Page 60 of Corrupt Idol

She looked away, uncomfortable with even the mention of religion when she held such a dirty secret in her heart. How would Lynne feel about the sinful relationship she and Jesse had maintained throughout the years? Was that God’s plan as well?

“I’ll make dinner,” she said and got up from the couch.

She was moving a piece of butter over the top of the cornbread she had pulled out of the oven when Dad and Jesse walked in.

Dad clapped Jesse on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son. You’re doing great things in the world.”

Her stomach clenched as melted butter seeped into the top layer of the cornbread. It was clear that Lynne and Dad were proud of Jesse serving in the military and his many accomplishments. They loved and adored him. If her parents knew what occurred between them, would that change their opinion of him?

Jesse looked at her from across the room. She held his gaze for a moment and heard the echo of the words he uttered in the motel room.

Love can make monsters out of men when it’s not returned.

She shook her head and looked down as she continued to prepare dinner.

* * *

“Here.”

She took the iced coffee Jesse handed her with a grunt and took a seat amongst her family and the other passengers waiting for the flight. It was early and once again, she hadn’t gotten much sleep. There was a myriad of reasons why she couldn’t settle, but for some reason, that tidbit Brody dropped about Tucker circled round and round in her mind. How could a rumor she hadn’t even known about bother her nearly seven years later? She knew Tucker had a reputation as a jerk, but he’d been so sweet to her and nothing like his bad boy reputation. She resented the fact that Jesse and Brody had commented on her bad taste in men. It was an ongoing joke with Reese and Meg, but she had never paid much attention to it until now. It wasn’t like she went out of her way to find shitty guys. Apparently, they flocked to her. And she didn’t always attract losers. She hooked her friends up with her Abel and Travis. Apparently, she gave the good guys to other people and kept the freaks for herself.

They started boarding the plane and because Dad had ordered a wheelchair for Lynne so she could preserve her strength, they boarded first. Like they had the first time, she and Jesse waited while everyone rushed forward.

“Thank you for helping me with my move,” she said, staring straight ahead. It galled her to say it, but she owed him this much at least. She wouldn’t have been able to do it without him.

“You’re welcome.”

She got up and dumped her cup before she came back to shoulder her oversized purse. The lines had gone down so she walked over with him by her side. She pursed her lips before she rounded on him.

“Did Tucker really say he passed me around to his band?” she asked in a rush.

His eyes narrowed. “Who told you that?”

“Brody brought it up yesterday.”

“Brody talks too much,” he said and ushered her forward with a hand on her lower back.

She dug her heels in. “Is it true?”

“Yeah.”

She stiffened. “But, why would he say that? I never even…”

His eyes moved over her flushed face. “He knew you were too good for him, that everyone was wondering why you were with him. He wanted to ruin your reputation so no one else would want you.”

“Did you think…?” She couldn’t finish the sentence, but knew he understood because his eyes went flat.

“This isn’t the time for this conversation.”

She huffed and handed her ticket over to be scanned before she walked down the short tunnel to the plane. Again, she had to wait and again, she felt the heat of him at her back. She turned to face him again.

“Did you believe that rumor?” she demanded.

“I didn’t until I caught you with him.”

With his hands in her pants. That was the furthest she had ever gone with a guy. She probably would have given Tucker her virginity if Jesse hadn’t claimed it for himself. “Did you beat him up because of the rumor or because you caught us?”

“Both.” He pushed her forward. “You shouldn’t have been with him in the first place.”

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