Jesse cracks open a beer and then stretches an arm along the back of the love seat. “I guess it’s really over, isn’t it?” He sounds a little shocked, like it hasn’t sunk in yet.
He’s not alone, but I think it’s harder for him because he wasn’t there to witness the chaos last night firsthand. He just woke up to bad news.
Hannah nods slowly, her eyes trained on the floor before she blinks a few times and turns fully in her seat, gathering up her legs and pulling them against her chest, to look at him. “Yup,” she says quietly, “it bloody is.”
I’m about to get up and grab the blanket that I moved to the floor earlier, because Hannah looks cold, when Jesse beats me to it. He shakes it out and covers her up, before handing Ever another beer unasked, and returning to his seat.
I don’t know if anything is going on between Hannah and Jesse, and it’s none of my business, but I do love how considerate Jesse and Ever both are. Their mom raised good men.
“I can turn down the A/C, Hannah, if you’re cold?” I offer. She’s not pressed into a warm body like I am.
She shakes her head and snuggles into the blanket, resting her head on the back of the love seat. “I’m good,” she says.
“So, what’s next?” I ask, unsure who I’m directing the question to.
“I booked a flight home. I leave tomorrow morning. I’m sorry this all happened the way it did.” She’s defeated, but it goes deeper than the film.
“Hannah, tell me to fuck off if this is too personal, but what’s going on with Ben?” I ask, because he’s the subject everyone is skirting around. I called him earlier today, but he didn’t answer.
She licks her lips like she’s trying to decide if she wants to share, and the gesture is all the confirmation we need, but when her eyes fill with tears, she whispers, “The label rep told me they’ll get him home to Dallas and into rehab. The drinking’s been getting progressively worse. And the cheating’s been going on for a while. Yesterday morning I overheard him on the phone making plans to meet up with a woman after the show. When I confronted him, he didn’t deny it but accused me of sleeping with Jesse.” She looks from me to Jesse and says, “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
Jesse shakes his head. “We’ve been friends for a long time, and he knows me well enough to know I’d never do anything like that. I tried to call him today to talk, but he didn’t answer. He will when he’s ready. But you don’t need to apologize, you and I didn’t do anything wrong.”
A small smile emerges, and it isn’t happy, it’s something else. “You know, when I met Ben, we were so good together. Happy. And then I finished film school, and this project was born, and I was convinced my dreams were all coming true. I turned a blind eye to the cheating and told myself he was drinking to cope with the stress. It was almost like the good was so good that the bad existed to humble me, I guess.” She shakes her head. “I know that probably doesn’t make sense, but…”
When she trails off, Ever says, “I get it,” and the way his chest expands on a deep breath, I’m taken back to his comment last week about hiding things. There’s a storm inside he doesn’t let anyone see. “It’s like you don’t feel like you deserve the good, so the bad is there to balance the scales.”
Hannah nods. “Exactly.”
Jesse huffs, downs the rest of his beer, and says, “Hannah, my wife left me,andshe’s pregnant.”
“You can’t have kids.” Ever’s words sound like he suspects the worst.
Jesse reaches for the rum. “And therein lies the problem, little brother.”
The gut punch we all feel on his behalf is heard in our collective “Shit.”
“Shit, indeed,” Jesse says, before unscrewing the lid and taking a drink. “All that to say, I get you, Hannah. Sometimes life cuts us off at the knees, and we don’t know why.” He’s starting to get buzzed, but there’s a sincerity that I’ve noticed comes out when alcohol lowers his inhibitions. He gets introspective. “But you? You have talent. Don’t doubt yourself. Just because this project didn’t work out, doesn’t mean there’s not something bigger and better right around the corner.”
“What happens to all the footage?” Ever asks.
“Ben’s label was backing this, and my contract was with them, so it’s theirs. I signed some paperwork they emailed earlier today and already sent them everything I’d recorded, and in return, I get to keep my advance.” She shrugs, likewhat else am I going to do?“This was all a last-ditch effort to save Ben’s career. His last two albums tanked in sales and critical acclaim, and they were ready to drop him. They’ll definitely drop him now.”
“What about Soph’s photos? Do they have any right to those?” Ever asks.
She shakes her head. “No, Sophie’s contract is with me. Had her photos been included in the film, rights would’ve reverted to the label. Since that’s null and void now, the photos are hers. And I’ve already paid her out for the rest of the tour.”
“Good,” Ever says, and the hand on my thigh moves to my stomach. It feels protective.
Hannah’s cell rings, and when she picks it up from the coffee table and checks the screen, she says, “Sorry, I have to take this. It’s my mum. I’ll be back in a bit.”
When the door latches shut behind her, Ever asks Jesse, “Nothing happened between you two?”
Jesse shakes his head. “Swear to God, nothing happened, Ev.”
“Ben’s life is a dumpster fire that’s managed to burn everyone in his radius. He was projecting his guilt onto Hannah and was jealous of you, Jesse. You heard her, his career’s in the toilet. I feel bad for Hannah. I feel bad for you guys. Hell, I feel bad for Ben. The guy’s making shit choices, but…” I trail off because that’s all there really is to say.
“Yeah, me too. I hope he agrees to rehab,” Jesse says, sincerely. “What are you guys gonna do now? I’m trying to decide if I should book a flight to Louisville to help Big Dave and Mom out on the farm while he’s recovering, or if I should go stay at Mom’s house while she’s away and keep an eye on it for her.”
