Page 44 of Throttle Therapy

“Oh, I didn’t know you were expecting.I guess I didn’t notice when you came in.”Jenna stumbled over her words, not wanting to offend the other woman but feeling like an idiot for not realizing she was expecting sooner.

Elizabeth waved a dismissive hand.

“You were a little busy when I came in,” she said as she headed across the room.

Jenna followed, her face heating at the reminder of the kiss and how embarrassed she’d been.

“Don’t worry about it, Jenna.They were digs at him, not you.These guys are good guys, deep down.But sometimes you’ve got to dig to find it.On the surface they’re all kind of feral.None of them know how to act, at least not in polite society, but you want to know a secret?”Elizabeth glanced at her, then pushed open a door and went inside.

Jenna followed, finding that they were in a restroom with a couple of stalls.

“What?”Jenna asked, not able to keep herself from it.

“I like it.No.I love it.That feral bit of Hex is what lets him jump to my defense if someone even looks at me wrong.It also makes him a lot of fun, if you know what I mean.”She rubbed her belly and lifted her brows at Jenna before turning away.“I’m about to burst.”She went into one of the stalls and closed the door.

Jenna took advantage of that to slip into the other and take care of her business.

“How long have you been seeing Roadkill?”Elizabeth asked as they washed their hands.

Jenna frowned, confused.“I’m not seeing Roadkill.I just met him last week.I mean l like him, obviously, but we’ve never been on a date.”

“Would you go if he asked?”Elizabeth tilted her head to one side as she looked at her.“I get the feeling from what I’ve heard, both today and from comments I’ve overheard that you dedicate your life to your sister.”

Jenna froze for a second in the middle of drying her hands and thought about that.

“Yeah, I guess I do,” she said with a shrug.

“You don’t need to answer this but think about it.”Elizabeth set a hand on her arm, stopping her from going back out into the common room.

“How happy does that make you?And not just that, but is putting your own happiness on the back burner for everyone else what you want your sister to do?She’s learning how to live by watching you, not just what you say but what you do.By never doing anything for yourself you’re showing her that you believe the right thing to do is to sacrifice yourself to make sure everyone else is happy.She’ll either do the same or constantly believe she doesn’t measure up because she doesn’t make all the sacrifices you did.”

Jenna’s shoulders slumped.She could see Elizabeth wasn’t wrong, but how could she have done anything differently?

“Don’t stress about what’s done but start doing things you enjoy, things just for you, when you can.If Roadkill makes you happy, enjoy it.Let him do for you, and for your sister if he wants.If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay.She’s seen you trying to have a life, trying to be happy.Isn’t that what you want her to see you doing?”

Jenna nodded, then looked down at the floor as she thought about it.The other woman was right, but Jenna also didn’t think that she’d been wrong.Especially with how their life had been the last few years.Now that things were starting to look up though, she thought she might be able to do as Elizabeth suggested.

She’d have to think about it more, but she liked the idea of being the example of who she wanted Lacey to become.If only she could manage it.

“Come on.The boys will come looking for us if we’re gone too long.”Elizabeth went to the door and held it open for Jenna.

“Hex might, but Roadkill’s just being nice to me.I think he feels sorry for us.”

Elizabeth scoffed.“I’m not saying he doesn’t, but in the four months I’ve been around, he’s never brought a woman to the clubhouse.I don’t know who he’s helped but he’s never brought anyone here.”

Jenna blinked as she let that sink in.He didn’t bring people here?Then what was this?Why did Roadkill keep coming around her and Lacey?Was this more than she’d thought?

They made their way back to the table, her mind lost in thought.

“You look tired, darlin’,” Roadkill said as she approached.“Ready to head home?”

“If you don’t mind.I think I’m going to go home and go to bed.I didn’t know a day could be so exhausting.”

“Then let’s take you home.”he turned toward the bar, “Come on, squirt, it’s time to go.”

Lacey spun on her seat and looked at him, then without a word, she hopped off the stool and headed their way.Roadkill herded the two of them toward the door.

The ride back to their trailer took less than ten minutes.When they pulled into the yard, Lacey bailed out without a word.Jenna watched as she hustled to the door, pulled out her key, and let herself in.