Chapter 3: Rising Action
Lynn gets back to her apartment and Jason is watching sports and getting drunk. "He Lynn, what is for dinner?" Jason says as if he was ordering at a drive through.
Lynn sighs, "I'm not making dinner, Jason. I've got some things to do."
Jason turns to look at her, his eyes glassy from the alcohol. "What things? It's Sunday night, you should be cooking for me."
Lynn rolls her eyes, "I'm not your cook Jason. And I told you, I've got plans."
Jason scoffs, "Plans? Then what am I going to eat. I work I pay bills. I mean I give you comfort and security and you act like that is not enough for you. I mean what is your big deal all the sudden Lynn?"
Jason slurs, his eyes narrowing.
Lynn takes a deep breath, trying to keep her cool. "I'm just living my life, Jason. You don't own me."
Jason scoffs again, waving his hand dismissively. "Yeah, sure you do. You're just out there, doing whatever, with whoever. What about me and my needs Lynn?"
Lynn loses it. "Your needs, I given you all your needs and it has sucked the fucking life out of me. What about my needs? Do you care about my needs or is comfort and security all you think is what we need Jason?" Lynn says, her voice shaking with suppressed emotion.
Jason leans back on the couch, his eyes narrowing. "What are you saying, Lynn? That you want more?"
Lynn takes a deep breath, her eyes flashing. "Yes, Jason, I want more. I want excitement, I want passion, I want to feel alive. I don't want to be stuck in this routine, this... monotony. I don't want to be your wife in waiting, I want to be your partner, your lover, your... equal."
Jason scoffs, "Equal? You want to be treated like one of my bros at work?"
"I should be above them!" Lynn yells at Jason.
"I don't want to be treated like anyone else, I want to be treated like me, like Lynn! The vibrant, adventurous woman you fell in love with, not this... this shadow of myself that I've become!"
Jason leans forward, his face reddening with anger. "You're being unreasonable, Lynn. You have everything you need. What more could you possibly want?"
Lynn shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes. "My Uber is here, she grabs her backpack pack, I will not be coming back tonight. Good night Jason. "Lynn says as she leave to hop in her Uber. She tells the drive to taker her here. Jesses place. Lynn wipes away the tears that had begun to fall as the Uber pulls up to Jesse's apartment complex. She takes a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. She pays the driver and steps out onto the curb, looking up at the large building in front of her.
She pulls out her phone and sends Jesse a text, "I'm out front."
Within seconds, her phone rings, and Jesse's deep voice comes through the line. "Come on up, I'll buzz you in."
Lynn smiles, putting her phone away as she walks towards the building's entrance.
Lynn, gets to the fifth floor where he lives. She knocks and he lets her in. He says nothing just letting her feel comfortable. Lynn looks around and is shocked to see no biker stuff around, in fact she sees a lot of what she thinks are from the Catholic religion. She sees two earns with candles next to them. Jesse notices her look. "Yeah, I'm Catholic. I know it's not what you'd expect from a guy on a motorcycle, but that's life, full of surprises." He smiles, his blue eyes warm and inviting.
Lynn laughs, "Well, you certainly are full of surprises, Doc. I like it."
Jesse gestures for her to come in. "Make yourself at home. Can I get you something to drink? Water, soda, beer?"
Lynn shakes her head. "No, I'm good. I just needed to get away from... everything. Can I stay the night here with you" Lynn askes, thinking this should be nuts, but around him the last few days he does more than make her feel alive, he makes her feels safe.
"You know you can. I'm glad you're here." Jesse replies, his voice soft but firm. He closes the door behind her and leads her into the living room.
"I will make the bed for you and get my stuff for the couch." Jesse says with assurance.
"Could we lay in your bed together and we hold each other?" Lynn asked, her voice trembling. Jesse stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. "Are you sure, Lynn? We don't have to rush anything. I want you to feel comfortable and safe with me."
Lynn nodded, stepping closer to him. "I'm sure, Jesse. I want to feel your arms around me, I want to feel close to you. I need this."
Jesse's eyes softened as he took her hands in his. "Alright." Jesse says as he guides her to his bed room, she see another cross. "Do you have one in every room Lynn asked in wounder. "Yes Lynn, a my parents did that I never stopped." Jess says with a laugh as he start to take off his shirt and pants and get in to his PJ pants.
