Jesse #2
Maybe this is the moment to come clean, to tell her that I’m the kid she spent all those summer nights with.
The one who held the glass jar as she chased fireflies around the lake.
The one who read an entire mystery series, just so he’d have something to talk about with her.
Who never suspected he’d end up falling in love with books and become a lifelong reader.
I part my lips to confess and then slam them shut again. Maybe this isn’t the right time. She’s clearly upset, and I don’t want her to think I’m an opportunist, taking advantage of her when she’s at her lowest. Maybe offering to take her out was a bad idea to begin with.
But then she smiles, and relief floods through me.
“Actually,” she says, “that sounds delightful.”
I hastily brush the contents of my passenger seat into the back. It’s mostly junk mail I never managed to bring into the house and a few napkins from the coffee shop, but I’m still mortified by the thought of asking a movie star to sit on them.
I turn to offer her a hand, but she’s already hoisted herself up into the truck’s passenger seat. She offers me a conciliatory smile as she buckles her seatbelt.
“Please don’t worry about a messy car,” she says. “I have two kids under the age of ten. A tidy car would be far more alarming. I’d worry I was hitching a ride with a serial killer.”
Some of the tension melts from my shoulders, and I smile back at her before walking around to the driver’s side. Be cool. She’s just a regular person. Tonight will be no different than going out with any other woman.
But my brain can’t convince my body when I slide into the seat beside her. If there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that Marissa is not like any other woman.
I shake my head, attempting to clear it. Get it together, man.
“So, where are we headed?” she asks, snapping me out of my pathetic trance.
“Uh.” I clear my throat. “There’s a lakeside tavern about a mile up the road. They have decent food, and you can usually get a table outside. Enjoy a nice view of the sunset.”
Who do I think I am right now? A nice view of the sunset? I wish I could shove my own fist down my throat.
“Sounds perfect,” Marissa says.
She’s quiet for the rest of the short drive, staring out the window at the winding roads.
But when we climb out of the truck, I catch her glancing furtively around the parking lot.
I can’t help but notice how out of place she looks.
Even in casual clothes, there’s no denying her star quality.
She looks like a diamond dropped into a pile of planting soil. What was I thinking, bringing her here?
“Everything okay?” I ask tentatively.
She gives me a tight smile. “Yeah. It just occurred to me that Rocky might have had the same idea. But it looks like the coast is clear.”
That’s a relief I hadn’t anticipated needing. I’m not sure I have the strength to sit through dinner with that guy in the same room. Not after the way he torpedoed her evening.
She takes a step toward the door. Instinctively, I reach for her lower back, thankfully pulling my hand away before making contact. I flex my fingers, then tuck them safely into my pocket.
It’s not crowded, so we’re taken right to a table on the patio.
Marissa shades her eyes and stares out at the lake.
The sun is just starting to lower in the sky, and its golden light reflects off the rippling water.
For the first time since we left the house, she seems happy, serene.
Her presence is magnetic and it’s impossible not to notice her.
It’s sort of a problem, because it means everyone else has noticed her too.
The entire patio is sneaking furtive glances at Marissa. Some less furtive than others. It only takes a second for her to notice, and the moment she does, her posture goes stiff.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “We can go somewhere else if you want.”
“No, it’s not that,” she says. “It’s just … I haven’t been out much yet, but for some reason, I thought I wouldn’t be recognized here. Silly, I know.”
I experience an immediate rush of sympathy. I can’t imagine what it must be like, going through life without anonymity.
I keep my voice low. “Is that why you left acting? Because you hated being in the public eye?”
She shakes her head. “No. I love meeting people. And I don’t get that many looks these days, especially without Felicia Fox’s wig.”
She crumples up her napkin. “It’s just that with Rocky and Rayna in the news lately … I don’t want to answer any questions about them.”
“That seems fair.”
She bites the inside of her cheek and then goes on.
“We came up here for the summer to escape all that drama. And now that we’re here, I want my kids to experience the type of summers that I had as a kid.
Just spending time outside, kayaking, catching fireflies, making s’mores. Childhood is so fleeting, you know?”
This is it. My opportunity to tell her. But before I can say a word, I see two white-haired women headed toward our table. Marissa must catch them in her peripheral vision because her shoulders tense as they come to stand at her side.
