Twenty-Seven
Noa
Trying to be as quiet as possible since I was the only one who had gone to sleep last night sober, I made a cup of coffee.
Zeke was in bed with Jellie, and Thurston had passed out on the sofa shortly after we got back here last night.
He was covered up, thanks to me, because the other two had laughed and stumbled their way into Jellie’s room and slammed the door behind them.
Lucky for me, they’d been too drunk for sex because they went silent shortly after.
I took my first sip of the dark Italian brew that Jellie loved while checking in her pantry for something easy to take back and eat in the guest bedroom I was staying in.
They’d all talked about going out for brunch today, but that was hours away, and I wasn’t sure they’d be up for it when they finally woke up.
Finding some muffins from a local bakery, I opened the container and took one out, then turned to tiptoe back to the bedroom.
“I don’t think I’ve drunk that much since college,” Thurston’s gravelly voice said, stopping me.
I glanced over to see him sitting up on the sofa, rubbing his face with both hands. He groaned before looking over at me.
“I did warn you,” I told him.
A small grin lifted the corner of his mouth. “You did,” he agreed. “I didn’t listen. My mistake.”
I took another drink from my cup, debating on offering to make him one or escaping to the bedroom, like I’d planned. I’d much rather escape, but he was Jellie’s guest. I felt like I should be the hostess since she wasn’t going to be awake anytime soon.
“You did drive my car last night, right?” he asked, looking concerned.
I nodded. “I did. It was either that or leave it at the club and get us an Uber back. None of you were in any state to get behind a wheel.”
He nodded. “Thanks. Yeah, we were absolutely not.” His eyes dropped to the cup in my hands.
I was going to have to offer to make him some.
I opened my mouth to say I’d make him a cup when a knock on the door interrupted me.
I set my cup down and walked across the living area of her small apartment to the door and did a quick peek through the peephole.
There was an older man who had been security at the front door of the building yesterday.
I unlocked the two different locks, which were overkill for a place that had security at the entrance and in the parking garage. No one was getting in either of those entrances without a key card and being approved by the guard on duty.
I opened it up and smiled at the older gentleman, who looked very rattled.
“Good morning. Can I help you?” I said.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, we’ve had a, uh, unexpected situation that we are currently having investigated,” he said and pulled nervously at his collar.
“There was vandalism that took place last night in the parking garage. Cars—well, a car was damaged. Tires slashed, and it was keyed up on both sides.” He went slightly pale.
“Like I said, we are investigating the situation, but right now, we don’t have an answer as to how this could have happened.
Our security is top-notch. But the car that was damaged was in one of the parking spots belonging to Miss Jellie. Although it isn’t her car.”
“What did the car look like?” Thurston asked, coming up behind me.
The man cleared his throat again. “It’s a black Tesla, sir.”
I looked back at Thurston, then stepped aside. He’d told me more than once that his Tesla Roadster had cost him two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I watched, wide-eyed, as he stared at the older man in horror.
“Someone damaged my Roadster?” he asked in disbelief.
“Yes, but we are—”
“Who?! I want a fucking name!” He was just under a shout, and I winced, thinking maybe I should have stayed between him and the older man.
“We don’t know that but—”
“Check your security cameras! Do I need to come do your fucking job?”
Okay, now he was shouting.
“We did, sir, and there is no sign of anyone in there or going near your vehicle. One second, it is fine, and the next … it’s not. We are working on—”
“I want to see it! Do you have any idea how much that car cost?”
A door down the hallway opened, and I stepped farther into the apartment so I wasn’t seen.
“What’s going on?” Zeke asked behind us, and I was relieved he’d gotten up to deal with his friend. I did not want that job.
Thurston pointed at the security guard. “He is telling me that my Roadster was vandalized in the parking deck, and they can’t find out who did it on their security cameras!”
Zeke winced and held up a hand. “Easy, man. I know you’re upset, but the yelling.”
“I want to see the footage of the garage last night,” he demanded, looking back at the man in the hallway.
“Yes, sir. I can take you there now if you’d like,” he replied.
“Wait. I’ll go too. Let me get some clothes on,” Zeke told him.
“What’s wrong?” Jellie asked, then covered her mouth with a yawn as she entered the room, wearing a pale pink silk robe that was inside out.
“I’ll explain,” I said, taking this as an excuse to escape. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her with me back to the guest bedroom, not giving her a chance to say anything more or get involved.
“Stay inside,” Zeke told her as we passed him.
“What is happening?” Jellie asked, sounding more upset.
“Let Noa explain. I need to go with Thurston,” he said just before I tugged her into the room and closed the door.
“For fuck’s sake, what is wrong?!”
“Thurston’s fancy car was damaged last night in the parking garage, and they can’t figure out who did it,” I said, sitting down on the edge of the bed with my coffee.
“Damaged how? You didn’t wreck it, did you?” she asked me, her eyes going wide.
I shook my head. “No. When I parked it, the car was fine.”
“They have cameras down there,” she said, frowning as if she didn’t understand.
I nodded. “And apparently, one second, the car was fine, and the next, it was damaged.”
Her nose scrunched. “Seriously? Like, what the heck happened? Did a ghost do it?”
I giggled into my cup, although I felt bad about it. That car was expensive, and although I saw no reason to spend that much on a vehicle, I did hate it for him. His insurance would handle it though. He was overreacting. The poor security guard hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Are you laughing?” she asked, lowering her voice.
I shrugged. “I’m sorry. You said a ghost.”
She pressed her lips together, then grinned and walked over to sit down beside me.
“You don’t like him, do you?” she said.
I shrugged. “He is nice. He has a lot going for him. Checks all the boxes, but there was no spark.”
She sighed. “You’re aware that there is no man like the ones you write in your books, right?”
I smirked and looked down at my cup. Actually, there was, but I didn’t say that. “I’m not looking for that. I just … I think I’m not emotionally available in that way.”
Her brows drew together. “You were engaged last month.”
I had been, and I shouldn’t have been. “I think because Arden had become a habit.”
“So, you aren’t still harboring feelings for him? He’s a douche canoe. Who I believe pissed off the mob and had to flee the country. Or maybe it’s tax evasion. I always wondered how an editor had such a nice apartment. Didn’t add up.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed as I took another drink.
“Don’t laugh at my scenarios. They could all be true. His disappearance was weird.”
“Maybe, but, no, I am not hung up on him. I kind of forget about him most of the time.” I felt like a bad person for admitting that.
“Good. Because you are way too good for that piece of shit. So, back to this not being emotionally available thing. It’s bullshit. You’ve just not met the right man.”
Oh, I’d met the right one, but I was just the wrong one for him. Or he just wasn’t one who believed in monogamy—or love for that matter.
The sound of Jellie’s phone ringing had her jumping up and hurrying to the door. “We will continue this conversation momentarily. Don’t think it’s done,” she said, pointing at me.
I nodded. I had no doubt she’d bring it back up. She was happy and in love and wanted me to be too.
And I was in love. Mine just wasn’t a romance; it was an angst-ridden one.