Never Late, Never Away (Vivian and Finnick)
Chapter 2252

Never Late, Never Away Chapter 2252

It worked. The tension at the table dissipated, and Jessica and Larry spent the rest of the meal in high spirits, teasing and bantering with each other.

Suddenly, Jessica paused, then asked, "Larry, can I ask you a question? Aren't you afraid that you won't be able to get rid of me now that you're offering me your help?"

The question seemed so preposterous that Larry almost burst into laughter. However, he choked it down at the sight of Jessica's pensive face. Larry believed that he knew Jessica pretty well and didn't take he for the sort to be needy.

Besides, he had firm faith that Jessica would soon realize the person she truly loved was not Larry, but Caspian.

"No, or I wouldn't have offered to help you in the first place. I'm usually right about these things," Larry replied airily.

Why does he look so confident? Jessica thought as she looked skeptically at Larry.

However, Jessica did think that Larry was a lot more perceptive than most. Larry could accurately uncover links and meanings between two seemingly disparate events that had stumped everyone else. "Anyway, I'm pouring my heart and soul into my work from now on. I won't have time to think about relationships and the like, so don't worry. Please reassure Joan of that as well," Jessica asserted unequivocally.

Larry nodded. Anyway, Joan wasn't the type to get jealous over petty things like these. Besides, she was aware of everything that was going on now. There was no discernible reason for Joan to get upset. "Don't worry. Joan is a lot more understanding than that," Larry immediately reassured Jessica.

Having thus established their boundaries, Larry and Jessica lapsed into lighthearted chatter, accompanied by quite a bit of wine.

"You hold your alcohol pretty well," Larry observed after a while.

"Let's go out drinking sometime then!" Jessica yelled delightedly.

Jessica was a rather avid drinker and enjoyed trying out different sorts of beers and spirits. During her time overseas, Jessica had enjoyed their vibrant nightlife tremendously.

After a while, the waiter came over to inform them that the restaurant was closing. Both Larry and Jessica stood up rather reluctantly to leave. "All right. Shall we go, then? Are you heading home or going back to Caspian's?" Larry asked gently, tapping Jessica on the shoulder. She was standing at her seat, staring straight ahead with a rather dazed expression on her face.

"Uh..." Jessica trailed off. Before Larry could react, Jessica had already doubled over and vomited onto the floor.

Larry furrowed his brow in concern. Jessica's tolerance for alcohol was clearly not as fantastic as she had proclaimed earlier.

"I want to go home. I want to sleep. I feel unwell," Jessica murmured, already slurring slightly. Clumsily, she wrapped her arms around Larry's neck and hung onto him. "Hey, Jessica, let go of me. It won't do to have anyone see us like this. Let go!" Larry said urgently as he rapidly surveyed their surroundings for any possible onlookers.

"You won't leave me, will you? Please don't leave me. Dad, Mom, I'm so sad. Don't leave me, please," Jessica begged, looking utterly inconsolable.

Am I dreaming? If I am, I don't ever want to wake up... Jessica thought hazily. "Hey, wake up! I'm not your Dad or your Mom, Jessica, I'm Larry!" Larry grabbed Jessica by her shoulders and shook her vigorously.

"What? Larry? Impossible. How could that bastard be here? You're definitely not him. He's a jerk, do you know that? He was rubbing his relationship with his wife in my face. He knows that I like him, but he did it on purpose to hurt me. Don't you think that's rather terrible of him?" Jessica blearily peered at Larry as she bellowed at him.

"He's not terrible. He's a good man," Larry replied gently, patting Jessica on the head. "He just doesn't want you to continue liking him and get hurt even more."

"No! He's terrible! He's the worst person on earth! I hate him!" Jessica roared vehemently, then slapped Larry violently across his face without warning.

His face smarting from the blow, Larry felt a surge of rage rise within him. Does this woman know what she's saying? he thought angrily.

"Don't touch me! You have no right to touch me!" Jessica began shrieking. She struggled to retreat a distance away from Larry.

Jessica had clearly gone mad. She wouldn't have had the audacity to make such a scene in public otherwise.

Frowning, Larry stepped forward and said firmly, "Fine. I'll send you home. Don't embarrass yourself anymore here."

"I feel sick. It's really hot," Jessica gasped. She reached for her shirt, ready to pull it off.