Chapter 22Jack
Chapter 22
Jack
Today is a great day.
Man, does it feel good to be home , I think, as I cruise down the highway past orange-and-red cliff walls.
The sun’s shining. Nola’s in the backseat with her nose stuck out the open window.
I can see her when I glance in the side mirror. She’s got a big, goofy grin on her lips, and her fur is getting pulled back by the wind.
“You’re going to like her, bud,” I say, “when you meet her.”
The first sights of downtown Moab come into view as I cruise up over a rise. I love my town.
Main Street is busy. When I stop at a red light, Nola barks at an eighteen-wheeler that rolls up beside us.
I give the trucker a wave. He chuckles at Nola’s spunky barking.
When the light turns green, I hit the gas and merge into the left lane. My truck rumbles. This thing’s old, but it’s got horsepower.
There’s a coffee shop up here that whips up good smoothies. I just went for a strenuous ride on my dirt bike and could use a cold drink.
My favorite parking spot is free. “Life is good,” I tell Nola as she jumps onto the console and settles into the front seat.
She wags her tail.
She knows this spot. She likes to watch the dogs who trot through the outdoor seating area with their owners.
I lean across the console to hug her. It was so great to pick her up from my buddy’s house when I got back into town last night.
My high spirits aren’t only because I’m once again cruising with my pup, enjoying the dirt bike ride I just took, or enjoying the blackberry smoothie waiting for me.
I’m this happy because every couple of minutes, I remember .
I flew to Hawaii as a single guy.
I flew home in a relationship.
Man…
Hazel Thorpe.
What a trip that was.
I shake my head, thinking of her. She threw me for a loop in the best way. The whole time on the island was amazing, and now I’m just basking in the glow.
When her name crosses the truck’s dashboard, I pick up via my truck’s Bluetooth with a tap on the steering wheel. “Hey, no way. I was just thinking about you.”
“Jack,” she says. Her sweet voice comes through all the truck’s speakers.
Nola perks her ears and tilts her head.
I stroke the top of my dog’s head. “This is her,” I want to tell Nola. “ The woman I’ve been telling you about.”
But now Hazel’s talking, so I can’t explain things to my dog.
Hazel sounds seriously worried.
“I think we have a problem on our hands,” she says in a rush. “It could be no big deal, but it could be horrible. Have you heard from the company’s legal department?”
I scrunch my brow. “No…”
“You might. This woman, Marissa Snell, left me a voicemail a couple of minutes ago, and I bet she’ll try to get in touch with you, too. I’m glad we’re talking first.”
I prop my elbow on the truck door, where the window’s all the way down.
A guy I know from town ambles past. I give him the nod and wave but make it clear I’m on the phone so he doesn’t come my way for a chat.
“So, what did the voicemail say?” I say into the truck.
Hazel’s voice is loud and clear in the truck speakers, but she suddenly feels far away.
Because she is far away.
Not that long ago, we were in Hawaii together.
Today, we’re in separate time zones.
Separate states.
There are thousands of miles between us.
I knew it would be tough. Of course, I did. But I didn’t expect to have to face something serious so soon.
How is the legal department already all up in our business? It barely makes sense.
“She said she wants to talk to me about you , Jack. She’ll probably try to get both sides of the story, so we should get on the same page.”
“Okay…” My throat’s parched with all the dust I swallowed on my ride.
Hazel goes on. “I guess Devina did catch that photo you posted online. The one of you and me, that first night on the island. She saved it and made sure Fabian saw it. You know his M.O. He runs a tight ship.”
I squint out into the sunlight. Is that Jess going into the coffee shop?
It is.
The guy beside her holds the door. She flips her straight, blonde hair over her shoulder before entering. It’s longer than the last time I saw her by a good six inches.
It looks like she also got a couple of new tattoos down one arm and on her upper back.
“I think we have to go into full-on defensive mode,” Hazel continues.
I hate how afraid she sounds. This is my fault . I was the one who put the pressure on during those last few hours on the beach.
I didn’t think it would come to this, though.
“How?” I ask.
