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Penny looked so innocent, like only truthful phrases could ever cross her mouth, and Jenna knew she was right. She’d been scared for far too long. Afraid of herself and her own emotions. Afraid that if she faltered once or even breathed incorrectly, she would somehow turn into her most hated nightmare.
This whole time Jenna hadn’t been running from the town, her mother, or Yvonne; she had been running from herself.
“I love him,” Jenna said. “I’ve been so selfish, so lost. But with him I feel like myself. He’s seen me, all of me, and he still wants me.”
Lily smiled. “You’re not selfish. You just have an entire past working against you. I know you’re usually the teacher, but I think, if you let him, Colt will show you what we all have known since day one.”
“You’re a good person, Jenna. You don’t have to keep proving that to everyone,” Penny added. “No matter what Yvonne or anyone else says.”
Jenna palmed her forehead. Yvonne was going to make a move against her, Jenna knew it. But it was time she faced that. She was tired of running and hiding.
“No matter what, Jenna, we’ve got your back. Always.” Lily smiled at her and Penny nodded in agreement.
Jenna was lucky. She had amazing friends. While they might not be blood, she loved them more than her own kin. She wrapped them up in a big hug and felt their support radiate. She would have to just let go, allow life to happen.
For the first time, she was finally giving up control. And it felt wonderful.
Chapter Twenty-One
“This place is creepy.”
The voice coming from over Colt’s shoulder made him take his gaze off his beer and look back.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Colt rasped. In the middle of the Rusty Bolt, standing in a three-piece suit and looking every bit “the guy who always had his shit together,” was Sebastian.
“Grabbed a flight to come talk some sense into you and bring you home.” Bass took a seat next to him at the bar. He didn’t need to ask how he found him. He was an attorney. Dug for facts. Aka, Lily likely sold him out. This was, after all, the bar he went to when he wanted to get lost. But so far, he hadn’t been able to outrun JJ’s scent, her eyes, or the damn hold she had on his heart.
“I am home,” Colt grumbled and took a swig of his beer.
“Bullshit. Stop being a pussy, man up, and come back to Diamond.”
“There’s nothing for me there,” Colt said and slammed his hand down on the counter. “I fucked things up, Bass. I’m bad fo
r Jenna.”
“She loves you. If you can’t see that then you have bigger problems than I can help you with.” Colt shook his head but Bass went on. “Listen to me. Jenna struggles to outlive something that haunts her. It’s hard. Really fucking hard sometimes.”
Colt looked at his friend and knew he was speaking from experience. Bass had a mean son of a bitch for a father and grew up with less than nothing. There was a darkness in him he tried to tamp down every day. “But she loves you, has since she was a kid. Everyone can see that. And she needs you now.”
“I don’t know,” Colt looked at his beer and wondered if staying away really was best. Maybe he didn’t fight for her because deep down, he was still scared as hell. Scared that she was the one thing he couldn’t live without.
“Here.” Bass slapped a plane ticket on the bar. “Flight leaves in two hours. Hope to see you on it.”
Bass got up and Colt turned. “This isn’t easy.”
Bass smiled. “When dealing with a woman, things never are. But the right one’s worth it.”
Colt smiled and thought of JJ and all the passion and kindness that came with her. Maybe it was time Colt stopped running, once and for all.
…
After another sleepless night, Jenna managed to pull herself together, splash cold water on her face, and face the day. The day she’d been waiting for. She walked into the gymnasium. A good chunk of the town had turned out for the school board meeting. Even Miss Tena had closed her shop early. Either Jenna would be chosen to take charge of the program she worked so hard for, or Yvonne would.
The five school board members sat behind a long table, Flo Taylor in the dead center.
“So glad you made it, Jenna,” Yvonne said, coming to stand next to her.
“Is there a reason you thought I wouldn’t be here today?”
