Page 97 of Steel & Jenna
Her bathrobe was hanging on the back of his door.
Since there were only two weeks left of school and she had to wear a uniform to class, it had just made sense for her to start bringing her things up. Her dorm room would soon be vacated. Technically after her last final exam next week, she could leave. The official last day of school was just a formality anyway.
Tomorrow night they would be sleeping—or not sleeping—in a bed and breakfast. Jenna’s suitcase was already by the door, waiting for Jack to put in his truck in the morning. They weren’t taking a honeymoon. Maybe after he graduated from boot camp or in a few years, but for now, their wedding night was it.
It seemed almost silly that they only got one night together before they had to return tohigh school, but that was just how the dates fell.
The cash Mr. Scanlon had failed to bribe Jack with was currently in Mr. Zarin’s safe in his bedroom. On Wednesday, they were heading to the bank with their wedding certificate to add Jenna to Jack’s checking and saving accounts and would add the money to their account like she was transferring it in from hers.
After her father had let her keep the car she’d purchased a year ago, he’d put a cap on all her expenses and she wasn’t allowed to withdraw any money from her accounts without his permission. Jack wasfine with that. Jenna didn’t need to bring any of her father’s money into their marriage anyway.
The bribe money was a last Fuck You to the Scanlon family. After tomorrow, they would never have to speak to either of them again.
Jack didn’t remember dozing off, but woke up to the sun rising in his window. He had time. They weren’t due at the courthouse until ten-thirty. No doubt Jenna would already be in a panic about being late. Jack wished he was there to help calm her down. It was a stupid tradition that he couldn’t see her the night before their wedding.
In the kitchen, Mr. Zarin and the Chief were already eating. One of them had cooked bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Jack was more interested in the coffee, though.
“Eat,” Mr. Zarin encouraged. “You’re going to have to get used to eating when you’re not hungry regardless. In the Marines, you eat when you can and sleep when you can, whether your body wants you to or not.”
Jack took the advice, even if only to nibble on his eggs.
“Nervous, son?” Chief Cunningham asked.
Jack shook his head. “Not as much as I thought I’d be. I had a…hesitation,” he decided, “the other day but it wasn’t about Jenna. Just whether now was the right time.”
“I’m proud of you,” Mr. Zarin said as he retook his seat. “You saw what you wanted and you stuck to your guns. You proved everyone else wrong. That tenacity is going to serve you well in the Marines.”
“Just keep in mind there’s likely not going to be another married recruit in your class. Not unless you got a late buck joining up,” Chief Cunningham added. “They’re going to tease you about being married, might even insinuate that it’s because you knocked her up.”
Jack stiffened but Mr. Zarin spoke before he could reply. “They’re also going to try to get you to be unfaithful. You’ll need to watch your back, Jack. Some might do it as a joke, but some might do it out of malice. Regardless, be prepared. It would be the same if you showed up a virgin.”
Jack’s jaw ticked. “Virgin or not, married or not, it’s none of their damn business.”
Mr. Zarin nodded his agreement, but still said, “They’ll make it their business. Anything to knock you down.”
“You’re going to have a leg up on a lot of them, son,” Chief Cunningham said. “Most will only know how to throw a street punch. You’ve been training with Arnold for years. You’re fast, strong, and determined. That will make you a formidable Marine. Just keep in mind that hazing still happens, even though it’s against the rules.”
Jack nodded. “I understand, but I won’t deny Jenna just to fit in with ‘the boys’. That’s not who I am.”
For some reason this pleased Mr. Zarin and Chief Cunningham. “Good, lad,” Mr. Zarin said, clasping Jack on the shoulder. “Now, eat up. We need to get dressed and get to the courthouse. Tim, did you grab the cans for the back of the truck?”
MAY 5, 1987 (0 DAYS)
Jenna took a deep breath. Chief Cunningham was waiting patiently for her next to the walnut door of the judge’s chambers. Jack had asked Mr. Zarin to stand up with him and Chief Cunningham had offered to give her away. Jenna had gratefully accepted. The tradition might be old fashioned, but Jenna still appreciated the Chief’s offer. The two had worked closely together for several days to help bring her mom to justice. The Chief had proven himself to be a good man. But he’d done that the day he’d walked into the library to find Jack in handcuffs and Jenna begging his officers to let him go.
Mrs. Cunningham and Lilly were already inside. Since this wasn’t a traditional wedding with an aisle and an audience, there was no reason for Lilly to be escorted inside too.
“Nervous?” the Chief asked her.
Jenna shook her head. “I feel like I should be, but I’m not.”
“Funny, Jack said something similar this morning.”
“What did you guys do last night?”
The Chief shrugged. “Smoked cigars and played poker. Your boy took us for several hundred.”
Jenna raised an eyebrow. “Any chance you let him win because it was his stag party?”
