Chapter 9

Beca scowled at her appearance in the mirror. She was already running late and there was no time to change out of the pair of jeans she had hurriedly jammed herself into or this weird tshirt she grabbed out of her unpacked luggage in blind panic. Ten minutes ago, she had woken up in a darkened room, cosy and warm under a thick duvet and a wall of comfy pillows. She was ready to slip back to slumberland when her phone buzzed and Beca realised the time. It was already 10 a.m. and according to the text from Aubrey, she was supposed to be downstairs meeting the girls at least an hour ago. They were supposed to be at the boutique for the dress fitting.

Her phone buzzed again to remind her of the time.

Shit, this whole outfit would have to do. She didn't have time to change into something else. Beca hastily dragging a hairbrush through her tangled hair and promptly threw down the hairbrush in disgust. Her hair would not be tamed in two minutes. She would to find a baseball cap somewhere and judging by the tired eyes staring back at her in the mirror, she would also need her sunglasses. Where were they? Oh. Yeah. In her bag. On the dining table. if she remembered correctly-

"Good morning!"

Beca froze at the doorway. She was walking out from her bedroom to look for her bag when that voice greeted her. It was not so much the cheery greeting that stopped her in her stride. Beca blinked in surprise at the sight of Jesse Swanson. In her rush, she had totally forgot about her room mate for the week. And now, the said room mate was lounging in a chair at dining table, opened newspaper in his hands, smiling boyishly up at her. On seeing Beca at the doorway, Jesse rose up from his seat, folding the newspaper he was reading and placing it neatly on the table.

"Slept well?" he asked, coming round to where she was.

Ok, this was just monumentally unfair.

Both of them stayed up equally late last night. Beca had wanted to talk and Jesse had listened. She was sure she had dropped off first. He would have less sleep than she did. How could he looked so impossibly fresh and ready to start the day while she looked like death warmed over? He had a crisp, slimfit blue shirt on, opened at the neck and those jeans which in Beca's humble opinion were just too well fitting while Beca was dressed a little better than a slob. This was just so not fair.

Then Beca's nose also told her something else.

There was coffee. And perhaps -

"Breakfast?" Jesse asked, turning away slightly to show her what was on the dining table.

Yeah, he should really stop doing that. It was freaky how he seemed to be able to read her thought. "Coffee," Beca croaked, coming a little nearer. "I like it -"

"Black? Like your soul?" Jesse answered, reaching out for the coffee pot and pouring out a stream of hot coffee into pretty china cup. He offered it to her, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a smile.

"Wrong -" Beca shook her head, taking the steaming cup and taking a careful sip. "My soul's not black. I don't have one."

That earned a laugh from Jesse. As cross and moody she was, Beca couldn't help thinking how lovely his laugh was. It was a genuine chuckle - not one of those sycophantic ones she get from people sometimes. It was really nice to hear.

"I wasn't sure what you like -" Jesse said, methodically lifting the metal cloches off the plates on the dining table. Immediately the smell of sausages, bacon and fried egg rose up. "- but we are in England so perhaps an English breakfast? Or maybe a fruit salad and yoghurt? There's cereal but they didn't have any Lucky Charms."

"No time," Beca mumbled in response, simultaneously drinking her coffee and scrolling through her phone. She walked over to the dining table to retrieve her bag, hanging off one of the chairs. " I'm supposed to meet the girls for breakfast . I'm so late already."

"Ah yes." Jesse nodded. "You have a dress fitting this morning."

On the first pass, it was probably not unusual for Jesse to know that. Aubrey and Stacie had probably briefed him thoroughly on what was happening every freaking minute of every freaking hour of the trip. Jesse had most likely done his homework. But on second pass, Beca suddenly stopped rummaging round her bag for her sunglasses.

"You knew!" Beca yelled accusingly.

"Knew what?" came Jesse's reply.

"You knew I had the dress fitting this morning," Beca replied. "I overslept. You knew and you didn't even wake me up!"

For someone who was caught, he didn't even look guilty. There was Beca, going all shrill and annoyed and Jesse merely shrugged it off.

"You were tired. Another hour in bed would do you good," he reasoned, turning back to the table to tidy up the breakfast things. "Besides, you look kinda peaceful sleeping."

"Ok. That was weird. And slightly creepy," Beca retorted, picking up a crumbly croissant off a woven basket and tearing it into two. "Do you always stare at women while they were asleep?"

"Only my favourites," Jesse quipped with a wink

Beca's mouth was too full with the buttery pastry she couldn't snark back. She made do with an eye roll instead. She chewed quickly, her mind racing to the conversation they had last night.

"Listen -" Beca spoke up after swallowing down the croissant. "About last night - Please don't tell anyone. I was just rambling -"

"My lips are sealed," Jesse remarked gravely. "Like I said last night you need to work this out by yourself."

