Chapter 14 #2
I appreciated her kindness and comfort. She would have likely kept my secret for as long as I wanted her to. And I was grateful for that, too.
“I know,” I assured her. “But it was silly to hide things, and I was doing it for the wrong reasons. It doesn’t really matter what this town thinks of me.
If they’re going to judge me for moving on, then they might as well just go ahead and get it over with.
Their opinions aren’t the ones that matter anyway. ”
Becca grinned. “Amen.”
Everyone pitched in, and we finished up our Halloween prep pretty quickly. I spent the next hour chatting with my family and eating copious amounts of dips and desserts. I took some time to get to know Corie and learned about her freelance photography business.
It was a good night.
Made that much better after I climbed in my car and pulled out my phone.
Jack: Okay, hypothetically, if I decided to contact Eloise Carter and agree to hand out candy tomorrow on Main Street, would you be interested in joining me?
I smiled and started typing.
Me: Hypothetically, I would be amenable.
I’d planned to help out at the Grandpappy’s tent, but they didn’t really need me. It would be a low-key evening as long as they didn’t run out of treats. Two people could easily handle the booth, and there would be way more than enough Clarks present and accounted for.
Jack: You sure you don’t have plans?
Me: There’s nowhere I’d rather be than in costume with you in front of Magnolia. Surrounded by candy. Don’t forget that part.
Jack: Costumes?
I huffed an incredulous laugh.
Me: It’s Halloween. Of course, costumes.
Jack: For the children.
Jack: Just the children.
Jack: Right?!
Jack: Clyde, come on.
I waited in my dark vehicle, grinning down at my phone like a maniac.
Jack: Well, what are you dressing up as?
Me: Princess Peach. It’s a huge hit.
I did it every year.
Me: I’m sure we can think of a good costume for you.
Jack: How about a bartender?
Snorting, I replied, Nice try. What about a chef? Oh, or a doctor. Scrubs would be super easy. Or a cowboy.
Jack: I think I have an idea. Something you’ll probably like.
Me: Oh yeah? Is it gray sweatpants?
Jack: No, you pervert. Calm down.
I giggled before finally starting my car and turning the heat on. It was chilly tonight, but I’d been distracted by Jack’s messages.
Me: Well, are you going to tell me?
Jack: Nah. It’ll be a surprise.
“You were not kidding about that Princess Peach costume.”
I grinned at Jack as I waved goodbye to the little girls dressed as Snow White and sat back down beside him again. That was probably the tenth picture I’d gotten up and posed for.
“She’s a fan favorite,” I replied with a sly look in his direction.
I’d nearly tripped over my own feet when I’d found Jack at the Magnolia booth on Main Street. He’d dressed up alright, and just when I thought he couldn’t get any sexier, a tall, brooding pirate awaited me.
He’d let the scruff on his cheeks grow in a little thicker this week. With a red bandana tied around his head and a fake earring in one ear, he definitely looked the part. The tight black pants didn’t hurt either.
We’d been handing out candy for over an hour.
The crowds would eventually thin out as it got closer to sunset, with the older kids heading back home to trick-or-treat in their own neighborhoods.
But this event was great for the little ones.
The whole street had been blocked off for the festivities.
There were bounce houses and food trucks, and plenty of tables and businesses to visit.
It had been fun interacting with the community. I’d seen a ton of students—current and former.
Just then, several of the soccer girls came bounding up to the table.
Jamie was dressed in all black as a dour Wednesday Addams. The effect was ruined when she smiled widely at us, black lipstick framing her white teeth.
Tori and Rosie joined her. Rosie wore a Bride of Frankenstein costume.
And Tori was painted gold all over—even her face—and I wasn’t sure why.
“Hey, girls!” I greeted. “I love your costumes.”
“I’m the World Cup,” Tori said proudly.
“Of course you are.” I smiled.
“Coach Jack, you make a really good pirate,” Jamie offered.
“Word,” Rosie added.
I pushed the bowl of candy forward. “Have at it.”
But Jack reached over with a staying hand. “I, uh, actually have something for them.”
I watched curiously as he produced a plastic bag from beneath the table and pulled out full-sized candy bars, passing them to the girls.
They squealed excitedly.
“Thank you!” the girls chorused.
“You’re an amazing coach-slash-human,” Jamie added with a grin.
Jack must have felt my amused gaze burning a hole in the side of his face because he cut me a sidelong glance. “What?”
“You are a secret softie,” I said, absolutely charmed by this turn of events.
He wanted to play the role of a grumpy bar owner forced to participate in community service, but he liked these kids. And I was willing to bet he enjoyed coaching them, too.
“Ms. Jensen, will you take a picture of us with Coach Jack?” Jamie asked.
“Sure,” I replied happily, accepting the little girl’s cell phone.
The three hustled around the table as Jack stood. They got into position on either side, grinning widely and saying “Cheese!”
Jack’s smile was somehow both gruff and unbearably fond, and I was infinitely delighted that there was photographic evidence.
Jamie and the others hurried off with a “Goodbye!” and a “Thank you!”
I couldn’t resist my amused grin as we resumed our seats and handed over the candy bowl to the kids who’d been waiting.
When his gaze caught mine, Jack rolled his eyes. “It was just a picture. You’ve been taking them with kids all night.”
“Yeah, but those other kids just wanted a photo with Princess Peach. Jamie and Tori and Rosie wanted a picture with you, their coach.”
He looked uncomfortable with the knowledge. Like maybe he hadn’t expected the girls to remember him off the field. Or he hadn’t anticipated making an impact anywhere down the line.
