Chapter 343

Jonathan slowly straightened up and opened his eyes. Instead of getting out, he leaned over Teresa, lowered the seat, and pressed her down beneath him.

“What are you doing?” Teresa asked.

She struggled, but Jonathan grabbed her wrist, brushed her cheek, and bit her neck. “Come on, just one more time,” he mumbled, “like the time we got divorced.”

“No, get off me,” Teresa said, worried he might accidentally hit her stomach.

“Just one more time, please,” Jonathan pleaded, his voice low and slurred from the alcohol, ringing in her ears. “That night in Harrisburg, I was drunk and you had sex with me. Just one more time, okay? I’m really leaving this time.”

“It’s different now,” Teresa said. “You’re drunk. I’m not. We can’t keep doing this.”

She tried to break free but failed, feeling his breath as his hand slipped easily under her thin summer shirt. He always knew how to turn her on. Just as things were about to go too far, Teresa grabbed his restless hand, her breath a little ragged.

“Next time,” she said. “I’m not doing it with a drunk man.”

“When’s next time?” Jonathan asked.

“When you’re sober,” Teresa replied offhandedly, knowing he’d forget all about this by morning.

“Alright,” he said, finally releasing her.

As soon as he got out of the car, Teresa reversed and sped off, catching a glimpse of him opening the door in her rearview mirror.

After a moment’s thought, she texted Donald: “[Your cousin’s drunk. He’s at Jadeleaf Apartment.]” She didn’t bother saying anything else; she knew Donald wouldn’t just leave Jonathan there.

But a second later, Donald called. Teresa answered, but heard Jennifer’s voice instead.

“Teresa, are you with Jonathan again?” Jennifer asked. “Why are you being so reckless? He already said if you went back to Nareigh, he wouldn’t bother you anymore.”

“Hannah, are you reading his messages again?” Teresa asked. “Even though he’s your boyfriend, this is too much.”

“He doesn’t care if I read his messages,” Jennifer retorted. “If a man really loves you, he won’t keep secrets from you.”

“Secrets and privacy are different,” Teresa said, knowing Hannah was a pro at this. She didn’t want to argue. “You two are asking for it. I’ve got nothing to say about it anyway. But I’m not like you. I’m not going to spoil him the way he does.”

Teresa hung up and noticed a new voice message from Miriam.

“[Teresa, Eddie and I are thinking about staying at a hotel tonight. He says he misses me! How about this? The two of us go back and Eddie stays at your place.]”

Young couples were always together; Teresa understood. Miriam and Eddie had only been dating a couple of months and were still in the honeymoon phase.

Teresa sent a voice message: “[Miriam, I’m heading home. Let’s not have Eddie come over.]”

Miriam replied: “[Alright. Wait for me! I’ll be back tomorrow. Gotta run!]”

After arriving home, Teresa called Benny. He was always reliable.

“I dropped off the lucky sachet you gave me at Jonathan’s place,” Benny said. “He’s asleep on the couch, so I’ll move him to his bed in a bit.”

“Okay, take care of him,” Teresa replied.

“Oh, by the way,” Benny asked, “when are you two heading back to Nareigh? I really need to get going. I’ve got a ton of things waiting for me. Why don’t I take Michael with me? I can drive him back to Nareigh.”

“Why would I trust him to you?” Teresa asked.

Benny laughed. “Come on, a single woman taking care of a little boy who’s not even your own? It’s awkward sometimes, right? – when he needs a bath or something like that. Just let me take care of him. I promise I’ll take good care of him.”

Teresa knew exactly what Benny was up to. But if she turned him down immediately, he would definitely become even more suspicious.