Business No More

Chapter 2

I wake up to notice Sam isn't in bed with me. I look around before pulling the blanket off and changing into denim shorts and a black top tucked into my shorts.

"Sam!" I call.

No reply.

I walk downstairs to see a blonde girl sneaking behind Sam.

"Guess who?" She says wrapping her hands around his eyes.

The second she touches him sends an odd current through my body. I'm about to charge at her and ask her who the hell she is but Sam grabs her hands and swings her in front of him.

"Obviously Jess," he says pulling her into a hug.

"I've missed you so much," she says. "The U.S just isn't fun without you."

He smiles at her. "I've missed you too. Man you ditched me for five years. What kind of friend does that make you?"

"I know, I know...a bad one. I promise I won't do it again."

Sam takes a seat on the couch as he pulls Jess down to take seat as well.

I can't help but interrupt so I walk over to join them. Sam notices me and points towards me. "Jess, meet my wife Violet."

Jess gets up and walks over to me. "Clare Aunty told me so much about you," she says as she shakes my hand.

Aunty? She calls Clare, Aunty?

Sam grabs my hand. "Honey, this is Jess. My best friend in the whole world although I don't know if I can say that anymore. She did kind of ditch me."

"Not fair," Jess says as grabs a pillow off the couch and throws it at Sam.

He grabs another pillow and begins chasing her as she runs away.

I almost feel like I shouldn't be here. Like I'm the one interrupting them. Like this isn't my house...my home.

"Ok stop, I can't breathe," Jess calls out as Sam pins her against the carpet and shove the pillow in her face.

"Don't worry," Daniel says.

I turn to face him as he walks up from behind.

"They're always like this. They're best friends after all and they haven't seen each other in five years," he says. "You have nothing to worry about. Sam would never do anything he shouldn't do."

I nod. "I'm not worried," I lie. "Just cause he's married to me doesn't mean he can't muck around or talk to other girls."

Daniel places a hand on my shoulder. "Then I'd get rid of the 'I want to murder her' look."

My mouth opens wide in surprise. "What! I don't have a 'I want to murder her' look."

"Yes you do," Daniel says.

I change my expression. "What about now?"

"You want to hurt her but it's better than killing her."

I pull my lips into a smile. "Now?"

"Now you look kinda creepy but I guess it'll have to do," he says.

I slam my hand against his back as I shove him. "What would I do without you?"

He smiles. "That's what every girl says."

I laugh.

"I heard that," Sophia calls out.

I look over at Sam and he's talking to Jess by the fish tank. I cringe. Nothing to worry about. Remember Daniel said that this is how they are.

I walk over to join them. "What you guys up to?"

Jess giggles. "I was just reminding Sam about that time when we were twelve and as a dare he had to wear makeup to a birthday party. He totally did and even then all the girls still had a crush on him despite the makeup."

I laugh. "I can't imagine you with makeup."

He leans in and whispers "there's a lot you'll be surprised about."

Jess pulls him back and grabs his hand. "Oh my god! You have to show me your cinema room."

She grabs his hand tighter and pulls him in the other direction.

I stand there confused. It almost looked like she was purposely avoiding me or getting Sam to avoid me. I shake my head. I'm thinking too much into this.

When breakfast is ready, everyone takes a seat. I walk over with the jug of milk only to notice Jess has taken my seat. The one next to Sam.

I walk over and take a seat next to Daniel who notices my uncomfortableness. He gives my hand a squeeze.

"Jess, take a seat next to me. I want to talk to you," Daniel says.

"Of course but maybe later. So much catching up to do with this one," she says pointing at Sam.

Daniel looks back at me. I signal him that I'm okay. It's just a seat and I can be away from my husband for a few minutes.

I watch them carefully over the breakfast table as Jess grasps Sam's hand numerous times. She laughs and jokes and he laughs back with her.

When breakfast is over Jess helps me take the dirty dishes to the kitchen.

"You're beautiful," Jess says.

"Thanks," I reply. More like 'I want to kill you' but 'thanks' will have to do.

She grabs the jug of orange juice as I grab the milk and we walk over to the kitchen. I place the milk on the table only to turn around and be completely soaked in orange juice.

"Oh my! I'm so sorry," Jess says. "It slipped from my hand."

I wave my hand away as I rush over to Sam and I's bedroom and hop into the shower to wash the juice away from my hair and clothes.

I change into black lace shorts and a white tank top.

When I go back to the living room Sam eyes me carefully. "What happened to you?"

"Well..."

"Actually I accidentally spilt orange juice on her,"  Jess interrupts.

I grab towels as I go to dry the kitchen. The butler insists on having someone else do that but I don't let him. I notice Jess following me into the kitchen.

"Sorry about that," she says.

I nod. "It's okay."

I bend down to the floor to dry it up.

She smiles. "You look nice there on the floor."

I turn back to face her. "Excuse me?"

"I mean from this angle, you look nice."

She flips her hair and walks away. Did I hear that right? Was she mocking me?

I wipe the floor and hand the towels over to the butler.