Mia Darien - Good Things

Slowly, almost reluctantly, Alex reached for the shampoo and began washing her hair. It was not unusual to see mud streaks pouring into the tub anymore. Working for an environmental firm in Louisiana wasn’t what she thought it would be. Remediation was not what she had in mind when she studied environmental sciences, nor was walking through swampy lands trying to get water and soil samples to measure for contamination. One of the few perks of her job was the solitude. They had tried giving her a partner on more than one occasion, but they didn’t last.

It was unnerving for people when Alex could tell them what they were thinking before they said anything. She had been called a freak, or worse, but no one could argue with her work ethic, or the quality of that work. Not many people wanted to put on hip-waders and walk through the marshes where snakes, alligators, and other not-so-friendly beasties lived, but Alex didn’t mind.

The marshes and swamps of southeastern Louisiana were not hospitable unless you knew how to respect the land. Alex was a city girl, but in a short time, she had come to respect the wilds that made up her field area. The solitude her work afforded her gave her time to think...about past choices, past mistakes. Sometimes, though, getting too into your own head had its own issues.

The shrill tone of a cell phone pulled her from her silent contemplation just as she washed the last of conditioner and soap off her body. With a breathy curse, she turned the water off then stepped out, grabbing her towel and phone simultaneously. The caller ID made her frown as she hit answer and put it on speaker. “Alex here.”

“Alex, it’s Jesse. I’m in the neighborhood. Can I come up?”

Alex frowned as she started to dry off, and stared at the phone. “I don’t know, Jesse. I’ve had a long, hard day in the field...” Being in the neighborhood meant Jesse had made an effort to stop by, given that Alex didn’t live anywhere near the more populated parts of New Orleans. It wasn’t that she was antisocial, she was just social on her own terms.

“As if being tired ever stopped you from having a beer with friends before,” Jesse replied.

To this, Alex arched a brow and stared long and hard at the phone for several tense seconds. “Grab a six pack and come on over, then.” Truth be told, when her and Jesse were together, she never said no to a beer after work. Even the hardest, hottest days in the field wouldn’t keep her from enjoying a drink or two.

“Already got one. See you in five.” Alex thought she could hear the smirk in Jesse’s voice.

The line went dead. “Shit.” Alex finished drying off and walked naked from the bath to her bedroom closet. So much for PJs. No way she was going to look like an absolute slug for her ex. Instead, she opted for jeans and a simple black t-shirt.

Fortunately, Alex was not much of a slob, and the small house was passably clean, aside from the odd dish or two in the sink that she hadn’t gotten around to putting in the dishwasher. She poured herself a glass of water and downed it before Jess arrived, knowing she needed to hydrate after a day out in the marsh. As she finished refilling the water jug, she heard the knock at the door. About the same time as the knock, Alex felt the familiar presence of Jesse’s hyperactive mind encroaching on her.

Alex had long ago discovered her ability to sense other people’s thoughts and feelings. She struggled to find a way to keep others ‘out’ so she didn’t lose herself, though it felt like a losing battle. There was a reason she preferred to work and live alone, with few other souls near by. Her home was her sanctuary, and it took a lot for her to trust someone enough to let them in. Jesse was one of the few.

Before opening the door, Alex took a centering breath. Jesse and Alex were often like oil and water. Their passion had burned bright when they first got together, but both could be stubborn and neither liked to lose an argument. It made communication hard, despite Alex’s unique gift, and the pair had never quite figured out how to make it work. Alex still regretted that they hadn’t found common ground, because a part of her still very much loved Jesse, and letting go had been...a challenge.

Not quite smiling when she opened the door, Alex turned her brown-eyed gaze to Jesse, not expecting those alluring blue eyes to still give her the same pause as when they met. Since separating, the two had tried to maintain a friendship, though, admittedly, Jesse tried harder. It didn’t help that Jesse had since started seeing their mutual friend Jim. Alex did try to take some solace in the fact that Jim seemed to make her happy, happier than she’d ever been when she’d been with Alex.

Jim also kept reaching out to Alex, and she found it hard to turn her back on either of them, even though it stung a bit to see the pair together. She had a feeling that the two would eventually marry. While part of her was happy in that knowledge, another part of her felt...lonely. She did her best to smile at her ex, and stepped aside to let the woman in. “Do I dare ask why you were in the neighborhood? It’s not like I’m a hop, skip, and a jump away from any part of the city.”

Jesse just grinned goofily as she sat on the couch and slid the six pack closer to Alex. “Okay, so I went out of my way to stop by. Sue me! I needed to tell you, and this isn’t news to share over the phone. I’ve been out looking at venues.”

Sitting on the opposite end of the couch, Alex took one of the bottles and twisted the top off before taking a big pull of beer. She arched a brow as she looked back to Jesse. “Venues for what?” She did her best to keep from reading her ex, but in her soul, she knew what was coming.

Her ex’s grin grew wider as she held out her left hand. Sitting on the ring finger was a massive sapphire surrounded by two smaller diamonds. “Jim proposed last week!”

Alex felt herself grin while she also felt her heart slam into her throat. Part of her was happy that her ex had found happiness with Jim, but deep down? It stung. The grin was partly real, and partly forced. Jesse had no idea how much of an effect she still had on Alex. She looked at the ring before meeting those blue eyes once again. “Congratulations, Jesse... Wait, did you say last week?”

“I did!” Jesse exclaimed. “We decided to keep it secret, only telling our parents. We also wanted to tell you the news in person before announcing it publicly. I figured it was the least we could do,” she explained.

At least they had taken her feelings into account to some degree. The grin became a wry smile. “I appreciate it, but it wasn’t necessary, Jesse. You know I’m happy for you two...happy that Jim brings you such joy.” She also knew Jesse still cared for her, not just because she could sense it, but from what she said. She did her best to focus on the happy feelings, but it was easier said than done.

“I know, but... Look, Alex, I’m not stupid, you know? I know you still have feelings for me, okay? I still care about you, and love you...just not as a partner. I drove you nuts, right?” She smirked knowingly.

“Only as nuts as I drove you,” Alex replied. Jesse didn’t know the full extent of Alex’s gift, but she knew her ex had an uncanny ability to know what she was thinking. She never did put two and two together. “So...if you are looking at venues, does that mean you’re hoping to have the ceremony sooner rather than later?”

Jesse nodded. “Yeah. I think we’re going to see about having it in Audubon Park, and the reception at night at the zoo. I was thinking about holding it in Jackson Square, but it’s too...busy.”

If it had been in Jackson Square, Alex would have politely been able to decline the invitation. Jesse knew she didn’t like crowds, but with it in Audubon Park? There would be no easy way to refuse. “The park would be lovely, and the zoo at night... That’s got to be expensive?” Alex asked. She knew neither of them were wealthy.