Full Potential

by L. J. Kentowski

  Rico glimpsed in Wade’s direction. “Sheriff Cole, I only wanted to—”

  “I suggest you run out of here, Rico. She’s liable to kick your ass if you say another word. And stop digging out the forest trails with your buddies, or I’ll kick your ass myself. They’re not truck hauls.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The two men scampered off without a word.

  The death stares shooting between Evie and Wade had Jena fighting back a laugh.

  “You’re a magnet for trouble, aren’t you?” Wade asked.

  “Please. Aren’t you the big lawman here? Seems to me your town is out of control.”

  His eyes blazed. “Seems to me the only one out of control in my town is you. When were you leaving again?”

  “If you’re going to continue to stalk around…the sooner, the better.”

  “I’ll be sure to hone in on my stalker skills then.”

  They were again locked in on some crazy, glaring contest.

  “Alrighty, then,” Jena spoke up, trying to end the battle of wills. It didn’t work. Evie and Wade continued to stare at each other as if no one else was there.

  “Oh, shit.” Riley showed up behind the bar. “What happened, now?”

  Dax stood next to his fiancé. While Riley appeared concerned, he looked as if he could barely contain his laughter. “Should I use the spray gun on them?”

  “Get it ready,” she answered.

  “Hey, buddy.” Zane walked up behind Wade and gave him a whack on the back of the shoulder, forcing the unsuspecting Wade right into Evie. She fell back against the bar, tipping the drink into her lap. “Whoops. Damn. Sorry about that.”

  The whole group went into a scramble, both Evie and Wade cursing as they grabbed towels Riley and Dax had handed them.

  Jena watched from the sidelines as Evie wiped at her clothes and Wade soaked up the drink spilled on the side of the bar. Then, tickling Jena’s already amused funny bone, Wade swiped the cloth to Evie’s thigh and blotted at the wet, pink stain setting in. When they both realized what he’d done, their eyes locked. Wade froze. Evie gasped.

  Hands in the air, Wade backed away.

  “I’m so sorry,” Zane spewed.

  “I hope those aren’t the skills you use on the operating table, doc,” Wade shot out. “I’d say it was good to see you, but…” He faced Evie. “Sorry about that.” They eyed each other for a moment, and Jena could have sworn she saw electricity running between them. Then Wade broke the connection and gave a nod toward Dax. “Can I get an order to go?”

  “Sure man,” Dax said, motioning Wade toward the end of the bar.

  “Have a safe night, guys.” Wade stood to leave, but a woman, one Jena hadn’t noticed standing behind Zane, stepped toward him and grabbed his bicep.

  “Hey, Wade? Have you seen your brother today? I’ve been trying to call him.”

  The woman was tall and lean but curved in all the right spots. Exotically beautiful, she had long, thick, dark hair and almond-shaped, chocolate eyes.

  The fact that this beauty was asking about Tyler had Jena bristling with jealousy.

  Wade’s gaze skirted around the woman’s shoulder and landed on Jena. “Why don’t you ask his girlfriend, Melissa? She probably knows.”

  Melissa hesitantly peered over her shoulder.

  Wade left as Tyler’s ex-lover spun to face her. “Hi,” she said, a smile revealing perfect, white teeth.

  “Oh,” Zane stepped between them. “Um…Melissa, this is Jena Morgan. Jena, Melissa Steele.” He turned toward Evie. “And I don’t know who this is.”

  “That’s my sister, Evie,” Riley said. “Evie, this is Zane, Seeton’s doctor in charge at the clinic. Melissa is a nurse there.”

  Everyone exchanged hellos and handshakes, but Jena didn’t miss the concerned look on Riley’s face when it came time for her to shake hands with Melissa.

  “We just came for a drink after work,” Zane said.

  “Mind if we sit?” Melissa asked and headed toward the seat next to Jena.

  She moved her purse from the bar and put it on the floor. “Not at all.”

  After Riley got their drink orders and went to fill them, Melissa wasted no time. “So, Tyler’s girlfriend? When did that happen?” She stared with curious eyes, yet Jena sensed resentment in them as well.

