Lorelei was cooking dinner when her phone rang. She had finished her string of night shifts, so dinner was more like breakfast as she made bacon and eggs. She looked at her phone, expecting it to be Jesse, but Jody's name flashed across the screen. She had not talked to her since her birthday brunch. Lorelei answered the phone and put it on speakerphone.

"Hey, girl," Jody said. "You busy tonight?"

"I was just going to watch a movie," Lorelei said.

"Lexi cancelled on me last minute," Jody said. "I'm really wanting to go out. Come with me for a drink?"

Lorelei looked down at herself. She was still wearing her pajamas because she only woke up a few hours ago. Her hair was a mess on the top of her head.

"I'll need a little bit to get ready," she said.

"That's okay!" Jody said. "I can meet you at eight. I'll text you the details."

"Great."

They said their goodbyes and Lorelei ended the call. She ate her dinner and her phone vibrated. It was a text from Jody with the name of a bar. Lorelei was relieved when she recognized the name of the bar and knew that she could dress casually.

She decided to text Jesse because she knew he would be wondering where she was tonight. She was sure that if she did not tell Jesse, he would think that she was hiding it from him.

Lorelei: I'm going out with Jody tonight.

Lorelei took the last bite of her eggs as she watched the three dots in the corner of the screen. Jesse was a fast replier. It was a change from Matthew, who would never respond.

Jesse: Why?

Lorelei rolled her eyes.

Lorelei: Because she invited me out for a drink

Jesse: Only one drink

Lorelei sighed before flipping her phone over so that the screen was down. She slid off of the stool and walked over to her bedroom. She changed into a pair of jeans and then looked around the floor for a shirt. She grabbed a couple of the T-shirts scattered around the bed. She sorted through them, and she smiled when she saw Jesse's shirt.

He had been spending many nights at Lorelei's apartment, and she would find pieces of him lying around. She was sure some of her belongings had made it to his place. Almost every night that they did not work, they were together.

Lorelei slipped on the jeans and pulled the shirt over her head. It was much too large for her, so she tucked it into the waistband of her jeans. She went into the bathroom and brushed her hair. Her hickies had faded and were barely noticeable. She had struggled the past week to try and hide them. She applied her make-up while Milo jumped on the counter and watched her.

She checked her phone before she slipped it into her back pocket. She had one more text message from Jesse.

Jesse: Lorelei, don't get drunk

She chewed on her bottom lip as she read the message. Jesse was acting the same way he did when Lorelei went to the Matrixxx. She knew that it came from a caring spot, but she thought that it was way too controlling.

Lorelei: I won't

She tucked her phone away as she stepped out of the apartment. Lorelei put her headphone in her ears and blasted her music as she walked to the bar. When she got there, she saw Jody standing outside. Her long dark hair was twisted back into a braid. She had on a dress with a floral pattern. It wasn't something she was expecting her to see Jody in, and it looked on in contrast to the tattoo of the tiger running down her arm. She had on the thin chain of a collar. She smiled when she saw Lorelei.

"Thanks for coming out," Jody said. "I hate sitting home alone at night. Mateo is out doing a shoot."

"That's alright," Lorelei said.

She followed Jody into the bar and they each took a stool. They ordered their drinks, and Lorelei was relieved when Jody did not order them a round of shots.

"So how are you and Jesse?" Jody asked.

"We're good," Lorelei said before taking a sip of her drink.

"He hasn't acted crazy yet?"

Lorelei raised a brow.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Don't take this as something coming from the guy's ex-girlfriend," Jody said. "But he can be such a possessive overbearing piece of shit."

Lorelei's eyes went wide. Jody nodded as she took a drink. Lorelei had to remind herself that this was an ex; albeit, an ex he is still friends with.

"Don't get me wrong," Jody said, seeing Lorelei's shocked expression. "I loved the guy. I always will, but he gets carried away."

"What did he do?" Lorelei asked.

"He was always wanting to know where I was," Jody said. "He would check my phone at night. He would text me all night and keep calling if I was not answering. He did not like me being around other men."

Lorelei's stomach felt like it was twisting as she listened to Jody talk. She could already tell that Jesse was doing these things, and it sounded like it was going to get worse.

"Isn't that what a Dom does?" Lorelei asked.

"God, no," Jody said. "Domination is about mutual trust and respect. It's not about controlling someone against their will."

Lorelei let out a shaky breath as her chest ached.

"Has he been doing that to you?" Jody asked.

"He hasn't been checking my phone," she said. "At least, I don't think he has."

Lorelei was unsure if Jesse knew the password to her phone. He had watched her unlock it plenty of times. She wondered if while she was sleeping he would be looking through her phone. She had nothing to hide, but the thought was unsettling.

"He has been a bit overbearing," Lorelei said. "Always telling me not to get drunk. I went to Montreal with a friend and I turned my phone off and he called me a bunch of times."

Jody snickered as she shook her head.

"I told him he'd have to change with you," she said. "I said he's going to blow it if he doesn't."

"You two talk about me?" Lorelei asked.

Jody nodded. The sweat was building up on Lorelei's palms and she wiped them on her jeans. Her eyes darted around the bar. Maybe coming wasn't the smartest idea?

"He really likes you, Lorelei," Jody said. "Anytime he's over all he does is talk about you."

"But he was possessive with you?" Lorelei asked. "I've seen him be possessive, but I thought that it wouldn't be something that would become an issue. I can't do possessive again."

"Bad experience with an ex?"

Lorelei nodded. She took a sip of her drink, trying to think of how to make sure that the conversation did not land on Matthew.

"What should I do?" Lorelei asked.

"Next time he does it set boundaries," Jody said. "Every relationship, especially one with kink, needs clear boundaries. Jesse needs to know that you don't need him controlling you."

"I think he does it with good intentions."

Jody reached out and touched Lorelei's arm. Lorelei set down her empty glass.

"Want another one?" Jody asked.

"Jesse told me only to drink one," Lorelei said.

"This is what I am talking about. You should be able to go out and have a couple of drinks with a friend."

Lorelei let out a deep breath and raked her fingers through her hair. She knew Jody was saying was right, but it was hard to hear. It was confirming all of Lorelei's suspicions.

"I know you care about him," Jody said. "So set boundaries so you can save your relationship."

"Okay," Lorelei said. "Why is he like this?"

"He has a lot of trust issues," Jody said. "His Mom really screwed him up, and me leaving him and getting into a relationship with Mateo did not help."

"What's wrong with his Mom?"

Jody waved her hand to dismiss Lorelei.

"I'll let him tell you about that," Jody said. "Let's switch the topic."

Lorelei forced a smile on her face.

"How is work?" Lorelei asked.

"It's been good," Jody said. "I still think you should join. You'd have a lot of fun. I know you say you're not good in front of the camera, but neither was I. It's all about practice."

Lorelei let out a nervous laugh as she shook her head.

"No," she said.

"Come to a shoot I have next week," Jody said. "If you see it you will know it is not that bad."

Jody stuck out her bottom lip in a pout. Lorelei knew that Jody was going to badger her about this all night if she did not agree.

"Alright," Lorelei said. "I'll go."