Domination

Chapter 11

Lorelei had a death grip on Jesse's hand as they walked to the diner. He had not told her much about his sister. All she knew is that she was older and that they had different fathers. She had no clue how close they were or if she was protective over Jesse.

Would Marlowe go into this breakfast with a predetermined judgement of Lorelei? Did he already hate her? Was there going to be any way to impress Marlowe?

Jesse grabbed the diner door and looked at Lorelei to see she was chewing on her lip. He stepped back and pulled her to the side.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Nothing is wrong," she said.

He raised a brow. He lifted their interlocked hand in the air.

"I think you are breaking my hand because of how hard you're holding it," he said. "You also look like you're going to pass out."

Lorelei let out a shaky breath. She could not lie to Jesse.

"What if your sister doesn't like me?" she asked.

"Of course she is going to like you," he said. "You don't need to worry about that."

"I am going to worry."

"She knows that I love you and that you make me happy. She already likes you."

Lorelei sighed as the tension left her muscles and relief washed over her. She leaned forward and kissed Jesse before grabbing his hand again. This time, her grip was much less tight.

The diner did not have many people inside. A woman was sitting at the booth in the corner and sipping on a cup of coffee. She waved at Jesse. Lorelei's stomach twisted into a knot. She always hated meeting a boyfriend's family.

The woman looked like a younger version of Christina. She had the same long dark hair and high cheek bones. She was dressed much nicer than Christina, and had on a dress and her hair expertly braided. Did she share the same issues as Christina?

"Hey, Marlowe," Jesse said. "This is Lorelei. Lorelei, this is my sister Marlowe."

"Nice to meet you," Marlowe said.

She held her hand out. Lorelei shook her hand and prayed that Marlowe could not feel the sweat that had built up on her palms.

"It's nice to meet Jesse's family," Lorelei said.

Marlowe scoffed before taking another sip of her coffee. Jesse motioned for Lorelei to sit in the booth and she slid in.

"Has she met Mom yet?" Marlowe asked.

"She has," Jesse said. "She got the full experience. Apartment and everything."

"Don't judge us because of it," Marlowe told Lorelei. "Jesse and I are sane. Somehow we grew up in that house and did not come out completely crazy."

"Just a tad crazy."

Lorelei rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. Lorelei was fearing being judged, but Marlowe was worried about being judged herself. Jesse put his hand on Lorelei's thigh to try and calm her down.

"Has Mom talked to you lately?" Marlowe asked. "She called me and was screaming. I just hung up the phone."

"She called me nonstop last night," Jesse said. "I didn't pick up."

"Are you going to help her clean?"

Jesse sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. His shoulders were tense. Lorelei hated to see him like this. She held his hand that was on her thigh. He laced his fingers with hers.

"I haven't decided yet," he said.

Lorelei raised a brow as she was not expecting that answer. She thought that they would be heading back to Toronto soon. That was what they discussed last night.

"She can be a complete bitch, but she is our mother," he said.

The waitress came to the table and handed them each a menu. She poured Jesse and Lorelei a cup of coffee. Marlowe let out a deep breath before drumming her fingers on the menu.

"I don't want to talk about her anymore," Marlowe said. "Lorelei, I want to know how you and Jesse met."

The knot returned to Lorelei's stomach. She thought about the vague but kinky profile that she had come across on a dating app that one night shift. Did she tell the truth? She did not want to embarrass Jesse. Was his family aware of his involvement in BDSM? Did he and Jody ever mention it when they were a couple?

"I saw her in this cafe," he said. "She was reading a book and I thought she was breath-taking. I had to talk to her."

Lorelei bit down on her lip as the heat rushed to her cheeks. It wasn't quite a lie. They did meet face to face in Roasters. That was where they had their first date. Lorelei was thankful that Jesse had come before she ran away.

"He was so charming," Lorelei said. "So I decided to give him my number."

Marlowe smiled and clasped her hands in front of her chest.

"I'm so glad," she said. "Jesse, you were so depressed after your break up with Jody."

"Let's not discuss that," Jesse said.

Marlowe waved her hand to dismiss Jesse.

"Don't worry," she said. "We won't go down that rabbit hole. Lorelei, what do you do? Tell me a bit about yourself."

Lorelei squeezed Jesse's hand and he tightened his grip.

"I'm an ICU nurse," she said. "I have always lived in Toronto. I have two cats. I don't really know what to say."

Lorelei let out an awkward giggle. Marlowe smiled before taking another drink of her coffee.

Jesse's phone rang and he groaned. He pulled it out of his pocket to see that Christina's name was flashing across the screen. Lorelei found it interesting that he saved her in his phone by her name rather than Mom. After everything her mother had done, Lorelei did not change the name of her contact.

"Do I pick it up?" he asked.

"Do it," Marlowe said. "Put her on speaker phone. Maybe she sobered up."

Jesse tapped the screen and set the phone down on the table between them.

"Hey, Mom," he said. "Marlowe is here too."

"Is Laura with you?" Christina asked.

"Her name is Lorelei," he said. "And yes, she is."

There was a sigh. Jesse and Marlowe looked at each other, but did not say a word. They sat in awkward silence.

"I'm sorry," Christina mumbled. "I was just upset about getting evicted."

"That's not an excuse to take it out on us," Marlowe said.

"I know," Christina said. "Kids, I need your help. I can't be homeless. I won't survive on the streets!"

Hurt flashed across Jesse's face. He squeezed Lorelei's hand.

"You won't be homeless," Jesse said.

"Does that mean you're going to help?" Christina asked.

"Only if you don't scream at me," he said. "And you have to be sober."

"Deal," Christina said. "Swing by in an hour or two. I have what we need."

They all said their goodbyes and Jesse ended the call. Marlowe shook her head as she finished her coffee. Jesse let go of Lorelei's hand. She stretched out her sore knuckles from Jesse's tight grip.

"Good luck," Marlowe said. "You're going to need it."