Jillian was utterly shocked, finally standing face-to-face with the young blonde. Who was now somehow mistaking her for Jason’s mother?

  “Hold the fuck up! What did you just say!?” she yelled, feeling deeply offended, while her eye twitched in disbelief.

  Here she was, finally meeting the infamous Lina, and she already wanted to throttle the little twerp.

  Lina looked Jillian up and down. “Hmmm now that you mention it, you’re nothing like the pictures I’ve seen of her. I was trying to be polite just in case,” she continued.

  “Ya fuckin think! If that was you trying to be polite I-… Grrrr. Do I look like I’m old enough to be the mom of a twenty-six-year-old?” Jillian snapped, fists clenched at her sides.

  "Yeah, kinda? I'm glad that Jason's mom isn't tacky enough to dye her hair that shade of red, so that’s a relief. Anyway, is Jase home?” the blonde girl inquired, trying to peek past Jillian.

  “If you take a single fuckin step into this house I'll—,” Jillian was seething with rage, but her tirade was cut short by Jason swooping in, wrapping his arms around her, muffling her protests with a hand over her mouth. He pulled her back as she struggled in his grasp.

  “Both of you calm down, I’m right here, Lina.” Jason interjected, shooting a stern look at the blonde girl. “You two need to keep it civil, so no more insults.”

  Lina, however, seemed oblivious to the tension, her face lighting up with delight.

  “Jase, there you are!” she exclaimed happily. “I never insulted anyone. Is that your cousin? Where’s mom? How are you?” Questions tumbled out of Lina’s mouth faster than Jason could reasonably answer them.

  Meanwhile, Jillian was getting increasingly annoyed at having her mouth covered. Jason felt her trying to bite his hand but managed to move it out of harm’s way just in time. With her mouth free, Jillian shouted back at Lina.

  “Open your fucking eyes; I'm his girlfriend, not his cousin! So back the fuck off!” she snapped at Lina with a growl while Jason held Jillian back from attacking.

  Lina’s smile vanished as she turned to face the other woman. Her arms crossed over her chest, and her expression changed from friendly to downright displeased. Eyeing the redhead, she scowled deeply.

  She let out a small “Hmph” then glanced back up at Jason.

  “Seriously, Jason? You’d go so far as to hire someone to pretend to be your girlfriend? I thought we were closer than that. Do you really hate me that much?” she sniffed, looking like she was about to cry.

  “Hire me?! Are you fuckin’ delusional? Maybe he’s not into you because you're just a spoiled brat acting like he's already yours! If you really knew him, you would know that he wouldn’t do something like that!” Jillian fired back.

  “Ladies, settle down!” Jason interjected loudly, exasperated at all the bickering.

  Maurice stepped forward, but Lina quickly stopped him with a hand, her tears disappearing instantly.

  “Lina, look. If you want to come in, we can talk about this and explain everything; you're more than welcome to. I promise this isn’t some act, and we'll do whatever it takes to prove that to you,” he started, but Lina cut him off again.

  “Don’t even bother. I already know this is fake. You’re literally trying to tell me you’ve got a girlfriend, that’s a REDHEAD!? Seriously, Jase? I know you, and I know you can’t stand redheads.” Lina’s words caught Jillian off guard. But there was no way she knew what happened between them. Could she?

  "Unless he..."

  “The fuck do you even mean by that?” Jillian knew the answer, but she was doing her best to avoid showing any fear that Lina did as well.

  Jason looked rather uncomfortable, knowing exactly what Lina meant. “That was a long time ago Lina...I was young and angry,” he muttered, knowing deep down that he still held back a lot of anger.

  Lina let out a bark of laughter. “He hasn’t even told you how much or why he hates redheads. This is so fake it hurts. I hope you know you're on the verge of violating our contract, Jase,” she said with a confident smirk.

  Jillian was done with her bullshit.

