Page 23 of Bullied Pregnant Mate

Jenks grabs my hand and squeezes it. In that moment, I realize, we have to look like a perfect team when we’re in public.

If I’m all frosty like I was this morning, it could go badly for him in the pack.

“Yep, all good,” I answer, leaning on Jenks a little. Jack smiles his approval as we pass each other and Jenks and I go to the first aisle.

“Thanks,” Jenks says to me quietly. “I’ve got patrol tonight, and I'd rather not answer questions about how our marriage is going.”

“No problem,” I answer, giving his hand a squeeze.

I want to elaborate, but my feelings are a mess. My old arousal and strong feelings for Jenks have resurfaced, and now there’s a heavy element of sorrow for how he was brought up. Mixed in with this, I still have fear, caution… and blame.

I can’t help it. The bullying was so brutal. It’s not like I can just forget it.

“What do you think of these?” Jenks asks, grabbing a pack of triple chocolate chip biscuits.

“I’m definitely a chocolate lover,” I say. “But I prefer butter chocolate chip.”

“Let’s get both,” he says, grabbing a few packets. “What do you want for dinner?”

“I was thinking lasagna.”

Jenks crumples his face up. “Not my favorite thing. I’d love a steak.”

“Ew!” I giggle. “I’m not vegan or anything, but I don’t enjoy huge slabs of meat, either.”

“This marriage is off to a great start,” he jokes, face-palming himself and shaking his head.

“Could be worse,” I answer. “I could be into something gross, like octopus.”

“Now that I could not live with,” he laughs. “Finally, we agree!”

I laugh along with him, enjoying his antics as we walk through the aisles.

It’s nice to be in on the joke, and not the subject of it.

When we get to the register, I’m surprised to see my old friend Elaine at the counter.

“Well, hey, you!” I exclaim, leaning over to hug her. “How come I’ve been in town all this time, but I haven’t seen you?”

“I’ve been laying low,” she says, winking. “Always up to no good.”

“Come on, seriously,” I laugh. “Silver Meadows’s not that big. Weren’t you going to model or something?”

“I was,” she agrees. “But it turned out to be too much work. I like doing the bare minimum as a check-out girl, then goofing off all night.”

“That does sound like you,” I tease, helping Jenks stack and load the groceries.

“So,” Elaine says, cocking an eyebrow. “How is life, as newlyweds?”

Suddenly, I remember how much Elaine likes to gossip. It was a running joke in high school that if you wanted to send out a public announcement, you told Elaine—and also told her it was a secret.

“It’s great,” Jenks says, wrapping his arms around my waist. I try hard not to jump, instead leaning back against his chest.

“Couldn’t be better,” I agree, snuggling against him.

“Aw, that’s so cute!” Elaine squeals, ringing up the groceries. “I never pictured the two of you together, but it looks like it’s really working out.”

“It sure is,” Jenks agrees, running his hands over my waist. Still leaning against him, I turn and reach up to stroke his cheek. When he looks down at me with his big, blue eyes, I run my hand down his chest, letting my fingers rest against his heart.

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