Eversea A Love Story

moment and glanced back at me. “You’re leaving aren’t you, Keri Ann?”
    I was saved from having to answer as the door at Devon’s back opened again, and Colt stepped around them and strolled toward me. “Ready to go, sweetheart?” he asked. I glanced at him but couldn’t answer—I still needed to find my voice—and then back at Devon, whose face had just gone altogether unreadable.
    “You know what?” Devon said to Brenda, his eyes still on me and now Colt. “I don’t think I need that table after all.”
    “Oh, Okay,” Brenda said, obviously confused. I was too. Did he want to talk to me, is that why he asked to sit in my section? There was almost too much going on here to process. Devon turned to leave. I realized how Colt’s endearment must have sounded. But why should it matter? Unless ... unless he thought we were together, but even so ...
    “Keri Ann!” Colt’s voice called out after me as I bolted out the door Devon had just exited. I didn’t stop.
    “Devon,” I called. He paused in the dark courtyard. The same courtyard where I first saw Jack.
    “What?” he asked, turning around, his hands shoved in his pockets. My heart pounded so loud in my head it was making me dizzy. I didn’t know why I’d run after him. I didn’t know what to say.
    “Did ... did you need to speak to me?” I sounded breathy and awful.
    “Keri Ann?” Colt’s voice was behind me again.
    Damn it!
    Devon’s eyes cut over my shoulder. “Your boyfriend?”
    “No!” I yelled vehemently. God. Colt heard that. I turned around to his shocked eyes, but I couldn’t do this right now. I needed to know why Devon was here. “I’m sorry, Colt. Please go on without me, I’ll be home when I’m done talking to Devon.”
    “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “But, I’m not leaving. I’ll wait inside. Come get me when you’re,” his eyes flicked up and down Devon, “done here.”
    But Devon had turned and started walking again. “Wait, please.” My voice caught over the last word.
    Devon stopped and turned back. “I don’t think he knew he wasn’t your boyfriend.”
    I shook my head. “It’s not like that. I mean, I know he likes me, but he’s also just a friend. I don’t ... I can’t ... ” Why were we talking about Colt, when I wanted to talk about Jack? And I did want to talk about Jack. I’d chased Devon out here because, before my head could catch up, my gut had instinctively reacted to my last lifeline walking out the door.
    “Please. Is Jack ... Is he ... ” God, I didn’t know where to start.
    Devon blew out a deep breath, and then nodded his head toward the closest table and chairs. We sat down in the dim lamplight. I shivered slightly in just my T-shirt and no sweater. I folded my arms across my chest, willing Devon to just start talking so I didn’t have to figure out what to ask. He did.
    “Jack’s messed up,” he said quietly. “I don’t know if you read about it. The shit’s been all over the fucking internet already.”
    I swallowed and tried to recall all the stuff Jazz had been trying to tell me that I didn’t want to listen to.
    Devon looked at me as if trying to work out what to say. “Jack and Audrey are definitely over. It was a nightmare. Even Andy’s been fired. His agent.” I nodded. I knew who Andy was. “Something ... something happened. Audrey and his agent deceived him about something pretty big. They totally blindsided him.”
    I knew how few people Jack felt he could trust, and my stomach flipped over for him.
    “I ... ” my voice was scratchy. I tried again. “I didn’t read the story, a friend tried to explain today, but I didn’t believe it. Is ... is he okay?” My heart hurt.
    Devon shifted forward, and resting his elbows on his knees, scrubbed a hand down his face. “Jack was devastated. We were all sitting around at their house when Andy just let slip—shit, I can’t tell you anything else. It’s not my place. But my God, the look on Jack’s face ... I mean I know he’s been acting a little off but,” Devon let out a rough breath, “I’ve never seen anything like it. It was eerie as shit.”
    “Poor Jack,” I said, pained. God, I couldn’t imagine what a shock that must have been to learn your girlfriend and your agent were conspiring against you and treating you like some puppet. And for what? For money? I didn’t know what they could have done, but for Jack to fire his agent and break up with the mother of his baby, it