Page 82 of Book Club Confidential

Hallie motioned across her chest, as if she wore the aforementioned shirt. “Sorry about my ass.”

“I didn’t exactly look into it,” Grant said. “But as far as I could tell, you were all too far away for the photo to be as scandalous as some people are making it out to be. Not that this isn’t a big deal,” he clarified. “You have every reason to be upset. It’s just not the centerfold people want it to be. You looked like you were having a fun, carefree moment, and some overstepper took a photo they shouldn’t have, then spread it around the internet. People will see that person is the one in the wrong here.”

Hallie frowned in the direction of Tessa’s phone. “Wow. You really don’t understand the internet.”

“Did you say we were all too far away?” Tessa asked.

“Yeah,” Grant said. “In the cropped versions of the photo, everything is too heavily pixilated to be clear. White was just an unfortunate color choice for the weather.”

Tessa returned Hallie’s frown.

Hallie looked at her phone and scrolled.

Kate grabbed her phone as well.

A moment later, both friends gasped and turned their screens in Tessa’s direction.

They’d been so distracted by Kate’s bare ass, none of them had noticed the way the rain had adhered their gowns to their bodies, making them all look as exposed as Eva from Ethically Grown.

“I knew I should’ve worn a bra,” Hallie said. “Bryce’s mom was worried about my hair. Wait until she sees this.”

Tessa collapsed back onto her bed. Maybe this was the reason her brother had called four times, and her dad hadn’t called at all.

Someone knocked on the front door, and Hallie rose. “Do you want me to get it?”

“No! Wait! What if it’s someone trying to get more photos?” Kate asked.

“I can call you back at a better time,” Grant said. “Let me know when you’re available to see the office spaces.”

Tessa threw one crooked arm over her eyes. She still hadn’t told him she’d quit her job.

“Tess?” Hallie called, pulling her onto her feet again.

She moved down the hall on wooden legs. “Who is it?”

Hallie stepped aside, and Tessa looked through the front door’s peephole.

Devin stood outside.

“It’s my brother,” she said.

He looked upset and a little wild in the eyes when she opened the door. “Hey,” he said, stepping immediately inside. “Sorry. I tried calling, but you didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure what else to do. I understand if you changed your mind about helping me, but it isn’t like you to ghost me, so I started to worry, and I came over.”

“Oh my gosh.” Tessa pressed one palm to her forehead. She motioned her brother inside, then returned her attention to the phone at her ear. “Grant? I’m so sorry. I have to call you back. I completely forgot I had plans with my brother.”

Hallie fed Devin, and Kate filled him in on the details of her bare ass while Tessa hurried to get ready. It was odd to see him in her apartment, chatting casually with her friends. The unease of having Devin around climbed her spine and clenched the back of her neck. If she let hope get the best of her, she’d suffer the pain when he vanished again.

But he’s looking for a full-time job, she reminded herself. This was new, and he looked—different. Better than he had in his entire adult life. That had to mean something. Didn’t it? If it didn’t and she put her reputation on the line vouching for him, she would just be angry with herself. She’d blame her dad for putting her in this position. She’d never say a word, but she knew she’d carry that anger with her, and she hated it.

“Ready?” she asked. Tessa pocketed her keys and phone, then grabbed her purse from the counter. Her friends would lock up when they left.

They walked downtown in relative silence, occasionally making small talk that fizzled in the pauses. Internally, Tessa cursed herself for agreeing to peddle Devin to her network as a responsible man who’d do a good job for them. She’d never known him to be responsible, and she had no idea if he’d do a good job or if he’d vanish in the morning. And what would she say if she ran into one of her local clients? She didn’t have a plan for that, and it would mean letting Devin know she’d quit her job. She didn’t want to do that either. Not yet. Not until she knew what was next for her. She hated feeling unmoored. Worse, she felt like a fraud, worrying about her brother finding work when she’d quit her job.

Dread turned to aggravation with each passing block.

“Thanks for doing this,” he said. “I know Dad wants you to help me, but you don’t have to. I can find a better job myself, on my own merits, in time. I have to pay the dues for being out of the workforce most of my life. I know that.”

Tessa slowed and turned to him. “How long do you plan on staying in Harbor Heights?”