“Excuse me,” says the smaller of the two women. “Are you Marissa?”
She offers a warm smile. “Yes, that’s me.”
The two women exchange pleased glances.
“We recognized you from the photos your grandmother passed around.”
The expression on Marissa’s face immediately morphs from practiced to pure delight.
“You knew my grandmother?”
The second woman nods.
“We played bridge together every Thursday. Judy was a pillar of the community. We all miss her terribly.”
She places a hand over Marissa’s and gives it a squeeze. “She loved you so much. I know she would be thrilled to see you back here. We lost a light when she passed, but seeing you, it’s like that flame has been reignited.”
I study Marissa’s face as she absorbs the woman’s words. Her eyes have turned glassy, and she blinks the tears back quickly before they can spill over.
“Thank you,” she says softly. “That really means a lot.”
The waitress returns shortly after they depart, and by the time we’ve placed our orders, Marissa’s whole demeanor has changed. It’s like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and consequently, from mine as well. Seeing her happy makes me happy.
We’ve barely finished our meal when my phone starts to ring. Glancing down at my screen, I see my brother’s number. A prickle of fear races up my chest. He never calls me, always texts.
What if something happened to Charlotte?
Ever since that fateful call about my dad, my mind always goes to the worst-case scenario.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, doing my best to keep my voice steady. But annoyance replaces concern when I hear Toby’s slurred, cheerful voice on the other end of the line.
“Heyyyy, big brother,” he drawls. “Whatcha doin’?”
I roll my eyes. I should have anticipated this. Shelby and Toby always get too excited when they’re off the parenting clock. I glance down at my watch and notice it’s only 7:30 PM. This is a poor showing, even for them.
“Dinner,” I reply tightly. “Where are you?”
From across the table, Marissa meets my gaze and raises her eyebrows.
My brother, I mouth to her silently. She nods and I feel a twinge of guilt for neglecting to mention that she’s with me.
Toby hiccups in my ear. “We’re down at Monkeyshines. They had Power Hour tonight!”
Shelby’s voice comes over the line. “Yes, but most importantly, we are up next for karaoke! And Jesse, I know what you’re going to say, but you need to trust me on this.
I have untapped vocal talents, and this is my moment to shine.
You need to get down here to watch, because when we take the stage, it’s going to be a life-changing experience for everyone in the audience. ”
I rub a thumb over my temple. Normally, I find their shenanigans entertaining, even if I pretend to be annoyed. But tonight, I wanted more uninterrupted time with Marissa. Doesn’t seem like that’s in the cards, though.
“Yes, I’m sure it will be an unforgettable performance. Listen, I’m wrapping up here, but stay where you are. I’ll pick you up in twenty.”
Marissa is eyeing me with amusement when I disconnect the call.
“Sorry to do this, but we should get going. After I drop you off, I need to go rescue my brother and sister-in-law. They’re about to make absolute fools of themselves at karaoke night.” Not to mention ruin the vibe.
She lets out a low snort. “Yeah, there’s a zero percent chance I’m not coming with you.”
I shake my head. “I promise you aren’t missing a thing. Just a couple of sloppy thirty-somethings who regress to teenagers the minute they’re childless.”
The waitress returns with the check. Marissa makes a move for her purse, but I wave her off. “I got this. I told you I wanted to take you out for the evening.”
“And you did. I had a lovely time. But now you’ve piqued my interest. So, I’m volunteering as second-in-command for this extraction mission.”
“I appreciate the offer, but don’t you need to get back?”
She waves me off. “Please. Rocky can watch his own kids for once in his life.”
Unfortunately, it’s exactly the right thing to say to me. Because as much as I know I’ll regret bringing her along, I’m more eager to help her stick it to her ex. And she’s right: She deserves a night off.
“What’s your tolerance for the scent of fried food and stale beer?”
She shoots me a dazzling grin, and my chest goes tight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful woman before in my life, and suddenly it’s difficult to breathe.
“I have a very high tolerance for smells of all varieties. I have two kids, remember?”
I give her a half smile imbued with a playful warning. She asked for it.
“Well then, let’s go.”