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I feel a bit awkward just standing here watching this interaction. Mary must notice because she cocks her head to the side with a welcoming smile as she looks at me. “Who’s this?”
“This is Noah. Noah, this is Mary and Parker.”
My chest puffs out a bit at the way he introduces me, his voice subtly laced with pride only I can hear. It gives me the confidence to give his twins a big wave and a wide smile. “Nice to meet you.”
Jarred raises his brows because, yeah, maybe it’s a little too much.
Mary looks puzzled for a moment before her smile returns. “Oh, well, nice to meet you.”
“You too,” I say, turning and shaking Parker’s welcoming hand. “Jarred talks a lot about you.”
“Really?” Parker asks, looking at Mary with an unreadable expression. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Dad, you’re so sweet,” Mary gushes, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. She stiffens when she spots something behind us. “Oh no.”
Parker’s eyes widen. “Is that—”
“Mom.”
We all turn around and my heart sinks when I see Jenny approaching us. I don’t know why I thought she would look like a miserable hag, but I was one hundred percent wrong. She’s…beautiful. Tall, just like Jarred and their kids, with poised features and startling white, blonde hair. She must be around Jarred’s age but, just like him, she doesn’t look it.
I’m hit with a stab of jealousy for a moment. A poisonous urge to stomp my feet like a child because she’shadJarred. I quickly push that away. No, Jarred choseme. I’m the one who’s with him now. I’m the one that keeps him happy and satisfied, not this she-bitch that dared cheat on the most amazing man I’ve ever met.
“Jenny,” Jarred says through gritted teeth, uncharacteristic anger in his voice as he greets her. “What are you doing here?”
Jenny looks startled but laughs it off. “It’s Family Weekend. I’d never miss that.”
“We’re not a family anymore,” Jarred spits out, and I want so much to reach for him and comfort him, but I know I can’t. Thankfully, Mary does that for me, placing a delicate hand on her dad’s shoulder.
“In the eyes of the Lord we are,” Jenny states. She waves her hand dismissively, not even acknowledging her children. “I need to talk to you.”
“I’m busy.”
“You can spare a few minutes.”
“No, he can’t.”
I bite my tongue two seconds too late. I should have just kept my mouth shut. All I’ve done is drawn Jenny’s venomous eyes toward me, but can you blame me? Jarred was getting more agitated by the second. His frustration was seeping out of him painfully, and I couldn’t have him be in pain. I was just defending him, but I’ve only managed to put my foot in my mouth.
“And who are you?” Jenny asks, narrowing her eyes at me, curling her lip in disgust as she looks me up and down.
“He’s my…” Jarred clears his throat and doesn’t look at me. “…camp counselor.”
The reminder that we’re not out together stings, but I brush it away. I understand why that was his answer. What is he going to say?This is Noah, my nineteen-year-old lover?Oh, and by the way, I’m into guys?
“It’s none of your business what my husband and I need to discuss,” she snaps, grabbing Jarred by the wrist. “Jarred. Come.”
I think for a second he’s going to fight against her, but I see his shoulders sag in defeat. If this is what it was like all their marriage, I can’t imagine the frustration he must have felt for more than half of his life. Jenny is a vicious bitch and I want Jarred to tell her where to stick it, but his approach might be best to avoid a scene.
“Noah, why don’t you take Mary and Parker around and show them this place hasn’t changed much?” Jarred suggests, but I can read between the lines and see that it’s more of a demand than a request.
It doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Fine,” I grate, turning to Mary and Parker. “Let’s go.”
I hate the fact that my tone comes out clipped and annoyed, especially since I wanted to make a good first impression. Moody dick doesn’t really seem to be something they’d like.
“So, Noah. What brought you to Camp Trinity?” Mary asks as she, Parker, and I make our way to the center of the camp. Her voice is airy and cheery, maybe trying to diffuse the tension I’m positive I’m carrying.