  “Um, it’s new, I guess,” she said. “I mean, we knew each other from last year when I was in town, but we’ve recently re-connected when I came back for the wedding. I’m Riley’s maid of honor. We were best friends back in the city.” She had no idea why, but she had the urge to lay claim to everything around this woman. Knowing Melissa and Tyler had a past, she didn’t want to rub their relationship in her face, so Riley was the next best thing.

  Melissa nodded. “You came to help with the wedding. That’s nice.”

  After Riley returned and handed Zane and Melissa their drinks, a customer called out to her from the other end of the bar. Appearing torn as she contemplated Jena and Melissa, she sighed but walked away again.

  Melissa put an elbow on the bar, set a cheek on her hand, and eyed Jena. “So, I’ve never known Tyler to be a long-distance relationship kind of guy. How’s that going to work after the wedding?”

  So, the chick is going right in for the kill. Okay, I’ll play.

  “Actually, I’ve decided to stay.” Sorry, honey, she wanted to add.

  Melissa’s features pinched together. “Really? Here? In Seeton?”

  “Yes, I’m opening up a daycare. Tyler’s mom is renting out her shop to me.” Suck it.

  Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

  “It’s a big decision, I know. But Tyler persuaded me to give things a shot here. You know, since the city is flooded with daycares, and well, Seeton doesn’t have one.” She didn’t owe the woman an explanation, yet she felt compelled to prove her decision was based on more than a relationship. Maybe it was because Melissa was an established nurse in town, and Jena wanted to be recognized as an equivalent professional.

  “Hey, Melissa.” Zane tried getting her attention, appearing as worried about the two women talking as Riley had.

  “One second, Zane.” Biting her bottom lip, she regarded Jena. “So, what happened with the Madison Fire Department, then?”

  “Madison Fire Department?” Jena asked, confused.

  Zane stuck his head closer, listening.

  “Yes. A friend of mine works there and said Tyler was accepted recently. He applied a while ago and was waiting to hear from them. I thought he couldn’t wait to get out of Seeton. That’s what he told me anyway.”

  Jena was floored by the news. Why hadn’t Tyler said anything to her about this? He’d made it sound as if he was a lifer in Seeton. Hadn’t he even told her the last time he’d thought about leaving was when he was a teenager?

  “When exactly did he get accepted?”

  “I’m not sure. My friend said the letter went out a few weeks ago, I think. He should have it by now.”

  Maybe it got lost in the mail. That could be the reason Tyler hadn’t mentioned anything to her. But if that were the case, wouldn’t he still be waiting for news? He hadn’t said anything—nothing about applying for jobs or wanting to leave town. It didn’t make any sense. He’d been pushing her to move to Seeton, acting as if he wanted her there with him.

  “Um, Melissa.” Zane stood. “I think we should head out.”

  She turned to face him. “What? Why?”

  He pursed his lips and stared at her.

  “Did you know about this, Zane?” Jena asked.

  He peeked around Melissa, meeting her gaze. “No, Jena. I didn’t,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Oh, my God,” Melissa said, placing a hand on her chest. “Oh, shit, you didn’t know. He didn’t…I’m so sorry. I just assumed…Jena, I didn’t mean…”

  Riley approached, her timing impeccable. “What’s going on here?”

  Melissa picked up her purse from the bar and stood. “I should go.” She
dug around in her bag. Zane set money on the bar and touched her arm. He’d paid for their drinks, so she stopped and glanced over at Jena. “I really am sorry.”

  Jena stared at the money on the bar, not really seeing it, her mind racing a million miles a minute.

  “Jena? What the hell happened? What did she do?”

  When Jena couldn’t answer right away, Riley turned to Evie for answers.

  “Sounds like—” Evie started.

  Jena shot her chin up. “Did you know?” she asked Riley.

  “Know what?”

  “That Tyler was planning to leave Seeton? That he’d applied for a job in Madison?”

  Her head reeled back. “What? No. He did? When?”

