Yeah, after running into Wes, Maggie and I only swung by Aria’s place long enough to drop off the coffee we bought for everyone before making an excuse about needing to do some errands. Neither Jase nor Reed looked to be buying it, but with everything they’re working on right now, dropping this heaping load of bullshit into either of their laps wouldn’t be fair.
And because they’re preoccupied with the Aria situation, they’re none the wiser to Trent’s latest smear campaign. If they were, I wouldn’t be getting a mere phone call.
I do my best to reassure Jase that I’m fine, but I’m not sure how good of a job I do, especially when I ask if I can speak to Reed.
“Dolcezza?”
Even now, I can’t resist smiling upon hearing his nickname for me, and I’m pretty sure it’s the only thing that adds any brevity to my voice. “You wouldn’t happen to know anywhere in the south side that serves alcohol without an ID, would you?”
The question obviously takes Reed aback, because there’s an awkwardly long pause before he finally offers a recommendation.
And it couldn’t be more perfect. It’s right off Holland Street, only about three blocks from here.
“Should I be worried?”he asks.
I continue to eye the drugstore across the way, breaking out the umbrella I have stored behind the passenger seat. “Only if you’re my hair.”
CHAPTER 36
I LOVE IT WHEN IT RAINS
PRESENT
When I wokeup this morning, I didn’t have it on my Bingo card that I’d end up at a dive bar today. Yet, here I am. Cooper’s has all the classic features of a “hole in the wall”—low lighting, cheap liquor, and furniture two decades too old—but it’s also much cleaner than expected, which is a massive plus since I’ve spent the entire morning and most of the afternoon here. My intention was to just knock back a shot or a beer and face the music at Maggie’s, but once the salivating scent of steak and nachos hit my nose, I found myself taking a seat and grabbing a menu. I hadn’t eaten since last night, and to my amazement, the knots in my stomach weren’t enough to deter my appetite. Thankfully, given the time of day, the only other customers here are a few regulars who all prefer to keep to themselves. I’m able to sit snuggled up in the back booth with my beer and nachos and no one to bother me. Since my cell died a couple of hours ago, the only person keeping me company is the bartender-slash-cook, Al, who swings by my table every half hour or so to ask if I need anything. When a shadow falls across the table, I assume it’s him bringing me another beer, but when I look up, I’m not greeted by the sixty-something Santa look-alike.
“It’s still raining, I take it?” I smile sweetly, hoping for a smirk or a lopsided grin, but I’m rewarded with neither.
The front strands of Jase’s hair lay plastered to his forehead, and his t-shirt is damp enough to cling to his body, showing off the muscle definition of his chest and arms. The look would be swoon-worthy if not for his expression being a bit of a buzzkill. It’s not quite the same look Maggie gave me on the ride home—that blend of pity and concern—but it’s still in the ballpark, meaning he’s aware of the pictures.
I roll my eyes. “Did Maggie tell you, or should I just assume it’s splashed all across the news by now?”
“Not sure about the news, but given Trent and Sienna are still very much out for blood, I doubt even the squirrels in town haven’t heard,” he admits, brushing the damp hair away from his forehead.
I narrow my gaze at him. “How did you find me?”
I hadn’t told anyone where I would be, and the only person who would know is Reed. No way in hell would he rat me out.
At this, Jase finally cracks a grin. “I have my ways.”
When my expression doesn’t change, he actually chuckles.
“When I called you earlier from Reed’s phone, I was still standing there after I gave it back to him, so I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. Not to mention, I’m the one who told him about this place.”
Oh.
Jase proves his point by making some vague hand gestures towards Al, who just smiles and nods, immediately fetching a beer for him. When Jase returns to my table and slides into the vacant booth across from me, his own grin dissipates. “We all figured you wanted to be left alone, especially after Maggie said you wouldn’t talk about what happened after she dropped you off at your house, but with a couple of vengeful Untouchables on the loose, we were beginning to worry when you wouldn’tanswer any of our texts or calls.” He shrugs. “At least for Maggie or Reed, I mean.”
Because Ineverget Jase’s texts or calls.
With the chaos of last night and this morning, I had yet to process that little nugget, and now that I am… “Can I borrow your phone?”
Askinganyguy that is pretty much guaranteed to get you a cagey response, but Jase doesn’t hesitate to pull out his cell, unlock the screen, and slide it over to me. I keep the phone on the table so he can see I’m not snooping as I do some basic internet sleuthing.
And the results are what I expect. The three primary ways a phone number can be blocked on your phone are that 1.) you yourself blocked it, 2.) the person you’re trying to reach blocked you, or 3.) an account owner (be it a spouse, parent, etc.) contacted service provider directly to block the number in question without needing access to your phone.
The laugh that leaves me isn’t a welcoming one. I’m baring my teeth more than anything else. I already know the answer, but I have to ask. “Did either of your parents have an issue with me back in the day?”
This makes Jase chuckle, but not in the way I’d like. He’s wholly confused. “You never really got a chance to meet my old man, but since you were a straight-A student who never got in trouble and has a father who’s a famous athlete with a pristine record himself, my dad probably would have tried to get me to marry you for the positive PR if he found out. And my mom absolutely adored you. Why?”
