Chapter 25
WEST
We were both worried about her. Giving her a little space, Langston and I walked side by side, just a few steps behind Juno as she stomped down the empty sidewalk. I looked over my shoulder, hoping that asshole Eric would chase after her so we could finish what she’d started.
The image of his swollen, bleeding nose had my lips curving upward. Our girl was a badass. I just hoped she knew that too.
She hadn’t given us the rundown of what happened in the alley, despite Langston champing at the bit, ready to demand answers.
Probably so he could feel justified in killing the son of a bitch.
My friend no doubt felt responsible that she had to defend herself alone while we were being held hostage inside by three older women very interested in our lifestyle.
One realized she wasn’t our type and started showing us pictures of her grandkids.
That was why we didn’t initially notice Juno wasn’t in the room, and neither were dipshit and his bride.
Langston realized it first, cutting off mid-sentence while scanning the room, then storming off.
I apologized for his abrupt departure and raced to catch up with him.
It took him all of two seconds, and looking at the tracking app on his phone, to realize she was there but not.
Even if we didn’t know the full story, we had her back no matter what. But the way she wouldn’t look at us made me wonder if something Eric or someone else at the dinner said had hit home, making her question us or even herself.
Hand shoved into the pocket of the uncomfortable-as-hell slacks, I pulled out my phone, going straight to the train schedule, hoping like hell we weren’t too late to catch the last one out of this hellhole.
“It looks like the last train tonight to Anchorage leaves in thirty minutes,” I stated, already tapping on the purchase button for three tickets. “We can make it if we pack up fast.”
“Juno,” Langston called out, making her stop and spin around. The yellow glow of a nearby streetlamp highlighted the wet streaks marking her face.
My heart clenched at the sight, desperate to hold her.
Not even trying to stop myself, I closed the distance between us and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Based on what just happened, I’m assuming our invite to the wedding tomorrow is revoked.
” Juno and I both huffed out a laugh. “Do you want to leave tonight?”
Her cheek moved along my chest with a slow nod. “Yes, I want to get out of here now. Like now, now.”
“We can stop by the hotel, grab our things, and get to the train station in time. That puts us in Anchorage late, so we can get a hotel there and—”
“I want to go home,” she said, her voice cracking. “Can we leave for Anchor Bay tonight?” She chewed on her lower lip and looked to the concrete, shifting on her feet. “Would that be dangerous since it would be late?”
Langston scoffed and pulled her to him. “I’ll be the one behind the wheel, remember, so we’ll be fine. It’s not ideal, but I can make it work. I will make it work to get you home if that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
The hesitation in her voice had me turning her face up to mine. “What is it? I sense that something was said or happened that’s making you… question.”
Fresh tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, confirming my suspicion. “I thought I was healing, that I could be here and be okay. I’m such an idiot—”
“Watch how you talk about our girl there, Juno. That train ride will suck with a sore ass.”
She rolled her eyes at Langston before continuing.
“It took just a few sentences from my stepfather to undo all the progress I’d made these last few months.
I was outside by myself getting some air, and I just thought that maybe this is too soon.
If I let his words affect me when I know they aren’t true, then maybe I need to keep doing the healing… alone.”
With the side of my thumb, I brushed away her tears.
“I agree that you still have healing to do, but not alone. Please don’t push us away because some asshat knew exactly what to say to weaken your defenses.
You still feeling the sting of his words doesn’t mean you haven’t been healing, nor does it negate the hard work you’ve put in; it just shows you that there’s more to do.
It will take time and talking through your feelings and reservations.
Remember, Juno, you don’t have to do this alone. Not anymore.”
Her wet eyelashes fanned up and down. I could almost see the war going on behind her gorgeous eyes.
She wanted to believe me but had done it alone for so long that it was hard to ask for help.
If she was like me, the fear wasn’t in asking for help but in opening yourself up for disappointment.
Exposing your weaknesses only to be turned away by the person who said they would be there for you.
