by Sam Destiny
“Then let’s find her and make sure that’s the case,” he smiled, being glad nonetheless that he was right there by her side.
Tessa couldn’t help but feel stronger just because she knew Jazz was there. He was a very welcome surprise. Even though somewhere in the back of her mind the comment his friend had made still lingered, she had the feeling that Jazz meant all he had said.
“She has red curls, very long and she usually…” Tessa looked around the airport, feeling worry take over. Evy had been a crying mess on the phone and patience had obviously been running thin with her. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she simply had gone and grabbed a cab. “She is…”
“Tess, look,” Jazz said, pointing straight ahead, right at where her best friend was standing.
The moment Evy spotted her, she abandoned her luggage and hugged Tessa tight, her body being shaken by sobs. Holding her friend Tessa watched Jazz collect the bags, bringing them over to where they stood.
There was no use in asking what was wrong; Evy could barely breathe through her heavy sobs.
“Whatever it is, we’ll make it through,” Tessa promised.
“I’m not gonna survive,” Evy replied, crying more.
“You will,” Tessa assured, feeling tears come to her own eyes. Jazz reached out, cupping her cheek and she couldn’t help but lean into the touch.
“How about we take you away from the airport and back to Hilary’s place?” Tessa asked gently and her friend pulled back suddenly, blinking.
“We?” she asked and Tessa softly wiped away her tears.
“Yes, we have the hottest cabby and best protector you can find in the world. Evangeline, meet Jazz … my savior,” she introduced, watching with a grin as Evy blushed deeply. Jazz simply seemed to have that effect on women.
“Hey. I’m glad we found you. Tess will make it all better with a smile,” he promised and Evy looked back at her, wide-eyed.
“You brought a guy to witness my misery?” she asked and Tessa took a deep breath.
“Did you want her running around alone at night in the middle of California?” Jazz asked before Tessa had said anything at all.
“No, of course not. I’m sorry. Thank you for taking her,” Evy mumbled quietly, tears starting to fall down her cheeks another time. “Please, I don’t think I can handle the girls yet,” she then added.
“Then we won’t go back,” Tessa promised, but she had no idea where else they could go.
“Come on, I know exactly the right place for us,” Jazz said and then shouldered Evy’s bags. Tessa wanted to kiss him simply because she would be lost without him. Again.
They settled into his truck, the girls in the back so Tessa could keep holding onto her best friend. Evy was back to constantly crying and it worried her.
Jazz parked some twenty minutes later, getting out and grabbing two blankets from the floor of the truck.
“It’s cold, so you might want to pull over another sweater, Evangeline. Tess, here, take mine.” He had a smug grin on his face. Puzzled, she put on the hoodie he handed her. How many guys had folded and freshly cleaned clothes with them at all times?
Getting out, Tessa took a deep breath. They were a little outside of Monterey, standing in a parking lot that looked down onto the water. Even though it was dark, Tessa could make out the waves rolling in. The moon and the stars shone bright above them and it was the perfect spot for Evy to calm down.
Jazz placed the blankets on the bed of his truck and then helped them up before jumping after them with ease. The girls sat down and he covered them with the second blanket.
“I’ll be in the car,” he said softly. “Take as much time as you need,” he added, but Evy held him back.
“You can stay with us,” she whispered and Jazz’s eyes shot up to Tessa’s face. She just smiled. He moved to sit down next to her, close enough so she knew he was there and yet not to close so he would be pushing it.
Evy moved, resting her head in Tessa’s lap. They listened to the waves for the longest time and Tessa noticed how Evy finally started to calm down.
“I really messed up, Tessy,” she eventually whispered.
“Well, we’ll sort it out. No matter how long it takes, or how much we need to invest, we’ll figure it out,” Tessa instantly replied, knowing it was the truth. Together they’d be able to handle anything.