  “Well, now you know as much as me, but apparently, not more than his ex-girlfriend.” She couldn’t hide the sense of betrayal from her voice.

  “Wait, one second.” Riley peered down the bar and called out to Dax, her tone telling him she meant business. “Did you know Tyler had applied to the Madison Fire Department?” she asked when he was close enough to hear her.

  Dax’s eyes widened, but not in an I don’t know what you’re talking about kind of way. No, his was an oh, shit, expression.

  Riley glared. “Oh, you are in so much trouble, Dax Beckett.”

  He raised both hands in the air. “What? It wasn’t my place to say.”

  “I’m about to be your wife,” she said, hands on hips. “You’re supposed to tell me everything. And I mean everything.” Her snarl had Dax looking like trapped prey, eyebrows into his forehead, gaze like a deer in headlights. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  “Can I go?” he asked, barely audible.

  “Yes.”

  Dax’s glare landed on Jena. “Talk to him, Jena. Just…talk to him before you react.” He shot Riley a pointed stare. “Unlike others in this bar.”

  As he marched away, Jena thought about his advice. Problem was, the reaction had already started.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Tyler woke on the couch from the sound of a text message tone chiming from the phone in his lap. He glanced at the time on the lit screen and saw it was after eleven. Shit, had he missed Jena? He scrambled up, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and peered more closely at the phone. Previews of various texts stared back at him, but as far as he could see, none of them were from Jena. They were all from Zane, Dax, and…Melissa?

  What the hell is going on?

  When he opened up the messages, he realized what had happened, and his throat tightened up.

  Dax: She knows about Madison

  Dax: If Riley kills me before I marry her, you are dead. DEAD

  Zane: Why didn’t you tell me you were planning on leaving, asshole? You better call your girlfriend

  Melissa: I’m sorry

  Son of a bitch.

  Jena knew about Madison. And because it hadn’t come from him, he could only imagine the shit running through her head. It was bad enough she’d met Melissa, worse because his ex-friend-with-benefits was obviously the one to tell Jena something he’d knowingly kept from her.

  Shit. Shit. Shit. Why didn’t I come clean and tell her right away?

  Pacing, he called Jena, but it went straight to voicemail.

  Then he texted:

  Are you still awake???

  He waited, staring at the phone, willing the three little dots to dance, but there was nothing. Searching around for his shoes, he called her again but was met with the same fate.

  While grabbing his keys, he called Dax. “Is she there with you guys?”

  “No, shithead. Jena left a few hours ago. She didn’t come by your place?”

  “No. Not that I know of. I fell asleep.”

  “Mmm. Not Good. She’s had time to brood.”

  “Not helping.”

  “Not trying. You got yourself into this mess and dragged my ass along for the ride. You’re on your own now, bro. I’ve got my own ass-kissing to do, thanks to you.”

  “Fine.”

  “Fine.” Dax paused. “Just be straight with her, man. Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  Tyler was already to his truck by the time they hung up. He hightailed it over to the bar and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Jena’s car parked in the spot for the apartment. Glancing up, he saw lights glowing in one of the windows. He jogged up to the door and rang the bell, adding several knocks for emphasis. After waiting a few moments with no answer, he tried again. Nothing.

  Tyler: I’ll keep doing this all night if I have to. Let me in, Jena

  Taking a few steps back, he peered up at the window again. The light was now out.

  She wasn’t having any part of him tonight.

  Damn it. He thought about what to do. Should he continue ringing the bell until she couldn’t take it anymore? He tried the doorknob for the hundredth time. Still locked. Surprise.

  The door to the bar opened. Riley marched out, her glare zoned in on Tyler, causing him to take a step back, scared for his life.

  “Riley, I—”

  She stuck her hand out, and he jumped back three feet.

  With a roll of her eyes, she said, “It’s the key, idiot.”

  Shocked, it took a moment to realize she was helping him. He slinked a hand out to take the key ring, half afraid she was going to bite him in the process. “Thanks,” he said.

  “Don’t screw this up any more than it already is.” Without another word, she spun toward the door of the bar, shaking her head and mumbling something about men as she left him.

