Chapter 223: The Rejection
The moment Lyse stepped through the door of James’s apartment, she was met with a whirlwind of anxious energy. James, his usually relaxed demeanor replaced by a frantic pacing, rushed towards her, his eyes wide with concern. He enveloped her in a tight hug, his relief palpable.
"Lyse! Thank God you are back!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with worry. "Where did you go? You scared me half to death!"
Lyse sighed, her own anxieties momentarily overshadowed by James’s concern. "I am sorry, James," she said, her voice soft. "I didn’t mean to worry you."
James pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "Where did you go? You left in the middle of the night, without even a note. I was worried sick!"
"I had to go get Levi," Lyse explained, her voice laced with exasperation. "He was... he was drunk, can you believe it?"
James’s mouth opened wide. "Levi? Is he okay?" He asked sympathetically.
Lyse rolled her eyes. "I don’t know, James," she said, her voice filled with weariness. "He called me, or rather, the bar called me, and I couldn’t just leave him there."
"You shouldn’t have gone without me," James said, his voice firm. "How did you handle a drunk Levi?"
"I had Joel’s help," Lyse conceded. "I wished i could leave him there, but I couldn’t just... ignore him."
"Did you come back with Joel?" James asked excitedly and Lyse shook her head.
"You need to give it up, I think he is straight." Lyse said: