Small town romance boxed set

by Goodwin, Emily

  Veronica paces up and down the living room. “How the hell was I supposed to know her saying she didn’t want a stripper meant she really did? Is that some sort of warped reverse psychology? If it is, she’s going to end up divorced sooner than I think. Don’t tell her I said that.”

  “Veronica, chill.” I open my computer and wait for it to connect to the wifi. Stephanie comes in carrying a bottle of wine and three glasses. She pours maybe a fourth a glass into mine and fills hers and Veronica’s halfway up.

  “Thanks.” Veronica takes her wine and gulps some down.

  “I’m sure you’ll find something.” Stephanie sits next to me on the couch.

  “For tomorrow?” Veronica takes another drink of wine. “Only the fat ugly ones will be left.”

  “Most professional male strippers are attractive,” I try. “I mean, you’ve seen Magic Mike, right?”

  “That’s what Alice will be expecting.” She finishes the wine and sits in an armchair across from me. “She’s going to expect the perfect tall, dark, and handsome guy.”

  “Jack’s tall, dark, and handsome.” Stephanie nudges me.

  “He does look good with his shirt off.”

  “Ew.” Veronica wrinkles her nose. “He’s my brother. Don’t even—no, just no.”

  Stephanie and I laugh. “I’m sure we’ll find someone who fits the bill.” I open a Google search and type in ‘male strippers, Dale Hollow, CA’ and see what pops up. It takes a few seconds of filtering through results to find a link worth clicking on.

  “Ohhh, look at him!” Stephanie leans in. “Hire him! Or him. Or that guy.”

  I turn my computer around to show Veronica. “See, lots of hot guys.”

  “Wow. They are really hot. They look like models.”

  I spin my computer back around. “They do. Too much.”

  Stephanie nods. “Reverse image search ‘em.”

  Five minutes later, we discover all the images used to advertise the strippers are stolen from fitness models’ Instagram accounts.

  “Onto the next site,” I say, and continue my search. I find one of the highest rated ‘professional party dancers’ in the area, but of course he’s booked. The next site we check out has fake images again, and the next has rates so high it’s insane.

  “Oh my God. I’m going to have to hire my brother.” Veronica refills her wine.

  “I don’t think Jack would go for that.”

  Veronica takes a big drink. “I’m already dealing with enough shit from Alice.”

  “I could probably get Doug to do it.” Stephanie winks. “He has a very sexy dad-bod.”

  “I’m about ready to say screw it and let Alice deal. She insisted she didn’t want a stripper over and over and even gave me a list of activities to do and not to do.”

  “She sounds like a bridezilla,” Stephanie says.

  “She’s terrible.” Veronica sighs. “I thought it would be fun planning the wedding and the bachelorette party but she’s sucking the fun out of everything. It makes me want to elope. Well, if I ever get that far in life.”

  She sits by my side, looking as I search for a reputable stripper to hire…if there is such a thing. Half an hour and a handful of phone calls later, we have a stripper booked for tomorrow night.

  “Thanks again for saving my ass,” Veronica says. She just walked out the front door. “You really should come tomorrow. It’ll be fun. Even more so since the sexy cop is going to arrest us all.”

  “Other than you, I don’t like anyone else in the bridal party. Or the bride. I don’t even know anyone other than you, Nancy, and Alice.”

  “That’s all who I know too. Please come! At least check out the stripper you helped hire.”

  “I did put in a lot of work finding the guy.”

  “So, you’ll be there?”

  “Yeah, I’ll stop by.”

  * * *

  “Hey, babe.” Jack takes the porch steps in one stride. The swing sways behind me when I get off to meet Jack. Before any more words can be said, we embrace and kiss.

  “How was the meeting?”

  “I’m not sure how to describe it,” he says honestly. We go back to the swing, sitting with Jack’s arm around my shoulder. “A group of people talking about their shitty pasts is depressing. But it’s good to be around others who understand what it’s like to be stuck in a flashback.”

  “I see why it’s hard to describe.” I inch closer, needing to feel him against me.

