Page 101 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

started dating Jackson. I’d canceled on dinner with them more times than accepted, mostly to spend time with him.

Truth be told, I didn’t really feel like being here tonight either, but the guilt of being a bad friend had eaten away at me. When Hannah had called, I hadn’t been able to say no.

Ryder was sleeping over at the cottage tonight with Hazel, and what I really wanted was to spend the evening with Jackson at the bar, then sleep at my apartment, since we hadn’t been there in forever.

But I also missed the girls, especially Leighton.

“How are things going with Brendon?” June asked Leighton, waggling her eyebrows.

My best friend smiled that dreamy smile she’d been wearing for months. “Amazing.”

“They’re in love.” I swooned, nudging her shoulder with my own.

“We so are.” Leighton and Brendon were nearly inseparable these days, and she’d missed about as many girls’ dinners as I had.

While I hadn’t seen much of Hannah or June, Leighton and I always made time for each other. She knew all about me and Jackson. I knew all about her and Brendon. And I had a hunch that those two would be headed down the aisle before long.

I was overjoyed that she’d found a man who loved her unconditionally. And that she’d found someone to confide in about her assault besides me.

“Aren’t you jealous, Willa?” June teased. “She took your man.”

“No.” I laughed, toying with the paper wrapper I’d stripped from my straw. “I have a man, thank you very much.”

“How are things going with Jackson?” Hannah asked.

“Wonderful.”

“Obviously,” June said, fanning her face. “I mean just look at that man. Those eyes. That ass. He’s so damn hot. I bet he’s good in bed too. God knows he’s had a lot of practice. If there was a guy I wanted to fool around with before finding my husband, I’d pick Jackson too.”

My entire body stilled. “We’re not fooling around. We’re together.”

“Oh, Willa.” She gave me a pitying smile. “Come on. Jackson’s not that kind of guy.”

“What kind of guy?”

“The kind you marry. He’s the one you fuck senseless before you find the guy to settle down with and have kids.”

“What? That’s not . . . no. It’s not like that.”

Somehow in a matter of seconds, she’d cheapened my most special relationship. And she made him out to be some kind of insensitive man whore. Yes, Jackson had experience and I hated thinking about it. But none of that mattered now. It was in the past and his future was with me.

“Have you guys talked about getting married?” Hannah asked.

“Um, no.”

Hannah and June shared a smug look.

“They don’t need to talk about that yet,” Leighton said, coming to my defense.

“Have you and Brendon talked about it?” June asked.

“Well, yeah. But Willa and Jackson are different.”

We are? “Why?”

“Not in a bad way,” Leighton said. “You’re just at a different point in your relationship. Brendon and I are moving at warp speed, talking about getting married and having kids. We both want that. You and Jackson are still getting to know one another. You’re not as serious yet.”

Not as serious? Had she not been listening to me during all of our phone calls when I’d spilled my guts about every tidbit of my relationship?