Making my way across to the approaching dock, before the tide floated me right past, I grabbed on. I was careful not to dislodge my earbuds as Joey’s voice boomed out of them.
“What the hell, Keri Ann? Who told you that? Did he tell you that? I will come and kick his ass. You’re gorgeous. I always had to threaten the guys at Butler Cove High with bodily harm if they ever so much as looked at you wrong. They all thought you were hot as hell.”
“What?” I got onto the dock and jerked the kayak up with more force than necessary. “You kept boys away from me?”
“Yes. You’re my kid sister. Who else was going to look out for you?”
I was a little dumbfounded. I’d always thought I just wasn’t that attractive to guys. Not ugly, just a bit girl-next-door plain. In the years after Mom and Dad died, I was way too in my shell to even consider dating, and after Nana died and Joey was studying, my feelings of claustrophobia about Butler Cove precluded me from even wanting to. Being hit on by drunk tourists didn’t qualify as an indicator.
I should have been annoyed. “Did you just tell me I’m gorgeous? Seriously?” It was just so surprising, I wanted to hear it again, even though I knew he was biased.
“Yes, you idiot. So don’t give me that BS about this douche being out of your league.”
I didn’t respond as I looked out over the water. So maybe Jack was truly serious last night when he told me I was beautiful. Maybe he wasn’t just putting the slick moves on me. Either way, it didn’t negate the fact he had a girlfriend, contractually or not, and that any kind of relationship with him would end in tears.
“Keri Ann?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Who is it, then?”
I sighed. I was tired of over-thinking this, I really was.
“You swear you won’t say anything? To anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, it’s Jack Eversea.” I cringed a bit as I said his name. There was a long pause.
“Jack Eversea? The Jack Eversea? As in the actor?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh,” Joey said. “Holy shit.”
“Understatement,” I muttered.
“Holy shit,” he said again. “What the hell is he doing in Butler Cove? And how did you meet? Wait, isn’t he dating someone?”
“Yes.” I sounded about as thrilled as I felt about that. “Audrey Lane. That’s why he’s here staying at a friend’s beach house and basically hiding.”
“Holy shit.”
“You said that already.”
“Yeah, I know. Jeez. Jack Eversea.” Joey’s voice was awestruck. “And he’s doing work in our house? What the hell? Why? Are you joking?”
“Nope, apparently he used to work construction.” I laughed nervously. Hearing a movement on the gravel parking pad behind me, I turned around. Jazz was standing there, her mouth hanging open wide enough to catch a Frisbee. Shit.
“Joey, I gotta go, Jazz just found me.” I tried to gauge her reaction.
“Wait!” Joey called out just as I went to hit END. “Just be careful. Okay, kiddo?”
“Yeah, I’m trying. Bye.” I hit the button, pulled the ear buds out of my ears, and walked toward Jazz.
T H I R T E E N
“I’m guessing you heard that. I was going to tell you who he was, Jazz, I swear.”
Jazz ripped her sunglasses off her face and looked at me like I was a rare species.
I went on, “I didn’t want to keep it from you at all, and then he swore me to secrecy. But I decided I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. You can’t tell anyone, Jazz. You have to promise.” The words tumbled out and I sounded so lame, even to my own ears. I wouldn’t blame Jazz if she never spoke to me again.
“K!” She held up a hand. “I need time to process.” She then proceeded to pace the parking lot with her hands on her hips.
I stopped and waited for her to process, at least until I thought I’d explode. “I—” I tried.
“Uh-Uh,” she cut me off, shaking her head and quickening her stride.
I closed my mouth. Thinking it might take her a while, I walked over to my truck and perched against the open tailgate. I tried to look a little contrite, but man, I wanted to get over this part where she was mad at me.
“How—” She stopped and flung her arms up, letting them fall and slap her thighs as she glared at me. “I don’t even know where to start. Jack Eversea is Hoodie Guy?” Her voice pitched up. “Seriously?”
I nodded.
She slowly shook her head side to side. “As in: my all time favorite actor, number one on my top ten laminated list. Max from Erath? That Jack Eversea?” she squeaked.
I winced and nodded sheepishly. I really was a bitch of a best friend to have kept it to myself. And yes, she had a laminated list of her top ten sexiest men who she apparently would always be allowed to sleep with even if she was married.
“Sooo,” her squinted hazel eyes bore into mine, “were you worried he might prefer me over you, so you kept him to yourself?”
“God, no!” I snapped, my eyes wide. Here I was worried she would be upset I was keeping such a big secret from her, and she thought I did it deliberately to keep him away from her?