Chapter 14
Rumours
Jenny
More than one head turned to follow us as Deacon led me by the hand down to the beach.
Like all small towns, Moose Lake had a thriving grapevine. And we were big news.
I just wasn’t sure if we were good news.
My steps faltered as we hit the beach, and I saw the small crowd gathered near the bonfire.
But then a wild, happy cry reached my ears. Following the sound, I found Maxine jumping up and down, an enormous pom-pom bouncing on top of her head.
I laughed because it put mine to shame.
Maggie’s arm shot in the air to wave.
Baxter and Miller stood behind them. And just beyond them stood Eric and Julie with John and Vera.
“The whole gang is here,” I murmured, looking up at him as we walked forward. “Are you sure you want to be here?”
His eyebrows rose. “With you? Yes.”
Maxine and Maggie engulfed me in hugs and dragged me towards Vera and Julie.
“I want the tea,” Maxine demanded. “Is he as good in bed as he looks? Because that man looks bad.”
She frowned and shook her head. “Bad in the best way, you know what I mean?”
“I haven’t slept with him yet,” I admitted.
“What the fuck?” Maxine exclaimed. Bending over, she spoke straight to my vagina. “Do you need CPR?”
“Oh my God, Max,” Maggie scolded.
I laughed. “He’s the holdout.”
Both women turned to appraise him.
Luckily, deep in conversation with Miller and Bax, he didn’t see.
Maxine eyed me. “Is he scared you’re going to run?”
“He should lock you down with orgasms,” Maggie chimed in, her eyes trailing over her husband’s body. “Lot and lots of orgasms.”
Maxine shook her head. “You’re out of control.”
“I know,” she murmured. “Baxter said his dick is going to fall off.”
Maxine nudged her with an elbow. “A little CPR usually does the trick.”
I laughed. Ignoring the curious looks for the moment, I laughed hard, caught up in the wonder that these women were my friends.
Vera bounced over. “Who needs CPR?”
“Baxter said I’m going to make his dick fall off.”
“Oh.” She nodded wisely. “Offer him the back door. It’ll turn into a battering ram.”
Julie huffed. “And that’s a good thing?”
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
We all looked up.
Miller waved for us to follow him to the cooler. “Marshmallows, ladies!”
Maxine wrapped her arm around my waist and tucked herself under my arm.
Maggie looked over my shoulder, her face softening into a smile as Baxter caught her gaze.
Eric and John were laughing.
And Deacon.
Deacon was right there.
Smiling at me.
I turned to face Miller.
He smiled down at me. A gentle giant wrapped in heavy flannel and topped with a ridiculous knit hat boasting a giant pom-pom to rival his wife’s.
“Interesting hat you’ve got there,” I teased.
He laughed, mouth wide, eyes smiling into mine. “Maxine’s taken up knitting.”
I twinkled back at him.
I would always have a soft spot for Miller. At ten years old, he was my first, chaste kiss. After which we decided we were better off as friends.
At thirteen, he ran to the general store and bought me pads with his own money when I got my period for the first time in the middle of math class.
At fifteen, he pulled an older boy off me who didn’t understand the word no.
At twenty-five, he cried in my arms when he broke up with Maxine. I kicked his butt all the way back to the city.
And at twenty-eight, he saved me from my greatest fear.
He threw an arm around my neck and tugged my hat off before putting me in a headlock and shoving a bag of marshmallows into my hands.
“Thanks, buddy,” I snorted, fixing my hair and replacing my hat.
His smile slowly faded as his gaze wandered over my shoulder.
I spun around to find Deacon’s narrowed eyes trained on Miller’s face.
Miller stared back at him, a hard challenge on his face, a side of Miller I’d seen only once before.
He dipped his chin without taking his eyes off Deacon. “You let me and Maxine know if you need anything.”
“We’re still working through the rough spots,” I murmured.
His gaze swung to meet mine, his eyebrows flying up. “He still doesn’t believe you?”
I scuffed the toe of my boot into the hardened sand. “He knows there are things I’m keeping from him.”
Miller’s eyebrows rose. “You didn’t tell him about the—”
I shook my head sharply.
“What about that dick—”
“No,” I interrupted. “I don’t want to talk about it. Not yet.”
Miller shook his head and sighed. “No more secrets, Jenny. They only end up hurting you.”
I nodded as I headed back to Deacon. “I know. But the truth’s been no picnic either.”
Deacon watched me approach, hands tucked into his front pockets, dark head tilted to the side. “You seem to have a special relationship with Miller and Maxine.”
I stiffened.
Here we go. I can’t live under a shadow of constant suspicion.
“I’ve known Miller since I was in kindergarten. Maxine is one of my best friends.”
Oh my God. I have best friends.
“Why is he so protective of you?”
No more secrets, Jenny.
“There was a situation,” I murmured. “It caused a lot of trouble for him and Maxine, but they showed up for me.”
“What happened?”
Oh, God. I didn’t want to talk about this.
“After Ansel moved to St. Michael’s, there was a man, he, uh, decided he wanted to be with me.”
“Be with you?” His eyes narrowed.
I clarified, my face burning because what else did men want from me?
“He wanted to have sex with me, and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
He, uh, somehow got into the stairwell between the bakery and my apartment.
I got away from him. When he came back, Miller and Maxine were with me.
And, uh, Miller answered my door with no shirt on.
” I made a motion like I was ruffling my hair.
“With messy hair.” I swallowed. “There were rumours. But they protected me. That’s all. ”
“How did Maxine feel about it?”
“She was there, too.” I smiled. “She latched onto me like white on rice.”
“Who was it?” he growled.
My heart thudded in my throat. Would he believe me?
He stepped closer. “Who, Jenny? Fucking, who?”
Miller and Maxine would back me up, but I didn’t want to defend myself.
I shook my head. “It’s over. It doesn’t matter.”
“Is he still a threat?”
“He’s not very, uh, polite when I see him, but he’s married now and has young kids so, no, I don’t believe he’s a threat.”
He nodded, but a deep, red flush suffused his face. “Miller’s a good man. I’m glad he was here for you.”
His lips pressed tight in a thin line.
My heartrate picked up. “You’re angry with me.”
He shook his head sharply, his brown eyes flashing darkly before softening. He drew me into a hug. “No, baby. I’m fucking furious with me.”