Page 16 of Deeply Examined

“What do you think?” I ask her. “Why would he send me something like that?”

“It’s obvious,” she says. “You’re going to get laid, and he wants it to be somewhere comfy. Not that crusty old mattress you usually sleep on.”

“He doesn’t even know what kind of bed I have.”

I climb the steps of the city bus, tucking my phone between my shoulder and ear as I wave to the driver.

“Morning, Mikey.”

His weathered face lights up, deep laugh lines crinkling around his eyes. He’s been driving this route for as long as I’ve been taking it, five years now. Long enough for our daily greetings to feel like habit. For him to become a friend.

I slip a small paper bag into his hand as I pass.

“Sesame, extra cream cheese,” I murmur. “Figured you might be hungry.”

His grin widens. “You’re an angel, Jess. You know that?”

I smile, covering the microphone on my phone, “Don’t tell anyone. It’ll ruin my reputation.”

He chuckles, already unwrapping his bagel, and I make my way to my usual seat next to Julie, who also teaches at my school. We’ve arranged our schedules to ride together. It’s more fun this way…and safer. Public transportation in this neighborhood is always a little dicey.

“Hey,” I whisper to Julie. “Just give me a minute.”

She nods, smiles.

Monica continues talking. “Who knows? Maybe he’s been spying on you. Either way, I wouldn’t complain. If a gorgeous doctor wanted to give me stuff, I’d take it happily.”

“Iamhappy, just kind of confused.”

“Well, you can ask him about it tonight.” I hear the ding of an elevator through the phone. Monica’s law firm is in a high-rise building downtown.

“I will.” A thrill runs through me at her words, anticipation at the thought of seeinghim. “Tonight.”

Chapter five

Adam

I shift nervously as I listen to the chime of Jessica’s doorbell echo somewhere in her apartment. It’s fall, the air crisp enough that I pull my jacket tight and shove my hands into my pockets. There’s the sound of rushing footsteps and the rattle of chains as she unlocks her front door. I glance around one last time before she opens it, scowling. I don’t like where she lives, not one bit. It’s a run-down neighborhood. Not quite a slum, but the kind of place that will turn into one within the next decade. There’s graffiti on the dumpster across the street, next to a neon-lit convenience store. The concrete steps that lead up to her place are chipped and stained.

It’s all so disgustingly familiar. I used to live down the road in a shithole just like this one.

Bright light shines out when she swings the door open, making me squint. I blink against the glare and see her standing there, with the glow outlining her. It highlights her hair, lighting it up like a damn halo.

“Hi,” she breathes out, smiling up at me.

Something pulls in my chest, sharp and fast. An answering grin lifts one corner of my mouth before I can stop it. I attempt to straighten my features. I’ve thought about it a lot and decided to keep my walls up this evening. She seems to enjoy the commanding doctor persona, and I like the distance that it places between us. The last thing I need is to fall for Jessica Jones.

Screw her, yes.

Love her, no.

My life is carefully organized. Everything in nice little compartments. I don’t need her disrupting it more than she already has.

Without greeting her back, I push into the small living room of her apartment. My mood darkens even further when I see the threadbare carpet, worn couch, and tiny TV. Are those actual rabbit ears on her TV? Like the twin antennas that people used in the 1980s to get reception. Does she not even have cable, for god’s sake?

I toss my brown leather satchel onto a chair near the door, followed by my jacket, then turn to her. I’m not sure what my expression reads, but it must be bad because Jessica takes a step back and raises her hands as if to ward me off.

“Are you okay?” she asks warily.

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