Page 103 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m just glad to be here now.”

“Me too.” He leaned forward, giving me a soft kiss.

“See?” I whispered. “All better.”

He cupped my face in his hand and I leaned into his palm. We sat there, just staring at one another for a moment until the door opened and Leighton walked in with apology written all over her face.

“Hey, Leighton,” he greeted.

“Hi, Jackson.”

“I’ll give you two a minute.” He slid off his stool, kissing my forehead. “Are you hungry?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t eat.”

“Okay. I’ll make you something. Be back.”

Leighton took the seat Jackson had abandoned as he strode behind the bar and disappeared down the hall toward the kitchen.

&n

bsp; “I’m sorry,” we both said at the same time, then laughed.

“You were right,” she said. “It’s your relationship. Don’t let any of us tell you what’s right or wrong. Just follow your heart.”

“He is my heart. He always has been.”

Leighton smiled. “I know. And there’s nothing pathetic about that.”

“June thinks so.”

She scoffed. “June is jealous and always has been, which makes her opinion invalid.”

“Maybe,” I muttered. “I still feel bad for snapping at her and Hannah.”

“Don’t feel bad. They deserved it, we all did. I’m glad you stood up for yourself.”

It wasn’t so much me I’d stood up for but my relationship with Jackson. Where he was concerned, I had a lot more spirit than usual.

“I’m starving.” Leighton’s stomach growled. “Would you care if I invited Brendon down to share a pizza?”

I smiled. “Not at all.”

Two hours later, my bad mood from the diner was gone and my stomach was full of my favorite pizza.

“I like the way he looks at you,” I told Leighton after Brendon excused himself for the restroom.

She giggled. “I was just thinking the exact same thing about Jackson.”

I looked down the bar, where Jackson was cashing out a customer’s tab. He gave me a wink when he caught me watching.

“Can I ask you something?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“When did you tell Brendon you loved him?” The pair had said it a couple of times throughout the night. It had been lovey-dovey and so cute.