“Not this. I slept with my boss four months ago. It had been before I got my promotion. Now I can’t help but think that was the reason I got it. Anyways, it was a one-time thing, you know, but…” Evy didn’t say more and she didn’t need to. Tessa could imagine all that was left unsaid.
“You’re pregnant and he says it’s not his, right? Did he fire you, too?” she asked quietly and Evy shrugged.
“If I keep quiet and not tell anyone, he’d be ready to tolerate me. After all, how would he explain first promoting me and then kicking me out? If I keep my mouth shut I get to keep my awesome job.”
“That’s blackmail, babe,” Tessa said, clearly outraged. There was no doubt though that Evy had realized that much already.
“He asked me not to keep the baby anyway. The job is just part of it. I worked hard for this position and yet…” She broke off, shaking her head. “What in the world am I supposed to do with a child? My life is over…” Again she started to cry and Tessa looked at Jazz. He was staring ahead as if trying hard not to hear what the girls said. She beckoned him closer, raising the blanket so he’d be with them underneath it.
“I can’t believe you are getting ready to cuddle up while I’m in pieces here,” Evy mumbled, not moving from her lap though. Tessa laughed, kissing her best friend’s cheek before turning just a little so she was indeed cuddled up with Jazz.
Combing through her best friend’s hair, she softly started to hum one of the nineties songs Evy loved so much.
“Westlife,” her best friend mumbled and Tessa changed her tune.
“Britney Spears,” was the next answer.
They played that game a little while longer until Jazz tried his luck.
“Ozzy Osborn?” Evy asked.
“No,” Jazz replied, trying it again. Tessa knew that he was humming the song wrong on purpose.
“You really suck at this,” Evy grumbled, but Tessa could hear the smile in her voice. “Thank you, both of you,” Evy then added.
“There’s nothing you need to be thanking us for,” Tessa replied, feeling Jazz nod as well.
“So, what’s this? A weird kind of first date?” Evy wanted to know and Tessa shrugged, leaving it to Jazz to answer.
“I was hoping to get Tessa to spend her next few weeks with me. I wanted to be all charming, and pay for all her stuff so she’d be impressed. I was hoping she’d give me another one of those sweet smiles I saw the first day at the airport,” he replied.
“I think I just threw up in my mouth,” Evy groaned and Jazz laughed, making Tessa feel all warm inside.
“Okay, I was actually thinking I might get that chick to show me and ma buddies a good time. You know, spank her and spoil her until she’s begging for ma juices,” Jazz corrected.
“Eww,” Tessa exclaimed, playfully slapping him.
“That’s more like it,” Evy laughed, coming up shortly to poke his chest, before settling back down. “You know, please don’t spill your juices on her while I’m there,” she then added and Tessa cried in outrage.
“I’m still here! No one’s spilling any juices on anyone! Seriously, I’m a decent girl!” Tessa protested.
“A decent girl in need of some hot action with an even hotter guy,” Evy insisted and Tessa felt her cheeks heat, hiding her face in her hands with a groan. She couldn’t believe Evy had said that. She’d never ever be able to look at Jazz again.
She felt how Jazz kissed the side of her head, chuckling quietly.
“She’s lying,” Tessa mumbled.
“Figured,” he replied and still Tessa could hear the grin in his voice.
“This is embarrass
ing. I so want to die right now,” she told him, her voice quiet as a whisper.
“No, you don’t,” he promised, squeezing her shoulder. Even though the circumstances that had brought them there weren’t ideal, she still liked being so close to him.
“No, I don’t,” she agreed, turning her head slightly so she could press her lips against his fingers resting on her shoulder still. “So, tell me about how you accidentally showed up in the same bar we went to, planning to spill your juices,” she demanded and this time it was his turn to groan.
“I just wanted to make her smile,” he told her and she couldn’t help but tease him some more.
“That’s what he said,” she agreed and he sighed.
“Hilary showed up at the gates of my base. She caught the attention of quite a few of my comrades. Told them to tell me I had her number if I thought I had reason to call. Believe it or not, Tank called her up.”
