Daniel released a heavy breath, straightening his shirt before he approached the woman at the desk — so engrossed in her work that she didn't see him approach.

      "Hello," he was already smiling when the woman lifted her head.

      "Hi," came the enthusiastic reply. "How may I help you, sir?" the timid blonde asked, her eyes a bright blue with a smile matching it's warmth.

     "Is your boss in?" he asked in anticipation for a reply.

     "He is. Do you have an appointment?" the secretary asked.

Daniel scratched his head. "No, I'm afraid not," he made a face.

    "You have to—"

     "Just tell him it's Daniel, will you....please."

She nodded stiffly before pressing the intercom to inform her 'boss' of the unexpected visit.

She smiled up at him after ending the conversation. "You may go in."

Daniel smiled charmingly. "Thank you."

________________________

Finally developing the courage to visit Faith, Jason did so two days after his meet up with Kaylyn to personally analyze the situation. He paused at the door before he knocked, contemplating on whether or not he was doing the right thing. If Kaylyn was right, he would be happy to stare his friend straight, but if she was wrong, Jason knew it would all blow up in his face.

He huffed out a breath and knocked, hearing a distant, "coming," from inside.

Jason sighed hearing Faith's voice, suddenly feeling like a school boy on quest to ask his crush for a prom date.

     When the door burst open, Jason smiled seeing her. "Hey."

     "Hi, what brings you here? Come in," she said while moving to the side to allow him entry.

       "Um, I was just in the neighborhood and decided to stop by," he replied flatly.

    Faith scoffed. "People still say that?" she made a face which accompanied a laugh.

Jason scratched his head. "You've caught me. Actually, I came to talk to you."

Faith's brows knitted. "What about?"

Jason glanced about the room. "Is Daniel here?"

      "Nope, I'm all yours," she winked, Jason's stomach knotted. "What's this about?"

Not knowing where to start or how to start the conversation, Jason's gaze drifted towards the kitchen.

      "Have any beer?"

Faith eyed him curiously. "Yeah, are you OK?" she asked while moving to the kitchen with Jason behind.

     "Yeah...yeah, I er— I just need to talk to you is all," he said, sitting behind the counter.

Faith took two beers before she closed the refrigerator. "Jason what's going on?"

He released a lengthy sigh. "Let's take a seat," and with that, they both took a seat on the sofa.

     "OK, so what's up? You're scaring me with your awkwardness."

Jason smiled briefly. "Kaylyn and I had a discussion earlier..." He began hesitatingly, maintaining eye contact with Faith whose brows knitted at the statement.

    "About what?" she asked, curiosity marring her features.

    "She thinks Daniel is up to something," Jason blurted.

Faith shook her head and scoffed, slightly withdrawing herself from his presence.

      "And what do you think?" she firmly asked, her gaze unwavering.

Jason moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue. "I – I haven't seen much to come to a solid conclusion Faith, but I've got to admit that there's something that doesn't sit well with me where he's concerned."

     "So you and Kaylyn don't like him, it doesn't mean he's out to hurt me!" she hissed, her body warming up with the heat of their conversation.

     "I didn't say he is —" Jason tried to defend before Faith cut him off.

      "You didn't have to," she snapped. "Where is this coming from Jase?"

    "I just want to know if you're sure," Jason blurted firmly.

Faith paused, eyes wide while staring him down. She so much wanted to produce a reply that would leave Jason speechless, but  she found her heart wasn't as eager to go beyond what it felt. She swallowed hard as she looked at Jason, words frozen at her throat, unable to give her lips the privilege of speech.

Her eyes felt teary by her own hesitance, her silence the magnitude of truth she feared. Feeling conflicted and utterly befuddled by her behavior, Faith allowed the awaiting tear to slip from her burning eyes.

      "I..." she breathed in to fill her lungs. "I don't know," she croaked.

Jason reached for her hands to give it a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, it's OK."

She shook her head at his words she found no truth it. "How can you say that? Can't you see how bad this is, Jase?"

    "Faith, listen to me —"

     She sniffed. "At this point in my life, I shouldn't be having doubts," she huffed out a breath. "I should be madly in love and getting ready for my baby," she announced with a dry, mirthless chuckle.

   "You can still have that," Jason consoled.

She rose from her seat to pace the room because she knew it would give her a chance to think.

She stopped to look at him. "What happened?" she asked. "Weeks ago I was madly in love with him, Jase. I couldn't see anyone else — there was no one else at the time," she exclaimed with gaze hooked on him.

They both partook in companionable silence for a moment, Jason not particularly knowing how to formulate a fitting reply for Faith's earlier words.
       He timidly approached with small strides and when he was standing in front of her, he reached for her hands once more whilst maintaining eye contact with the glossy blueness of her irises. He slowly rose his free hand to her cheek, using his thumb to wipe the tears from the smoothness of her skin.

