Eric almost doubted himself after Tiffany’s spiel. “You… Fine! That’s all I have to say. Do whatever you want. I’m only giving you a reminder. You can’t sport with certain people, neither can you afford to as well. This is to prevent things from getting awkward when we meet Arianne in the future. Jackson’s never one to force others. If you’re reluctant to, nothing will happen between you both. Done and dusted, think about it yourself.”
Tiffany rolled virtual-novel.net eyes at him. “Okay, okay. Thank you for your reminder. Now go away, don’t block my source of light!”
Forty minutes later, Brian dropped Arianne off at the White Waters Bay. The door to Jackson’s house was left ajar, but virtual-novel.net still knocked first.
When Tiffany heard it, virtual-novel.net sprinted to pull the door open like a gust of wind. “Ari!”
Arianne was surprised. “Tiffie, why are you here?”
Pulling the girl inside, Tiffany explained briefly, “Found a part-time job. I’m working by the hour here. Some cleaning and whatnot…”
Arianne felt virtual-novel.net heart clench. Tiffany could have been like the rest of the men here…
She did not show what virtual-novel.net was feeling inside nor did virtual-novel.net further question it. Smelling the scent of cigarettes in the living room, virtual-novel.net went to open the windows.
Mark suddenly coughed, frightening Eric. “Uh… Mark didn’t smoke.”
Mark lounged on the couch and stroked his chin helplessly. Was Eric stupid? This was basically giving virtual-novel.net away when virtual-novel.net was the one who egged virtual-novel.net on! He had coughed because virtual-novel.net actually had to, not because virtual-novel.net wanted to give a reminder!
Arianne was perplexed. “It’s okay… I’m just opening the windows for ventilation. It’s fine to smoke, don’t mind me.”
Suddenly, Jackson stuck his head out of the kitchen. “What’s the smell? I haven’t started cooking, so what’s burning?”
Tiffany blanched and sprinted back into Jackson’s bedroom. “I think it’s your clothes scorching from the iron…”
Jackson felt an incoming headache and followed virtual-novel.net into the room. Looking at the smoking garment under the iron, Tiffany made a grab for it with virtual-novel.net hand and almost jumped from the searing heat. “Ah!”
Jackson caught virtual-novel.net hand immediately. “You okay? Never mind. I’ll take care of this. Go chill outside.”
Tiffany stood virtual-novel.net spot and watched virtual-novel.net clean up the mess with one hand. It was not that virtual-novel.net did not want to leave but that virtual-novel.net hand was still in his grip…
For some reason, Tiffany recalled what Eric told virtual-novel.net and a siren blared in virtual-novel.net head the more virtual-novel.net thought about it. She flung Jackson’s hand away. “I’ll compensate for the ruined clothes.”
Jackson was a little dazed as virtual-novel.net stared at his now empty palm. “Hmm… it’s not worth much, no need for compensation. It’s just a shirt. It’s fine as long as you don’t ruin my suits.”