  “Once I lost you, I had no one to talk to who didn’t make me feel like I was being judged or pitied. Or worse, acting like they understand like my fucking dad does.”

  “It’s a safe place.”

  “I guess. Most of the guys have been overseas and seen some awful shit. I’m the only one who shot their best friend, though. Sometimes I don’t think I need to go anymore, but I keep going because the guys need the support. And I think it’s still there, deep down. The darkness and the memories. I don’t think it’s possible to get over it. You just learn to deal. Bury it with better memories.”

  “You’re a good person, Jack. Don’t ever forget it.”

  He kisses the side of my head. “I don’t think you’ll let me.”

  “Nope.” I look out at the horizon. We’re about an hour from sunset, and the sky is brilliant shades of gold and orange already. “Thanks for coming to dinner.”

  “This is what normal couples do, right? Have dinner with their girlfriend and her—do you call them your parents?”

  “Legally they are, even though I didn’t change my last name. And it depends on who I’m talking to. Sometimes, I don’t feel like explaining things. Most times. Okay, all the time unless there’s a reason to explain it.”

  “Makes sense. Did you tell them about us?” He takes a section of my hair and plays with the ends.

  “I did.”

  “Do they hate me for breaking up with you?”

  “Are you nervous?” I ask with a smile.

  “Not exactly, but this is a big deal, right? Going with the whole starting over thing, I’m meeting your parents for the first time and want them to like me.”

  “You are nervous, and it’s so cute.”

  He gives me a blank stare. “I don’t do cute.”

  “Well, you did me.”

  He laughs. “You never were good at making jokes.”

  “Speaking of things I’m not good at, I felt bad saying no to Veronica and I’m going to the bachelorette party.”

  “Pushover.”

  “I know,” I laugh. “I won’t stay for the whole thing.”

  Doug pulls into the driveway, and Jack and I go in for dinner. Stephanie and I already made the food, and I set the table before Jack got here. We’re eating in the formal dining room, and since I’ve lived here, I can count the times we had a meal in here on one hand.

  “Should I have dressed up?” Jack asks, and I laugh.

  “I’m wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt.”

  “Have you seen your ass in those things? You’re a fucking ten, Nora. But that doesn’t answer my question.”

  “You’re perfect like that.” Jack’s always been casual in his appearance. Naturally handsome, the no-effort look works for him. His go-to outfit is jeans, a T-shirt, and a button up flannel over it if it’s cold. And it looks good on him.

  “As long as you think so.”

  The four of us sit around the table, and as much as I wanted to deny it, there was a little bit of tension when we first sat down together. Usually laid back and cracking even worse jokes than mine, Doug’s protective side came out, and I’m well aware he looks at Jack and remembers the nights I spent crying myself to sleep. It took through all of dinner and into dessert for things to finally ease up and feel normal.

  “How’s life in the mountains?” Doug asks Jack.

  “Quiet. Which is how I like it, though I can’t imagine I’ll be the only one up there for long.”

  “I agree. I’m surprised the land has been left as
is for this long.”

  “It’s kinda sad, isn’t it?” I stick my fork into my salad. “Soon the only natural land we have left will be what’s protected.”

  “It is,” Jacks agrees. “There are a few more acres for sale around me. If I could buy them, I would.”

  “I haven’t been hiking in years,” Stephanie says. “A bear crossed our path once and it freaked me out so much I never went back.”

  “And she got lazy,” Doug teases. “The terrain isn’t easy.”

  “I never hiked the trails in the mountains,” I say. “I always wanted to though.”

  “You should. If you thought the view from the cabin was impressive, wait until you’re actually up at the top looking down,” Jack says.

  I steal a look at Jack, remembering the one and only time I’ve been near the trails. It was after the Winter Formal, the night I lost my virginity to him when we stood in the freezing cold, watching snow fall into the lake.

  I want to do that every year, no matter what.

  Chapter 34

  Nora

  Jack: Having fun?

  Me: I was.

  Jack: What happened?

