Lorelei was still in Jesse's arms when she woke in the middle of the night. Her head was on his chest, and her leg and arm were over his body. He dragged his fingers up and down her spine. A light shone down on them. She forced her heavy eyes to open as she looked up at Jesse. He turned his phone off and dropped it on the bed. He ran his fingers through her hair.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Why are you awake?"
"I'm fine," she said. "I don't know why I'm awake."
"Good. You're not experiencing sub-drop?"
"No."
Lorelei nuzzled her face into Jesse's chest. He tightened his hold on her and kissed her forehead.
"Why are you awake?" she asked.
"My phone wouldn't stop buzzing," he said.
Lorelei did not have to ask. She knew Christina was texting and calling him in the middle of the night.
"We're going to her apartment in the morning?" she asked.
"I'll go," he said. "You can stay at the hotel and rest."
Lorelei lifted her head from Jesse's chest. She could not see the details of his face in the darkness.
"Jesse, I am going with you," she said.
"That apartment is so gross," he said. "My life is disgusting."
"The apartment is not your life."
"It was at one point."
Lorelei sighed as she lowered her head. How come Jesse had never talked about his mother before he received that phone call outside Roasters? She knew nothing about his family. She did not even know he had a half-sister until they came to Vancouver.
"What else don't I know?" Lorelei asked.
Jesse let out a huff of breath. He twirled a piece of Lorelei's hair around his finger. Her heart pounded when she waited for his answer.
"I guess I have never talked about my father," he said.
"You haven't," she said. "I did not know he died until today."
"He passed away when I was five. It was a heroin overdose."
"I'm so sorry."
Jesse tightened his arms around Lorelei. It was crushing her, but she did not want to say anything. He was clinging to her for comfort.
"He was in and out of my life a lot as a kid," he said. "He had moved back in with us, and I found him a couple of weeks later."
"You found him?" she asked.
"My mom was out buying cigarettes," he said. "I went to my parent's room, and my dad was overdosing on the bed. I didn't understand it back then. When my mom returned, I told her my dad was asleep, and I could not wake him up. I still remember the sound of her screaming when she went into the bedroom."
"Jesse, that is terrible."
He rolled them over so that she was lying on her back. He stretched his arm across her abdomen. He put his head on his chest. His warm tears rolled onto Lorelei's skin. Her heart ached, and she ran her fingers through his hair. The only time she had seen him cry was after their big fight.
"I'm so sorry I have never asked you about your past," Lorelei said.
"I hate thinking about my past," he said. He sniffled, and the sound broke her heart. "I just pretend it didn't happen."
"It's not healthy to repress it all. I'll always listen to you if you need to talk, sweetheart."
Jesse wiped the tears off his cheeks. Lorelei pressed her lips against his temple. It was always odd for her to have to comfort him. He always made her feel comfortable and safe. Was she doing the same for him?
"I love you," she said.
"God, I love you so much," he said.
He shifted his weight on the bed. He crawled on top of Lorelei. She could taste his salty tears when he kissed her tenderly. His lips were smooth and soft. She pulled him close, and he cried into her neck. She held onto him as he tried to fight the sobs after confronting his memories.
--
Lorelei braced herself for the stench of Christina's apartment. Jesse had called her, and she was coming downstairs to let them in. Lorelei prayed that Christina was sober. Jesse silently cried on top of her during the night. Neither of them mentioned it in the morning. Was she supposed to say something?
Christina burst through the doors. She had on the same ratty robe. She opened her arms and wrapped them around Jesse. She squealed with excitement.
"I'm so glad you two came today," she said. "I promise, no beer today."
"No alcohol at all," Jesse said.
Christina rolled her eyes.
"No alcohol," she said. She looked over at Lorelei and smiled. "You brought Laura too. This is great."
"Lorelei," Jesse corrected his mother.
"Lorelei," Christina repeated. "I promise I will remember that one day."
Christina waved at them to motion for them to enter. She unlocked the door, and they followed her up the stairs. Lorelei chewed on her lip, already able to smell the apartment from down the hall.
Christina opened the door. Lorelei looked around at the mess. How much did they clean yesterday? Only a small portion of the living room was where the ground was cleared. Would they be able to clean this apartment by the end of the week?
"We need to work faster today," Jesse said. "We only have a few more days."
"We have to take our time," Christina said. "We can't throw everything out. I need to check everything."
"But Mom, we don't have time."
Christina let out a deep breath and stamped her foot.
"You want to throw out all of my memories?" she asked.
"Do you want our help?" Jesse asked.
"How about we start by picking up the garbage," Lorelei said. She wanted to diffuse a potential fight between Jesse and Christina. They had just got there. "We can worry about what has memories later."
Christina smiled. She clasped her hands in front of her chest. Jesse grabbed masks and gloves and handed them over to Lorelei.
"I've been thinking," Christina said. "I would like to move to Toronto with the two of you."
Jesse's eyes went wide as he turned to face Christina. He had the mask on, so no one could see his jaw hanging open.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I want a fresh start," she said. "I would love to move to Toronto. I can stay on your and Lorelei's couch until I find my own place. My friends have been telling me rent is cheaper in Toronto compared to Vancouver."
"Mom, Lorelei and I don't even live in the same apartment," he said.
"You don't?" she asked. "I thought that you were getting married."
"What gave you that idea? I haven't proposed to her yet."
Christina glanced over to Lorelei, who was stunned. The only time she had discussed marriage with Jesse was when they were in the hot tub together. How often was he thinking of their future?
Christina's smile grew wider. "Propose to her now."
"What?" Jesse asked. "I am not doing that."
"Why not?"
"Two reasons. Number one: I don't have a ring. Number two: I want a more romantic setting."
Lorelei's face had gone flush. She was glad that his mom wanted them married. She approved of her, and that meant a lot to Lorelei. She imagined what it would be like to see Jesse on one knee with a ring.
She shook her head and grabbed a garbage bag. She cleaned one of the piles of garbage as Christina and Jesse bickered about a proposal.