All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(73)

“Brandon?” I ask. “You okay?”

He sniffs and clears his throat. “Yeah, I’m cool. I really liked you.”

“I liked you too.”

“Is it coz of your posting? I saw the board. I know you probably don’t want to do some long distance thing.”

I imagine him blinking his chocolate brown eyes, the long lashes lazily opening and closing as he did so well. It’s hypnotic. Eyelashes like that on men should be banned. They make girls do reckless things.

“You’re right. I don’t want a long distance thing. But also, we’re not right for each other. But you’re a good guy, Brandon.”

“Just not for you.”

“No hard feelings?”

He sniffs again and sighs. “Yeah. No hard feelings. But I gotta hang up now coz I’m getting choked up.” The phone goes dead.

I look at the phone in my hand.

Jesus. What a day.

I slip into my room and face-plant onto my bed.

It feels like I only slept for five minutes, but my phone is going nuts. I grab at it, keeping one eye closed against the bright screen. Dawn is creeping into my bedroom.



Jay Bird: Call me. It’s urgent.





Jay Bird: You’re not answering. I need your help.

Jay Bird: Did I mention it’s urgent? I know u r mad at me, but could u just call me?



I’m not mad. I simply feel defeated when it comes to Joey and me. After what happened in his hallway last night, it all seems so pointless.



Jay Bird: IT’S ABOUT KERI ANN AND JACK EVERSEA



I sit upright, swinging my legs off the bed. I shake my head and tie up my hair. I fell asleep with it wet so I probably look like medusa.



Jazzy Bear: Keep your pants on. I was asleep. Give me a sec.



Bad choice of words. I cringe, wondering if our interactions will continue to be minefields. I hustle to the bathroom, and when I’m done I brush my teeth, splash cold water on my face, dry it, and put on tinted moisturizer and lip balm. My hair just … is. I pull on clothes and call Joey back within five minutes. “What’s up?” I ask when the line connects.

“Some * reporter woke me up ringing the doorbell at six this morning. He’s about to publish a shit stinking tabloid piece about Jack, saying Keri Ann was his home-wrecking piece on the side. He says Keri Ann caused Jack’s girlfriend to miscarry their baby. Shit.” He huffs out the last word. “Is it true?” He doesn’t pause for me to answer. “I thought he was broken up with Audrey Lane when he got together with my sister. Tell me I haven’t believed some bullshit.”

“Okay, calm down, okay? First. No, you haven’t believed bullshit. This story is bullshit. His ex girlfriend is a lying cow. But you know people will believe whatever is printed. So we’re just going to have to deal with it.” But I felt sick with nerves for my friend. Keri Ann wouldn’t have to deal with it alone though. Joey and I would do whatever we could to help her through it. We, we, we. “Give me a second, okay. Let me get online, see if it’s out yet.”

“I don’t think it is. I think he wants to give them a chance to make a comment or whatever.”

“Big of him. I’ll check anyway and call you back. Actually, I’ll come over.”

“No. This * is here, sitting outside in his car. I guess he’s hoping I’ll lead him to wherever Jack and Keri Ann are.”

“Okay. Take K’s bike, you can take the cycle paths here to the marina. He can’t follow by car, he won’t know where you’re going. We can catch Dan before he takes the boat back over to get them from Daufuskie.”

He lets out a long breath. “Okay. Thank you. See you soon.”

“See you soon.” I hang up. Then I text him immediately.



Jazzy Bear: If he gave you a copy of his story, bring it. K and J are going to need to see it to know what they’re dealing with.



Here I was hoping not to have to see much of Joseph so I can dissect what the hell went on with us yesterday in his hallway. And also make sure it doesn’t happen again. And now fate has conspired to throw us back together. Fabulous.

I pull up an internet browser and type in Jack Eversea.

Oh shit!

That damn Ashley girl from USCB who Keri Ann told me was all over Jack a few nights ago at the Snapper Grill has apparently decided to post her pics. I scowl at the picture of Jack with Ashley attached to his face like a sultry barnacle as she snapped a selfie. Granted Jack was looking off somewhere else, presumably at Keri Ann since she said he’d eye stalked her all night. But it’s still pretty damning. It only serves to make his ex, Audrey Lane, look further vindicated. Ugh. Talk about bad timing.

I call Keri Ann’s phone and as expected it cuts straight to voicemail. I text her to call me too, just in case. Then I lose track of time checking all the sites and reading the comments from the trolls. Ashley’s Facebook is blown up with jealous friends from college. Some girls I know. Ashley’s a temporary celebrity herself. I guess that’s what she was going for. I shake my head. People are so weird. I wish I’d thought to tell her to hold the pics, but who knew the reporter was about to do a number on Jack.

I try Keri Ann’s phone again. Still nothing.