Page 98 of Jesse

I’m not sure what I even mean by that. It’s not a big deal that I was drugged and kidnapped by a cosmetic mogul? It’s not a big deal that I threatened her so she’d spend the weekend with me after that happened? It’s not a big deal that somehow, someone stole the security footage from our lake house? It’s not a big deal that Hot Tonight Show is blasting it all over the internet?

It could be all of those things.

But it’s not any of those things.

So I say, “It’s not a big deal because I know what has to be done.”

And I do. That’s why I drugged her last night. That’s why I put her pretty yellow dress back on and took her home. That’s why I didn’t call her and try to explain today.

“Yeah,” Joey says, finally looking at me. “I know you do, Jess. But you know what?”

I shake my head.

“Fuck them.”

“Fuck who, exactly?” Zach asks.

“All of them. Everyone. The whole fucking world. I don’t think you should toe the line this time, Jesse. I think you should do whatever you think is right. You’re not in trouble. She is. That’s not our problem.”

“Hmm,” I say. “Well, I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. Have you talked to Johnny?”

“No.” Joey sighs. “Fuck Johnny too. Sometimes…” He takes a moment to look at me. Like… really look at me. “Sometimes you gotta say, ‘Enough is enough.’”

I squint my eyes at him. “Are you OK?”

He nods his head. But it turns into a shake pretty quick. “No. I’m not OK.”

“What happened?” I ask.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“What’s that mean?” Zach asks.

“It means… I’m gonna handle it.”

“OK,” I say. “What the fuck are we talking about? Me? Or you?”

“It’s not all about you, Jesse. It never had anything to do with you.”

Zach and I trade looks. And I’m just about to push Joey for more when the security buzzer rings.

Zach and I trade another look. He says, “I’ll get it,” then gets up and walks out to see who is downstairs.

“Are you expecting someone?” Joey asks.

“No,” I say. Because I’m not. But… I am secretly hoping that’s Emma.

“So listen,” Joey says, lowering his propped leg, clasping his hands together in front of him, and leaning forward. “I don’t think Johnny is ever going to tell you, so I’m gonna do it for him.”

“What?”

“Do you know why they love to hate you?”

“Who?”

“Everyone, Jesse. Surely you’ve noticed that you’re the only one they follow around. I’ve been selling myself at that bachelor auction for years and no scandal ever come out of it even though every date was definitely a scandal. And I’m not blaming you, so before you get defensive, that’s not what I’m saying.”

“What are you saying?”