“Well, that’s what I’m trying to figure out right now. I mean, as we speak. And honestly, thinking on the fly is not easy for me. Hang on.” I hear dishes clink together, then the sound of her sipping something.
If I know Hazel, it’s probably coffee.
“This is about red tape,” she says, her tone now hushed. “I guess… I guess we’re going to have to play their game… Not that I want to, but if we don’t, we might lose our jobs.”
“Okay…” I tug the brim of my trucker hat side to side, just for something to do with my hands.
I want to leap into action. Save the day, somehow.
But how am I supposed to do that when I barely know what’s going on?
“Hang on.” I rap my knuckles restlessly against the truck door. “You’re saying Devina, like, tattled on us? That is so lame.”
“Lame, but strategic. She’s in the last throes of her life with Buzzy, you know, that fight-or-flight stage. And she’s choosing to fight. I don’t like the idea of just letting it unfold without at least trying to fight back. I’ve worked really hard to get where I am, and so have you.”
“We’re not going to let some dumb photo cost us our jobs,” I assure her. It comes out sounding a lot more sure than I feel.
Man, that was stupid of me.
I left that photo up on Instagram for too long.
I stopped keeping track of who I’m ‘friends’ with on that platform long ago. I don’t take note of every single person who reacts or comments on my photographs. But maybe if I’d paid a little more attention, we could’ve avoided this.
I don’t really care if I lose this job. In the big picture, it’s just a job. A way to pay the bills so I can live my life doing the things I actually care about.
If I lose it, I’ll get another.
But Hazel…
Hazel cares about her work. That was one of the first things she said to me last week. I can still remember how she looked at me, with so much concern in her pretty eyes. “You’re the fast-lane type. Living big, taking chances. But that’s not me. I am a careful person… and I care about work.”
She said that.
A vague sense of anxiety creeps into my chest.
I can’t let her lose her job over this.
“We’ll get through this,” I promise her. “Whatever it takes. You’re right… Devina’s desperate ’cause she’s on her way out. She’s stoking the flames, getting her last round of drama going before she takes her final bow.”
“I know… that’s all this is, right? Her last big hurrah?”
“That’s all this is.” I clench my jaw and fight down a wave of anger. How can Devina put Hazel through this? All Hazel’s trying to do is perform well at work.
“Look,” I say, “if the issue is this ridiculous dating policy, let’s just spin it so we’re coloring inside the lines. We’ll say we’re not dating. All they have is one photo, right?”
She hesitates.
For a long time.
I hear her sip coffee again.
I wish I were right there with her, in whatever room she’s in. I wish I could pull her in for a hug and hold her tight.
I can’t right now, but I will one day soon.
Airfare isn't that expensive these days. Deals pop up, especially for last-minute flights.
Maybe I’ll surprise her…
“Yeah,” she says finally, with a big exhale. “I think this whole thing is based on that one photograph, which is just us posing together. We could’ve just been hanging out. Being friendly, after we got together to discuss work. There is no evidence we did anything wrong.”
“So, is that our story?”
“I think it should be, but I hate the idea of lying…” She falls silent again.
I can imagine her furrowed brow and how she’s probably clutching her mug.
“I mean,” she adds, “fibbing to my mom was one thing… but this is bigger.”
I draw in a deep breath. How can I make this better for her?
“Okay, how’s this?” I say. “How about if I tell you everything I said in Hawaii meant nothing? Empty words. I never had the intention of following through.”
She sighs.
Is it due to relief?
I hope so.
“You’re breaking up with me,” she says, voice hushed.
I think she sounds happy. I can’t be sure because everything’s a little off, coming through the speakers like it is.
“So that you don’t have to lie,” I tell her. “This way, it’s like we never dated. All that happened was that I made some big promises. All fluff with no weight to it. Then the official story is that we never had a real relationship.”
“Did we kiss?” she asks.
“That’s up to you.”
“I think we have to say we did, but it won’t happen again.”
“Cool. Then that’s how we’ll play it. A few mistaken kisses, a few empty words, nothing serious going on. The policy’s about dating, right? Now they have nothing to hold against us.”
