The Compromise

Jessica was keeping herself busy in her kitchen while James was lounging on her couch on a rare off day. He showed up late the night before after having played in Florida. She didn’t stay up for his arrival, instead was slightly startled when she felt a shift in her bed and arms encircling her frame. He felt her tense up and eased her mind when he whispered to her that it was just him. He had let himself into her condo and upon noticing that Jess didn’t fight to stay awake, stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed with her.
Now the pair was casually going about their morning, Jess baking a cake for her father’s birthday dinner they would be attending at her parents’ house, and James still fighting sleep on the couch. He was attempting to beat the second level of Super Mario Brothers on the Wii, something to do to pass the time, but sleep kept evading him. Jess’ shoulders shook with laughter when she glanced into the living room to find James sitting up with his head fallen back against the pillows of the couch. He was asleep and Mario was getting impatient on the screen.
Jess walked over to the couch, took the remote from James’ hand and powered off her Wii. She had told him to stay in bed that morning when she rose, but he insisted on wanting to spend the day with her and he wouldn’t be getting anywhere if he slept it away. Her argument was that he rarely gets a day off; he should rest and be prepared for the forthcoming homestead. She leaned over his frame and shook his shoulder gently.
“Jimmy, go back to bed baby,” Jess whispered. She felt him reach around her legs and pull her down onto his lap. She squealed as he did so and his shoulders shook with silent laughter.
“Only if you come with me,” James replied. He held her to his body. She attempted to resist, but failed and let her head fall against his shoulder.
“Let’s make a deal. When the cake is out of the oven I will come lie down with you while it cools,” Jess compromised.
“How much time left before it’s finished?” James asked.
“About ten minutes.”
“Deal,” James agreed. He let Jess climb off of his lap and proceeded to get up himself. She turned towards the kitchen and watched as James walked the hallway down towards the bedrooms. Before he entered, however, Jess’ phone rang loudly startling them both and disrupting the serene quiet of the condo.
Jess looked at the caller ID on her cell and noticed Sidney flashing across with a ridiculously large grin plastered on his face of the photo he set as his ID.
“It’s Sid,” Jess said aloud. James stopped in the doorway to her bedroom and waited to overhear what was to be said. Jess answered the call on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“I GET TO PLAY!” Was all Jess heard through the phone. She was startled by his enthusiasm and her reaction caused James to perk up. He sauntered back down the hallway towards his girlfriend to obviously eavesdrop on her conversation.
“When?” Jess finally asked.
“I get to start tomorrow!” Sid was completely giddy.
“That’s fantastic Sid! I am so happy for you!” Jess noticed the puzzled expression on James’ face and whispered to him that Sid got the go ahead to play.
“You’ll be there right? I mean you are on fall break from classes,” Sid reasoned.
“I wasn’t going to be there until Wednesday’s game, but I don’t see why I can’t make it tomorrow,” Jess said. James walked away then. He was glad to finally get the opportunity to play with Sid, but he felt a bit hurt that Jess so willingly accepted Sid’s request to be at his first game back in ten months. He closed the door behind him, deciding he didn’t want to hear anything else and climbed into bed. He turned his back away from the door and subsequently from Jess. Sleep didn’t come; rather he laid there with his eyes focusing on a collage frame of photos. Most of the photos were of the pair throughout their relationship. When things were simpler and neither got feelings of uneasiness over who the other spoke to on the phone.
Jess ignored the look that James gave her when she agreed to attend the game. She turned towards her oven which was beeping loudly indicating the cake being finished. She was cradling her phone with her ear and shoulder, and attempting to remove the two cake pans from the oven when she realized she had no way of getting into the game.
“Sid, I don’t have a ticket for tomorrow. I’m not going to be able to get one now!”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll put one at will call for you, if you don’t mind sitting with my parents.” Jess didn’t know how to respond. She hadn’t met Sid’s parents yet. She didn’t want to give them the idea that she was something more than his friend. And the crowd around them would notice someone sitting with them and suspect she was something more to Sid, not knowing she was another player’s girlfriend. But she agreed to be there and if that was where he could get her seat, then so be it.
“Yeah, I don’t mind. That works! I am so excited for you!”
“Thanks! Anyway, I need to go confirm my parents’ flight information and call the arena to secure your seats. I will see you tomorrow! We are going out after to celebrate! Tell James we are going to Seviche after the game!”
“Bye Sid,” Jess said with a giggle. She couldn’t get over how fast he was talking. He was over the moon and she was happy that she could be there for her friend.
