Page 48 of Sunsets at Seaside
“True,” Jenna agreed.
“We don’t. I don’t…” No, not handcuffs, but his hands worked perfectly well.
“Really?” Bella asked. “You should try them. But on a more serious note, we don’t judge each other. That’s not what girlfriends are for. Girlfriends are for calling each other on their bull, supporting each other when we’re down or frustrated, and…” She shrugged. “Maybe most important, we always, unconditionally and without judgment, have your back.”
She couldn’t stop envy from tumbling from her lips like pebbles. “You guys are so lucky to have each other.”
They all exchanged a glance she couldn’t read, and in the next second they were gathering around her for a group hug.
“You’re lucky, silly,” Amy said.
“Yeah. You’re a Seaside sister now.” Jenna kissed her cheek with a loudmmmwwwwaaahhh!
“Welcome to our little circle,” Leanna added.
As they settled back into their seats, leaving Jessica reeling with appreciation, Leanna asked, “So, Jamie’s meeting with his attorney today?”
“Yeah. There’s some issue at his office.” Jamie had assured her this morning that she hadn’t been keeping him from taking care of the work he needed to do, but even with his reassurance, she still worried.
“The guy’s a jerk,” Bella said. “He came up a few years ago to meet with Jamie about something and he was like…I don’t know. He’s slimy. I don’t like him.”
“He’s an attorney. What do you expect?” Leanna sipped her drink. “They have to be cutthroat.”
“I met him,” Jenna said. “When he was down that time. Remember, Bella? He’s not cutthroat. He’s like a snake in the grass. He stared at my boobs the whole time, then sidled up to me and propositioned me with a no-strings-attached offer of the best sex I ever had.” She said the last part with air quotes.
“Jamie said he’s a close friend. It sounded like they’d been friends forever. Did you tell him about it?” she asked Jenna.
“Of course I did.” Jenna pointed to a little girl in a pink bathing suit running in and out of the water’s edge beside the pier. “Oh my goodness she’s cute. Anyway, Jamie kind of blew it off. Made a joke or something. I got the feeling Mark did that stuff all the time, and really, what could Jamie have done about it? I mean, if he had touched me, Jamie would have torn him apart, but a proposition?” She shrugged.
“Really,” Bella said. “They’ve been buddies forever. I think Jamie ignores how slimy he is because he keeps Jamie’s business in line. It’s probably a good tradeoff. You don’t want a wussy attorney. You want a snake in the grass.”
“I can’t even imagine Jamie around a guy like that.” Jessica’s cell phone rang while she was still processing the information about Mark.
“Five bucks says it’s Jamie,” Jenna said. “Oh, Jessie. I miss you so much. Please, please come back!” She burst into a fit of laughter.
“Actually, I don’t recognize this number.” Jessica put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Hello. Is this Jessica Ayers?” Each word was pronounced with careful precision, with a shaky, elderly sounding voice.
“Yes, this is she.” She met the girls’ curious gazes and shrugged.
“This is Mr. Elliott. Steve Lacasse sent me a message and indicated that you were interested in the baseball that I won from him.”
Without thinking, she reached for Amy’s hand.
Amy exchanged a worried glance with the others.
“Yes, sir,” she answered. “I think…that’s my father’s baseball from when he was a little boy, and I was wondering if I could buy it from you. I’ll pay double whatever you paid.”
“Oh.” The man was quiet.
“It would mean the world to me. My father is a wonderful man. He’s done so much for me, and I want to do this little thing for him.” She realized she was rambling and cut herself short. “I’ll pay triple. Whatever you want. Please.”
“I’m sorry, Jessica,” he said.
Jessica’s heart plunged as he explained.
“I bought that ball for my grandson, and it’s already in his hands. I can’t very well take it away from him. He’s six and an avid baseball fan already. Why, it would squash his excitement.”
