"Jazzie!"
She turned around and smiled at her sister who seemed to look more radiant than she did on her wedding day.
At least someone's happy, she thought with a tinge of envy. She hugged Jessa and appreciated the tight squeeze her sister gave her.
"How are you?" Jessa asked, holding her at arms' length to check her out.
"I'm fine," she said with a fake, bright smile. "I'm just helping Mum organise her pantry. You know how it gets when she goes on a shopping binge for groceries. How are you? Where's Rob?"
"I'm here, Jaz," Rob called out as he stepped into the kitchen. His hello hug was as equally tight as Jessa's was. "How've you been, sis?"
"Good, thanks. I think Mum's roast still has another half an hour to go. I'll join you guys in the living room as soon as I'm finished here. Mum wants to finish the movie she's watching before we eat."
"I'll help you," Jessa offered. "I like going through Mum's pantry too."
Jasmine hid her sigh. She wanted to be alone, but there would be no chance of that.
Rob gave Jessa a swift peck on the lips. Jasmine had to look away from the tenderness in their gazes as some unspoken communication passed between husband and wife. She hurt too much to watch other people be so in love.
"You didn't tell me about you and Kane," Jessa said without accusation as she started checking out the contents of the cupboard when Rob left the kitchen.
Her head swivelled to Jessa, eyes wide and heart palpitating.
"Faye mentioned it to me."
"Are you mad at me?"
Jessa looked at her in disbelief. "Mad? Why on earth would I be mad at you?"
"Because we stayed in your house?"
Jessa snickered. "No, Jaz. Rob and I are not mad. We just want to make sure everything's okay with you. We heard it's over."
"Yes. You know me. I don't stay in relationships for longer than three months," she said jokingly but not quite able to stop the involuntary gulp at the end of her statement.
"Apparently, Kane took it hard," Jessa said softly, looking intently at her.
Tears formed in her eyes. Damn it! Control yourself!
"I didn't mean to hurt him," she said, avoiding Jessa's gaze and trying not to blink to prevent the tears from falling.
"Well, he seems to have recovered. I heard he had a great time at a black tie event he went to the other night. He brought a date with him."
A tear fell. And another. And another.
Jessa sighed. "Jaz? It's not as simple as you make it out to be, is it? Will you tell me about it?"
She turned to her sister and fell into her arms. She sobbed quietly as Jessa rocked her, stroking her hair consolingly.
Then she told Jessa all about it.
"You're J.A. Nell?" Jessa asked, astounded.
"Yes. You've heard of her? I mean, my pen name?"
"I'm a fan! I've read all of your books. When's the next one coming out?"
Jasmine shook her head in wonder. Her sister was one of her fans.
"Unfortunately, my next book will be delayed. I haven't written anything at all in the last few weeks."
"Oh, Jaz. I'm so proud of you. But let's talk about that later. Shouldn't we report George to the police?"
"And tell them what? That an ex-boyfriend threatened to tell people about some hardcore porn I supposedly wrote and I want to stop him so my current boyfriend's reputation wouldn't be tarnished? Actually, Kane's not my boyfriend anymore," she added sadly.
"So are you just going to sit there and let Kane date other women?"
"What else can I do, Jess? I don't want his reputation and business to suffer."
"So you'd rather suffer. You really love him, don't you?"
"Yes. I do."
"There must be something we can do to either stop or neutralise George's threat," Jessa asserted.
Jasmine sighed. It always came back to that. She'd been looking for an answer for the last three weeks and she hadn't found it yet.
"Are you going to Dylan's birthday next weekend?" Jessa asked.
She shook her head. "Dylan invited me when Kane and I were still together. I don't know if I'm still welcome. And I don't think I can see Kane without falling apart."
"Oh Jaz. I'm sure Dylan would want you there. You're a family friend. Besides, I think you should go. You shouldn't let Kane forget about you while we find a solution to your problem."
Hmm. That's a point.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Happy birthday, Dyl!" Kane gave his brother a big man-hug before walking into the apartment already half-filled with guests.
"Thanks. Glad you're here, bro. How are you going?"
"I'm great! So you have any new dates here for me?" he joked.
Dylan chuckled. "What? Just because a friend of mine put her hand up for your glitzy black tie event, you now see me as your date supplier?"