Lorelei giggled as Jesse put his hands on her hips and his lips on her neck. He pushed her into the hotel room. His hands slid around her sides and undid the button of her jeans. He slipped his hand into her thong, and Lorelei shuddered at his touch. Jesse chuckled as he could feel the wetness pooling between her thighs. He was squeezing her ass on the walk back to the hotel, and the action turned her on.

Lorelei pulled his hand away and spun around. Jesse smirked as he put two fingers in his mouth. She squeezed her thighs together as she struggled not to tear Jesse's clothes off.

"Get on the bed," he said.

"How much have you had to drink?" she asked.

Jesse raised a brow.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I'm not going to have sex with you if you are drunk," she said.

Jesse let out a deep breath and ran his hand down his face.

"How are you feeling?" Lorelei asked.

"I may have had a little too much," he said.

Lorelei nodded. Jesse wrapped his arms and pulled her close. She pressed her hands against his chest. The smell of alcohol was coming from his breath. Her chest tightened. Would he try to convince her to have sex? She did not want an argument to start.

"Want to watch a movie?" he asked.

He kissed the top of Lorelei's head, and the tension eased from her muscles. She pulled back, and she smiled.

"You get to pick," she said.

Lorelei pulled Jesse's hands off her and went to her suitcase. She changed into her pajamas and crawled into the bed. Jesse pulled his shirt off and unbuckled his jeans. He grabbed his laptop and slid into the bed next to Lorelei. She rolled onto her side, and Jesse set the computer down next to her. He selected a movie before laying down and curling her into his body.

--

Jody was standing outside Christina's building when Jesse and Lorelei arrived. She had on a baggy T-shirt and a pair of leggings. Her hair was tied up with a multicoloured scrunchie. Lorelei was always amazed at how effortlessly she looked so beautiful.

"You're late," Jody said.

Jesse pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. He rolled his eyes.

"Only by three minutes," he said.

"It's three minutes we wasted," she said.

A man came out of Christina's building. Jody ran to grab the door. She held it open as Lorelei and Jesse walked in. Jody led the way as they walked to Christina's apartment.

Jody must have seen Christina's apartment before. How many times had she been there? Had it looked this bad in the past?
Jesse used his key to open the door. Jody clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and shook her head as she stepped in. She looked around at the mess. Jesse grabbed a garbage bag and opened it.

"Let's clear all the shit out while she's in the hospital," he said.

They all put on a pair of gloves and masks. They each grabbed a garbage bag and went to a room. Jesse had his old room. Jody was in Christina's room. Lorelei was in the bathroom. They scooped the trash into the bags.

Lorelei shuddered when she saw a mouse run across the mess on the floor. How many were in this apartment? Jesse tried to avoid the conversation when Lorelei asked about it. How hard had it been for him to grow up in this apartment? Why did he never talk about it before?

Jody talked on and on about how mad she was at Mateo for going to Paris without her. Neither Lorelei nor Jesse responded to her as she ranted. Lorelei was too focused on not throwing up when she discovered a stack of magazines covered in rat feces and green mold. She dropped the garbage bag and straightened her back.

"I need to take a break," she said. "I need some air."

"I'll go with you," Jody said. "This stench is getting to me. You coming, Madden?"

"I'm almost done with this room," Jesse said.

Lorelei pulled off her gloves before stepping into the hallway. Jody ran her fingers through her dark hair before readjusting the bun on the top of her head. Lorelei hurried to get out of the apartment. She pulled down her mask and took a deep breath once they got outside. Jody pulled her phone out of her pocket and rolled her eyes.

"Still no text from Mateo," she said. "I'm sure he's banging some bitch right now."

"Don't you trust him?" Lorelei asked.

Jody sighed and looked back at her phone. She shoved it into the back pocket of her jeans before biting down on her lip. Jody always exuded confidence, so it was odd for Lorelei to see her so insecure.

"I do trust him," Jody said. "It's the Parisian models that I don't trust."

"If Mateo loves you, he will not cheat," Lorelei said.

"I just don't understand why he did not want me to come."

"Have you asked why?"

"I have. He won't tell me why. He's being so secretive about it, and that is what is making me nervous."

The door opened, and Jesse walked through carrying two large garbage bags. He tossed them on the edge of the curb. Wiping his hands on his jeans, he walked over to them. He slid his arm around Lorelei's shoulders and pulled her close. Jody crinkled her nose.

"Your love is disgusting," she said. "Stop being so cute."

Jesse chuckled. "Jealous, Zhang?"

"Why do you always call each other by your last name?" Lorelei asked.

She had noticed that little quirk between them a while ago. Ever since she met Jody in The Alibi, she and Jesse never used their first names. It seemed odd, especially for two people who used to be a couple.

"It's lame," Jesse said.

"Have you told her how we met?" Jody asked.

"No," he said. "And she doesn't need to know."

Lorelei's heart pounded. How did they meet? Did they meet online? Did they meet in a strip club? How do two people so kinky meet each other?

"I think she deserves to know," Jody said with a wink.

Please don't tell me, Lorelei thought. I don't think I want to know.

"No," Jesse said. His voice was stern. "Now, let's get inside."

Jody put her hands on her hips.

"Jesse and I met-" she started.

"I said be quiet," Jesse cut her off.

"-When we curled for the same team," she finished.

Lorelei arched a brow as she looked up at Jesse. Blush was on his cheeks and he was trying to hide it by burying his face in his hand. The tension left Lorelei's body, and she could not hold back a laugh.

"You played curling?" she asked.

"No," Jesse said.

"He did," Jody said. "He was Skip. I was Vice. We got close after going to Bonspiels together."

"I don't understand half of those words," Lorelei said.

Jesse groaned. His cheeks were turning a darker red. Lorelei giggled. He pulled her into him, burying her face in his chest so she could not see his embarrassment.

"I was young," Jesse said. "It was lame, but it was fun."

"Curling is not lame," Jody said.

"Then why don't you do it anymore?"

"Because Mateo won't join me."

Lorelei continued to giggle. She tried to push herself off Jesse's chest, but he held her tighter.

"We should keep cleaning," Jesse said, desperate to change the topic of conversation. "I think most of the trash is out. We just have to scrub everything."

"What about the mice?" Jody asked.

"I think those mice have lived there longer than my Mom."

"We should still try to get rid of them."

"That'll be the next step after cleaning."

Jesse's phone rang. He loosened his grip on Lorelei, and she took a step back. He placed his cell against his ear.

"What's up, Marlowe?" he asked. "How's Mom?"

Lorelei could not hear Marlowe's voice on the other end of the phone call. She and Jody stayed quiet while they watched Jesse. He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and turned his back to them.

"Does she want help?" he asked.

Lorelei and Jody glanced at each other. She was not getting better, so would she get worse?

"What about rehab?" he asked. There was a pause. "She has to wait how long?."

Jesse sighed. He ran his fingers through his hair. Lorelei could not see the hurt and worry that was on his face.

"I can't believe the wait is that long," he said. "That can't be right."

Lorelei chewed on her lip. Christina was finally willing to get sober. Would a wait time ruin her chance at success?

"What about Toronto?" he asked. "Is it any better?"

Lorelei's jaw dropped. Jesse wanted his mother to go to Toronto? Would they be living together? She could not imagine them both living in that tiny apartment.

"Call me back when you know," he said.

He ended the call and turned around. Lorelei could not get rid of her shocked face fast enough. He tilted his head down and refused to make eye contact.

"Jesse-" she started.

"Let's get to work," he cut her off.

He stepped past them and went into the building. Jody let out a low whistle and shook her head.

"Now, that is going to be interesting," she said.