“He did?” Jodi felt like a jerk. She hadn’t known that. Usually she was better in tune with her employees. Jacob was a catch. With his stylish, short brown hair, bright personality, and excellent wardrobe, he never went more than a few days between boyfriends.
“Yep. Don’t worry. He didn’t tell anyone. I pried it out of him.” Liz grinned. “The point is, you don’t have to worry. Tuck likes you. We can all see that.”
Jodi sincerely hoped everyone did not so readily notice it, and more specifically that the majority of the people who came to the bar didn’t recognize him. So far, only a few people from the younger crowd occasionally glanced at him in curiosity, but they seemed to decide against their speculation because no one ever said anything or approached him.
After all, why would the star of their favorite reality TV show be working as a bouncer in the local bar?
“Anyway,” Liz continued. “Did you hear what happened today?”
Jodi flinched. “No.” Shit.
Liz leaned closer, setting the paper she was holding on the counter and glancing around as if whatever she was going to say was a state secret. Ridiculous since no one was even in the building except Jodi’s dad who was upstairs. “My friend Carol, who thinks Tuck is a total snack and watches him every hour of the day, said that some fans figured out where their apartment is and waited outside this morning.”
Jodi sucked in a breath.
Liz nodded. “Yeah, several people followed the two of them when they left separately.”
“Jesus. That’s crazy.”
Liz shrugged. “That’s fans for you. So, get this, Tuck went to a nursing home. Did you know that’s where he goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays?”
Jodi shook her head. Of course she didn’t know that. No one knew it. He didn’t want people to know his private business. She felt a little dirty just being told in such a clandestine manner.
“Yep. I think it’s kind of sweet. He must have a parent or someone living there.”
“Yeah, and he doesn’t want the public to know about it, so he’s going to be pissed. He’s entitled to some privacy.” She felt badly for him. Now she understood better. Maybe his mom or dad or both were in that nursing home. It was possible he didn’t want them to know he was on a reality TV show.
Liz smiled slowly. “Ah, you’ve been paying attention.”
Jodi shot her a glare. “Fine. Yes. Go on.”
“Anyway, the juicier part is where Katia went.”
Shit. Jodi stiffened. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear this either.
“She drove to another apartment complex, put on huge sunglasses and a wide sunhat and hurried into the building. She was in there for two hours before she hurried back out, disheveled, and rushed back home.”
“Disheveled? Come on. How could anyone see that?” Not that Jodi was surprised.
Liz pulled out her phone, opened it up, scrolled through several things, and then held it up for Jodi to see.
Shit. Zoomed in pics of Katia rushing down a sidewalk. Several of them. Her hair was a hot mess, the ponytail gone. Her dress was askew. But what Jodi also noticed was that she had on different shoes. Flip-flops. Not the white sandals she’d left the apartment wearing when Jodi forced herself to stop watching.
“Yikes, right? Did you know?” Liz waved a hand through the air. “But of course you know. If either of them is caught cheating, they lose the money, and the other person gets all of it. Who in the world can’t keep their panties on for three months? No way would I blow that money. I don’t care how hot the guy is.” She shook her head and then lifted a finger. “But, get this.”
Jodi sighed dramatically. “I’m not sure I want to.”
Liz giggled again. “Yeah, you do. By the time Katia left that apartment, a good-sized group of fans had congregated outside. Some of them followed Katia. Some of them stayed behind to snoop around and try to figure out where she’d been.”
“And?” Jodi asked, unable to stop herself.
“And… Guess who came outside five minutes after Katia?”
Jodi lifted her brows. Her palms were sweating. This was insane. She was acting like one of the superfans, and she didn’t like this side of herself.
“Dawson.” Liz laughed. “Can you believe it?”
“Who’s Dawson?”
“One of the groomsmen from Cold Feet,” she reminded her.
“Right.” Jesus. Was Katia cheating on Tuck with one of the groomsmen? It wasn’t that far-fetched. Jodi had suspected all along that she was cheating with someone.
Liz got even more excited. “But that’s not all,” she exclaimed.
Jodi felt a bit sick to her stomach. She didn’t give a shit what Katia did while Tuck wasn’t home. She also doubted Tuck cared either. His life would be easier if she was caught cheating. What worried her was how he would handle the world finding out where he went on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Had he heard about this yet?
“Are you listening?” Liz asked, anxiously.
“Yes. Go on.” Jodi gripped the edge of the counter behind the bar with her fingers.
“Some of the people who gathered outside that apartment building lived there. After Dawson left, they moved their excited gossiping to the pool and huddled around their phones, posting what they’d seen and heard and all the pics they took.”
Jodi winced. This was bad. She glanced at her watch. Tuck would be there in a few minutes.
Liz grabbed Jodi’s arm. “Guess who came stomping outside half an hour later to confront them at the pool?”
Jodi groaned. “Do I even want to know?”
“Brittany. Brittany B, that is. The one with the big boobs.”
Liz’s gaze widened. There were three Brittanys in the bridal party on that show. That fact alone had caused more than one instance of confusion. It had also been
