Page 28 of Going Overboard

Plus, I’m so, so hungry. I’m edging into hangry, even. You won’t like me when I’m hangry.

Yep, I was right, Storm Caroline has blown through the breakfast room and told everyone about exactly what she saw – or thinks she saw, at least.

As I walk in, it feels like every head turns. Not in a ‘wow, who’s this beautiful woman?’ kind of way – more of a ‘that’s her, the one who fell in the fountain, spent the night with a man she just met, and is now wearing his tracksuit’ kind of way. Which, to be fair, is almost accurate.

The sleeves of Brody’s hoodie flop over my hands again so I push them back up. Chances I’m not going to dip a sleeve in my breakfast? Slim.

I spot Kelsey waving me over with a grin that is way too smug for this early in the morning.

I sit down beside her, trying to act casual (and pretending like I didn’t notice Todd and Nikki on the table behind her) like this isn’t the most theatrical walk of shame in history. Kelsey leans in immediately, barely containing herself.

‘Caroline’s already done the rounds,’ she tells me.

I blink, feigning innocence.

‘Rounds about what?’ I ask.

Kelsey tilts her head, clearly unimpressed by my performance.

‘Jessa, please. I might not have believed her, were you not currently dressed in Brody’s clothes.’

I glance down at my outfit. Yeah, fair enough, it does look exactly like what Caroline has been telling people, but I can feelTodd and Nikki behind us, probably listening in because they’re definitely within earshot.

I could tell the truth, I guess. Set the record straight that I slept in a bath because I had nowhere else to go, and Brody took double pity on me, giving me clothes to borrow… but wouldn’t it be delicious to lean into the story? To let Todd and Nikki think they’re old news. That Brody and I are so over them we spent the night together, and it was the best.

And maybe, just maybe, it’ll go some way to convincing Kelsey that I am okay with all of this. That I can handle this and her wedding will go without a hitch.

So I sigh, lean a little closer, and say, ‘Okay, fine. Just between us… I spent the night with Brody.’

Kelsey’s eyes go so wide I’m briefly concerned they might never go back to how they used to be.

‘Oh my God, really?’ she squeaks.

I nod. ‘Yes,’ I confirm, because it’s technically true.

‘How was it?’ she asks curiously.

I smile, slow and cheeky.

‘So good,’ I reply. ‘I spent most of the night in his Jacuzzi.’

Also true. Technically. Deeply pathetic, sure, but semi-factual nonetheless.

Kelsey fans herself with a napkin.

‘I knew there was something between you,’ she says. ‘It’s a good sign if he’s giving you clothes to wear. Boys only do that when they really like a girl.’

Or when the girl smells like a pond. I just smile and nod instead.

‘I’m starving,’ I say, standing up. ‘Let me get some food and then I’ll give you the rest of the horny details.’

Well, my stomach is grumbling, and it will buy me some time to make some things up.

As I stand up, I notice movement from the table behind. Todd and Nikki, mid-fake conversation, turn away quickly to pretend they weren’t listening in. You can tell by their body language that they heard me though.

Good!

I saunter over to the breakfast buffet with a little spring in my step.

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