  “Let me tell you something. Not only did I know that he disliked redheads before, but I was the reason he hated them in the first place. And he still picked me over you.” She smugly leaned back into Jason, who still had an arm around her waist for Lina’s safety.

  “Wait. What! You... You’re Jillian Lins? The girl who falsely accused Jason of molesting her in high school?!” The words smacked Jillian like a physical blow, making her flinch.

  Jillian looked up at him with the same hurt expression he hated to see. “Y-you told her that...” Jillian said sadly. She knew it was his right, but it still hurt thinking about him going around telling people.

  Jason shook his head immediately. “I never told her anything remotely close to that!” he said, almost shouting, trying to defend himself.

  After a few seconds of watching the two lock eyes, Lina intervened, annoyance clear in her voice.

  “Ahem, no. I read it in his personal records. Honestly, I was going to offer to have you committed for the rest of your life as his engagement present,” she said shamelessly.

  “You’re out of your fucking gourd, and you're a fucking stalker!” Jillian said, scowling at the blonde.

  “I would never have wanted that, even if I hadn’t reconnected and forgiven her for what she did.” Both Lina and Jillian's heads snapped to Jason, though for different reasons. It was the first time Jason had openly said he forgave Jillian, and she was completely stunned.

  There was a pause before Jason spoke up again.

  “Can we please take this inside? We don’t need to broadcast our business to the whole damn neighborhood,” he suggested, trying to avoid any unnecessary attention. The last thing he wanted was for his mom to get caught up in this drama that she had nothing to do with.

  “Very well.” Lina said with a sigh, stepping into the house and quickly motioning for Maurice to stay.

  “You wait out here,” she instructed firmly. Maurice opened his mouth to protest, but Lina shot him a stern look.

  “Stay put, Maurice, or I'll make you walk back to Florida!” she warned with a firm tone. With a resigned nod, the big man acquiesced reluctantly.

  “Very well. Shout if you need assistance, ma’am,” he said, turning to monitor the surroundings.

  “I won’t,” she answered before walking into the house.

  Jason felt sorry for Maurice. Plus, it was going to be awkward if someone drove by and saw a big man standing guard outside the house.

  Once Lina was inside, he shut the door behind her. Jillian was busy looking up at Jason with glassy eyes while he led the three of them into the living room. Gesturing for Lina to take a seat in the recliner, he maneuvered the still rather distracted Jillian onto the couch as far away from the other woman as possible before sitting next to her. Lina wasn’t thrilled about this seating arrangement but kept quiet. Instead, she gave them both a scowl, folding her arms and crossing her legs, glaring at them. The perfect day she had planned was already ruined and getting worse by the second.

  Jason took a deep breath before he looked back at the young blonde.

  “Okay, Lina. I know this is gonna sound crazy, but it’s all true. Jillian and I reconnected my first day here,” he tried to explain calmly. Lina just rolled her eyes at his words, though.

  “And how long have you been here?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Just over a week,” Jason admitted. As he said it, it really hit him how short a time it had taken for him to develop feelings for Jillian. Everything had moved so quickly for them both since he arrived.

  “So, in a week, you two went from hating each other in high school and never talking once since then, to... what?” Lina wanted them to spell it out as she struggled to voice what she feared might be the truth. She tried to maintain some level of calm, but just below the surface, she was very upset. Jason had told her they needed time to get to know each other and make a connection. So she had given him almost two years, but here he was with a girl who had tormented him in the past, and he'd fallen for her in a week. It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair.

  Jason glanced at Jillian, who still wore a look of wonder. When their eyes met, she snapped back to reality. She blinked a few times and looked away, her face feeling flush while trying to remember what they were talking about.

  “Just because we didn’t get along in high school doesn’t mean we don’t now. We still fight now and then, but for the record, even back in high school, I always thought he was cute. I was just so wrapped up in my anger and grief that I ended up taking it out on him. Also, I never told anyone that he touched me. It was all just bullshit rumors that got way out of control. I was too blind and stupid to see that he was just scared of being accused again.” Jason’s eyes widened in surprise at her sudden admission.

