Page 77 of All Jacked Up

Noa

Trying to be as quiet as possible since I was the only one who had gone to sleep last night sober, I made a cup of coffee. Zeke was in bed with Jellie, and Thurston had passed out on the sofa shortly after we got back here last night. He was covered up, thanks to me, because the other two had laughed and stumbled their way into Jellie’s room and slammed the door behind them. Lucky for me, they’d been too drunk for sex because they went silent shortly after.

I took my first sip of the dark Italian brew that Jellie loved while checking in her pantry for something easy to take back and eat in the guest bedroom I was staying in. They’d all talked about going out for brunch today, but that was hours away, and I wasn’t sure they’d be up for it when they finally woke up. Finding some muffins from a local bakery, I opened the container and took one out, then turned to tiptoe back to the bedroom.

“I don’t think I’ve drunk that much since college,” Thurston’s gravelly voice said, stopping me.

I glanced over to see him sitting up on the sofa, rubbing his face with both hands. He groaned before looking over at me.

“I did warn you,” I told him.

A small grin lifted the corner of his mouth. “You did,” he agreed. “I didn’t listen. My mistake.”

I took another drink from my cup, debating on offering to make him one or escaping to the bedroom, like I’d planned. I’d much rather escape, but he was Jellie’s guest. I felt like I should be the hostess since she wasn’t going to be awake anytime soon.

“You did drive my car last night, right?” he asked, looking concerned.

I nodded. “I did. It was either that or leave it at the club and get us an Uber back. None of you were in any state to get behind a wheel.”

He nodded. “Thanks. Yeah, we were absolutely not.” His eyes dropped to the cup in my hands.

I was going to have to offer to make him some.

I opened my mouth to say I’d make him a cup when a knock on the door interrupted me. I set my cup down and walked across the living area of her small apartment to the door and did a quick peek through the peephole. There was an older man who had been security at the front door of the building yesterday.

I unlocked the two different locks, which were overkill for a place that had security at the entrance and in the parking garage. No one was getting in either of those entrances without a key card and being approved by the guard on duty.

I opened it up and smiled at the older gentleman, who looked very rattled.

“Good morning. Can I help you?” I said.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, we’ve had a, uh, unexpected situation that we are currently having investigated,” he said andpulled nervously at his collar. “There was vandalism that took place last night in the parking garage. Cars—well, a car was damaged. Tires slashed, and it was keyed up on both sides.” He went slightly pale. “Like I said, we are investigating the situation, but right now, we don’t have an answer as to how this could have happened. Our security is top-notch. But the car that was damaged was in one of the parking spots belonging to Miss Jellie. Although it isn’t her car.”

“What did the car look like?” Thurston asked, coming up behind me.

The man cleared his throat again. “It’s a black Tesla, sir.”

I looked back at Thurston, then stepped aside. He’d told me more than once that his Tesla Roadster had cost him two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I watched, wide-eyed, as he stared at the older man in horror.

“Someone damaged my Roadster?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes, but we are—”

“Who?! I want a fucking name!” He was just under a shout, and I winced, thinking maybe I should have stayed between him and the older man.

“We don’t know that but—”

“Check your security cameras! Do I need to come do your fucking job?”

Okay, now he was shouting.

“We did, sir, and there is no sign of anyone in there or going near your vehicle. One second, it is fine, and the next … it’s not. We are working on—”

“I want to see it! Do you have any idea how much that car cost?”

A door down the hallway opened, and I stepped farther into the apartment so I wasn’t seen.

“What’s going on?” Zeke asked behind us, and I was relieved he’d gotten up to deal with his friend. I did not want that job.

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