It all made sense now. Colt never stayed in the same place, with the same woman, because everything about long-term happiness made him wary.
“It’s like at any moment he waits for the bottom to fall out, so he just rides on his way before it does.”
Lily’s words snapped everything together and Jenna felt the weight of them settle in. Here she sat this whole time, telling Colt she was nothing permanent. That should make it easier on him, right? So why did she feel like someone had just sucker punched her in the gut?
Because the other night at the bonfire he said the word “more.”
Jenna’s chest lurched.
She was in deep with a man she understood intimately, yet threw her for a loop at every turn. All her childhood, he’d been her hero. Swooping in and saving the day. He was a good man. And Jenna didn’t know if she was helping him with their “arrangement” or hurting him. Either way, she was in over her head.
Chapter Eleven
Jenna adjusted three different stacks of colored paper on the table. So far, she’d been able to sign two new parents to the PTA and get a volunteer for the back-to-school movie night in September.
“Thought you could use these.” Penny smiled and handed her a brownie and glass of lemonade.
“You’re a life-saver,” Jenna said and took a long swallow of the tart drink. The sun was bright, and the higher it got in the sky, the more it brought out the scent of sunscreen from all the people passing by. Jenna was lucky though; set up close to Penny, she caught a whiff of fresh berries and smoky marinade every time the breeze picked up.
“How’s your booth doing?”
The Diamond Farmers’ Market took place twice a month at Diamond Park, and Penny was just across the way with her prized barbecue sauce, treats, and teas.
“Pretty good,” Penny said.
“How’s your extracurricular cooking for Sebastian going?”
Something dark flashed in Penny’s pretty green eyes. Turns out, Sebastian had won their little bet at the bonfire and now Penny had seven nights of meals to prepare for the attorney.
“It’s no
t going yet. I guess this week wasn’t good for him to come pick up dinner.” She quickly glanced around as if worried she’d spot the attorney in question, then turned her focus back on Jenna. “How’s your booth doing?”
Jenna looked down at the few signatures on her sign-up sheets. “Not too bad, got a few volunteers so that’s good.”
Just as the words left her mouth, Yvonne Taylor shimmied up. Her bright pink pants matched her gigantic sun hat and oversize sunglasses. Large bracelets lined her wrist and—oh God—was that a dog in her purse?
“Well, hey there, honey,” Yvonne said sweetly—too sweetly—to Jenna before looking around, undoubtedly gauging how many people were within earshot.
“Hi, Yvonne.”
“Oh, this is nice.” She motioned her manicured finger above Jenna’s table of papers.
“Just trying to get more support for next year’s school events.”
“Yeah.” Yvonne looked around, rubbing her fingers together as if she’d just touched something sticky. “Well, this is one way to go about it. I personally prefer a phone call. You know, I just got a donation that will cover most of the field trips for the elementary school next year.”
Jenna’s heart sank a bit. But before she could say anything, Penny piped in with, “So you got your mom to write a check, huh?”
Yvonne whipped around and glared at Penny. “Oh, hello, Penelope. I didn’t see you there. I forget what a tiny little thing you are. Almost childlike.”
Jenna thought she saw Penny snarl. Sure she was petite, but five foot two was hardly childlike. The Diamonds and the Taylors went all the way back to the founding of the town. The little digs Yvonne dished out over the years were nothing new. Still, Jenna disliked her with every fiber of her being, if for no other reason than she was just a mean woman. The fact that she and Colt had some sort of history didn’t sit well with her either, but that wasn’t something she should care about. Yet she did.
“Did you secure chaperones for these field trips as well?” Jenna asked.
Yvonne studied her nails, avoiding the question, which meant she hadn’t gotten any chaperones. It wouldn’t be that big a deal except Yvonne didn’t even attend her own class trips. She was mysteriously sick or some emergency always came up, and Jenna or another teacher would have to cover.
“Ooh!” Yvonne chirped, her eyes zeroing on something in the distance.