He turns around and see Lynn trying to undress her self. "Do you need help Lynn?" Jesse asks with a smirk.
Lynn blushes and shakes her head, "No, I can do it. I just... I'm not good with buttons when I'm nervous."
Jesse smiles and walks over to her. He takes the hem of her shirt and lifts it gently over her head, revealing her black lace bra. He tosses the shirt onto the chair and runs his hands lightly down her arms, making her shiver.
"You're beautiful, Lynn," he says softly, his eyes meeting hers. He guides her to the bed and they both lay down. He turns on some violin music that help him sleep. Lynn lays her head on his chest and he wraps his arm around her. She lifts her left and he puts his leg in so she can feel the warmth. She paw scratches his chest and smiles before drifting off to sleep.
Lynn wakes up first and Jess is still holding her. He had been holding her all night. She thinks why is he doing all this for a woman he just met. Then again, why am I doing the same thing. You know why Lynn, you felt a connection with him and last night proved it. Jesse did not try a thing, he just held me she thought. Jason would have wanted something for that affection like it was a prize or some shit. But not Jesse, he just held her because he wanted to, because he cared. Lynn thought as she carefully slipped out of Jesse's arms, trying not to wake him. She looked at him, his face peaceful and relaxed in sleep. She couldn't help but smile.
She grabbed her clothes from last night and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. She made her way to the bathroom, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. She turned on the shower and as the water heated up, she began to undress. She looked at herself in the mirror, her reflection showing a woman with a newfound confidence and purpose.
She stepped into the shower, the hot water cascading over her body, washing away the remnants of last night's tears and the lingering scent of Jason's stale smoke. She took her time, letting the water wash over her, soothing her aching muscles and calming her racing thoughts.
As she stepped out of the shower, she wrapped a towel around herself and looked at her reflection again. She saw a woman who was ready to take control of her life again, who was ready to break free from the monotony and the weight of her past. She took a deep breath and made her decision. All the sudden Lynn can smell, coffee, eggs and bacon.
Her mouth begins to water as she makes her way to the kitchen. She sees Jesse standing there, cooking food, and just looking down right edible himself. He has a white sleeveless shirt on, showing off his muscular arms, and a pair of khakis.
"Morning, beautiful. How do you take your coffee?" Jesse says with a smile as he turns to look at her, his eyes traveling down her body before meeting hers again.
"Black with a splash of cream, you?" Lynn nods, still surprised by the sudden change in Jesse's demeanor. He seems more... comfortable, more relaxed. "That sounds perfect, thank you." She leans against the counter and watches him move around the kitchen with ease, flipping pancakes and bacon, all while keeping an eye on the eggs in the pan. "You know, for a biker, you're quite the cook," Lynn teases, trying to ease the sudden tension between them.
"I minored in Culinary, I did not plan to be a Chef, but I wanted to know how to cook better food and I do it here." Jesse says as he gets the plates together and they sit down to eat. She see him praying and doing the Catholic sign and then he starts to eat. Lynn, bites in and is shocked at the flavors in the egg. They are amazing. "Wow, what did you put in the eggs to make them tastes like this, it is so good." Lynn says as she bites into another pancake covered in syrup. Jesse smirks, "Family recipe, secret sauce I can not share, sorry."
They eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds are the clinking of forks on plates and the soft hum of the appliances. Lynn breaks the silence, "Thank you, Jesse. For everything. For listening, for holding me, for cooking me breakfast. I... I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm glad you're in my life."
Jesse looks up from his plate and smiles at Lynn. "It could be like this all the time for you. But before you go making that kind of choice, how about we just get on my Chopper and go for a ride and see where the road takes us for a few hours?" Jesse offers, with a twinkle in his blue eyes.
Lynn raises an eyebrow. "You know, I've never been on a motorcycle before. Isn't that dangerous?"
Jesse chuckles. "Everything is dangerous, Lynn. But sometimes, you gotta take a chance to really feel alive. You in or what?"
Lynn smiles, feeling a thrill of excitement. "You know what? Yeah, I'm in. Let's do this."
They finish their breakfast, and Jesse cleans up the dishes while Lynn goes to change into more suitable riding attire.
They get to the garage and Lynn is in awe of Jesse Chopper. It is a beautiful Harley Davidson, shiny black with red flames painted on the sides. Jesse hands her a helmet and some sunglasses. He gets on the bike and starts it up. The engine roars to life, vibrating under Lynn's touch as she places her hands on the seat behind Jesse.