“I was forced into the coaching thing, remember? I don’t like getting involved.”
I pressed my lips together.
Jack frowned. “What? Just say it.”
“What about the end-of-season party you threw for the team at Magnolia this week after their final practice?” I challenged.
“It wasn’t a party,” he argued, but he looked away.
“And the certificates you gave each kid with their little trophies.”
“I found a template online and just printed them out.”
“Jamie showed me hers,” I said, voice soft from the sweetness he was intent on hiding. “It’s framed in her cubby at school. The Most Organized on the Team award. That doesn’t sound like a template to me.”
Jack sighed, and I had to work really hard to keep the smile off my face.
“Just admit it. You like them,” I encouraged. “You liked coaching those kids. You liked being involved.”
His eyes rolled heavenward, but he grunted out a barely audible, “Fine. Coaching wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be.”
My smile burst free. “Look at you. Community leader.” I waved a hand at our surroundings. “Active participant in our local economy.”
“I think you mean, Eloise Carter’s whipping boy.”
I laughed at his deflection before disagreeing gently, “No. You could have passed on trick-or-treating.”
He eyed me, looking a little cagy. “Yeah, but that seemed like the easiest way to get her off my back. Next thing I know, it’ll be the holiday market or the Christmas parade or the Spring Fling or whatever small-town event she can think up next.
Believe me, I do not want to be on Eloise Carter’s email list.”
“Why does that bother you so much, Jack? Why wouldn’t you want to be involved?”
Despite being born here and living most of his life in Kirby Falls, Jack had been somewhat of an outsider.
His solitude contributed to his reputation.
One of a self-contained man who flew under the radar.
Who didn’t need anyone’s approval or support, and lived the life he’d chosen.
Almost like he’d decided to stay in his hometown in spite of the gossip and rumors.
He didn’t answer. Darkness rolled over his expression like a storm rumbling in. He was irritated, likely upset that I was pushing so hard. But this was important. He was already a part of this community. The only person who saw him as an outsider was Jack himself.
“You’re one of us,” I told him seriously. “This town is as much yours as anyone else’s. It’s okay to want to be a part of that.”
After a long moment, Jack nodded, his expression still a little unsure, or perhaps disbelieving. But the dark clouds of his temper had drifted into the distance, like a summer shower over the mountains, just barely hiding layers of the hillside behind a gauzy curtain of rain.
“It’s okay to be a little scared,” I said, using his own words from a few weeks ago.
I could tell he remembered. His face softened, the last hint of bad weather dispersing on the wind.
Then he raised a dark brow in my direction, enhancing his roguish appearance. “Well, don’t expect me to turn Magnolia into the hometown watering hole. The last local who picked my bar over Mattie B’s is still causing all kinds of trouble.”
Then he winked and shot me a grin that had me going warm all over.
Eventually, the shuffling mass of parents and costumed children dwindled along with the candy in our bowl.
I saw a few more students and said hi to plenty of neighbors.
Jacob and Charlie had even stopped by our table.
Jacob had been dressed as a king, his costume complete with a cape, crown, and royal scepter.
Charlie had taken a very creative approach and put together a Chef Mario Batali costume with the help of his dad.
They were polite and spoke to me, but they were obviously there for Jack.
I knew the boys still frequented the girls’ practices, and they’d attended every Saturday game I’d been to as well.
I wasn’t surprised at all when Jack passed the boys full-sized Snickers bars, further earning their hero worship and undying devotion.
We managed to make it to Jack’s building just as the streetlights turned on. Following Jack, I gathered my layers of skirts and took the stairs up to his apartment. I could tell he wanted to peek in downstairs at Magnolia, but he resisted.
He’d gotten better about that, letting those scheduled to close up actually do their jobs without stepping in or checking to make sure the kitchen wasn’t overwhelmed. Magnolia was well staffed, but it was obvious that Jack had a hard time letting go where the bar was concerned.
But tonight, he’d been content to lead me right up to his apartment, his hand wrapped around mine.
My phone buzzed in the pocket of my dress as we stepped inside. I looked at the screen after I removed my shoes and felt my stomach drop. Another text from Danny. This time, asking if I had time to talk.
He’d been sending these messages every now and then, and I’d just been ignoring them, but too scared of an emergency with Diane to block him.
“Everything okay?” Jack asked, swiping the bandana off his head and raking his fingers through his hair.
“Yeah,” I replied as I turned off my phone. “It wasn’t important.”
I didn’t want to talk about my ex-husband. I didn’t want to think about him either. Danny had occupied enough of my thoughts for a very long time.
Jack shrugged out of the white lace-up pirate shirt, and suddenly my attention was fixed wholly on him. He unclipped the gold hoop from his ear and placed it on the counter before stepping close.
Carefully, he removed the crown from my hair. Then he reached behind me and found the zipper of my dress.
“You know some people would be into the Princess Peach thing,” I said with a grin. “I can leave it on, if you want.”
His eyes stayed on mine even as I felt the fabric slide down my body, the air cool against my skin.
Jack ran the backs of his knuckles along my spine, making me shiver. Anticipation bloomed, and something heavy and warm settled below my belly button.
He shook his head slowly from side to side. “No costume, Clyde. I just—” He paused, throat working as he swallowed. “I just want you.”
All my teasing and amusement abruptly fled as he leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to my jaw.
No matter what happened with Jack, I knew I’d probably remember this moment for the rest of my life. When Jack laid me down on his bed and made slow, sweet love to me, it was with the knowledge that for the first time in my life, someone simply wanted me.
And maybe—just maybe—I was more than enough.