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With a towel around his waist, Sean sat at his kitchen table, sipping on a beer. Jena’s two vases with all the roses she’d been given tonight were on the counter by the window. She was cleaning up in one bathroom and Matt was showering in the other.
What a night. Jena had seemed to enjoy most of the evening. When he and Matt had returned with drink and food, he noticed a stark change in her. She was guarded again and asked to leave shortly after.
They’d said their good-byes and returned to the house.
She’s holding back. Why?
Was she worried about her kid or her ex or both?
She came out of the bathroom wearing silk pajamas she’d gotten during her shopping spree with Megan. God, what a gorgeous woman Jena was. Her hair was wrapped up in a towel. Green eyes gazed at him, imploring him to help her.
“Come have a beer with me, sweetheart.” He would move heaven and earth to make her happy.
She nodded and sat down in the chair next to him. They remained together quietly for a couple of minutes and then Matt joined them.
He put his arm around her. “What’s troubling you?”
“You both seem to be able to see right through me. I am so grateful for all you’ve done. Everyone in Destiny seems so wonderful. I can see why you two have decided to stay. I just can’t.”
“Can’t what?” Matt asked. “You can’t stay with us?”
“Not just you two. I can’t stay here in Destiny. I told you about Carl. He’s dangerous.”
Sean could see the suffering in her eyes. How much had she endured because of that fucker?
She continued, her voice softer than before. “I’m willing to stay here for three more days and then I have to leave for Kimmie’s birthday. Afterward, my mom, Kimmie, and I will disappear again.”
“Baby, we will go with you,” Matt said. “We’ll bring them back here. This place is big enough for all of us. If it proves to be too small, we’ll get a new place. You belong with us.”
She shook her head. “I wish I could. I really do. But I have to think about what’s good for my daughter. She’s first in all my decisions.” Jena reached into one of the pockets of her PJs and brought out a photo. “I wanted to show you a picture of Kimmie.” She handed it to Matt. “She’s the light of my life.”
“She’s beautiful, like her mother.” Matt passed the photo over to him.
He looked at the smiling, red-haired little girl in the picture, whose eyes were as green as Jena’s, and felt a protective tug on his heart. Who could harm such a sweet, innocent child? “Leave it to me and Matt, Jena. We’ll find Carl and make sure he never bothers you and Kimmie again.”
“If only you were right. But the police haven’t found him, and until they do, I can’t risk Kimmie’s safety. Carl is evil. He blames me for his incarceration. I know it doesn’t make sense. But that’s how he thinks. Crazy. He will never rest until he finds me, so I have to keep running. Can you understand that?”
“We understand more than you know, Jena,” Matt said.
Sean looked at his best friend. “It’s time.”
Matt nodded. “I agree. She deserves to know all of it.”
She’d trusted them with her story. Maybe telling her theirs would make her see that she belonged with them. Together they could make sure Jena, her mom, and Kimmie stayed safe and away from Carl. That son of a bitch was going back to prison or six feet under. He and Matt would make sure of that.
She sighed and took a sip of her beer. “What do I need to know?”
He put his hand at the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to his. “Jena, I love you.”
“I love you, too, but—”
“Wait, baby.” Matt leaned in and kissed her, staking his claim on the woman of their dreams. “I love you. I will always love you.”
“I love you, Matt. I love you, Sean. But I can’t let my heart take over here. Kimmie is my baby. She needs me to be the best mom I can be. I have to leave. I have to do everything I can to keep her safe.”
Sean removed her towel from her head. Her damp red locks fell to her shoulders. “Honey, I hate what you’ve had to deal with. It’s too much for anyone. And you did it all on your own. Matt and I know a thing or two about that. I know you believe you should leave. Running has been your life for far too long. But you don’t have to run anymore.”
Jena stood. “I can’t ask you to do this. It’s too much.” She ran to the bedroom before they could stop her.
