All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(86)

She pulls back, tears filling her eyes.

“Don’t cry,” I admonish. “We promised.”

“I know.” She laughs and hiccups, the tears spilling over anyway. “It’s good crying. I’m so proud of you.”

“You know what? I’m proud of you too, Mom.”

We hug again.

“Jazz!”

I spin around and see Joey wrestling with a revolving door.

“What the hell?” I whisper.

“Is that Joseph Butler?” Mom asks.

“Yes. But I have no idea what he’s doing here.” He gets through the door, out of breath and smiling. Smiling? He’s wearing his jeans and dirty white Vans and a grey t-shirt. His hair is all over the place. He’s dressed up for the occasion, clearly.

He stalks toward us. “I f*cking hate those doors.”

“An airport scene, Joseph?” I greet him. “Really?”

“Our love story needs one, don’t you think?”

“We have a love story?” I ask.

“Don’t we?”

“Ma’am,” says the Butler Cove High School girl. “You need to come through security. Oh hey, you’re Joey Butler.”

He grins at her. “Yeah, I am. Oh hey. Miss McCallister’s class. Missy, right?”

“Yes. Missy Meyer.” She laughs. “You moved back here?”

“Helloooo,” I interrupt. “Our love story, Joey?” Suck on that Missy Meyer.

“Oh yeah. Okay wait. This first.” He swoops forward and kisses me. Then just as abruptly lets me go.

“And then?” I ask bemused.

“You have to go through security for the next part.”

“What?”

“Just go.”

“Okay, but for the record that was the lamest last kiss ever.”

“Ugh, okay.” He rolls his eyes and steps into me. In classic Jay Bird style, he slips a hand around my waist and the other along my jaw and into my hair. He tilts my face up to his. His eyes are vivid and beautiful as his gaze roams my face. Then when my heart is pounding hard, and my lips tingling, he drops his mouth to mine. Immediately his tongue slips inside and I moan. Oh wow.

I return his kiss, winding my fingers up into his hair.

“You mother is standing right here, Jessica,” my mom’s voice breaks through my haze.

I reluctantly pull away.

Joey is smiling down at me.

“Why are you so happy? I’m leaving.”

“Because you’re coming back.”

“I am?”

He nods. “Go do your thing. Find your thing that matters. Take however long you need. But we’re not done yet. I’m going to give us a different ending.”

I close my eyes and a kiss lands on my nose.

He releases me and turns to my mom. “Hi, Mrs. Fraser. Sorry for my rudeness. I was in a time crunch.”

My mom pats his arm.

I shake my head and give her one last hug. I hurry through the security procedure. It’s also given by this Missy Meyer girl. Seriously. This airport. Then she heads to the gate to be the gate attendant too.

“Jessica Fraser!” Joey yells as soon as I’m through. He’s curved his hands around his mouth to really amplify his voice, even though we’re in, like, the smallest space ever.

Passengers turn around.

I glare at him, mortified. Seeing he has my attention he puts his hands around his mouth again.

“I love you!” he yells. “Come back to me one day!”

I hear audible swooning and sighing around me. Even from the male passengers.

Gah.

Then his hands drop from around his mouth, and he puts one on his chest. He just smiles. It’s blinding and beautiful and I’ll never forget it. I honestly can’t even believe this is the same cocky, distant, overbearing guy I grew up with. Who is this guy, laying his heart on the line in public?

I wish I’d known him before.

As I walk away, I hear my mom’s voice talking to him. “You know she’s only going for three months, right?”

Goddammit, Mom.

Way to f*ck up my exit.





I WAIT UNTIL I’ve changed planes in Charlotte, North Carolina, and I’m buckled into my seat in a much larger plane on the way to Amsterdam before I delve into my backpack for Joey’s gift. I’ll be in Amsterdam for the day until I have to board another overnight flight. I know he was expecting me to open it on the first flight and maybe text him from Charlotte. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I’m glad because I’m feeling homesick already, and the thought that I might open the present and go running home was a clear and present danger.

The flight attendant comes around taking orders for fish or chicken and handing out wine. I gratefully accept, even though when I see the size of the bottle I want to ask her for five more. Then I set the small brown box down in front of me on the tray table and pull the two ends of pink ribbon.

Opening the box, I take out a small folded note. Underneath is a pale grey felt pouch, like the kind a jeweler might use. I open the note first.



This was impossible to find. In the end, I had it made. This is to remind you you’re still in there somewhere. That girl you were? You’re still her. Not even an asshat like me could change that.