Everywhere they went, people stared at Jackson. He was gawked at, glared at, whispered about. The short walk down the cobblestone street toward the town square was utterly unbearable, and had succeeded in making Mia understand precisely why Jackson didn’t like coming back here. If she was treated like a specimen under a microscope each time she came home, she’d probably stay away too.
And yet with the understanding came the fierce need to defend the man by her side. What had he ever done to these people? And what the hell gave them the right to judge him? Jackson had been a nineteen-year-old kid who’d indulged in some kinky bondage sex with his willing girlfriend. So fucking what? He didn’t deserve to be ostracized for it, not one goddamn bit.
Mia wasn’t normally into PDA, but today she went out of her way to shower Jackson with affection. She held his hand as they stood on the sidewalk to watch the parade, kissed him at every available opportunity, and gave him more than one bear hug over the course of the afternoon. She wanted him to know that he was worthy, that he deserved none of the scorn being directed his way.
And he seemed to appreciate her efforts, smiling at her whenever she touched him and always making sure she remained close to his side.
His family had come into town with them, including Shane and Tiffany, who’d driven over separately and were keeping their distance by standing several feet away from the main group. Throughout the day, Mia had been shooting surreptitious glances in Tiffany’s direction, trying to locate any outward flaws in the woman, and it really grated that she couldn’t.
As irritating as it was, it didn’t surprise Mia that Jackson had loved the other woman. The blue-eyed blonde was undeniably beautiful, and the air of fragility that surrounded her made it easy to see why Casper Griffen had believed his daughter had been victimized. Tiffany emitted an innocent vibe that only annoyed Mia all the more, especially knowing that the woman liked it real dirty behind closed doors.
Jackson’s brother was even harder to read. Shane didn’t say much, not even to his wife, and Mia would’ve given anything to get a glimpse into his mind. Did he still believe Jackson had forced himself on Tiffany? Did he long for reconciliation? Or did he still harbor deep hatred and resentment toward his younger brother?
“The last float is comin’ up.”
Mia glanced over at Evie, who practically had to bend her entire head to get her mouth close to Mia’s ear. The cheers and applause of the crowd gathered on each side of the street made it difficult to be heard, so Evie raised her voice even higher as she went on.
“Trust me, you’re gonna love this one, Mia.”
A moment later, Mia understood Evie’s mischievous prediction—the float that appeared on the street featured half a dozen shirtless men, ranging from twenty to forty years old and wearing bright-red fireman helmets.
“Abbott Creek’s volunteer fire brigade,” Evie declared with a grin. “See the one over on the far left?”
Mia followed the young woman’s gaze and grinned when she spotted the muscular blond firefighter. “A friend of yours?” she teased.
“Not yet, but I intend to change that once I’m legal.” Evie sighed loudly. “His name’s Kellan and he has a strict rule about not dating anyone under twenty-one. We’ve been flirtin’ for the last year, but the pigheaded fool refuses to make a move.”
Jackson cleared his throat. “Can you please not subject me to this, Evangeline?” he griped to his sister. “I don’t wanna know who you’re makin’ googly-eyes at.”
His sister stuck out her tongue. “Tough. ’Cause Mia wants to know all about it. Right, Mia?”
She laughed. “I don’t know… I say we put your brother out of his misery and talk about it later in private.”
“Deal,” Evie said immediately.
After the final float disappeared around the corner, Jackson’s parents drifted over to the trio. While the Ramseys tried to figure out where to go for dinner, Mia discreetly snuck a peek at Arlene’s and Kurt’s interlaced fingers. She’d noticed that the older couple never stood more than an inch or two apart, and they always stole kisses when they thought no one was looking.
The love they felt for each other was so evident it might as well have been advertised on a Times Square billboard. Mia had never met a couple who was still so in love even after decades together. Arlene and Kurt acted like newlyweds, and seeing them brought a strange pang of longing that Mia didn’t understand.
She’d been trying to make sense of the troubling emotion since they’d arrived in Jackson’s hometown, but she hadn’t figured it out yet, and she had no time to dwell on it now, because the Ramseys had reached a decision about dinner, and the group was moving away from the crowded sidewalk.
As she and Jackson fell into step with each other, he looked over and said, “Did you still want to go to the saloon after dinner?”
She answered without hesitation. “Hell yeah. Every time I see those swinging doors I’m just dying to go in.”
“Then we’ll go.”
The smile he gave her seemed incredibly strained. “Or we don’t have to,” she said hastily.