  “He was like this big, shy, soft teddy bear with the most amazing eyes. I regret how I treated him every single day. So you can believe what you want, but the truth is, he is mine, and I am his. Even if it’s only been a short amount of time, it doesn’t change how we feel.”

  She let out all of her feelings and thoughts about their current and past situation. It left Jason a bit shocked, but his heart was racing as he stared at the passionate redhead next to him.

  Lina’s scowl deepened as Jillian moved a hand to intertwine her fingers with his.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “D-do you… feel the same way, Jason?” Lina asked in a calm tone, but her eyes told a different story as they looked like they were on the verge of exploding with real tears this time.

  “I do, Lina. I’m sorry, but it’s all true. According to our agreement, I will not be going out with you,” Jason said, trying to keep things calm.

  But Lina had one last ditch effort up her sleeve. “No! I won’t accept it!” she snapped. Her sudden refusal caught them off guard.

  “You what?” Jason said, taken aback.

  “You heard me. I’m not letting go without solid proof. I didn’t wait almost two years just to have my chance taken away at the last minute,” her tone firm, though a few real tears were already spilling from her eyes.

  “Lina, come on, let’s be reasonable here,” Jason began, but Lina cut him off with a sharp retort.

  “I don’t care! I refuse to believe it!” she snapped back, her arms crossed defiantly as she pouted like a spoiled child. Her foot tapped on the carpet impatiently as she shot daggers at both of them.

  Jillian shot back a glare of her own before standing up abruptly.

  “You want proof?” she challenged, hands on her hips.

  Lina’s eyes widened in surprise as Jillian stood up.

  “Uh, y-yeah,” she stammered.

  “Well, then brace yourself for some hard evidence, you spoiled fuckin’ brat,” Jillian declared, her tone sharp.

  Turning to Jason, she placed her hands on his shoulders before straddling his lap.

  “H-hey!” he said in surprise as she forced herself on him. “What are you-”

  Jillian quickly silenced him by pressing her lips against his.

  The kiss was forceful and deep right from the start. Jason’s initial protests faded quickly as the warmth of her lips and tongue invaded his mouth. Jillian’s hands moved up to cradle his face as she purposely let her lips smack loudly against his.

  Lina's jaw dropped slightly as she watched the couple’s spontaneous make-out session with wide, shocked eyes.

  Jason might have been a bit hesitant to do this in front of someone else, but he was quickly lost in the intense passion and pleasure that the kiss brought.

  Jillian broke the kiss to attack his neck, slowly moving up to his ear and whispering into it.

  “Did you really mean it?” she said, dragging the soft flesh of his earlobe between her teeth.

  His whole body shivered from the attack on his ear. It wasn’t bad, far from it really. His hands gripped the couch cushion, trying to maintain some composure. He let out a rather pathetic moan before responding to her question.

  “Nnhh… what?” he mumbled as Jillian grabbed his arms, trying to pull his hands off the cushions.

  “Do you actually forgive me… or was that for her?”

  His eyes opened at her question, and he slowly released his grip on the cushion, letting her pull his arms up and wrap them around her waist.

  “I told you…,” his lips suddenly latched onto her neck, his teeth grazing her pale skin as he sucked. She gasped at the sensation, wrapping her arms around his neck, urging him to continue.

  “I don’t like to lie,” Jason said as his mouth came off her neck. That was all she needed to hear from the man.

  “Thank you…Thank you so much Jason.”

  Her tone was a choked up whisper as they held each other tight.

  “W-what are you two even doing?!” Lina’s voice reminded them of her presence. The two of them let out synchronized, heavy sighs, but when Jillian leaned back, their eyes locked once more. Sharing a smile even with the pest ruining their moment.

  Jillian turned to look over at Lina once more.

  “We're proving how serious our relationship is. Do you honestly think that Jason of all people would simply let someone like me kiss him like this? Without resisting and even returning my affection? I thought you knew him?” She had a look that was full of confidence like she was looking down on Lina for even thinking this was fake.

