Jessica leaned close and blew softly into his ear. I saw the redness creep up Jerome's neck. She asked, "Jerome, I heard you started dating Tania in high school. What does campus romance feel like? Answer me, no dodging!" With Jessica pressing him, my heart tightened in suspense.
"High school? That's too young. Students don't know what love is." Jerome's indifferent response obliterated my youth like it was nothing.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he raised his glass for another drink. I, however, had lost my appetite entirely. My fork slipped from my hand and fell under the table.
As I bent down to retrieve my fork, I caught sight of Jessica's delicate hand, adorned with the matching couple ring Jerome always wore. Her fingers wandered across Jerome's abdomen.
The others at the table feigned ignorance, but I noticed Jerome's sweaty palms and the flirtatious glances Jessica threw his way. In the next round, Jessica won.
"Let's do a drinking challenge, Tania. What do you think?" she suggested coyly. Everyone paused mid-drink and looked at me with amused curiosity. I was about to agree when Jessica changed her mind.