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“Let’s get you to the penthouse and settled in. Then you can rest or eat with us or whatever you need. You look tired.”
CHAPTER TWO
It felt good to sink into the back seat of Juno’s car. One of Jack’s drivers shut the door behind us and went around to the driver’s seat. Juno seemed used to having someone take her places, but I still looked wide-eyed at all the fuss. The interior of the car was plush and well-stocked, a little fridge built into the front center of the area.
Juno reached forward and opened it, making me wonder what she was after at this time of day. She pulled out a bottle of water and offered it to me before grabbing another for herself.
“I must admit, I am still not really used to all this, but I won’t deny that it has its perks. Jack makes sure I’m taken care of.”
“Is it weird having someone so rich that he doesn’t think twice?” I asked, not sure how I’d feel about being on such a different level from my partner.
“A little,” Juno replied. “But he listens to me and appreciates that I remind him sometimes what isn’t normal for most people. I’ve helped strip away some of the really unnecessary expenses. It’s very easy to get used to having someone do all these things for you, though.”
I nodded, not sure I would ever get used to it, but it was clear that Juno was happy. After her divorce from Greg and thesecrets that had slowly come out about how he had treated her, I was sure she deserved to be happy.
It was strange to think about her doing so well when, internally, I was still hurting over my own breakup. Although it had been longer ago than Juno leaving her abusive partner and finding Jack about six months later, I still carried the hurt inside me.
My friends had always been there for me, and they made it easier to carry on each day, but I’d come away from it feeling like I’d never find someone kind who thought I was worth it.
All my life, I had never been good enough for anyone. Criticized at every turn, I constantly worried and battled with inadequacy. On some level, I knew I couldn’t be as bad as my mind tried to tell me. But when I was caught up in the thoughts, looking at something I had created and unable to see it rationally, it wasn’t any easier to convince myself to let go.
Juno had been one of my biggest supporters. She actively encouraged me to take more risks. Not that it made it much easier, but I appreciated that she tried.
We talked about small subjects for the rest of the journey, Juno occasionally pointing out places to go for food or as a tourist that she hoped to take me to at some point. It was a relief, and I finally relaxed a little. I was nervous about spending time with Jack’s friends, but it wasn’t the first time I’d met most of them.
Alma especially had been wonderful at making me feel welcome. And Juno had spoken very highly of her for helping Juno settle in with Jack and even trusting her when no one else had. I was sad that I hadn’t been there enough for Juno, on one hand, but grateful that this same person had taken a liking to me as well.
I knew they would be at the penthouse when we got there. They were close to Jack, and I knew they wanted to help out withthe last few days of wedding prep. Everyone was going out to Jack’s island from New York together after that.
Of course, that was yet more flights, and I was nervous about that too, but apparently, it was all private. Juno had assured me that both I and my luggage were in good hands.
“And we’re here,” Juno suddenly declared, pulling me from my worries about the latter flights and traveling to the current fears of making a fool of myself in front of all Jack’s closest friends.
Our chauffeur opened the door for us again, and Juno got out first, thanking the guy on her way past. I thanked him on autopilot.
“Let me know if you need us again tonight, but I’ll assume not otherwise,” he said to Juno.
She merely nodded at him before taking my arm. I moved to get my suitcase, but she pulled me away.
“They’ll bring it up and put it in your room for you,” Juno told me, anticipating the words I hadn’t spoken. “Try to relax. We are going to take such good care of you that there will be no need to worry about anything.”
I exhaled as June led me into the main atrium past a guy on the door. I wasn’t used to an apartment block having a doorman, but he smiled at Juno and didn’t hesitate to accommodate us. I made a mental note not to leave without saying something to whoever stood there in the hopes they’d remember me if I came back.
Not that it sounded like I would have any need to leave until we all went to the island.
From what I understood, the house and outbuildings had been repaired since the hurricane that had battered it.
Juno didn’t like talking about it, so I hadn’t pried much, but if she was nervous about going back to the island, she wasn’tshowing it. Of course, it sounded like she had been there several times since.
The ride up the elevator was quiet, Juno seeming to run out of things to say. I was too apprehensive to know what to ask.
“You know, I took the stairs the first time I came up here,” Juno said when we were still a few floors off the top. “I was so nervous. I wanted to delay being up here.”
“I can understand that approach.” I tried to imagine what it would be like going up this many flights of stairs, and I couldn’t do it. It was insane. I wouldn’t do it, but I could appreciate why Juno might.
A part of me wished I had when I got to the top, and the doors slid open. I was more than a little nervous. As we walked out into the hallway, I gently wiped my sweaty palms on the back of my pants, hoping to clean them off before anyone asked to shake my hand or did anything else.
It was gross, but my body betrayed me more often than I wanted.
