Page 72 of Second Chance Serenity

Which is why this betrayal might sting even more than Michael leaving.

“Did you tell him that he shouldn’t marry me?” My bottom lip quivers.

He runs a hand over his face. “I said a lot of things I regret. Things I didn’t realize I regretted until—” He glances back at the hospital room. “I’m sorry, Reyna. Truly, I am. I have always wanted what was best for both of my kids. I wanted them to have more than I ever did, and I believed—at the time—that Michael was throwing away a future because of?—”

“Me. You can say it. We’re both thinking it.”

“Yes,” he replies. “If I’m being completely honest, that is what I believed. I never imagined he would run off and join the military though. I never thought he’d nearly die just to get away from me.” His father chokes on his words, and a tear slips from his eyes.

His genuine emotion chips away at my anger. “You made him leave me.”

“I— I am so sorry, Reyna. I wronged you both by what I did, and what’s worse is I hadn’t even realized until now that I was the reason you two split. Truth be told, I didn’t talk to my son until a year after my accident. And I never asked about anything in his life because I was too prideful.” He wheels a bit closer, and I stand my ground.

“I loved your son. He loved me. We could’ve had a happy life together. He was enough for me as he was. If he’d wanted to go play professionally, I would have supported him. But he only ever played football for you.” I wipe tears away from my face. “How could you not see that?”

His father’s eyes widen briefly, and I see that it’s complete news to him that Michael never even wanted to play ball. “I didn’t know.”

“Of course you didn’t. Because you never asked.”

CHAPTER 23

Michael

“How are you feeling?” My mother adjusts the pillow behind me for what must have been the dozenth time since arriving here a few minutes ago. She keeps fidgeting with stuff, checking to make sure the temperature in the room is good, whether I have enough blankets.

“Ma, I’m fine.”

Her eyes fill and she takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “You almost died—again. When Lance called me and said you were missing—” She chokes up, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Michael, I thought you were gone. That we were never going to see you again.”

“I’m tougher than that.” My attempt at a joke falls flat though.

My mother simply stifles a sob. “One of these days you’re going to pick a fight you can’t win.”

“No,” I reply. “Because I’m not picking these fights, Ma. They’re finding me.”

My father wheels back into the room, his eyes red.

“What is it?” my mother asks. “Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m fine.” He sniffles and rolls closer to the bed. I’m completely caught off guard, unsure how to navigate the emotion on my father’s face. “Reyna said to let you know she was having Jaxson take her home after all.”

I hate that she’s gone. That I have to spend any time away from her. But I imagine her absence has something to do with the man in front of me, especially since he is visibly upset. “What did you say to her?” I snap, rage pushing through every other emotion. Did he yell at her? Claim this was her fault? Did he?—

“I apologized.”

“Did you—what?”

“I apologized to her. It was long overdue, especially since I hadn’t realized that I’d hurt her.”

“Honey, what are you talking about?” my mother asks.

“I’m the reason Michael and Reyna didn’t work out. Not her. Not him. It was me.” He wheels closer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have listened?” I ask honestly. “Dad, I’m in my thirties, and you still refuse to see me as a man. How would you have reacted if I’d told you that you were the reason my fiancée and I broke up?”

“Fiancée?” My mother looks completely shocked.

“I’d proposed to Reyna after prom. We planned to get married the month after graduation so we could start our life together.”

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