  Jason’s hands had moved down to rest on the slope of her hips where her waist met her butt. The young blonde withdrew slightly, but her face was bright pink and there were teeth marks on her bottom lip. Jillian quickly spotted the telltale signs of arousal and raised a brow in curiosity.

  “I-I do...W-well… maybe, I don’t know,” Lina said, refusing to make eye contact again.

  Jason, meanwhile, was getting a bit handsy. His hands moved down even more and ran along Jillian's pantyhose covered thighs, exposed by her hiked up skirt. He squeezed and rubbed, lost in his own little world, looking like he was enjoying himself quite a bit.

  “I-I still don’t believe you,” Lina said eventually, but the way her thighs were clamped together Jillian had suspicions about her continued refusal.

  “Are… are you getting turned on watching me and Jason make out?” she asked, suddenly making Lina’s head snap back to the pair on the couch.

  “W-w-what , no of c-course not!” She said, quickly denying the accusation.

  “Mmmhmm,” the redhead said doubtfully with a devilish grin.

  “Okay then, I don’t suppose you mind if we continue. I know we are happy to prove it in any way we have to.”

  “We are?” Jason said, a bit confused. He wasn’t all that pleased with doing all this in front of Lina, wishing she would have just taken his word and left.

  Jillian stared back at him with a look that screamed for him to play along.

  “Yes, we are.” she prodded

  Another quiet sigh escaped Jason before he nodded, “That’s right, I will do anything to prove it.”

  Before the man could finish speaking, Jillian was already yanking up his tank top to expose his chest.

  “Hey!” he exclaimed, protesting as she started running her fingers through his thick, dark chest hair. She bit her lip as she stared down at the trail that cascaded down the middle of his muscled chest and abs.

  Lina was staring hard at the scene before her. Jason shirtless in photos was no comparison to the real thing. Along with the stern half smile he wore while glaring at Jillian, these were the things Lina’s dreams were made of. Yet, in her dreams, she was the one getting those looks or sitting on his lap. Yet she still felt a strange, powerful warmth building up just below her tummy.

  “W-what is happening?” her thoughts raced.

  Lina suddenly realized something at that moment, even though it was Jillian, not her, who was physically doing everything with Jason. Seeing the couple whisper to each other and share these intimate moments… They made her feel good. Like, really good. Just because she wasn’t the one getting the affection directly didn’t mean she couldn’t be happy or get pleasure, apparently.

  “I don’t get your fascination with my chest hair,” Jason said with a huff.

  “What can I say? I'm an old-fashioned girl. I like my men hairy,” Jillian returned with a giggle.

  While the pair bantered a bit, lost in their own world. Lina’s heart thudded in her chest. Everything was becoming so clear. It wasn’t physically Jason she was truly after. It was the strange, overwhelming desire to see him happy. When they met at that party, he was so depressed, so lonely, and angry at the world. She thought she could be the one to fix him. Even in his texts, he never showed even an ounce of the happiness she was seeing here today. In the two years she knew him, she failed to do what Jillian had accomplished in a week. Watching them lean in for another passionate kiss, she felt a warmth swell in both her heart and loins.

  “Great, now I’m the pervert,” she grumbled in her thoughts.

  “Maybe we should give her an even more convincing show.” Jillian’s evil grin returned as her hand trailed down and teased a finger along the waistband of Jason’s shorts. She felt his cock twitch under her ass, making her giggle slightly.

  “I don’t think…” Jason started but was cut off.

  “I believe you!” Lina’s voice suddenly shouted loudly, making both of them look towards her.

  “Huh?” Jillian said as they saw the young woman standing up from the recliner, now staring at them with a bright blush burning hot on her face.

  “You believe us?” Jason said in surprise.

  Lina nodded, her eyes darting to and from the pair.

