"Jay."
Claire couldn't help but smile when she said his name.It just fit him.He was definitely a Jay.Like Gatsby.A handsome, classy Jay.
Molly peppered her with questions.“What’s his story?Where’s he from?What’s his last name?I want to look him up on social media.”
"I don't know anything.”Claire sat down on the edge of the tub.“He's American, but never said where he lives or what he does.Never got his last name.He wasn’t wearing a ring but his wife called down to the bar looking for him."
Molly gasped."No shit?How much time did you invest before his cover was blown?"
"Not much, thankfully,” Claire said.
"I'm guessing he was monumentally embarrassed."
"He seemed more annoyed than anything, but I didn't give him the chance to explain.He hobbled over to take the call and I left."
"Hobbled?"Molly asked.
"He was in a leg brace.He tripped over a suitcase.It's a long story."
"And that was the last you saw of him?"
"Yes.Well, no.”Claire laughed.“I actually had a dream about him."
“"What kind of dream?"Molly asked.
Claire laughed again."The rum-induced kind.Snowballs.Basketballs."
"Blue balls?"Molly teased with a chuckle.
"Molly Winnifred Wise!"
"Don't triple name me, Claire Margaret Jordan."
Claire conceded and gave Molly a complete play-by-play of the encounter in the piano bar.As she described Jay’s physical attributes, her memory lingered on the softness of his eyes.
"If this Jay guy hadn't been married, would you have come home early?"Molly asked.
Claire’s cheeks flushed."You might never have seen me again."
CHAPTERNINE
JAY
Jay watched the crowd in the mirror behind the bar.Another thick, jovial group filled The Neon Note, everyone settling in for the night.Each time the door swung open, he held his breath in anticipation.He’d spent the afternoon camped beside the pool with a book in hand, hoping to catch sight of Claire’s green eyes.He’d hobbled around the resort for the rest of the trip, chasing the chance that lightning might strike twice, but Just Claire had vanished.Now, an hour and another drink later, he doubted their paths would ever cross again.
He reached into his pocket, pulse quickening when his fingers brushed against it.He pulled it out and gave it a spin on the shiny bar top.In a trance of sorts, Jay watched his wedding band spin in circles.He'd never taken it off.Not from the moment Hope placed it on his finger.He still didn’t know what had possessed him to remove it.And how ironic that it ended up in his pocket just moments before Claire walked into the piano bar.
"I wondered what happened to that."Rob's voice sounded behind him.
"Oh, hey."Jay scooped up the ring."Did you talk to Abby?"
"I did."
"How's she feeling?With the morning sickness and everything?"
"She’s having a good day today.Only puked once.Maybe she’s over the worst of it."
"It really should have been the two of you here together, Rob.This was your anniversary getaway for God's sake."
