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But having these deadly skills could lead to even more nightmares—she knew that from experience. What good was knowing how to defend yourself if you had no control?
She unstrapped her sparring gloves, wincing at the sight of her fists. The thin gloves had saved her hands from the worst of the abuse, but she was still going to have bruised and tender knuckles.
She righted BOB then spent the next few minutes cleaning up the gym. She’d brutalized three different fighting dummies and pounded the hell out of two different bags.
It still didn’t change the fact that she hadn’t even made it a full minute outside, but at least she was spent enough now that she didn’t care.
Thirty minutes later, after a shower and with a bowl of salted caramel ice cream on the table in front of her, she cared even less.
But she grimaced when she looked down at her phone and saw she had missed half a dozen calls from Charlotte—Charlie—Bollinger. The tiny woman was a pit bull, and evidently, she’d discovered Jenna was in town.
Jenna let out a curse when the phone buzzed in her hand with an incoming text, this time from Wavy DeRose.
You are in Oak Creek, right? Need to talk to you.
Shit. Today was not the day Jenna wanted to have visitors, especially not ones of the good friend variety. Friends who might figure out how much she was hiding from them.
She hadn’t let anyone know that she was back at her house here in town. Hell, most of her friends in Oak Creek didn’t even know she owned this house.
They definitely didn’t know that this house was much more than what it seemed. Sharing that information would just lead to more questions.
It was better to keep everyone at a little bit of a distance. Jenna had become an expert at that too. She wouldn’t answer Wavy’s text or return Charlie’s call right now. Maybe they’d give up.
The doorbell rang.
Clearly, they wouldn’t give up.
With a sigh, Jenna clicked the app on her phone so she could see who it was, not at all surprised to find Wavy and Charlie. She was tempted to ignore her friends, but she knew they wouldn’t go away since they’d figured out she was here.
Jenna opened the door, standing so that she was as far from the outside as possible. She forced a smile on her face. “Surprise. I’m in Oak Creek.”
All five-foot-one of Charlie burst through the door. She glared at Jenna with an eyebrow raised. “Hey genius, did you forget how to use your phone? I’ve been trying to call you for an hour.”
“I was, uh, working out.”
Charlie narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “How long have you been in Oak Creek?”
Jenna had no idea what answer would get her in the least amount of trouble. “Not very long,” she finally replied.
Wavy, Charlie’s much less rambunctious sister-in-law, reached over and gave Jenna a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
Jenna hugged her back, relieved when she could close the door.
Charlie pulled her in for a hug too. “We’ve missed you. You should’ve let us know you were in town. It’s good to see your face in person rather than on a phone.”
Jenna tried to pull back, but Charlie held her tight, so Jenna sank back into the hug. How long had it been since anyone had touched her?
Jenna knew exactly how long it had been, but she didn’t want to think about Mark Outlawson right now.
Most people assumed Jenna was an extreme introvert because she didn’t go out. But that really wasn’t the case at all. Jenna liked being around people. She’d just learned to be near them through electronic channels.
And to never mention how much being alone all the time cost her. Because that would just lead to more people worrying about her when they realized she’d become such a basket case.
It was one thing to be known as the gal who didn’t like to go out. It was another for everyone to know she vomited in her driveway trying to stay outside over a minute. For a year and a half, she’d kept that dirty little secret hidden.
Charlie finally pulled away, and Jenna led them toward the kitchen. “Sorry I didn’t let you know I was in town. I just needed a little time.”
She picked up her mostly empty ice cream bowl and put it in the sink. She looked over to find Wavy looking out the front window. This was their first time being inside Jenna’s house, but they both seemed too distracted to want a tour.
