Page 15 of Breaking
Oliver sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "That boy needs a serious wake-up call. "
Jenna let out a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging. "He's your age."
"He is spoiled brat," Oliver finished. "And I used to like him, but he needs to be reminded that you are not his maid. No offence, but I don’t even recognise him anymore."
Jenna gave a weak smile. "He has changed."
Oliver studied her for a long moment before reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "You deserve better, Aunt Jenna. And I think it's time you start demanding it. Noone can help you but yourself."
Jenna swallowed hard, nodding. But deep down, she wasn't sure if she had the energy to fight anymore.
Chapter 13
The house was unnervingly quiet as Jenna climbed the stairs that evening. Max was out, Lilly was holed up in her room, and Troy... well, he was where he usually was lately. Not here. At least, not mentally.
She lingered outside their bedroom door, her hand brushing the cool brass knob. For a brief moment, she thought about turning away and crawling into the guestroom instead, but something inside her rebelled. She hadn't made the effort in weeks, and tonight, she wanted to try.
When she stepped inside, Troy was already in bed, his laptop balanced on his legs, the light from the screen casting shadows across his face. He barely glanced up as she entered, his expression distracted and distant.
"Hey," Jenna said softly, slipping out of her cardigan and draping it over the chair. "You're working late."
"Always something to do," he replied absently, closing the laptop and setting it on the nightstand. He rubbed his temples, looking exhausted, but to her, his tone seemed to carry an edge of detachment.
Jenna crossed to the bed and sat down beside him, hesitating before placing a hand on his arm. "Troy, I was thinking... maybe we could spend some time together tonight."
His eyes flicked to her, narrowing slightly, as if he couldn't quite grasp the suggestion. "What do you mean?"
She swallowed, her cheeks warming. "I mean... it's been a while."
There was a flicker of something in his expression-surprise, hesitation-but it quickly disappeared. He sighed, leaning back against the headboard. "Jenna, it's late, and I'm wiped."
"I know," she said quickly, her voice soft but insistent. "I just... I miss you."
Her words seemed to catch him off guard. For a moment, he didn't move, his eyes searching hers. Then, almost reluctantly, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was brief, hesitant, but Jenna felt a spark of hope. She deepened the kiss, her hand sliding to his shoulder as she pressed closer.
Troy responded, his hands settling on her waist as their kiss grew more heated. His hand fumbled with her buttons to slide under her bra. His fingers moved over her nipple before squeezing gently, sending a buzz of electricity through her. Jenna straddled his lap reaching between them for the drawstring of his pyjamas. She could feel his hardness brushing against her. Her nightshirt bunched up around her hips. For a few moments, it felt like the wall between them had cracked, just enough for her to reach through. But as their bodies moved together, she sensed his hesitation returning.
He pulled back suddenly, his breath uneven. "Jenna, wait-"
"What?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What's wrong?"
He sat up, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just... I don't know. It's been a long day, and I'm not in the right headspace for this."
Jenna stared at him, her chest tightening. "I thought... I thought you wanted this too."
"I do," he said quickly, though the words felt empty. He avoided her gaze, his tone defensive. "I just think maybe you're putting too much pressure on this. On us."
"Pressure?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly. "Troy, I'm trying to connect with you. To fix whatever.... this is. And you think that's pressure?"
He sighed, standing up and pacing to the window. "You're making it sound like everything is falling apart. It's not, Jenna. Things are fine. Maybe you just... need to take a step back. Give it some space."
Jenna's jaw tightened, her heart sinking. "Space? Troy, we've had nothing but space. I've been trying to reach you, and you just keep pulling away. You don’t even want to talk when I bring up…"
He turned to face her, his expression hardening. "I've been doing everything I can to keep this family together. I work my arse off to make sure you and the kids have everything you need. And now you're telling me that's not enough?"
Her breath caught, his words hitting her like a slap. "I never said that. But providing isn't the same as being here, Troy. I need more than just a roof over my head."
He looked away, shaking his head. "You're acting like everything I've done doesn't matter. Like it's not enough for you. Maybe you need to take a good, hard look at what you actually have and stop trying to stir things up."