  Me: We’re at a club…in Martinsville. And I don’t drink. Except for those tequila shots

  Jack: Club? Hah. You did shots??

  Me: I did one. I want to go home.

  Me: Now two. Shit. I want to go home more now. :-(

  “Nora!” Veronica grabs my arm. “Come dance with me!” She’s been drunk since the sex toy party and has been going strong ever since. I jam my phone into my wristlet and get off the barstool I’ve ‘guarded’ for the last few minutes. It’s funny when I think back to my teen years when Becca and I would fantasize about getting into the hottest L.A. clubs. Once we were finally old enough, we took a long weekend trip to her parents’ just to hit the clubs.

  Becca enjoyed it, but the fun sizzled out fast for me. If I drank, I’d probably enjoy it more, but feeling like I’m not in control freaks me out too much. It’s weird, I know, to have a fear of doing something stupid if I get too drunk, like all my judgment will go out the window.

  Like get behind the wheel and run into a family of three, leaving a young child orphaned.

  Tonight, I have no car. I could still do something irrevocably stupid, but I’m trying to relax. And if I’m going to survive a few more hours with Alice, I need alcohol. I follow Veronica onto the dance floor, dancing for as long as my legs can handle it in heels. It’s hot and crowded in here, and the two shots of tequila hit me harder than I thought. I tell Veronica ‘yes’ when she asks if I want a drink, thinking she’d bring back water.

  Instead, she hands me a cranberry and vodka. I’m so thirsty I take a few gulps. It tastes pretty watered down, so I assume there’s not much alcohol in it anyway. I was wrong, and now I’m drunk. I wobble as I walk away from the dance floor, finding Amber, one of Alice’s sisters, getting cozy with some guy she picked up at the bar. They’re sitting on the same bench in a booth, and I sit opposite them, resting my head on the plastic backing.

  “Is she your friend?” the guy asks Amber.

  Amber starts to nod, then shakes her head. “She’s my sister’s friend. The bride.”

  “You should be her friend.”

  Amber giggles. “Why?”

  “You both are fucking hot.”

  She touches his arm and laughs again. I tip my head, not wanting to get involved in whatever this is, but curious to get a better look at this guy. Dammit. I accidentally made eye contact.

  “What’s your name, beautiful?”

  Beautiful? Is that supposed to charm me? I narrow my eyes. “Charlie.”

  “Nice to meet you, Charlie. Damn girl. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.”

  I make a face of disgust. He’s sitting there with his arm around Amber and he’s hitting on me?

  “Are you from around here, sexy?”

  “I told you my name was Charlie, not sexy. Not beautiful. And not baby, because you’re probably headed there next.”

  “Whoa, whoa. You’d think you’d like a compliment. Most girls say ‘thank you’ when I tell them they’re sexy.”

  I roll my eyes. “Sorry I’m not flattered by being degraded by your generic use of pet names.”

  Amber sighs. “We’re from the next town over. What about you, sexy?”

  I feel my phone vibrating, and it takes me a few tries to get the wristlet off my arm.

  Jack Still want to go home?

  Me: OMG yes. They want to close this place down so I have at least three and a half more hours.

  Jack: No, you don’t

  Me: ??

  Jack: Come outside

  Me: Now?

  Jack: yes

  I zip my clutch up and weave my way through the crowd. A handful of people are standing around the doors smoking, ignoring the signs saying to stay back from the entrance to smoke.

  Jack is outside, leaning against the Jeep. A big smile springs to my face when I see him, and I hurry over.

  “What are you doing?”

  He hugs me. “You said you wanted to go home.”

  “But you came all this way.”

  He shrugs. “I’d go anywhere for you. And Martinsville isn’t that far.”

  Charlie sticks his head out of the open window of the Jeep, whimpering with excitement. Still wrapped in Jack’s arms, I pet him.

  “Jimmy’s is on the way home.” Jack’s hands go to my ass. “Want to pick something up?”

  “So much yes. I’ll tell Veronica I’m leaving with you. I’ll be right back.”

  “All right.”