She sighs again. “Wow. Okay… Thank you. This is helping. I was considering hiring a lawyer; they could look closer at the policy's wording and help us protect ourselves.”
“I’ll split the bill with you.”
“No, no, I’ll get it.”
“You sure? We’re both in this hot water.”
“It’s no problem. I have the funds. I—thank you, Jack. I think this is the right path.”
“You got it.”
When we get off the line, I hop out of my truck. All this red tape stuff is annoying, but I can see why Fabian What’s his name has to consider it. He created the policy so his business would operate smoothly, and I get why he tries to enforce it.
But as far as I’m concerned, what Hazel and I do on our off time is none of his dang business.
How we feel about each other—that’s private.
So, whatever story we have to spin is just that. A story.
Hazel and I know what’s really going on.
We hit it off. We clicked .
I’ll duck and dodge this red tape for weeks if we have to.
Inside the shop, I glance around for Jess and her man, but I don’t see them. The place is packed, and there’s a long line waiting for service.
A text from Hazel comes in when I’m about three people away from reaching the register.
Hazel: Okay, I contacted a lawyer. He wants both of us to talk to him as soon as possible. Would you be up for a Skype call in about an hour?
I’m in, I type.
Just then, it’s my turn to order. I slide my phone into my back pocket and ask for my usual Superfood Berry Blast.
While waiting for the barista to blend it up, I catch a whiff of a very familiar perfume.
By the time I turn, her arms are already wide open. “Jack!” she says while wrapping me in a hug.
“Oh, wow—Jess,” I say into her hair.
She gives me an extra tight squeeze. “So great to see you!”
I force a smile as she lets me go. “You too.” It’s not great to see her; it's just something I have to say.
I could do without this right now.
I’ve got enough on my mind without having to deal with seeing her in person for the first time in about a year. Plus, now I’m probably going to have to meet her fiancé.
Yep.
Called it.
She waves her new partner over. “Hey, you got a sec? I want you to meet someone. This is Travis!”
The next thing I know, I’m shaking some bro’s hand. He’s a lanky dude with a bunch of rings on his fingers and a thick chain around his neck. His clenched jaw tells me he’s having a rough day.
I remember days like that with Jess. She could make even a minor outing into a headache.
How long have they known each other? I wonder as I look between them.
I messaged with Jess a lot before I left for Hawaii, and she never mentioned this guy. Plus, she’s an open book online. She shares everything, from what she eats for breakfast to her mood before bed. I never saw any pictures of him on her various profiles.
She whips her hair off her shoulder and flashes me a smile. “So, oh my gosh! It really is great to see you. I was wondering when we would bump into you. I was so excited about showing this place off to my new honey that I almost forgot you’re here these days. When I remembered, I was totally excited!”
Then, without batting an eye, she proffers her hand. There’s a massive diamond ring on her left ring finger.
Jess is eager to show it off.
It might have upset me a week ago. If this little encounter was how I found out about her engagement, I’d be a wreck right now. But I got my head straight in Hawaii. Jess can live her life how she wants to, and it has nothing to do with me.
I peer at the ring while uttering the expected words. “Wow, look at that. Nice. Congratulations.”
The thing’s ginormous.
Extravagant.
Must’ve cost this guy a fortune.
So… he’s got money.
I take another look at him and note a few things I missed before. He’s in designer jeans, and those sneakers are of the thousand-dollar variety. Bet that chain around his neck is actual gold.
Well, hopefully, he has more good qualities than the ability to buy big diamonds. I wish them nothing but the best.
I found happiness, and I hope Jess does, too.
“Babe, did you even get us a table in the shade?” she asks Travis out of the blue.
“I, uh…” he mumbles.
She quirks a brow, then folds her arms over her chest. Her irritation sparks, searing hot. “So… What? We have to, like, sit out in the sun? You know I’m trying to avoid tan lines.”
“Yeah, yeah… right. I’ll go see if I can snag something.”
The poor dude scurries away.
Was I that bad when Jess and I were together?
I remember exchanges like this, but I couldn’t see clearly when I was in them. I heard her demands and knew she was high-maintenance, but I put up with it because it was easier than resisting.
“How’d you two meet?” I can’t help but ask.
