Page 42 of Second Chance Serenity

“Take it back?” She growls the words and takes a step back. “You wish that you could take it back?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No. It’s fine, Michael. Because from the moment you left, I’ve been wishing for the same. That I could erase every kiss, every touch, every second I spent in your presence.”

“Reyna.” I start toward her, but she slams both hands into my chest and shoves me a second time.

“Do not come any closer to me, Michael Anderson. I’m sorry that you felt backed into a corner. That you couldn’t come to me and tell me why you had to leave. That you regret everything that happened between us. But that doesn’t mean I want anything to do with you now.”

“It killed me to walk away.”

She gestures to me. “Obviously not, because here you stand.”

“I was young. Hotheaded. Stupid.”

“I was young,” she snaps back. “And I loved you with everything that I was, and you chose your own pride over what was between us.”

It’s killing me all over again to see her this way. To see the pain on her face. I step closer. “Reyna?—”

“Leave me alone, Michael. We may have to work together for what’s happening now, but I don’t want anything else from you. Do you understand? I need you to leave me alone. I need you to give me space. And honestly? I wish you had never come back to Hope Springs. You should have just stayed gone.”

CHAPTER 14

Reyna

Ihaven’t spoken to Michael since our confrontation in the gym three days ago. He’s avoided any and all contact with me, and it’s not like I’ve been overly thrilled about seeking him out either. Jaxson is the one who let me know that Sheryl accepted a bribe from someone over the phone who said they wanted to play a prank on my mother and offered her five hundred dollars to steal her phone and leave it in a bucket on the beach.

Apparently she didn’t think anything of it and agreed. But after the police showed up at the bank, she’d realized something else was going on and took off to avoid getting questioned.

She got no look at the person who paid her, since the money was sent online. And the number that called her had belonged to a by-the-minute phone and has since been disconnected.

I finish prepping the salad, then glance back to where Jaxson sits in the living room, reading a book. Given everything we’ve been dealing with, my mom wanted to serve him and the sheriff a delicious dinner.

My father has been on the phone with my brother for nearly thirty minutes, updating him on everything that’s happening here, and although he’s made the offer at least a dozen times, my father continues to turn Carter down about coming to stay in Boston for the time being.

He’s been insistent, but so has my father.

The doorbell rings. “I’ll grab it.” I cross the living room and pull the door open without bothering to check the peephole. I’m expecting the sheriff, so when it’s Michael standing on my parents’ front porch, I’m momentarily taken aback.

My heart jumps in my chest at the sight of him, which makes me all the more angry. How can I be so in love and so angry with someone at the same time?

“Your mother invited me,” he says.

Of course she did. Michael is her hero these days. Never mind he shattered me into a million pieces when he left town all those years ago. “Fine.” I step aside so he can move into the living room, then immediately head back into the kitchen so I don’t get drawn into conversation with him.

“Who was that?” my mom asks, coming out of the pantry with a bag of noodles.

“Michael.”

She beams. “Good. It’s so good to have him around again.”

“Yeah. Great.”

Brow arched, she faces me. “Are you all right? Did something else happen?”

“Nope. I’m fine, just tired.” I force myself to smile because admitting to my mother just why I’m so angry at Michael is a conversation I would rather never have.

“I’m so sorry for everything you’re going through, sweetie.”

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