“Open this door right now, Lana,” Jewel yelled while banging on my bedroom door. Great, she was already drunk and going to force me to party. Sighing, I headed to open the door and get this over with. I just wanted a long hot bath.
Jerking the door open, I started to tell her I wasn’t interested when she barged past me slamming the door behind her. She locked it then spun around to face me.
“What the HELL did you do to Sawyer Vincent?” she demanded with a look of awe on her face.
I didn’t want to talk about Sawyer. “I told you I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Well, you’re going to because I just lied out my ass for you while the boy begged and pleaded with me to call him if I heard from you or had any idea where you might be.”
He’d called Jewel?
“When? Just now? He called you?” I asked confused.
“YES, he called me. Sexy southern drawl and all. He was pitiful I tell you. PI-TI-FUL. What did you do? Can you give me lessons? ‘Cause girl, you must have rocked his world.”
Sinking down onto the bed behind me I stared up at her shaking my head. Why would he be calling me? He had Ashton now. Couldn’t he just be happy? Why would he be begging Jewel for help? For Ashton’s sake. That was the only thing that made any sense.
“What did he say exactly?” I asked
Jewel propped one hand on her hip and shook her head, “Oh no. You don’t get to ask the questions first. I do. I ask and you answer. Then, and only then, will I tell you what was said between us.”
Dang.
“Please, don’t make me do this. I don’t want to talk about him.” “No more begging. I’ve had my fill for the night, thank you very much. Now, talk.” Just thinking about him made me anxious. How was I supposed to talk about him? Standing up, I began to pace in front of the bed. I could do this. I wanted to know what he said to Jewel and what she said back because if Jewel let anything slip, I needed to pack up and leave. I didn’t want Ashton or my mom showing up here.
“I’ve been in love with Sawyer Vincent since I was a kid. He has been in love with Ashton for just as long. They broke up about seven months ago because she fell in love with his cousin Beau. Don’t ask me why because I can’t figure it out. Sawyer is perfect. Beau is... well Beau is a heathen... but he is insanely in love with Ashton.”
“Wait, both of these boys are in love with Ashton?” Jewel asked
“Yep. Always have been,” I replied then took a deep breath before I went on. “I thought that once Sawyer had time to get over Ashton then I would step in and make a move. Try to get his attention.” The hurt painful laugh that escaped me bordered on a sob. I hated my weakness when I mentioned his name.
“I did this whole makeover thing in hopes of attracting Sawyer. It was well past time for me to stop looking like a mouse anyway. I did it because I wanted to be a girl who could catch Sawyer’s eye. And it worked. He noticed me. But it wasn’t enough.” Please God, let that be enough for her. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
“Okay, so if it wasn’t enough then why is the boy begging me to help him find you? Because from the way he sounded you got to him a lot more than you think,” Jewel assured me.
I was going to have to tell her everything or she’d end up assuming the wrong thing and tell him where I was.
“I’m sure he did. Because when Ashton wants something, Sawyer will move mountains to get it for her.”
“She’s with Beau, right?” Jewel asked.
Turning from her so the tears stinging my eyes were hidden, I shook my head. “No. Beau cheated on her. I was really shocked because he is so completely infatuated with her but she had proof. Soon as she found out, she ran to Sawyer. He dropped me like I was on fire and let her run straight into his arms.” Sniffling, I wiped at the tears that had managed to escape before looking back at Jewel.
“You mean he’s desperate to find you because Ashton is upset that you left?”
All I could do was nod.
“Damn,” Jewel muttered, and then an angry scowl came over her face. “I’m going to beat her pretty little face in.” “Jewel, no. Don’t blame Ashton. None of this is her fault. She can’t control the fact Sawyer loves her. They were a couple for three years. He’s her safe place.”
“This sucks balls. You know that, right?” The disgust in her face almost made me smile. Almost.
“Yes, it does. But I walked into this. I took a chance.” Shrugging, I walked over to sit back down beside her on the bed. “We both know it was time I started taking chances. I crashed and burned but I learned from it.”
Jewel wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled my head against her shoulder. “Ah, damn. This sucks,” she sighed. “I won’t tell him anything. He did beg and plead with me to call him if I heard from you or I thought of somewhere you could be. He said he ‘needed’ to find you. I was mistaken with his anxious tone. I figured you’d wrapped the boy around your finger and gotten angry with him and left him high and dry. I didn’t realize he was trying to ease some other girl’s guilt. She may be your cousin, but I am not a fan. Just sayin’.”
We sat in silence for awhile. Finally, I sat back up. “Thank you for lying. I have complete faith in your acting abilities.”
Jewel smirked, “So you wanna run off to LA with me? We could rock that town. Me and you.”