Page 29 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

Ridiculous.

The last thing I wanted was to admit that they’d been right all this time.

“What happened?” Leighton asked.

“Nothing,” I lied.

She didn’t buy it, but she didn’t push any further.

Leighton knew I’d tell her everything later. We shared no secrets.

I was the only person who knew what had happened to her our freshman year. Well, other than the scum who’d assaulted her. Two weeks into college, we’d gone to a party off campus. The two of us had had too much to drink and both had blacked out. Someone had raped her while I’d been passed out alone in a bathroom stall, draped over a toilet.

She refused to tell anyone but me about that night.

Or the miscarriage she’d had four weeks later.

We’d made a pact back then to be there for one another. So I would tell her about Jackson kissing me, then forgetting. I’d kept that story to myself this long simply because it was just too embarrassing to relive. But after tonight, Leighton would hear it all, from the swing set to his visit at the camp yesterday. And I’d tell her all about how he’d blatantly checked out a woman’s breasts and butt last night right in front of me.

He’d asked me to stay at the bar and get to know him. Well, one could say I’d learned a lot.

I wanted to get Leighton’s opinion on the matter, but not tonight and certainly not in front of June and Hannah. I wasn’t quite ready to confess yet.

It was still too raw.

Leighton and I were closer to each other than either of us had ever been to June or Hannah. We’d all grown up together, but now June and Hannah lived and worked in Kalispell. While Leighton and I had always shared a special friendship, the same could be said of June and Hannah.

Still, the four of us tried to meet every other week or so for dinner. Sometimes, Leighton and I would go up to Kalispell. Other weeks, June and Hannah would drive down here.

“Guess who I saw as I was driving through town?” Hannah asked. “Brendon Jacoby.”

Goodness gracious. Here it comes. I picked up my burger and took an enormous bite so I wouldn’t be able to talk. June and Hannah had been trying to set me up with Brendon ever since he’d moved back to Lark Cove last year. They’d never forgotten the crush I’d had on him my junior year. I guess now that Jackson wasn’t in the picture anymore, they’d be even more ruthless in their matchmaking attempts.

“He’s just as cute as ever.”

I just kept chewing.

“My mom told me he broke up with that woman he was dating in Kalispell.” Hannah wagged her eyebrows. “You should stop by his house. Say hi. Ask him to take you out for dinner.”

June giggled. “Or to take your virginity.”

I nearly choked on my bite as my face flushed bright red. Why was being a virgin funny? I finished chewing, wanting to say something back, but decided another bite was a better idea. When I got flustered or embarrassed, I never said the right thing.

The right retort would come eventually. I’d be sitting at home, stewing, and think of exactly what to say and how to say it. My comebacks were witty and hilarious. They were crafted with the perfect amount of sarcasm and bite.

They just came too late.

“Not funny, June,” Leighton snapped.

“I’m just joking.” She snickered. “Sort of.”

Why were we still friends with June? I didn’t remember her being such a mean girl in high school. Maybe I’d just missed it. But ever since we’d started this biweekly dinner after college, she’d brought along this attitude that more often than not rubbed me the wrong way.

One of these days, someone was going to put her in her place.

I just hoped I’d be there to watch.

“Whatever happened with that guy you liked from your office, Hannah?” Leighton asked.