  I break away from Jack and hurry back into the bar. I use the bathroom and then look through the crowd. My eyes don’t want to seem to adjust in the dark and have to go back to the dance floor before I find her and Nancy dancing.

  “I’m going home,” I say loudly over the music.

  “How?” Veronica asks.

  “Jack is here.”

  “You and Jack are back together?” Nancy leans in, putting her hand on my shoulder.

  “Yeah.”

  “Ohhh, you want to go fuck him. I saw you buy stuff at the sex toy party!”

  Veronica holds up a hand. “Gross. Is Jack really here? Like you’re sure it’s him?”

  I laugh. “Who else would it be?”

  “An imposter.”

  Nancy shakes her head and takes the drink for Veronica’s hands. “You’ve had enough, doll face. Have fun, Nora. And by fun, I mean fuck his brains out.”

  “I plan to.”

  Veronica hugs me goodbye, and I have to push through the crowd to get back to the doors. The guy who was sitting with Amber is on his way out, holding a pack of cigarettes.

  “Hey, sexy.” He wiggles his eyebrows, thinking he’s hilarious.

  “Still not interested.”

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing. Leave me alone.” I push open the door. He follows.

  “Look, I’m just teasing. You’re a hot chick and I’m a good-looking guy. Let’s get a drink and laugh about this.”

  “No.” I step off the sidewalk and into the parking lot.

  “Come on now, sexy.” He keeps following me.

  “No.”

  “Talk to me. That’s all I’m asking.”

  “No,” I say louder.

  Jack rushes over. “What part of no don’t you understand? She’s not interested.”

  “And you think you have a chance?”

  “He’s my boyfriend, loser,” I retort.

  Asshole’s initial reaction is shock, but then he decides to turn the alpha on. “You let your girl out of the house like that? It’s like she’s begging for someone other than you to fuck her tight ass.”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  “What are you gonna do about it?”

  “I’ll split your head fucking open right here on this sidewalk.” Jack’s eyes are wide, filled with the same distance and rage I saw in them the night of th
e break-in. I wrap my fingers around Jack’s arm.

  “Jack,” I say, wobbling on my heels. “Let’s go. Please.”

  He stares at Asshole for another few seconds. His muscles are tense, hands balled into fists, and nostrils flared. He wants to fight him. He wants him to say something else so he has a reason to pummel him. I go around the Jeep and get in the passenger seat.

  “Jack.”

  He shakes himself, breaking free from whatever dark hold was on him. He starts the engine and speeds out of the parking lot. My stomach flip-flops, and I’m not sure it’s from the alcohol or from the shock of nerves seeing the rage back in Jack’s eyes caused. Maybe Jack was right. Maybe there is darkness inside of him.

  * * *

  I’m alone in Jack’s bed when I wake the next morning. Bright sunlight streams through the open balcony doors. I stretch, not wanting to get up, but I feel like I’m dying of thirst. And I need to pee. Bad.

  There’s a bottle of water on the nightstand next to the bed. I twist off the cap and take a drink, then hurry to the bathroom. I fell asleep without taking off my makeup or brushing the curls from my hair and I look frightening. I wash my face and brush my teeth, using the spare toothbrush I used the other night.

  Wearing one of Jack’s T-shirts and my panties, I pad downstairs, finding fresh coffee in the pot and Jack on the patio, working on the chuppah. He’s not wearing a shirt and looks so fucking hot right now.

  I pour myself a cup and go out back. Jack’s back is to me, and I admire the muscles flexing between his shoulders.

  “Morning,” I say, and Jack turns.

  “Morning. How are you feeling?”

  “Better after some sleep. And now coffee.”

  He sets his tools down and comes to me.

  “Don’t mind me. I was enjoying watching you work.”

  Jack smiles. “I’m done, finally. I need to put one more coat of sealer on and then Alice’s dad’s coming to pick it up.”

  We go inside together, and Jack pours himself a cup of coffee. Charlie trots in, taking a bone into the living room.

  “Do you want me to make you breakfast?” Jack asks.