address Adam.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said. “I hope you’re feeling better now that Hal is back under your care.”

Adam let out a quick bark of a laugh.

“Thanks,” he said with a smile. “And you’re welcome.”

Jesse smiled up at him just as Hal opened the door to help her out.

“Hey,” he scolded playfully, “stop flirting with Adam. I might get jealous.”

Adam grunted in response, and Jesse blushed as she took Hal’s hand and allowed him to help her out of the car.

Jesse lingered on the sidewalk while Hal went and gathered up her things, then they joined hands and stepped into the building. They were quiet as they crossed the lobby and then rode the elevator up to Jesse’s floor. Hal escorted her all the way to the door of her apartment.

“Thanks for bringing me home,” Jesse said. “I had a lot of fun with you these past few days.”

“Of course,” Hal said. “I had a lot of fun with you too.”

Jesse smiled and wrapped her arms around Hal’s torso. After she pulled back, Hal leaned down and softly kissed her lips. Jesse looked up at him and felt guilty once again at the sadness she could see in his eyes.

“I’ll call you tomorrow after my interview,” Jesse said. “And then we can go get some lunch, okay?”

“Okay,” Hal said softly, offering her a small smile. “Good luck, Jess. Have a great interview.”

“I will,” she said with a smile. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Hal said and turned to walk down the hallway. Jesse watched until he disappeared into the elevator and then released a sigh.

She would miss him for this little while. For now, though, she had an interview to prepare for and didn’t want to waste time worrying about Hal when she knew very well she would see him the next day.

Resolved to stay focused, Jesse unlocked her door and carried her things into her apartment.