  “Yes…”

  “Oh… well, that’s… great,” he said before looking back at Jillian, who shrugged and slid off the side of his lap, resting her back against the arm of the couch. She kept her legs across his lap to hide the bulge in Jason’s shorts. He was eternally grateful for her quick thinking. Really she just didn't want to give Lina the satisfaction of getting to see even the outline of his dick. Jillian never figured she was the jealous type, so she was learning something new about herself as well.

  “I do have one request. I would appreciate it if you two would at least hear me out,” Lina said, lowering her head slightly in shyness, though her thighs were still clamped together.

  Jillian and Jason looked at each other, silently communicating for a moment.

  Eventually, Jillian let out a sigh and nodded, “Fine, we'll hear you out, but there is no guarantee either of us will agree. Not after all the shit you pulled.” Her tone was firm, and Jason nodded with a slight wince as Jillian started teasing his erection with her calves, making it rather hard for him to focus.

  “Thank you, that’s all I ask,” Lina said, looking back at them with a soft smile.

  “Well, let's hear it then.” Jillian snapped, making Lina jump slightly.

  “Oh right, umm, well, I was just wondering… I know I can’t be Jason’s partner anymore. But… I w-would really appreciate it if… well,” she started to stammer.

  All sense of the calm, savvy young woman who boldly walked into the home was gone. All that was left was a stuttering mess of nerves and arousal. Jillian was almost certain she knew what Lina was going to ask and was ready to deny it right away.

  “I ain’t sharing, bitch, so don’t even-”

  “Please, let me be your friend!” Lina blurted out, completely blindsiding Jillian.

  “What?! Friend? You mean friends with benefits?” Lina looked a little confused by this but thankfully explained what she meant.

  “Umm, I guess. I mean, I would really like it if we all stayed in touch, not just with Jason, but with both of you. In return, I will keep supplying Jason with all the services and perks he’s been getting.”

  There was a long silence after Lina spoke, but eventually, Jillian spoke up again.

  “You want to be friends with me as well? Even after all of this shit?” She wasn’t exactly making a good case for it, but Jillian wasn’t sure she wanted the brat as a friend.

  “Yes, mam, I know you were just trying to defend your relationship. I'm sorry…I just thought I could…” Lina paused, giving Jason an opportunity to jump in.

  “Hold on just a second. Services... perks? I don’t think I’d label your calls and texts as perks,” Jason said, sounding a bit annoyed.

  Lina frowned deeply. “Umm, well, Jason, I’ve been covering your personal shopper, clothes, and most of your rent. Do you remember when you first moved in? The realtor should have told you your rent was being subsidized,” she explained calmly.

  Jason looked utterly baffled. “I... I thought that was some company program set up for the managers,” he admitted, now realizing how stupid it all sounded.

  “Of course, it all makes sense now! That’s how you were able to afford all that stuff!” Jillian chimed in, finally understanding how Jason was living so lavishly without the salary to back it up.

  “Oh… umm, well then, how much is my actual rent?” Jason asked, looking like he was about to be sick. Lina flashed him a sweet smile.

  “You live right smack dab in the middle of downtown in a big, 3-bed, 3-bath high-rise all by your lonesome. It’s meant for three people to share, all more or less, at your salary. I didn’t want you to feel like I was babying you, so I let you cover a portion that was sustainable for you.” Jason just stared at her like he was looking at a ghost.

  “I, uhh… I can eventually start to pay you back. Just let me look around for-.” Lina raised a hand to stop Jason mid-sentence and shook her head gently.

  “Your rent’s already covered for the year, and I don’t want you to pay me back. I'm the one that wanted to do it…But, if you don’t want to take me up on the offer…” Lina frowned slightly at the thought. “You can stay there until you find somewhere else. I promise I’m not some kind of monster. I want you to be happy… and I can see being with her makes you happy,” she said meekly but spoke honestly. Her hands came together, and her fingers entwined as it sat in her lap, still looking rather nervous.

  Needless to say, Jillian no longer needed to hide Jason’s erection. It had faded at record speed once the talk about his rent started.