"It's just -" Beca blew a breath out, struggling with her thoughts. "I'm not even sure what I feel. Aubrey is going to over-react big time. I don't even know how Stacie will react. And it's Chloe's wedding -"

"I know." Jesse interrupted softly. "It's not easy. Especially with all that's happening right now. But I'm going to promise you one thing, ok?"

"Promise me what?" Beca stared at him with those worried blue eyes.

"That I am going to be your ever-loving, very attentive boyfriend -"

"Fake boyfriend -" Beca deadpanned.

"Ok," Jesse chuckled at Beca's grumpy interruption. "Your ever-loving, very attentive fake boyfriend this whole entire week and I will support you in whatever you do."

Beca eyed the smiling Jesse.

"You gonna support me in whatever I do, huh?" she challenged.

"Yep."

"Even if it means helping me get back with my cheating ex-fiancé?"

Jesse chuckled and then made a show of doing a huge mock sigh.

"Even if it means helping you get back with your cheating ex-fiancé -" Jesse intoned, echoing her word for word. "- If that's what you really, really want."

Their eyes met and for a second, Beca felt like there was challenge in Jesse's brown eyes. Then her phone buzzed loudly with yet another impatient text from Aubrey, and beca was the first to look away.

"It's going to be alright, y'know."

Beca frowned on hearing Jesse's calm voice from the back of the elevator. She had rushed out of the suite as soon as she replied to Aubrey's text, with Jesse in tow. They were heading down to the breakfast room to meet up with the rest of the bridal group. Unusually, the elevator was empty so there was ample space between them. Jesse was, as always, at ease lounging at the back of the lift while Beca was standing ramrod straight by the door. Maybe that was a good thing. She wasn't sure it was a good idea to stand so close to Jesse. He smelled so great and she only had time to brush her teeth and wash her face just now.

"What do you mean it's going to be alright?" Beca hissed back as soon as they were out of the elevator and walking towards the breakfast room. "I hate being late. It's rude to keep my friends waiting."

Jesse just shrugged, easily keeping up with her power walk.

"I'm just saying they will understand," he smirked, lifting up his eyebrows. "Y'know, late night, hotel room, hot guy..."

"Yeah?" Beca deadpanned casting a side look at Jesse falling in step next to her. "If you see that hot guy, please send him my way."

Jesse laughed, shaking his head. "Are you always this hilarious? Or is it only in the mornings?"

Holding back that eye roll was really hard. Beca decided Jesse was far too cheerful for his own good and obviously had no regard for self-preservation. Beca Mitchell was one grumpy bitch in the mornings. Grumpy, snarky and dangerous. Especially with only two sips of coffee, no proper breakfast and running late. A lesser guy would have steered clear seeing her stomping down the warpath but not this guy. Jesse Swanson seemed to roll with the punches.

"Look out," Jesse whispered. "Here we are."

Beca felt his warm hand slipped into hers. It jolted her a little. That little frisson of electric that ran up her arm as his fingers neatly laced through hers. She almost stopped in her tracks but the. Beca she realised where they were. They were just right outside the breakfast room. Two more steps and they would be inside, in full view of her friends and wedding guests. Oh. Ok. Jesse was obviously just looking the part.

"Bec! Beca!"

That holler from Chloe and the way the redhead was waving her arm frantically was all Beca need to find her girls. They were seated in a round table - Amy, Stacie, Aubrey and Chloe with two of the other bridesmaids, one of them could be Cousin Janice - Beca was not entirely certain

"Hey," Beca called out as soon as she reached the table. There was a chorus of return greetings. Chloe threw her arms around her neck, giving her a noisy kiss on her cheek before she could even sit down.

"Sorry I'm so late," Beca continued. She found Jesse pulling out a seat for her and her chair was tucked in as soon as she sat down. "Late night and jet lag."

Beca frowned at the weird grins on Amy's and Stacie's faces. Aubrey was looking suspicious but Beca didn't have time to think too much about what the hell her friends were thinking. A waitress appeared at her elbow with two pots, asking whether she wanted tea or coffee and whether she would like some breakfast. The half croissant she stuffed in her mouth just now bare,y touch the sides and her stomach was already rumbling by now. Beca could vaguely hear Jesse talking to the group but she was too busy ordering some breakfast.

" - so, you ladies have fun -" she heard Jesse saying. "Munchkin, I see you later ."

Beca didn't know whether she choked on her hot tea because of the munchkin or because of the kiss Jesse dropped on the top of her head. She sat stiff with surprise, feeling Jesse's hand squeezed her shoulder before hearing him walked away.

"Jesse, wait!"

Beca rose from her chair and ran after him. He stopped and tuned around, a quizzical expression on his face. Beca at once forgot why she wanted to stop him.

"So..umm -" she stammered. "Will you be ok alone? I mean...it's your first time in London, right? You won't get lost? Do you need any cash?"

Once the words tumbled out of her mouth did Beca realised how condescending she sounded. She was sure Jeeze did a mental eye roll at her. She would. But instead, the dark-haired man smiled goodnaturedly down at her.

