No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

At the pool hall, Jefferson caught sight of Conrad aggressively slamming balls into pockets, a sure sign he was there to blow off some steam.

Without attempting to intervene, Jefferson picked up a cue stick and approached, "Same old. You in or not?"

Conrad ignored him, continuing his solo game until failing to pocket a ball after several attempts led him to toss his cue stick onto the table and storm out.

Seeing this, Jefferson followed, "What's got Felicia under your skin this time?"

"Keep her name out of your mouth," Conrad snapped.

Jefferson laughed. "No one else gets you this worked up. Can't handle that she's moved on?"

He always hit the nail on the head.

Conrad spun around, grabbing Jefferson by the collar, "Cut it out."

"What did I do?" Jefferson said, unfazed.

Conrad let go, biting back his actual worry of Jefferson getting too close to Felicia. Admitting that would mean acknowledging his feelings for her.

How could he not care?

Since Felicia joined the Wagner family in her teens, Conrad accepted she'd be his future wife. He never resisted the idea; instead, he took her under his wing.

After ten years, she officially became his girlfriend. She was always by his side, obedient and within reach. But now, she was drifting away, even challenging him for another guy.

It felt like he was losing something very valuable to him.

"You know exactly what you're doing," Conrad glared at Jefferson.

"Rad, you love Felicia," Jefferson pointed out plainly.

Conrad scoffed, "Love her? It's just habit, like playing pool with your left hand."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Seeing Conrad's denial, Jefferson sighed, "Then why the fuss?"

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"I'm mad because she doesn't see what's good for her. Forget it, she can do whatever she wants. I'ma done" Conrad waved dismissively, not wanting to dwell on the subject.

Jefferson didn't push further, instead opting to make some coffee. Conrad sat quietly, lost in thought, until he finally spoke, "She loves me. She wouldn't have said those things if she wasn't jealous. Just needs me to sweet-talk her."

"So sweet-talk her," Jefferson suggested, pouring him a cup of coffee.

"What? You can't pamper women too much. Do it once, and they'll expect it forever," Conrad argued.

Jefferson took a sip of his coffee, "Aren't women meant to be cherished? What else? Just for sex or bearing children?"

"That's not what I mean," Conrad protested.

"Then what?" Jefferson pressed.

Their gaze locked, Conrad struggled

to articulate his feelings

settling on, "Felicia might act up but she'll come back to me."

"Maybe," Jefferson set down his coffee cup.

We

Conrad shot him a look, "Definitely."

Jefferson's text later didn't surprise me: "You've really done it now, made Mr. Wagner take his anger out on my pool balls."

I didn't respond. Whatever Jefferson's motive for telling me, I had no interest.

Conrad was out of my life, not worth another moment of my time.

This slight drama didn't impact my work with Ernest. We continued until midnight.

Deborah was visibly exhausted, yawning endlessly.

Oddly, I wasn't tired at all, and Ernest, ever energetic, seemed like he never needed sleep.

"Felicia, you and Mr. Collins really make a good pair," Deborah mused on the way home, sparking unexpected thoughts.