“My judgment got a little hazy. My poor choices started stacking up like my brother’s pancakes on a Sunday morning, filling a whole new chapter in my rulebook, titled, Watch your back, jack. But, when I opened my bank statement, I knew I was in over my head! I’ve always saved money, even when I was a kid I was frugal. My parents taught us to be smart with our money. I about croaked when I looked at my account. I spent too much money on the stupidest stuff. Shoes, purses, dresses…stuff I didn’t need. Anything with a tag went back to the store. I took all the money and bought over thirty dresses and donated them to an organization in Vegas that helps less fortunate girls in high school get prom dresses.” She smiled at Reed. “Every girl deserves a nice prom dress.
“That being said, when I started pulling away from my so-called friends, they got pissed. So, I guess you could say, they decided to make me pay. They convinced me to go out to a club. When we arrived, they insisted I get out of the car first. I thought they were simply being nice. Boy, was I wrong. When I stepped out of the car, a guy with a camera lying on his belly snapped a photo of me. I was so stupid I actually thought the man had fallen down on the curb. He was practically lying in the street. So, what do I do?” she exclaimed, releasing the steering wheel and throwing her hands in the air. “I offered the little prick my hand, helping him to his feet. I had no idea he had purposely just snapped a picture of my crotch! Until I received a call, make that a dozen calls, the next morning. My mom, Tom, Tracy, John and every other person I know saw a photo of me on the Internet. Even though I had on panties under my dress, they put a big black X over my crotch so it appeared like I was naked.”
Reed tried to hide his laughter. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not funny, but…”
She nodded, laughing right along with him. “I know! It’s funny now, but that’s just the half of the story.”
“By all means, please continue!” He let loose, laughing so hard he held his gut. “Did she kiss you on the curb too?”
“Get your seven chuckles in, Reed. The story gets even better.” JC motioned in a continuous circle, encouraging him to carry on laughing his ass off. “It didn’t take me long to figure it out, I’d been set up. Tanya knew exactly what she was doing. She waited a month, just long enough for the paparazzi feeding frenzy to slowdown. I was at a club in Vegas celebrating a girlfriend’s birthday and who shows up? Tanya. She tried to apologize, swearing up and down she had nothing to do with the crotch shot, but she was lying. The bitch acted like she was going to give me a hug and she planted a kiss on me! Not a little peck on the mouth! A full blown, open mouth, with tongue, kiss!”
Reed wiped tears from the corner of his eye. “Let me guess. Kodak moment?”
Her anger and humor boiled to the surface simultaneously. “Kodak moment! I had to explain to everyone, delicately, I was not a lesbian. Even to my family and friends. If I were lesbian, I would’ve fully copped to it! I have several gay and lesbian friends. Cameras hounded me for months. I finished shooting all the jobs I had lined up for five months then I left. I put myself on a Hollywood hiatus for nearly a year.”
“So is that why you’ve been in Italy?” he asked. “Are you planning on staying here?”
She frowned warily, wondering how he knew she’d been in Italy.
“I asked Codge about you when I went back inside the bar the other night. He’s pretty fond of you, and your family.”
JC agreed with a nod. “I’m fond of him too. He’s a true, down to earth, say it like it is kind of guy. Kind of like the grandpa I never had.” She downshifted, pulling his Camaro into the vacant end of the parking lot of The Square, one of her favorite places to shop. “What are we shopping for? Furniture? Art? Bedding?”
He squinted with a flash of harsh suspicion in his eyes. Exasperation and irritation filled his tone. “Everything,” he grumbled.
Reed got out of the car and came around her door, yanking it open. His icy blues glared into her eyes as she stepped onto the pavement. He scratched his beard then shoved his hands deep into his pockets.
Alarmed by his sudden austere reaction, JC shuddered and her breathing quickened. He was obviously upset about something she’d said, but she didn’t know what. The last time she’d been near an angry man, he beat the hell out of her. Tears bit at her eyes and she blinked repeatedly, refusing to turn away from him. “What? What’s wrong?”
Color burnished high on his cheeks. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you staying here or going back to Italy? You smoothed right over it like you didn’t hear me.” He waved his hand between them. “This…you aren’t a game to me, JC. I’ve been through a lot the last few years. I can’t afford to get close to you then have you take off back to Italy.”