“Neither did you.” She clung to me tighter.
“Hey.” I stroked her hair at the back of her head, pulling my fingers along her braid. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” This seemed like more than being worried for me or upset on my behalf.
She sniffed, shaking her head against my chest. “I’m just so sorry.”
It was clear, whatever she was dealing with, she didn’t wish to discuss it. Or maybe she wasn’t ready. I tried to think of something that would make her laugh.
Tugging on her braid, I said, “If you’re sorry, then maybe if you kiss it, you’ll make it all better.”
She laughed. Mission accomplished.
Withdrawing just a bit, she tipped her chin back to look up at me. “Hmm. Maybe later.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
“You’re holding me to it right now.”
“So I am.” I grinned, admiring the curve of her smile.
Rae seemed to shake herself, blinking rapidly. “What was I saying?”
“You said you’re okay, and you don’t think I did anything wrong.”
“Yes! I think—I mean, I don’t think you did anything wrong. But Jethro explained how people will say you did something wrong, and so I accept that’s what they’ll say, even though you did nothing wrong. Are you okay?”
I’d barely caught any of her words because my mind finally caught up with where I was, and who I was with. How was it that she was still here? “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be back in LA by now?”
“I’m staying.”
“Staying?”
“I’m here to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Yes.” She linked her hands behind my back and peered up at me like she thought my parroting questions were cute. “I want to help, and Sienna told me that it would be best if I stayed for you—and Charlotte—so I stayed.”
“But what about . . .” Her life? Her career? How could she just blow off all her obligations and stay?
“I’m here for you.” She used her arms around my torso to give me a little shake. “As your friend.”
“As my friend.” Apparently, at present, I was only capable of repeating words she’d already said.
“Yes.” Rae nodded, her smile falling just slightly, her eyes darting between mine. “I don’t have many friends,” she said, like it was a confession. “Please, let me help.”
I stared at her, my brain having trouble forming anything akin to concrete thought, and I realized I couldn’t think very well when we were standing so close, when my hands held her body and her lips were only inches from mine.
I released her and backed away, shoving my fingers into my back pockets, and frowned at the pavement. She’s here to help, as a friend. “What is it that you think you can do?”
Rae balled her hands into fists in front of her, her gorgeous eyes wide with hope. “We have a plan. It’s all worked out.”
“Cletus said something about that. Okay. Tell me the plan.”
“We talked to Marta—Sienna’s sister? She’s also her manager—and she helped us think through damage control. There are a few issues, as I understand it. First, you don’t want people to think that you and Charlotte broke up because of us—I mean, me. But after the pictures and video, that’s what it looks like.”
I was nodding before she’d finished. “Right.”
“I’m here to make nice with Charlotte.”
“How do you mean?”
“Charlotte and I are going to hang out tonight, in front of the whole town, and get along famously. Then no one will think I’m the reason for the split.”
“Does Charlotte know this?” I’d been trying to reach Charlotte all day, and she hadn’t picked up or returned any of my texts.
This was ironic because almost every other woman I knew had called me—Zora Leffersbee, Angela Jones, Darlene Simmons, Patricia Robillard, Nikki Sadler, Carmen . . . you get the picture—and I’d sent their calls to voicemail. The only person’s call I had accepted was my sister Jessica’s, and I got the sense she’d mostly called just to tease me.
Anyway, I’d started to worry that Charlotte was mad since she hadn’t returned my calls or texts.
“You betcha! Charlotte knows, and she’s fully on board Operation Friend Pretend.”
“Pardon?”
“It was Sienna’s idea. She likes to name her plans. You’re lucky you didn’t hear the other ideas. Anyway, you’ll be with us tonight—with Charlotte and me—for part of the time.”
“I will?”
“Yes. The three of us will be seen together, laughing, talking, generally enjoying each other’s company—like pigs in shit.”
I involuntarily made a sound, surprised by her choice of words.
She winced. It was adorable. “See. I can’t say that. Jethro said it, and it made sense when he said it. But I’m from Cleveland. We can’t say ‘pigs in shit’ because I’m pretty sure people start picturing stinky pigs in actual feces. But I can say ‘You betcha!’ and ‘Tough tomatoes!’ and no one bats an eye.”
The sound of laughter hit my ears before I realized it came from me.
“You’re laughing at me.” She lifted her hands up and then let them fall against her thighs with a smack, adding robotically, “I’m a comedian.”
“Yes, you are. You’re hilarious.”
“This is what I get for trying to steal local colloquialisms. What if I said, ‘You, me, and Charlotte can be like three peas in an escape pod’?”
“That works.” I’d half forgotten what we were talking about. All I knew was that—whatever it was—I hoped we’d be talking for a while.
“Thank you. Anyway, for the rest of the evening, various members of Jethro’s family will also be lending their support, making sure you’re never alone.”
That surprised me. “Jethro? He agreed to this?”
“It was his idea. Well, mostly. Marta and Sienna contributed.”
Huh. Why would Jethro want to help me? “And y’all think this is going to make a difference?”
Rae’s lashes fluttered and a soft, hazy smile curved her lips. “I love it when you say ‘y’all.’”
I pressed my mouth into a line so I wouldn’t answer her smile with one of my own. We needed to stay focused, but staying focused around Rae was difficult. She was just so stinking fun. And sweet. And funny and kind. And—
“Rae,” I said, needing to say something, otherwise I’d be here all night, swapping stares and admiring all the ways she was special.
“Yes! Sorry.” She clapped her hands together. “That’s the other part of the plan. You and I are going to make it clear that we’re just friends. Just. Friends. And that you were helping me get out of a bad situation.”
Just friends? “Is that so? How’s that going to work?”
“You, Sienna, and Charlotte will tell people the whole thing was staged. That I asked you to help me because I wanted to break things off with Harrison, and I asked if you would help. We’re taking the whole, ‘Harrison and Rae have a toxic relationship, she’s looking to break free, and Jackson’s helping her out’ approach.”