“We’re here, Juno,” Langston said, coming to stand on her other side. “No matter what. But don’t let some asshole diminish everything you’ve done to this point to survive and move on. He doesn’t get that power over you; no one does.”
She sucked in a tight breath. “You’re both right. It was just a lot tonight, and I went right back to how I would always handle high-stress situations—alone.” Wiping her cheeks, she stood up straighter, a soft smile on her lips. “Let’s go home. I’m over this place. For good.”
Interlacing her fingers with mine, I guided us toward the hotel.
If we wanted to make that final train, then we couldn’t waste any time.
Plus, I wanted to get as far away from the rehearsal dinner as possible.
It was taking everything I had not to turn around and find that stepdad of hers.
No wonder Juno had confidence issues; all the men she grew up around were toxic as shit.
It’s a wonder she ever got the courage to break free.
“Just promise you’ll wear that dress we picked out one night soon for only me and Langston. I was looking forward to showing you off at the wedding and then taking you back to the hotel to rip the flimsy material off you.”
A wide smile split her face as she shook her head and leaned against my bicep. Already it seemed she felt lighter, more centered than just minutes before.
It was this whole damn town that brought her down, which meant we needed to get the fuck out of Dodge. I picked up our pace, eager to get our stuff packed up, board the train, and head home.
My shoulders dropped as some of the thrumming tension eased at that thought.
Home.
Yes, it was time for the three of us to go home.
The coarse rope scraped over my hands as I helped Langston ready the boat for our trip back to Anchor Bay. The docks were eerily quiet, most of the fishermen long gone; only the hum of cars passing on a nearby busy street filled the air.
After dusting off my hands, I turned to Juno, who stood a couple of feet away, giving us space to work. “You know, the house arrest still stands,” I commented. “We’ve only been gone a couple of days. The threat is still there until we catch the asshole.”
She wrapped both arms around herself and turned to look out over the dark water.
It was that time of night during the summer months when the sun had finally set, the elusive nighttime gracing us with its cool presence.
Above us, brilliant stars sparkled in the sky, occasionally covered up by the fast-moving dark clouds that seemed to promise rain at some point.
The bright sun would reappear on the horizon in just a few brief hours, unlike closer to the Arctic Circle, where they had almost twenty-four hours of daylight.
“She doesn’t seem that upset about it,” Langston said, a bit of pride in his tone.
“I’m not,” Juno commented over her shoulder while sticking out her tongue at him. “I’ve gotten used to my two jailers.”
He and I shared an amused look before going back to the task at hand.
After untying the last rope, I hopped on board, Langston following right after me.
As we trudged slowly through the dock area, waves slammed threateningly against the hull, making a seed of worry bury itself in my gut.
Fully dark now, not a peek of the glorious sun to light our way, I didn’t know how Langston knew where to go, but he’d made this trip so many times that he could probably do it blindfolded.
With us in expert hands, I plopped down next to Juno and draped an arm around her, pulling her in close. After a contented sigh, she rested her head on my shoulder. Her hair tickled my lips as I placed a kiss on top of her head while twirling a light brown curl between two fingers.
“I love this color on you,” I murmured loud enough to be heard over the roaring engine. “It looks like you.”
She shifted so she stayed leaning against me but could angle her face up toward mine.
“I like it too. It’ll be even better when my real hair grows out and it’s my natural color, not something out of a box.
” She bit down on her lower lip, and I waited patiently, knowing she had something on her mind.
“It felt good tonight, standing up for myself and kicking Eric’s ass.
” I barked out a laugh at her genuine grin.
“I felt strong. Does that make me a bad person? I enjoyed hitting him—really, really enjoyed it. But no one told me how much it would hurt.”
Hand stretched out in front of us, she flexed her fingers. I grabbed it in my own and held it close, inspecting each digit for injury.
“Enjoying it doesn’t make you a bad person at all, Juno. He put you in a critical situation, and you stood up for yourself. If he hadn’t done it, you wouldn’t have.”
“I want to keep working out with Oliver.” She cut her eyes to Langston. “Do you think he’ll let me?”