Chapter 15 Jovie
After Clay and I had indulged in his homemade watermelon moonshine—questionably legal but undeniably potent—we found ourselves in fits of laughter, sprawled out in the living room, watching a marathon of hilarious YouTube videos with cats performing human activities.
Spending time with Clay was easy. We fell into an easy friendship filled with laughter, teasing and inside jokes that had been formed in only a matter of hours. He felt like the younger brother I’d never had and the only ally who was rooting for me to succeed this next year.
We eventually succumbed to sleep well after midnight, only to awaken midday on Sunday to the persistent ringing of Clay’s phone, blaring a Sublime song.
“Can you please get that? It sounds like the band is performing a concert in my head,” I called out from my position on the floor, buried under three pillows and a blanket Clay had tossed me before we fell asleep.
Clay groggily searched the couch where he’d fallen asleep until he located his phone and answered without bothering to check the caller ID.
“Hello?” he croaked.
Pause .
“Yeah, I’m with her.”
Pause .
“She’s fine, calm down.”
Pause .
“Chill out, bro.”
Pause.
“Because you and Wylie were out, and I didn’t have plans. I wanted to go swimming and she wasn’t doing anything.”
Pause .
“It’s none of your business.”
Another pause, followed by a loud sigh from Clay.
“Stop acting like Dad. I’d never poison her. It’s my homemade batch, and Jovie wouldn’t say anything. Unlike you, she’s actually cool and fun.”
I smiled at Clay’s words as I mustered the energy to drag myself off the floor and crawl to the kitchen for water, coffee, and ibuprofen.
As I finally regained my bearings, I could hear Clay concluding the call with a frustrated “Whatever, Nash.”
Joining me in the kitchen a few seconds later, Clay rolled his eyes. “Nash can be such an ass sometimes.”
“Is that who called?” I asked, feigning ignorance about the conversation I’d overheard.
“Yeah, he was pissed I hadn’t answered my phone all evening or night yesterday. I had twenty fucking missed calls and text messages from him. I must not have heard it over the videos we were watching. He said he was about to drive over here and make sure you were okay, like he was scared I was going to poison you with the moonshine or take advantage of you.” He rolled his eyes again.
I chuckled, though I felt a flush creeping over my cheeks. The thought of Nash being concerned about me stirred something inside of me, but then I remembered Clay mentioning he had been out on a date yesterday.
“I’m surprised he had the time to worry about you if he was out on a date,” I remarked casually.
Clay waved his hand dismissively. “Nash might go on dates here and there, but he’s never serious about the girls and doesn’t ever bring them home. I think he does it to appease Wylie and Lana who always want to double date. Most of the time, Wylie and Lana end up dumping Nash and his date before the first bar.”
Interesting .
“Has he always been that protective of you?” I asked, finding myself increasingly interested in the enigmatic Nash Cameron. I cracked four eggs into the frying pan that I warmed up and arranged bacon on a tray for the oven. I pressed the coffee maker causing it to come to life in the hope it would ease our hangovers.
“Just since Mom passed. I think he kicks himself for not moving back to Lonestar Junction sooner, but we all dealt with her passing differently. I understand why he wanted to stay away.”
I nodded, absorbing Clay’s words. I realized, there was still a lot I didn’t know or understand about Nash Cameron, but I hoped I’d find out soon.
“I’m going to go shower and try to sober up. Thanks for making breakfast, Jovie.” Clay spoke as he kissed my cheek and retreated to the guestroom.
The rest of Sunday passed with less chaos as Clay and I shared breakfast and lunch, nursed our hangovers, and then spent the day lounging by the pool getting to know each other better. The youngest of the Cameron brothers was funny, witty, and charming. Despite his youthfulness, I could tell we’d become fast friends.
That night, I went to sleep feeling excited for the week ahead, eager to learn from Clay and grateful for the distraction of his friendship that had made me feel a little less lonely in my new home.