Chapter 9 - Part 1

                                    

                                          
Jessica tried to steady herself as she tried to unlock the door, but the keyhole was so small and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite get the key into the slot. This time she was determined, but she fumbled the keys and they dropped to the floor. 
"Damn it."
Hannah had dropped her off, and it was close to midnight. They had stayed for two more drinks and she had spent the rest of the evening mulling over her encounter with Karsyn. Her eyes had searched for him and Robert in the crowd, but she hadn't seen them again. It was probably for the best.
Hannah had spent most of the journey home lecturing her on why it was the best idea to steer clear of anything linked to Karsyn.
"He'll break your heart again if you give him another chance." There was no point in arguing because her friend was right.
Unsteadily, she bent down to pick up the keys, leaning a hand against the door.
Then, as the door moved, she fell forward, leaving her in a sprawled mess at the feet of Myles.
"What the hell, Jess?" he asked, helping her up and picking up the keys in one move.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. The alcohol made her feelings more amplified as she leaned into his strong frame.
"I take it you had fun," he remarked with an arm around her waist as he led her to the sofa to sit.
She sank down in the chair and leaned her head back. The room was spinning a little, so she closed her eyes and sighed. "I wish."
The night hadn't gone the way she'd intended. If it had, she would be with Karsyn. Her emotions felt like they were all over the place and she couldn't think about him without feeling the pain that came with that. Heartbroken again.
"Why not?" His voice was nearby, but it took too much effort to reopen her eyes so she kept them closed.
"Karsyn was there." 
The seat beside her dipped. "What happened?"
She sighed. "The same... Nothing has changed."
There had been a few moments over the evening when she had believed there would be a chance for Karsyn and her to be together, but all those hopes had been dashed. It was impossible to hide her disappointment in her drunken state.
When he'd led her to the dance floor she remembered how her heart had skipped a beat and when his hands had rested on her hips—but then he had pulled away.
Something got shoved into her hand. "Drink," Myles instructed.
She lifted her head and opened her eyes to put the glass to her lips and drank. It was water. She frowned.
"You'll thank me in the morning."
She didn't really want to drink the water, but she managed a few gulps before she passed it back to him. She rested her chin in her hands as her elbows rested on her knees. 
"I shouldn't have gone out. It would've been better if I'd stayed here." 
"Maybe it's time to close the door on you and my brother." 
She shifted to look at Myles. "You're right, but it's easier said than done, you know. When he's around all I can do is feel, and any logical reasoning goes out the window."
He nodded solemnly.
"I don't think I'm strong enough to resist him, and as long as I believe there's a chance, I'm going to hope." She was probably saying too much, but at this point she didn't care. It felt good to open up and tell someone about what was going on in her mind and heart.