"Right."
After we get into the truck, Jenna makes a sour face as she reads a few more messages.
"Anything wrong?"
Her head shakes. "I don't know yet – no, it's fine."
I can tell by her tone that it isdefinitelynot fine. "Are you in a rush, or do we have half an hour to do a tour of some of the roads to the north?"
"Sure, I have time."
We begin driving, with Jenna marking any potholes or patches of rough road, accompanied by the sounds of an old car horn, a snazzy drum beat, and a loud cartoon water splash.
"Wait, we don't have to turn west here," she says excitedly. "The ones on that road are already marked!"
"My brothers have been driving around to test it most of the day. Do you think the app is smooth enough for public use?"
"Totally ready for release. Besides, if it freezes up on one person, they can hardly get mad. Like, they’re not paying for it, right?"
"Good point."
We approach her aunt's house, Jenna's spine stiffening as she cranes forward to peer at the driveway. There's only her small light blue car there.
I park on the street, then squeeze her knee. "She's not home yet. Were you worried that I wasn't going to be able to sneak a good night kiss?"
Jenna smiles, but her eyes are still tense. I hate that she isn't ready yet to tell me what’s going on, although I realize that trust takes time. Revealing your entire life to someone has to happen gradually.
I walk Jenna to the door. She unlocks it, then leans against the frame. "May I see you again tomorrow?" I ask.
"Yeah." Her eyes are still cloudy. "I'll have to work most of the day processing these photos, but dinner, perhaps?"
"Sure. Just text me with a time."
I lean back, looking up and down the quiet street. Nobody coming. She smiles, then I catch her lips in a slow, sultry kiss. She melts against me, her fingers gripping the back of my shoulders as I cuddle her to me.
"Baby," I murmur softly, pulling away slightly. "Whatever it is, you can tell me."
Jenna steps back, examining my eyes uncertainly. "Maybe tomorrow."
"Okay. No problem. And you can text me anytime."
She smiles, then I kiss her again before squeezing her ass. "Now get this hot little behind inside before it gets chilly."
She reaches up to tap my nose, then lets her hand slide down the front of my chest. "See you tomorrow."
"Bye, gorgeous."
I take one of the outer back roads home, driving very slowly so I can record any potholes safely. My mind is spinning, wondering what is up with Jenna and her family. There was such a dark tone in her voice when she said her stepfather's name. She’s clearly walking on eggshells around him for fear of being kicked out of the house before she’s ready.
I want to rush in and make all her problems disappear. Be her knight in shining armor. But it's too soon for me to be doing things like that. First, I need Jenna to know and trust me enough to share her problems.
8
JENNA
Aunt Bernie is tired from her trip when she gets home. She says hello, snuggles Monster for a few minutes, then goes straight to bed, thank goodness.
I toss and turn for a while before falling into a fitful sleep. Is it possible that I can keep my brand-new relationship under wraps from her? I really don’t want her to tell the rest of the family. Not yet.
