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He didn’t let her say anything, only heard a gasp, maybe a sob, but he walked to his truck and left. Never looking at her face because he didn’t think he could handle what he saw.
…
“Wow, you look like hell,” Penny said, walking into Jenna’s house. It had been twenty-four hours since Colt left, and Jenna was pretty sure she’d spent every minute of it crying. Lily had called yesterday saying that Colt had taken off without saying much of anything. Apparently he hadn’t mentioned their relationship, or lack thereof. Not that she could blame him. If Lily knew something was going on between them, she wasn’t pushing it.
“Have you heard from Colt?” Jenna asked when Lily walked in behind Penny.
“He texted that he was back in Kansas City, that’s it.”
Jenna nodded. She was beyond hurt and confused and couldn’t put all the pieces together. She knew what she wanted, and that was Colt. Yet he left her. Or maybe she drove him away? She wasn’t sure. When he was on her doorstep, she wanted to tell him about her mother. How she’d seen her and that she was the reason she was running, hiding, trying to prove she was different.
None of it mattered now.
“What is wrong with you two?” Jenna’s eyes darted between Penny and Lily. Penny sat next to Jenna on the couch, then Lily sat on the other side. Effectively sandwiching her in. Both of them staring Jenna down. She felt like she was on trial.
“We know,” Lily said.
“You know what?”
“We know about you and Colt,” Penny clarified.
Jenna’s mouth hung open, but she couldn’t be that surprised. When she and Colt were at the cabin, she knew she’d have explaining to do when she got back. She couldn’t lie and there was no need to. These were her best friends.
“Do you two have opinions you want to share with me?” Jenna asked cautiously.
Lily and Penny exchanged a look. Finally, Lily took a deep breath. “I was worried that if you two got together, then broke up, there would be bad feelings and…” She stopped herself. “All that matters is that you’re happy.”
Penny nodded. “We love you both no matter what.”
Jenna’s tears rose for the millionth time and she swiped the back of her hand over her eyes.
“You don’t look happy, honey,” Lily said softly. “I don’t know what happened between you two, but we’re here to help.”
Their understanding sent Jenna over the edge. “Oh God, you guys, I’m in trouble.”
Lily’s eyes went wide and she instantly wrapped her in a hug and Penny rubbed her back.
“What happened? Was he a jerk to you? I may be his younger sister but I’ll kick his ass.”
“No, it’s not him. It’s me. I’m in love with him. And I can’t do anything about it.”
Both woman pulled back slightly and stared at her.
“You…you love him?” Penny asked softly.
“Does he love you back?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I can’t offer him anything.”
“Of course you can! Look at you. You’re smart, successful, and, hello!” Penny motioned to Jenna’s chest and she couldn’t help but let a small laugh slip out.
“I just want this job so much. I’ve kept Colt a secret, been sneaking around and still can’t bring myself to spill about our relationship. I keep telling myself that as soon as the board votes—if I can just hang on until tomorrow, with no rumors, no slander from the Taylors—then I’ll get the job and finally this will end and—” A sob broke in her throat when the truth hit her. Colt hadn’t told about their affair to hurt her, he had admitted to something he was proud of, and Jenna had shot him down and put her job first. “I really messed up.”
“I’m sure you can fix it.”
“If I were Colt, I wouldn’t talk to me again. I’ve been so wrapped up in trying to prove I’m different than my mother that I hurt the one person who actually makes me feel like more.”
“Jenna, when are you going to realize, honey?” Penny stroked her hair. “You’re a teacher, a damn good one. They can’t take that from you. Yvonne, her mother—hell, the whole women’s quilting circle—can say what they want, when they want, but it doesn’t matter. They can’t make you feel small. They don’t have the power to brand you a whore or ‘just like your mom.’ Only you do.”
