Coming Along

The conversation eventually moves away from Rio and his neck, but keeps staring down awkwardly.

"Can we talk in private?” Leah asks Rio in a low voice and grabs his hand to pull him before he even responds.

I keep my eyes on them until they disappear down the hallway to the bedrooms.

About half an hour later, Rio and Leah return. Leah is holding Rio's hand really tightly and they walk until they get to me and Jess. Leah gives me a long look and a slow knowing smile, as if she knows something I don't. She's someone else to add to the list of people who know something I don't, I guess.

"Jess, it's really late. Shall we go?"

"Oh? but," Jess looks at me, "Can't I stay over tonight?"

I'm totally not in the mood to keep entertaining Jess and her inscessant need to be all over me every second one way or another.

"Sorry, my love, but I have to wake up really early tomorrow and deal with some restaurant shit," I lie with a tired sigh and a grimace to give my lie more realism. Jess frowns, b