“Your asshole friend?”
“My best friend, yes,” he agreed and she cringed.
“I’m sorry I said asshole about him, but he kind of is one,” she apologized, feeling how he nodded.
“Unfortunately that’s true,” he agreed. “Tank was annoyed with me because I couldn’t focus. You’ve been on my mind constantly. You stole my sweater,” he said matter-of-factly and she wanted to say something, but Jazz laughed.
“I know, I know, you didn’t steal it. I actually liked you in my clothes and wanted you to take it. Anyways, we agreed to meet and I planned on convincing Hilary that I’m not as bad as she obviously thinks I am, but considering the fact that I left her alone with Tank this might actually not be working in my favor.” He moaned. “And I wanted to make a great impression.”
“She’s something else, our Hils,” Tessa said, thinking that she needed to buy Hilary something she loved. Something big.
“I’m glad you’re here, no matter what she thinks about you in the end. After all, you didn’t come for her.”
“No, I came for you. And boy, I’m so glad I did.”
Jazz never knew that a night on the back of his truck could be as great as this one. He was pretty proud of himself for thinking about his favorite vantage point because he had gotten the chance to hold Tessa. It felt exactly right and it scared him.
“She fell asleep,” Tessa eventually whispered and Jazz sighed.
“I should take you both home,” he replied and she gently shook her best friend’s shoulder, but the girl didn’t even react. Without thinking twice Jazz scooped Tessa’s best friend up, gently moving down the back of the truck and placing her in the backseat, wrapping the blanket around her again while Tessa collected the one they had sat on.
“You know, if she’s pregnant you might want to makes sure she eats more, because, I swear, she’s too skinny,” he reported and she nodded. He closed the door and she held him back before he could get into the car.
“You have no idea how much it means to me what you’ve been doing for us tonight,” Tessa said and he drew her in, kissing her forehead. She cuddled against him, letting Jazz hold her for a long moment, then she moved around and sat down in the passenger seat. He liked that, taking her hand for the drive back. Tessa told him the address where her friend Hilary lived.
“Evy’s dead to the world,” she said gently, throwing a glance back at her best friend. It was clear that Tessa was still worried, but Jazz could understand as well why she hadn’t pressed for more info. It was pretty obvious that Evangeline wasn’t exactly in the condition to go into more detail.
“The way I see it, she probably hasn’t slept in a while. She was worried and clearly felt devastated, so no wonder she is exhausted now. I’ll carry her inside for you,” he promised and she looked at him, squeezing his hand thankful for his help.
“I hope tomorrow she’ll start at the beginning and tell me everything so I know how to help. She was supposed to fly with me, but bailed out four weeks before we left and now, suddenly, she’s here…”
“She probably needed to get away … or see her best friend,” he suggested, parking the car in the driveway. The house was dark, but his headlights illuminated the front slightly.
“I’m gonna go and see if we’ll get inside, otherwise…”
“I’ll wait until the rest of your girls come back,” he promised, seeing her worried expression. He didn’t mind staying a little longer.
“How will I ever pay you back?” she mumbled, wanting to get out. He stopped her so he could pull her against him, kissing her softly on the lips.
“Now we’re even,” he smiled and saw how she took a deep breath and then got out. Only a few seconds later she came back.
“Hils left the door unlocked and prepared a room for Evy. If you really don’t mind carrying her…”
He didn’t let her finish, already carefully pulling the sleeping girl in his arms. “Leave the bags, I’ll come and get them as soon as we settled her in,” he promised and a thankful expression crossed Tessa’s face.
It was a neat house, but there was no denying that four girls were occupying it. He saw brushes and ponytail holders everywhere. It smelled of different perfumes and faintly of hair products. He secretly grinned to himself, following Tessa into a clean room. In the light that came in from the hallway he placed Tessa’s best friend on the bed and then stepped back.
