Page 31 of Love and Loathing

Jacob turned on the sofa to face Caroline. “I don’t blame you for not believing me. He’s a really charming guy.”

Charming? Jessie thought that was going a bit far. More like indifferently kind, but only when forced.

Caroline’s face went red as a beet. “I’m sorry, Jacob. I didn’t mean to imply you were lyin’, just that maybe … there was some kind of misunderstanding.”

“Have you always been so kind?” Jacob asked.

Caroline dropped her head.

“Well, you’re probably right,” Jacob said. “There probably was a misunderstanding.”

Caroline gave him a little smile.

“Oh, please,” Cecilia said. “There was no misunderstanding. Alexander Young is a jerk. We’ve seen how he is. He always avoids everyone at church, barely comes into town to avoid us, and he pushed Jessie in a fountain.”

Jessie shook her head. “That’s not exactly what happened.” She’d seen him sign lots of autographs at church. But sometimes he stormed off after church before anyone could talk to him, and she often felt that he was baiting her into fighting with him. No more. For Caroline’s and Charlie’s sakes—and if she was being honest, for the ten thousand—she’d keep her job, but she had every intention of keeping as far away from him as possible.

* * *

Jessie didn’t say much at dinner while Jacob regaled the family with stories of his travels over the last couple of years. Her plans to try to get info out of Jacob about Daniel were pushed to the dark recesses of her brain, only popping in between her barrage of infuriating thoughts about Alex. And thoughts about herself. She had almost started to believe he was a nice guy.

Jacob said something that made everyone except for her dad laugh.

Caroline kicked her under the table, then leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Are you listening?”

Jessie sat up and forced a smile. “Yes, sorry.” She glanced around at the smiling faces at the table. “No, sorry. What’s happening?”

Caroline covered her mouth with her napkin. “Just pay attention.” She placed her napkin back in her lap.

“So,” Cecilia said. “Where was your favorite place you’ve ever been?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Jacob said. “The Maldives. Quaint little tourist towns, amazing snorkeling and canoeing, white sandy beaches. I’d go back there in a heartbeat.”

“Sounds romantic.” Stars formed in Maggie May’s eyes.

Jacob winked at Jessie. “To be sure.”

Jessie tried to join the convo. “When did you go to the Maldives?”

He glanced down. “A few years ago.”

The table went silent.Nice one, Jessie. Way to kill the conversation.

Cecilia shimmied in her seat. “Well, when summer comes, I’m getting out of here. Maybe I’ll go to the Maldives.”

“Since when have you planned on leaving?” Ma asked.

“Since forever,” Cecilia said.

Jessie shook her head. “The Maldives aren’t cheap, Cecilia.”

“I know that,” Cecilia snapped. “I’ve got twenty thousand dollars in the bank. I’ve been saving since middle school.”

Everyone went silent. Ma dropped her fork. Jessie’s gaze snapped to her dad. He nodded, affirming Cecilia’s claim.

“Dang, girl,” Jacob said. “That’s more money than I’ve ever saved at one time, and I’m twenty-six. How old are you?”

Cecilia gave him a flirty grin. “Nineteen.”

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