Page 56 of Love and Loathing

“Way better than the pitch she showed us. The woman’s a marketing genius.” Jessie was so good, in fact, that he was entertaining the idea of hiring her permanently. He wondered if she’d go for that. Oh man, he hoped she would.

Charlie rested his elbows on his legs. “What if Caroline won’t take me back, Alex?”

“She will.”

“How do you know?”

He shrugged. “I don’t, but I do know a couple of things. For starters, she’s as miserable as you are.”

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s miserable?” The words came out pained. “I’m such a jerk.” He loved Caroline so much that her pain was his pain. Alex understood that. “What’s the other thing you know?”

“That you’ll be miserable for the rest of your life if you don’t try.” He came and sat next to him, ready to play the video.

“You’re right.”

“I know.” Alex slapped Charlie on the back. “Oh, and I also know that a girl like Caroline won’t stay single for long.”

Charlie’s eyes went wide, and Alex could swear he saw fear flash through them.

“Now, let’s watch this sucker.”

* * *

A little more than a week had passed since Jessie had last seen or heard from Alex. She’d almost texted him a couple times, but each time, confusion about how they’d left things prevented her. They’d been in a better place for sure, but the fourteen or so hours he’d spent with her had been so fraught with emotion over her sister that she couldn’t say for sure that his kind actions had been anything more than that.

Since he’d left, she’d found out about all the things he’d done, the lengths he’d gone to to help their town. He’d apparently talked to numerous fans while in town, and despite his distaste for his celebrity, he’d always been gracious. He’d spent several man hours at the construction site helping out where and when he was needed after Jacob had flaked on the job. And he’d purchased the land near the docks and gave it to the city. All without trying to seek credit or praise. So unlike Jacob or Daniel, who’d always, always made sure people knew theirgooddeeds. How she’d ever thought them good at any point in her life, and Alex bad, she couldn’t fathom.

She made her way down Main Street and stopped in at Harold’s Market for some blackberries. They were in season now, and local farms were selling to the store. She’d loved the things and popped them like Skittles during July. Speaking of Skittles, she’d get some of those too. Outside the market, ten-year-old Stu Filmore, Harold’s great-grandson, was packing the fruit stands with melons.

“Hey, Stu.” She winked at him as she entered the air-conditioned store.

“Hey, Jessie.” He waved.

She stopped in the door and fanned herself. It felt so good in here.

“Hot outside?” Pruny Filmore, Harold’s granddaughter, ran the register.

“It’s hotter than the blue blazes. I think it’s in the high nineties today.”

Pruny fanned her face with a magazine.

Jessie quickly grabbed her blackberries and Skittles and came back up front. She had a shift at the bookstore today and didn’t want to be late. While Pruny rang up her items, Jessie noticed the magazine Pruny used to fan herself with. Alex was on the cover with Roxy Beaumont—the woman at the café with pink hair. Jessie stopped breathing. She grabbed the magazine. It was dated last week.

“That’ll be three fifty-two, doll,” Pruny said.

She dropped the magazine. “I’ll take this too, please.”

Pruny was bagging her items when Stu ran inside. “Ma, come quick. You got to see this!”

“What is it?” Pruny said, coming around the register. “Wait!”

Stu was already outside.

Pruny shook her head. “Kids.”

They followed out together and stopped when they saw a crowd gathering around City Hall across the street.

“What on earth is goin’ on over there?” Pruny asked.

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