"Yeah, I'll be ok. Yes, it's my first time in London so I thought I go do a little exploring. No, I don't think I will get lost. And no, I don't need any cash," Jesse answered. "Your manager made sure I had some payment upfront and you are paying me very well for this privilege."

"Oh."

Beca was now at a loss on what to say.

"I have to say your concern is very touching," Jesse continued. He raised his eyes to look over Beca's shoulder and his smile widened briefly. "Will you be ok? Looks like the dress fitting will be rather intense."

Beca looked over her shoulder to find the whole of her table grinning at her.

"I can handle the girls," she said confidently.

Apparently it might not have been sound confident enough.

"Ok, just remember you can call me to rescue you anytime," Jesse reminded her. "Now, why don't you give me a kiss?"

A kiss? What? Here?

Oh. Yeah. The girls were probably watching.

Beca went on her tippy toes and wrapped her arms around Jesse's neck. She meant it to be a quick peck on the lips but somehow he smelled so good, and his hands circling round her waist felt so warm and really, his mouth was like the softest thing ever that Beca found herself trying to catch her ragged breath a few seconds later. She swayed a little as she went back down on her heels it was a good thing Jesse was still holding her.

"Ok -" she heard Jesse speaking up through the haze round her head. "Umm... I should... I should go."

"Yeah. Ok." Beca cleared her throat and tucked her hair behind her ear. "See you later."

She went back to the table, firmly willing herself not to turn round. Her ordered breakfast was already on the table. Beca attacked it with gusto and it was not until she was halfway chewing her eggs, did she realised the whole table was quiet. The girls were all looking at her, smiling stupidly.

"What?" Beca mumbled. "What did I do?"

Jesse stepped out of the hotel, smiling politely to the doorman who held the door opened for him. It was a lovely spring morning - still a little chilly but the sun was shining, the sky was that clear light blue and colours were slowly blooming on the trees outside. Jesse took in a moment to breath in the cool air, letting it slowly fill up his lungs. That felt good. That felt good and refreshing. Goodness knows he needed to clear his head. Somehow that last kiss at the breakfast room had left some sort of a fog around his brain and for a few minutes, he had just blindly walked out of the room towards the exit.

He felt a little better now. A little more in control.

Jesse was not 100% sure why the kiss affected him so much. Beca Mitchell was just another client. He had other clients before. He had done more than just kiss with other clients before. Why would a quick peck on the lips discombobulate him so much? Yes, she was attractive. And maddening. And stubborn. And all rough edges with a soft inside. She was not what he thought she would be and Jesse concluded that must be it. Beca Mitchell was an interesting enigma - one with many layers and that was why he was always in this weird position where he needed to second guess himself.

OK, he shouldn't think about this too much. He was in London and he had a free morning. He should really get some sightseeing done. According to the concierge just now, he could either hail a cab or walk to the nearest underground station. It seemed like a lovely day to stay underground. Jesse walked down the pavement away from the hotel and was about to hail a cab and ask the driver to take the scenic route when he heard his name being called out.

"Jesse!"

He turned round to find the groom, Thomas Pilsworth-Smythe, calling out to him. The lanky British guy was standing by the doorway, waving him over. He was a really nice guy, from what little time Jesse had spent with him last night. He seemed rather straight-laced and awkward at times - the direct opposite of his soon-to-be wife who was always the life of the party. Jesse frowned, wondering why Tom was calling him over. He then back-tracked his steps. Tom looked like he had ran a mile and was trying to catch his breath.

"Thank god I didn't miss you," Tom said, pulling a hanky out of his jacket and proceeded to mop his sweaty brow. "The ladies said you've just left and I was worried I might not catch you. I didn't have your number or I would've called. Oh. I could have asked Beca for your number -"

He looked flustered and Jesse grinned at him.

"Hey Tom. Did you need me?" he asked. "What can I do for you?"

"I've meant to ask last night but with all the speeches - " Tom spoke up. He then took a deep breath. "I know this is last minute and I am really sorry to spring this on you. One of my cousins is knee deep with lambing season up in Scotland. He's not going to be able to make it for the wedding. Could you take over his groomsmen duties?"

By the way Tom was sweating and stammering, Jesse was sure he was about to ask for his first-born. It was not a big deal to be one of the groomsmen.

"Sure, why not?" Jesse smiled.

He could see the way Tom's shoulders seemed to sag in relief. The taller guy couldn't say thank you enough and then withdrew his phone out of his pocket. Jesse watched as he punched a number in and waited for a response.

"Luke?" Tom spoke on the phone. "It's fine. We got a replacement for Dermott. Yes… Jesse said he'll do it. Yes. Jesse. Ok, I'll see you at there."

Tom ended his call and looked at Jesse.

"You do have a morning suit, don't you?"

AN : More PDA to come. Thank you for reading. Love you guys - our numbers might be small but we are good :)