“Bye hun,” Sid said and hung up. Jess smiled at his affectionate tone and placed her phone on the counter next to her stove. The cakes were done and cooling off. She turned the stove off and as promised went to nap with James.
She opened the closed door and was greeted by the sounds of light snoring. She climbed into bed and tried to pull James onto his back so she could see him. He wouldn’t budge.
“For a man who is snoring so loudly, you sure know when to be defensive and not move,” Jess said in a monotone voice. James gave into her tugging but continued to fake sleep. James opened one eye and looked at her. She chuckled and he quickly closed his eye. He lifted his left arm to welcome her cuddling form. She happily obliged and curled against his side.
“Is it okay if I come up tonight instead of Tuesday?” Jess asked. She felt James tense and his jaw set in a firm line. She was confused by this.
“You mean Sid doesn’t want to have a sleep over and gush over the latest Cosmo with you?” Jess sat up and moved away from James’ embrace.
“Really? Are you going to be jealous over this?”
“You couldn’t ask your boss to miss one meeting to see my first home opener with the team, but you are willing to drop everything for him!” James voice elevated.
“I couldn’t miss that meeting, you know that.” Jess could not believe he was bringing up their disagreement from over a month ago. He had been upset that she couldn’t get out of a parent association meeting to see him start with his new team. In fact she didn’t make it to a game at the CEC until the following Saturday where they lost against the Sabres.
“It just seems like you would do anything for him, but with me you fight me on everything,” James said.
“You sound like a woman, you know this right? If I had school this week I wouldn’t be going! I am free, therefore I have the time to be there.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just tired. I know this. I just I don’t know,” James struggled with getting his point across.
“James, Sid is one of my closest friends. He and I have confided in each other a lot since I’ve moved back. He didn’t have someone to lean on through all of his mess. You have to get used to it. He and I have not crossed any boundaries to make you so jealous!”
“But he has though!”James exclaimed.
“And have I reciprocated?”
“No, but what happened with keeping your distance from him?” Jess hesitated in responding. She knew she promised James she would distance herself from Sid. But as the season continued, their friendship just became that much more important. He needed her to lean on and forget about hockey and the direction his career was going. She let him in as support where she felt James fell short.
“I tried.” Jess shrugged.
“Hasn’t really worked out for you huh?” James asked sarcastically.
“James, stop.”
“No, you stop Jess. Listen to me. I am tired of feeling like I am second to him. I shouldn’t be! Between you and me I would have to say I am the one who should be more worried about this falling apart. You were feeling rejected and unwanted and insecure. You overreacted over something to the point that you moved out on me. You refused to consider that maybe you were being unreasonable. You won’t consider giving up an evening to be with me, but when he calls you go running. It’s not fair! You should be acting like that with me,” James stood up. “And maybe I should be with someone who will act the way you do when you hear from Sid.”
“That’s not fair. You and I both know we can’t be without each other. Maybe I jump at the opportunity to be with a friend to show support for him. But I do the same for you!”
“When? When was the last time you supported me for anything?”
“I moved here for you!”
“Yeah, and now you live ten minutes from your parents and an hour away from me.” James got into his night bag and pulled out a pair of sweats. He threw them on and slipped his tennis shoes on without socks.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m getting dressed. I need to get out of here.” James threw his discarded clothes and toiletries into his bag.
“What about my dad’s party?”
“This isn’t working Jess. I can’t keep feeling inadequate. I deserve to feel better about myself than you are making me.” Jess couldn’t grasp what was happening. She didn’t try to stop him. He gathered his things, kissed her forehead and headed for the door, “I love you, Jess. I hope you find some way to love me back.” He walked out of the room and out of her life.

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Hours past, Jess found herself going through the motions of the day. She pretended that things were fine between her and James at her parents’ house. She insisted that he wanted to be there, but was exhausted and sound asleep at her place. She returned home shortly after 6, grabbed her suitcase and packed her clothes as she had planned. She didn’t care what happened; she was going to Pittsburgh. She would be at the Consol cheering on the Penguins tomorrow night.

So when she climbed the few short steps to the front door of the extravagant house, she didn’t hesitate when she rang the bell. She didn’t want to barge in and alarm those inside. And when Sidney opened the door with a look of concern on his face she crumbled into his arms and simply said, “He broke up with me.”

Notes