The Unexpected

Chapter 18

Jack lay in bed staring at the ceiling with his hands folded behind his head, unable to sleep. He couldn't understand what had happened. They were fine one minute and had really enjoyed their time together the last couple of weeks, or so he thought. When did it get so complicated? He looked to the clock on his nightstand; it read 4:36 AM. He suddenly had an idea and jumped out of bed, grabbing his trackpants as he did. He pulled them on as he grabbed a t-shirt from his closet and slipped into it as he bolted down the hall and down the stairs. He quickly put his trainers on, snatched his helmet from the table and ran out he door. Hopping on his bike, he roared out of the driveway and raced towards the woods.

As he pulled into the small gravel parking lot that was near the popular picnic area, he was pleased to see Harry, leaning up against his car stretching out his legs, ever the creature of habit. Jack parked his bike next to him and swung his leg over as he removed his helmet.

"What the hell are you doing here? It's Sunday morning, you're usually nursing a hangover and kicking the latest girl out of bed." As soon as Harry said the words, his smile dissappeared, remembering what Jack had been up to the last couple of weeks. "Sorry, I forgot. How is Elle anyway?"

Jack fell into step with his mate as they began to jog along the path through the woods. "Well she's quite angry with me at the moment to be honest."

"Of course she is, they all are at some point or another aren't they?" Harry observed truthfully. "What did you do this time?"

"I don't know really, I thought everything was fine and then last night she just ran, literally out into the night."

Harry looked a bit puzzled. "Well something must have set her off."

"Well she did hear me on the phone making plans for next week with Val." Jack conceded.

"Right, the ever reliable, Val. I seriously don't know why she allows you to string her along like that just to get your rocks off once in a while." Harry made the comment and it stung. Jack always felt guilty as he knew that the woman had feelings for him no matter how much they spoke of his intentions to just remain friends with benefits. Harry continued, interrupting Jack's thoughts. "So basically, all the honesty and trust that you've built with Elle has come back to bite you in the arse, then."

Jack hadn't considered that the open way he was with Elle could ever be a threat to their relationship. He did share things with her that he didn't with others, but that was one of the things that he treasured about their relationship, something he felt made them so close. She'd known from the start about his bachelor ways and even why he chose to live that way. He expressed his thoughts to Harry.

"Yes, but that's what makes it such a good relationship, I can tell her anything. I mean no matter how badly I feel about some of the things I've done, she just completely understands my motives and doesn't judge me negatively for it. She just takes me as I am; well until last night."

"God Jack, sometimes you can be quite daft, you know that?" They rounded the bend along the path and emerged near the river as they continued to run.

"What do you mean?" He asked half amused and half insulted at Harry's remarks.

"She's fallen in love with you." When Jack didn't respond, Harry looked to his friend and saw the look of resignation on his face. "And you know she has!" Harry realized.

"Well she did say as much last night before she left." Jack admitted.

"And what, with all the honesty you've built up over the last six months you suddenly don't believe her?" Harry didn't understand his logic. When Jack again didn't answer,Harry continued, trying to be more empathetic towards Jack's plight. "Listen mate, she loves you, so what? There are worse things that could happen, and she's not the first that's fallen for your charms, although I don't personally get the appeal." The last bit made Jack smile while they kept up a good pace, turning back into the woods again. "What you need to decide is if you feel anything for her... and I mean more than you usually do for the ones that come and go."