“Oh, it was awesome.” Now that he’s gone, her irritation fades, and she goes back to being Perky Jess. “It was at this sick party, at my friend’s place—lots of big-deal celebrities. Musicians, actors, actresses, you name it. You know that punk band Lost in London?”
I scratch the back of my head. “I think maybe…”
“Well, they’re a big deal, so I’m sure you do. Travis’ brother plays drums. Also, his dad owns an airline.”
“Wow, how about that.”
“Yeah, I know, right? So cool. Anyway, they’re all real jet setters, you know? His dad bought them all this trip to Greece, and Travis invited me, and we just figured, why not make it official first? He popped the question when we were in Vegas for his brother’s show. It was a totally crazy weekend.”
“Sounds it…”
She leans to the side so she can see the outdoor seating area. When she smiles at Travis, it’s bright and sweet, like she didn’t just rip into the guy for slacking on his table-procuring duties.
“Anyway, it’s super great to see you. Travis saw some of the pics on your Insta and wanted to check this place out. We’re here for a few more weeks, so if you want to chill, gimme a call.”
She pulls her aviators out of her shoulder bag and pops them on. “Okay, looks like he got us something with at least some shade. I have got to sit. My feet are on fire in these friggin’ shoes.”
She clops away on her teetering high heels, leaving me in a cloud of perfume.
How did I live with her?
Why?
It’s a mystery to me that I cannot figure out with certainty right now. But I do have a couple of sneaking suspicions. When we met, I had sponsors for my riding. I was getting press, spots on television, interviews, all that. I was a ‘big deal’ in the motorsports world. Maybe Jess liked that… and I liked having a number-one fan.
I’m glad I’m over that chapter of my life.
I feel like I’ve matured a lot since we were together. For the first time, it really hits me that my relationship with Jess was based on my celebrity status within my sport. After my accident, I stopped doing stunts, and I lost sponsors. Of course, Jess and I fell apart. Looking back on it now, it all seems so shallow and unhealthy.
The barista sets my smoothie on the counter. I pick up the frosty, ice-cold beverage and take a long slurp.
For the next forty-five minutes, I sit in my truck with Nola, feeding her treats while I suck down my lunch.
I can see the coffee shop’s outdoor seating area from my driver’s seat. Jess has this Travis guy wrapped around her finger. It’s unnerving to watch how she orders him around: he’s up and down, getting the sun umbrella right, tossing her trash for her, grabbing her a cup of water. I wonder how badly I was under her spell for those years I was with her.
It feels sort of surreal to watch her ordering around a new guy.
I chose to only see the best in her. I ignored the rest.
I was wearing rose-colored glasses.
Then a really unnerving thought hits me: Am I doing that with Hazel, too?
I stood in the coffee shop, judging Jess and Travis because they quickly got together. When she said that thing about how they ‘made it official’ during a wild weekend in Vegas, I cringed.
Because… really?
Marriage is sacred.
Love is sacred.
It’s got to be based on genuine feelings, real intimacy.
I doubt the two of them even know what they’re doing. They’re two lonely and lost people trying to grab whatever pleasure they can.
Jess wanted a fat diamond.
This dude, who knows? I can’t help but wonder if he wanted a tall blonde in heels with the right number of tattoos. Heck, he might have even tipped the scales and bought that new ink on her arm for her, just so she’d look the part.
I’m not a cynical guy.
Not really.
I’d rather look at the bright side and see the best in people.
But here in my truck, as I watch my ex and her new fiancé, I’m really struggling to do that.
When I realize it’s been an hour since Hazel texted me, I rummage for my laptop. The battery’s low. Shoot .
I know that the inside of the coffee shop is packed—there’s no way I’ll be able to sit and plug in without waiting around first.
A table in the outdoor seating area has just opened up. It’s near the brick wall, where I’ve plugged into exterior outlets before.
It’s also right behind Jess and Travis.
Great.
I’m going to have to sit near my ex while talking to Hazel and some lawyer.
“Here goes nothing,’’ I tell Nola as I give her a last pat on the head.
She whines.
She likes this about as much as I do.