“I’ll get her things,” he said while Tessa already sat down on her best friend’s side. She didn’t even look up, but simply nodded.
Getting the one suitcase the girl brought, and her carry-on, he sighed. Just by the weight in his hands he knew the girl hadn’t packed much, yet again proving that this trip most likely had been a last minute action.
Tessa closed the door after they both left the room, telling him to wait before she vanished, only to return a few seconds later with his sweater in her hand.
She gave it back to him and a wave of her unique scent surrounded him.
“Sneaky,” he grinned.
“Just making sure you won’t hand it to any other girl you might pick up somewhere,” she teased and he instantly sobered.
“I’m not like that. This thing with you … it’s the first time in years that I’ve even bothered to talk to any girl outside of work. I…”
She placed her fingertips against his lips, making him shiver.
“I just want to make sure that every girl out there thinks you’re taken,” she whispered, moving in until her body was flush against his.
“How long will you be staying?”
“Three weeks total.”
“Be mine then for that time and you won’t have to worry anyway,” he told her, seeing her lips form a surprised ‘o’. “I don’t need an answer right now, but your friend has my number. Let me know what you think,” he went on, framing her face to kiss her deeply. He wanted to know that she’d see him again during her time there. Spending time with her seemed like the best idea he ever had and yet, he needed to know that she’d be only his as long as she was there. Just the thought of some other guy being close to her made him want to throw a punch. “Don’t make me wait too long though.”
With that he left the house, pausing in the driver’s seat for a moment. He hadn’t even started the car when the front door opened and his phone vibrated. Tessa smiled, showing him a phone and then pointed at his car.
“You’ll need to share me with the girls though,” he read the text message out in a low whisper, then he looked up, giving her a soft smile that said it all.
Chapter Five
Tessa was already awake when Hilary entered. In fact, she had barely slept at all. Whenever she thought back to the night before, she couldn’t help but feel torn. Her worry over Evy was unbroken, yet she knew that nothing bad could happen any longer. Her best friend was here and Tessa wouldn’t neglect her again like she had been doing before she leaving. She had been too wrapped up in her own misery to give Evy’s strange behavior enough thought.
“Morning, Tess,” Hilary yawned.
T
essa had to hide a smirk. Hilary sounded more than just a little annoyed.
“How about I make you coffee and pancakes for breakfast?” she offered, hoping to pacify her friend.
“How about you don’t come into my bedroom at three in the morning to demand my fucking phone?” Hilary gave back and Tessa had to laugh.
“What did she need your phone for? Morning, ladies,” Aimie said, coming in to join them.
“She texted Soldier boy. Something about needing to share her with us,” Hilary announced and Tessa gave her a long look. “What? It’s my phone! I can snoop around in it all I want.”
“She wanted you to read that or she would have deleted it,” Aimie explained, giving Tessa a grin.
“Why are you all up already?” Emma asked, joining the three. She was still in her PJs, making Tessa consider changing back into hers as well. She would have liked a lazy day at home.
Her friend yawned and Hilary pointed at Tessa. “She didn’t go to sleep. I fear that our girls’ holiday will be interrupted and…”
Silence spread as Evy entered. One after the other, her friends went and hugged her, then they returned to the table, searching for something to say. Anything would do to break the tense silence.
“I think Jazz is a pretty good reason for Tessa to change up the plans a little bit. And hey, we can still have him bring along his hot buddies. I’m not saying that the taken ones from you should do anything wild, but the singles here…” Evy paused there to wriggle her eyebrows, yet to Tessa it was obvious she just made an effort for the girls. The sadness didn’t once leave her eyes and her smile was anything, but sincere. “We could get some action. And let’s face it … it doesn’t get hotter than Jazz,” Evy finished and Tessa felt her cheeks heat.
“No way, does that mean I’m supposed to go and sit in the corner while you three naughty women get out your tongues and…” Emma started, but Hilary just interrupted her.