It's not right, but it also isn't completely unfounded. His paranoia actually is grounded in reality.
OK, going back into hiding 😂😶🌫️
most of this is amplified by the fact that Jai never forgot that moment where Matthew pretty much told him he would shoot his shot with Cordie if circumstances allowed. He never forgot that and it nags at him every time he sees them together
It's not right, but it also isn't completely unfounded. His paranoia actually is grounded in reality.
OK, going back into hiding 😂😶🌫️
That smile on Matthew's face, Jai knew he was baiting him.
"No, not at all. I guess I owe you one, don't I?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm a charitable guy."
Jai gritted his teeth. "Right. Thank you. I appreciate it, but let me know, I'd love to pay you back."
"I'll keep that in mind." Matthew tipped his chin at her, but Jai knew better than to give him a reaction. He wouldn't break his promise to Cordelia.
"I'll keep that in mind." Matthew tipped his chin at her, but Jai knew better than to give him a reaction. He wouldn't break his promise to Cordelia.
That smile on Matthew's face, Jai knew he was baiting him.
"No, not at all. I guess I owe you one, don't I?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm a charitable guy."
Jai gritted his teeth. "Right. Thank you. I appreciate it, but let me know, I'd love to pay you back."
That smile on Matthew's face, Jai knew he was baiting him.
"No, not at all. I guess I owe you one, don't I?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm a charitable guy."
Jai gritted his teeth. "Right. Thank you. I appreciate it, but let me know, I'd love to pay you back."
"Right. I guess I got greedy." He didn't let on his disappointment he couldn't steal more kisses. "We should get back to the table and check in with Camille and close out our bill, right?"
"No need." Matthew broke back in.
"Right. I guess I got greedy." He didn't let on his disappointment he couldn't steal more kisses. "We should get back to the table and check in with Camille and close out our bill, right?"
"No need." Matthew broke back in.
"What?"
"One more kiss for the road."
"Jai—" Cordie started still giggling until Jai stopped them with his lips. The world didn't quite fall away this time with her very aware of Matthew standing right there. She pushed against him.
"What?"
"One more kiss for the road."
"Jai—" Cordie started still giggling until Jai stopped them with his lips. The world didn't quite fall away this time with her very aware of Matthew standing right there. She pushed against him.
"I'm a man of my word." Jai reassured her.
"I'm a man of my word." Jai reassured her.
"Leave?" Cordelia instantly regained her senses and reclaimed her surroundings. "No, don't." It came out in a giggle as Jai teased her sides.
"Leave?" Cordelia instantly regained her senses and reclaimed her surroundings. "No, don't." It came out in a giggle as Jai teased her sides.
For a second time today he had become party to their passion and there was no amount of clenching, writhing, or bristling that could assuage him of that ache.
For a second time today he had become party to their passion and there was no amount of clenching, writhing, or bristling that could assuage him of that ache.
This time she was the one to move quickly. Instead of surprise, Jai welcomed her in with excitement
This time she was the one to move quickly. Instead of surprise, Jai welcomed her in with excitement
"I know I said one," Jai whispered in a huff, "but one more? Please?"
"I know I said one," Jai whispered in a huff, "but one more? Please?"
Once he was there, he softly let his tongue slip between her lips gliding it against hers the way he knew she liked and he felt her melt in return.
Once he was there, he softly let his tongue slip between her lips gliding it against hers the way he knew she liked and he felt her melt in return.
"OK," she gave in, "a quick kiss."
"OK," she gave in, "a quick kiss."
"Something like a kiss?"
"Right now?"
"It'll help me to commit to keeping space between me and him by giving me something else to focus on. After a kiss, it'll feel like he's not even here."
Matthew's jaw tightened. How could he ask her that? Of course she'd say no.
"Something like a kiss?"
"Right now?"
"It'll help me to commit to keeping space between me and him by giving me something else to focus on. After a kiss, it'll feel like he's not even here."
Matthew's jaw tightened. How could he ask her that? Of course she'd say no.
First he's impressive and now admirable? Don't lose it Jai, he reminded himself
"OK, I can do that. But can I ask for something too?"
First he's impressive and now admirable? Don't lose it Jai, he reminded himself
"OK, I can do that. But can I ask for something too?"
"Maybe just keep some distance between you two?"
"Maybe just keep some distance between you two?"
"Because we were fighting at the table?"
"Well, yeah. I just don't like all that." She lowered her voice. "I know we talked before about our time being Matthew-free time, but he's here now and I don't want it to be unpleasant."
"Because we were fighting at the table?"
"Well, yeah. I just don't like all that." She lowered her voice. "I know we talked before about our time being Matthew-free time, but he's here now and I don't want it to be unpleasant."
He moved right next to her and pulled her toward him. "I said, come here, silly." A hint of laughter in his voice. "Are you...OK? You looked a little pale before you left. Are you sick? What can I do?"
He moved right next to her and pulled her toward him. "I said, come here, silly." A hint of laughter in his voice. "Are you...OK? You looked a little pale before you left. Are you sick? What can I do?"
How am I doing? 👀
How am I doing? 👀
"No big deal." Matthew didn't meet his gaze and held his tongue like he promised he would.
Jai turned to Cordie. "Come here."
"No big deal." Matthew didn't meet his gaze and held his tongue like he promised he would.
Jai turned to Cordie. "Come here."
No.
He'd only lose her if he let it happen. So he just had to make sure not to let that happen.
Jai cleared his throat, which alerted Cordie to turn toward his direction.
"Jai." Surprise colored her tone. "Sorry, I must have been gone awhile. Matthew, he—"
No.
He'd only lose her if he let it happen. So he just had to make sure not to let that happen.
Jai cleared his throat, which alerted Cordie to turn toward his direction.
"Jai." Surprise colored her tone. "Sorry, I must have been gone awhile. Matthew, he—"