"Ready to rock and roll?" Jesse says over the mics in the helmets.
Lynn nods, her heart pounding with anticipation. She climbs onto the bike, her body pressing against Jesse's as she wraps her arms around his waist. She can feel the heat radiating off of him, the rough denim of his jacket scraping against her skin.
Jesse heads off and they go out on the road. Lynn grips Jesse tighter as they drive out of the city, the wind whipping around them. She closes her eyes and feels the freedom of the open road. They drive for hours, stopping only for gas and food. Lynn feels alive for the first time in years.
As the sun begins to set, Jesse pulls off the highway and into a small town. He drives slowly down a quiet street lined with old houses and trees. He turns into a driveway and parks in front of a charming little cottage with a white picket fence.
Lynn looks around, confused. "Where are we?"
Jesse kills the engine and removes his helmet. "This is my parents home". Jesse says as he helps Lynn off the bike.
Lynn looks around, her eyes wide with surprise. "Yours? But... you said you grew up in a rough neighborhood, that your family was..."
Jesse laughs, a warm, deep sound that makes Lynn smile. "Matriarchal, yes. And we did live in a rough neighborhood. But my parents, they worked hard to give us a good life. They saved and sacrificed so that we could have this place to come to on weekends and summers. A place to escape the city and just... be."
Lynn looks at the cottage, a sense of peace washing over her. "Come in with me" Jesse says as he opens the door. Mom, Dad, it is me and I brought a friend. Hope you got some of your muffins ready mom.
They walked into house and it was cozy and warm, the smell of freshly baked good and coffee filled the air.
Lynn smiles, her eyes taking in the simple yet inviting decor. A plaid couch sat in front of a fireplace, a coffee table with a few framed photos and books on it. The kitchen was small but charming, with a large wooden table and a few chairs.
An older woman, with warm eyes and a friendly smile, comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Jesse, how many times do I have to tell you to call before you bring guests over. You ever gonna get that through that Jarhead skull of yours." Jesse mom says in a serious tone.
Jesse looks and smiles. "I was hoping to ask for forgives other than permission this time mom."
His mother rolls her eyes but can't help but smile. "Well, who is your friend, Jesse? And why aren't you introducing us properly?"
Jesse gestures to Lynn. "Mom, Dad, this is Lynn. Lynn, this is my mom, Maria, and my dad, Antonio."
Lynn smiles and steps forward, shaking both their hands. "It's nice to meet you both. Your home is beautiful."
Maria smiles back, her eyes twinkling. "Thank you, dear. It's always a pleasure to meet Jesse's friends. And call me Maria, please. "Ok Jesse, explain yourself, you ride two hours with this beautiful woman with you. You have never done that before, what is your reason this time Jesse. Is she special to you?" Maria asks, her gaze softening as she looks at Lynn.
Jesse glances at Lynn, then back to his mom. "She is, Mom. She's different from anyone I've ever met."
Maria smiles, nodding as if she understands something that Lynn doesn't. "Well, come in, both of you. Let's have some coffee and muffins, and you can tell me all about her."
During the day, Lynn learns more about Jesse's family and upbringing. She discovers that Jesse's mom, Maria, was a nurse, and his dad, Antonio, was a mechanic. They both worked tirelessly to provide for their children and give them a better life. Jesse has two older sisters, both of whom are married with kids. Jesse is the youngest, and the only one who didn't follow the traditional path of marriage and children.
After dinner, Jesse and Lynn take a walk around the neighborhood. They hold hands as they stroll, talking and laughing like old friends. Jesse points out his childhood home, the school he attended, and the park where he used to play as a kid.
"Jesse, can I stay with you again tonight?" Lynn asked, her voice soft in the quiet of the darkening neighborhood. They had walked hand in hand for hours, talking and laughing, sharing stories and dreams. Lynn had never felt so at ease with someone before.
Jesse looked down at her, his blue eyes reflecting the glow of the streetlights. He smiled, his thumb brushing gently against her cheek. "Only if you promise to tell me more about yourself. I feel like you know everything about you, but I've barely scratched the surface of who you really are."
Lynn laughed softly. "Deal. But only if you promise to tell me about your tattoos. "Deal" Jesse says as they head back to his apartment.