Trusting Jay(33)

“Okay, yes, more than cute,” Sam said.

“Let’s see a photo,” Marla said.

“I don’t really have one.” I struggled to get the words out of my mouth.

“Abbie,” Jenny said with concern.

“Wait, I do have one.” I wrestled my phone from my purse and flicked onto the photos. I held my phone out over the table for the three to look at. In unison, they each grabbed for the phone to get a closer look.

“His eyes are closed,” Marla said.

“Is he asleep?” Sam asked, her brow furrowed.

“Yeah, it’s a pic of his first sleepover at mine.”

Jenny wrenched the phone from my hand, “Let me see.” Her fingers spread across the screen, zooming in on his sleeping face.

“He’s got brown eyes,” I said.

“Man, you definitely have a type, this guy is just a hotter version of Matt,” Jenny said.

“He is?” I said surprised.

“Look at his jaw line and nose. Except somehow it works so much better on him. Damn, look at the muscles in his shoulders,” Jenny said.

“He’s even better standing up with his eyes open,” Sam said.

“Hubba-hubba,” Marla said, and we all laughed.

We left the restaurant and headed back to our usual Friday night bar since they turn into a dance club at ten and played the best music around. We knew it would be a late one due to the importance of the occasion. Jenny had arranged ahead of time to stay at my central condo. We’d all chipped in and given her a massage pamper package and she had an early appointment in the morning.

Jenny and I said good night to Sam and Marla and got back to my condo just before two. It took me a few times to get the key in the lock thanks to all the booze. When I finally managed to click open the door, we skidded through the entrance and collapsed on the bed.



Jenny was still asleep, mouth hanging open and drooling, when I woke up. With a pounding head, I staggered to the kitchen for some coffee. While I waited for it to brew I noticed a silver envelope on the floor in the entrance way. The building doesn’t allow junk mail to be put directly through doors but sometimes the odd person will sneak through and spam the residents with flyers.

I picked the envelope up and noticed my name printed across the front. It immediately put me on alert. For what, I don’t know, but this wasn’t normal. I sliced it open with my thumb nail and pulled out the paper inside. Only it wasn’t paper, it was a rectangle of heavy card that resembled a wedding invitation.

I scanned the handwritten message then read it again.



Abbie, meet me at O’Sullivan’s bar on Cedar street Sunday at three pm and I will explain everything. Don’t tell anyone. J



I staggered backward, my heart thumping. My hands gripped the corners so hard the corners creased.

“Good morning,” Jenny said, sounding far too cheerful for someone that had drunk so much the night before. I slid the note under the microwave.

“Hey, happy birthday sweetie.” I hugged her tight, congratulating her but also needing her support.

“I am so looking forward to my massage.”

“I wish I was having one.”

“But I’ll see you afterwards, for lunch and the hydrotherapy pool.”

“Yeah, when you’re all relaxed we’ll all be tense.”

“You should come, now you’re the big boss.” Jenny poured herself a cup of coffee and downed it in one go and poured a second.

“I am not the big boss, just Sam’s boss. And I haven’t had a paycheck yet, I’m broke.”

“Another time.”

We sat at the table, drinking our coffees. I used all my energy to focus on our conversation. Jenny would be able to sense if something was wrong, and no way did I want her knowing about the note. Or all the stuff that lead up to the note.

“You’d better get ready, you don’t want to be late,” I said, clearing our mugs away. I tried to seem natural, like I wasn’t trying to get rid of her.

After she’d left, I pulled the note back out and read it again. Tomorrow at three. How would I ever wait so long to see him? And why did he say not to tell anyone? What possible motivation could anyone have for saying such a thing?

I stewed all day and all night. Debating whether to go and whether to tell anyone. He said not to, which automatically made me want to. But whoever I told would try to talk me out of it. Or worse, go with me. Or try to physically stop me.

My heart was desperate to see Jay. I missed him, missed the feel of his arms around me. I don’t know how I got to this point. I went looking for a one-night stand for some sexual release and ended up smitten.

Smitten but not totally stupid. I needed answers, and he was going to tell me them.