Someone Else's Ocean(90)

I breached the clearing of the alley only to be disappointed by the sight of the ocean without her standing in front of it. The loud clatter of wood on her porch had me jumping out of my reverie.

“Can I help you?”

I scoured the guy questioning me from head to toe. Tall, dark, built, and decent looking. Instantly, I hated him.

“I’m looking for Koti Vaughn.”

“She’s not here.”

Rage boiled through my veins as he gave me a subtle smirk. I wasn’t in the mood for bullshit and it seemed the opposite for him. He positioned a large piece of wood over one of her windows and began nailing it in.

“Can I ask what in the hell you are doing?”

“Uh,” he said with a furrowed brow. “I guess you could say I’m paying penance.

“Are you a friend of Koti’s?” I asked, my tone full of accusation.

“Something like that,” he said, giving me another disgusting fucking grin.

“In case it isn’t apparent, I’m not in the mood for this. Where is she and what are you to her?”

The guy smiled showing me every single one of his white teeth. “I’ve never met Koti man, chill out.”

“Then can I ask why you’re on her porch boarding up her house?”

“A favor for her friend, Jasmine,” he replied. “It’s a long story, but made short she asked me to board up this house and the one over before the storm comes.”

“Storm?”

“Big cell, hurricane headed straight for the islands. I don’t know when you got here man, but you better turn around and get out fast. It’s going to start tomorrow.”

“I’ve been busy all week, haven’t bothered to look at the news.”

“Did you miss every TV screen on the way here?”

“Shit,” I said, wiping my face.

“It’s everywhere.”

“Can you give me Jasmine’s number?”

“No,” he said. “But maybe she’ll pick up if I call her.”

“Maybe?”

“Like I said, long story.”

I rolled up my sleeves and picked up some of the boards. “That’s my parents’ place next door. I’ll get this done and come back and give you a hand.”

“Thanks, man, I appreciate it. Tell you what, I have a jet leaving at six. You help me out here, and I’ll make sure you get out of here in one piece.”

“Where’s Jasmine?”

“Iowa.”

“Iowa?” I grinned. She was with Julian.

“Want to tell me what that grin is about, brother? I’ve been begging for crumbs for the last few months.”

“I think it’s best that I don’t tell you for now.”

“Fair enough.” He swung the hammer as I got to work boarding up my parents’ house. Once I finished, I helped to finish boarding up Koti’s place. Every nail planted felt like more of what I didn’t want. I choked down the emotion of being on the island without her as I did everything I could to board her house up. Wherever she was, I was sure she was terrified.

When we were finished, the guy held out his hand. “I’m Steven.”

“Ian,” I offered, shaking his hand.

“I’m not sure this is going to help these houses, but let’s get the hell out of here.”

“I’m not leaving without Koti.”

“She’s not here in St. Thomas. Sorry, I thought you understood me.”

“And you don’t know where she is?”

“Nope. Let’s get on the plane and we can give Jasmine a call.”

“Sounds good.”

Two hours later, I was seated on a luxury jet when Steven put a cell phone in my hand.

“Hello?”

“You stupid ass men. I swear to God, I’m glad you found Steven, you two idiots deserve each other. If I was there, I would rip your damned balls off. You ASSHOLE!”

Steven chuckled across from me in his seat. “She’s a live one.”

I covered the mouthpiece. “I can see why you’re so smitten.”

“I’m so fucked,” he muttered, sinking back in his seat before he closed his eyes.

“It’s good to talk to you too, Jasmine. I’ve missed you as well.”

“Your ‘I’m a gentleman’ crap won’t work with me, and you damn well know it.” I heard a muffled, “Is that Ian? Let me talk to him.”

I would know Julian’s voice anywhere and heard Jasmine’s response to his request in the form of a painful grunt and a relenting, “Okay, baby, okay no need to get all batshit. Jeez!”

Jasmine responded to Julian by screaming in my ear. “I’ll show you batshit. You’re on my side. My SIDE!”

“You’re right, I’m on your side.” Seconds later, Julian’s voice was on the line. “Hey, man!”

“What in the hell have you gotten yourself into,” I muttered as Jasmine’s voice rang out.

“I heard that you Australian asshole!”

“It’s South African,” Julian corrected. I chuckled as the phone was dropped, another grunt sounded and then Jasmine came on the line breathless.