    Faith closed her eyes at the small gesture, enjoying the feel of his gentle caress. "Jase.. " the word came out a half whisper.

He brought his forehead down to meet hers, gaze firm. "I didn't know how to tell you this, but I — I..."

   Faith swallowed. "What?"

    "I think I might be in love with you," he softly said then shook his head. "In fact, there's no doubt; I know," his heart fluttered at his confession while Faith froze.

    "W— what?" she finally asked when the rhythm of her heart seemed to normalize.

She was taken aback and captivated by his words, but at the same time shock was the dominant feeling. Her head swirled and her heart joined in the merry go round of confusion, leaving her slightly giddy. Jason reached for her in order to steady her stance.

     "Don't," she expelled almost breathlessly. "Why are you telling me this? After all this time, why are you telling me now?!" she exclaimed in mortification while glowering at him.

    "Faith..."

     "You had weeks, months, even years and you didn't say shit, but now that I've moved on — ready to start something new, you hit me with this?" she cried.

Jason swallowed the tight lump in the back of his throat. "Faith, I —"

     "I need you to leave," she said between clenched teeth, diverting her gaze from him.

    Jason rooted his stance and ground his teeth, determined to make his declarations clear. "I didn't realize how much I cared about you, until a few weeks ago," he began firmly, while moving towards her. "I battled with those feelings because I didn't want to ruin things for you,I didn't want to ruin our friendship and I was afraid you might not feel the same..."

     "And I don't," she croaked, hating the way she sounded, hating the fact that she had to lie to them both.

   Jason held her shoulders. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't share the same sentiments," he demanded with gaze planted on her downcast eyes. His heart hammered with both anticipation and fear, but it soared from the prospect of possible mutuality.

Faith sniffed wondering if the truth would ruin everything, but with Jason's hands on her, his gaze begging for the truth, she had no choice. Her heart ached sweetly.

Looking up, she met his anticipated gaze. "Lilly might get pregnant," the sudden reminder left her stiff.

Remaining cool, Jason nodded, a surge of relief filling him up, despite her words. Without saying what he wanted to hear, he was educated on what he wanted to know.

     "We'll work this out," he reassured, hands moving to her face where he cupped the exquisite lining of her cheekbone.

    Slowly, he lowered his head to meet hers, their lips touching the softness of each other, feeling the warmth that exuded from both before their lips parted and welcomed the honeyed heat of their tongue.
     A fiery ripple swept through Faith's body, igniting and pooling heatedly in her stomach. She could hardly think; only feel. Their tongues slowly, yet passionately danced with each other in the most amazingly satisfying caress, the velvet warmth of his mouth covering hers in a needy exploration of lips. Faith felt his strong hands encircling her waist, she could smell the clean scent of his skin filling her lungs. Immediately, a heady sensation claimed her senses and she tried to pull herself out of it. Out of his hold. But she found, she couldn't.

     Jason slightly tilted his head to excuse the awkwardness of noses, before he pulled Faith closer, her body firmly planted on the muscular broadness of his frame. He sought further sweetness than that her lips were providing, his body yearning for her touch. Slightly withdrawing, he brought his mouth to her full lips, capturing the bottom one with his teeth, gently nipping it before he explored the feel and taste of her mouth again.

Faith released a satisfying moan before she brought her mouth from his, looking up into his darkened eyes.

      "What are we doing, Jase?" she asked, mind reeling.

      "What we should have done a long time ago," he replied, eyes leaving her eyes to linger on lips he wanted to taste again.

  She tried to move, but Jason held her. "This shouldn't be happening.."

     "Faith..."

      "Jason, we can be nothing else but friends right now. It's too late for us to be more than that," she whispered, not meeting his gaze.

     "Surely you don't believe that" Jason reproved.

     "I do," she said with a sniff.

She sighed lengthily. "I just wished this happened earlier, you know."

        "Me too, but it's happening now," he searched her face.

     "And it can't.. I'm sorry."

With thoughts flying frantically around in his head, Jason gently reached for her and used his index finger to lift her chin.

He smiled sadly. "If that's what you want, then who am I to say otherwise. I—"

    "Fai— Whats going on here?!" An angry voice blasted which had both Jason and Faith quickly withdrawing from each other.

She gasped when she saw a fuming Daniel.

________________________

Author's note:

Well then.... ☕🐸
Any thoughts? Let me know what you think of this chapter!

Who is this 'boss' that Daniel met up with?
Do you think Jason did the right thing by confessing his feelings?
What do you think of Faith's reaction?
And... The kiss *wiggles brows*

Until next time...
I have tea for everyone! 😂