Hank shakes his head. “I don’t want to wake her. I just needed to know she was safe.” His eyes widen. “Becky’s still here, right?”
“Yeah, she’s asleep on the sofa.” I lower the sweatshirt sleeves over my fingers. “How did you know which room I’d be in?”
“I’ve helped Beck’s parents with all these cottages. Who would pick a room that looks out at the parking lot if they could have a window to the lake?”
That was my reasoning.
My cheeks rise. “Hank...” I’m not sure what to say, soafter a sigh, I offer, “I can make some coffee, and we can sit out front until she wakes.”
“You don’t want me here.”
I shrug. “Maybe I’ve been wrong.”
He pushes his hands deeper into his pockets as he looks up at the trees. “You weren’t, Jillian. I...” His gaze meets mine. “I was young and stupid. I made mistakes.”
My arms cross over my breasts. “It’s not my business other than that I love Becky and want her happy.” And safe. I don’t say the last part.
“She is...I hope,” he adds. “I know you two talk often. I’ve always known.”
I take a small step back toward the door. “Becky and I have been friends for a long time. Don’t take it out on her because I don’t agree with her choice.”
He steps forward, his large hand reaching for my forearm, stopping my thoughts of retreating.
I glare down at where we are touching. “Hank.”
Just as quickly, he releases me. “I fucked up. It was a long time ago.”
“I hope that was the only time.”
“It was. I knew I screwed up, and I couldn’t bear to lose her.” When I don’t respond, he adds, “Before Becky and I were married, I went to counseling.”
This is news to me. “You did?”
“I know it’s none of your business, but did you not know that? Becky never told you?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t and she didn’t.”
He kicks the dirt with the toe of his boot. “So, I really am the reason you didn’t come to the wedding?”
If Hank doesn’t know the other extenuatingcircumstance, I’m not going to tell him now. I lift my chin. “I couldn’t support the wedding, Hank. Not after I had to pick up the pieces when you left my best friend black and?—”
“I fucked up,” he interrupts. “Like I said, it happened once. I was wasted, which is no excuse. I fucking regretted it. I still do. I promised her it wouldn’t happen again.”
“She told me that part. I didn’t believe you.”
He runs his hand through his messy hair. “I’m gladshebelieved me. I swear, Jillian, I love Becky fucking more than life. And now she’s upset.”
“Now she’s asleep,” I correct.
“Did she tell you about Marty?”
I shift my sock-covered feet on the concrete stoop, hoping to return the circulation to my cold toes. “She told me that Marty had a job at Sanders Feed.”
“So, she told you that the little cunt came on to me?”
“Mentioned it.”
“I would never cheat on Beck. Hell, I was ignoring Marty when Beck came to the store. Dad and I heard Becky cuss Marty out. I wanted to talk to Beck about it, but she never mentioned it, and I’m a guy.”
