Noah paced inside his room. Jess kicked him out of her bedroom and it was understandable, after what happened. She said they will pick up the talk they had after getting some sleep. And maybe let their emotions settle down.
But it worries him. There is no way he can sleep. And it scared the hell out of him that Jess sounded so rational. She was clearly hurt and disappointed with him but she told him she loves him. And she didn't cry. Women who don't cry in the middle of a fight are scary.
He ran his fingers on his hair and pulled them in frustration. He wanted to punch himself. How could he do it? What was he thinking that it's going to be okay to install a program in her computer to spy on what she was doing. Why in the world did he ever think that Jess will be just like Nicole.
He had no answer and he couldn't do anything but pace his bedroom, waiting for the night to be over while he cursed himself to death.
He was sitting on the edge of his bed, his hands cupping his face when the stillness of the room was broken with the shrill familiar song, used as a special ringtone for the two women of her life.
Jess won't be calling her. It must be Lucille. Remembering that his daughter was on her way home. The heaviness of his heart somehow eased a little. He got up and picked up his phone that was laying on the bedside table.
"Schatz," he smiled at the small screen of his phone.
"Daddy, why are you getting uglier every time I call you?" She pursed her small lips and furrowed her eyebrows on him so that he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sorry, Daddy messed up big time, Princess."
She tilted her head sideways as if trying to understand what he was talking about.
"How was your trip?" He could see in the background that Lucille was already inside her bedroom in his apartment in Palo Alto. He was glad to see that she arrived safely. He has forgotten to check if Jin or Soraya sent an update because he was busy with Jess.
"It was fun. Riding an airplane that isn't ours was just as fun. The beautiful flight attendant was very kind."
"Miss Amara would be sad to hear you say that."
She chuckled. "Don't tell her, daddy."
"I won't if you won't." He could see the excitement of her trip was still in Lucille's eyes but it was also mixed with tiredness. He was still observing her daughter's face when she suddenly put her face so close that all he could see on the screen was her nose, as she whispered, "Where is Little Miss Jessie?"
He chuckled wryly at his daughter's unexpected question. "She's in her room. Probably sleeping now."
Lucille pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. "I want to talk to her."
"Tomorrow you can," he promised her. "Now, be the good girl that you are and take a nap. You look tired."
"You look ugly," she retorted. Stuck her tongue at him and ended the phone call.
He laughed, shaking his head. And a sudden thought occurred to him. Jess will still talk to Lucille even when she's mad at him, is she? He couldn't help but wonder. Jess won't give Lucille the cold shoulder just because she's mad at him.
The thought was on his head as he made his way to the bathroom to do something about his ugliness.
Morning came and he dragged his sleep-deprived ass to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and washed his face, changed into some fresh clothes, and went out of his bedroom.
He sent a message to Aadir to tell him that he wanted to be the one to bring Miss Zimmerman's breakfast to her room. Jess said they can talk after sleeping over their problem. He wanted to talk now. He wouldn't want to return home with this problem still hanging over them.
Aadir was already standing outside Jess's bedroom with a silver trolley parked next to him. He bowed and greeted him good morning when he approached him.
"You can leave now, Aadir. Thank you." He knocked softly on Jess's door and didn't wait for her response. He twisted the door and was surprised to find it locked. "Do you have the key?" he whispered to Aadir who thankfully hasn't left yet.
Aadir shook his head. He was about to open his mouth when they heard Jess's voice inside the room.
"Who's there?"
He cocked his head and prompted Aadir to answer. Glad to know that he was fast to catch up.
"Your breakfast is here, Miss Zimmerman," he answered in a loud voice, enough to hear her clearly.
"For a moment."
When Noah heard Jess's reply, he nodded to Aadir, urging him to leave.
Aadir reluctantly stepped away from Jess's bedroom door and walked away. Noah was left standing in front of her door.
"Good morning. Breakfast?" He smiled widely when Jess opened her door.
She quietly stared at him then peeked her head in the hallway. "Where's Aadir?"
"I told him to go." He pushed the trolley, making sure that Jess won't close the door. But to his surprise, she opened the door wider, letting him in.
Since last night, he was truly baffled by her actions. She doesn't act like she is angry at him at all. Hence, his worries double. He doesn't know how to approach her since she's not doing what he was expecting from her.
"You may take it to the balcony. I will just wash up." She said, closing the door behind him and turning on her heels to go to the bathroom.
Noah was left puzzled. Following her with his gaze until she closed the bathroom door behind her. He pushed the trolley to the balcony and waited for her.
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