  Tyler didn’t waste any time. He pushed the key in the door and went into the apartment. It was dark, so it took his eyes a minute to adjust, and when they did, he climbed the stairs. After making it to the landing, he spotted Jena sitting in a corner of the couch, hugging her legs close to her body.

  “Jena,” he whispered.

  “Riley let you in, didn’t she?” She kept her gaze forward as she asked the question in a flat tone.

  “Yeah.” He trudged across the living room toward the couch. If there were shards of glass along the way, he wouldn’t have been surprised. When he stood in front of her and she still wouldn’t meet his gaze, he lowered himself to his haunches. “I should have told you.”

  “Told me what?” she asked, averting her eyes.

  “Hey.” He went down to his knees, scooted up to her, and put a hand on her cheek. “Jena, look at me.”

  It took her a moment, but she finally did, and it killed him to discover the pain in her eyes. Anger he might have been able to handle, but seeing the heartbreak crushed him.

  “You lied to me.” Her voice rose in disbelief.

  “I didn’t lie to you, Jena. I simply didn’t tell—”

  “Don’t. You lied. I asked you if you’d ever thought about leaving Seeton, and you said you had, but it was a long time ago. Within the last year isn’t that long ago, Tyler, in case you need clarification.”

  Shit, he’d forgotten about that. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I guess…I only…everything was going so well with us. I didn’t want…”

  “What?” She shot him a hard gaze. “What, Tyler? You didn’t want us to stop screwing while you waited until a position was available for you?”

  “Of course not,” he yelled. “That’s not what we’re about, Jena. You know better than that.”

  “Obviously, not. But your ex-girlfriend sure seems to.”

  “She’s not my ex-girlfriend.”

  Jena’s hands shot up in the air. “Fine. Ex-fuck-buddy then. Whatever. The point is, she knew you wanted to leave, and I thought you were here to stay, what with you saying you were in it for the long haul and pushing me to open a daycare in your mom’s shop and all.”

  Tyler grabbed her hands in his. She tried to pull away, but he refused to let her go. “I want you to listen to me right now. She knew me then. You know me now. I’m not going anywhere, Jena.”

  “But the job—”

  He shook his head. “C
ome here.” He pulled at her, urging her to sit with him on the couch. She sat, and he caught her gaze and locked in on it. “I thought that was what I wanted. After you left the first time, I went stir crazy. I felt something for you, Jena, even back then. I kept waiting for you to return to Seeton, or maybe call me from the city, something, to let me know you were experiencing the same thing. But when you didn’t, when time kept passing, and Riley told me over and over again that you weren’t coming, I gave up. After that, Seeton wasn’t enough for me anymore. I guess I’d fantasized enough about the pleasure you’d bring to my life if you came back, that everything I had here simply wasn’t enough. So, I applied for departments outside Seeton…city departments I knew would bring more excitement to my life.” He touched her face, brushing a thumb over a cheek. “Then you came back. And it was everything I’d fantasized about. More. I realized I was right. You were all I needed.”

  Jena stared back at him until she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He watched her face, searching for signs of what she was thinking, what she was feeling, but without her eyes, he couldn’t tell.

  “Talk to me, Jena.”

  Her hand came up and covered his, pressing his palm into her cheek as she sank into it. She opened her eyes and met the intensity of his regard. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered. She shook her head. “I don’t want to be the reason you stay. I don’t want to be the reason you miss out on a dream.” He started to argue with her, but she thrust her other hand on his cheek, placing a thumb over his lips to stop him. “Maybe you were meant to move away from Seeton, move on to bigger and better things. Like me. Like you said I was meant to do. What if we were meant only to teach each other that there’s more to the lives we’re living?”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  “Tyler…”

  “No. I don’t believe that, Jena. If that were the case, I would have been gone already. I wouldn’t have gotten an acceptance letter after we found each other again.”

  “But if it weren’t for you, I would have never even thought about starting a business in Seeton. That’s just it. You had to be here to show me. Now, it’s my turn to show you.”