Page 101 of Kept in the Dark

And every time, he tried to save her; fix her. But she had needed a man who could handle her, who understood her. Not a knight swooping in to save her.

And if she didn’t need one then, she damn sure didn’t need one now.

But she couldn’t deny that he had been good to her. All Chase had ever done was support her hopes and dreams, even when he didn’t like them. He hadn’t wanted to leave his hometown, but he had been willing to do it in order to be with her. He had thought she would be a great wife and mother, but he had been willing to give up his dream because she didn't want to have kids and ruin her figure.

Funny, all of that sounded so ridiculous now.

Now she worried about making it through the day, not about her figure or her hair or makeup. Now she worried about surviving, not about careers or building a life with someone.

She said, “You don’t owe me an apology. Actually, I'm surprised you're talking to me…you know, being a convicted murderer and all.”

“I talked to Trey after I heard about the attack. He explained the situation.”

Sara chuckled cynically. “You didn’t even have the courtesy to ask me yourself? You’re unbelievable.” She pointed a finger at him. “I bet if Trey wouldn’t have told you, you wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

He stepped closer to her, fire in his eyes. “You’re right. I have two kids to protect. I wasn't going to open that door if you weren’t innocent.”

Annoyed, she threw her head back. “What does that even mean? Why are you talking to me, Chase?”

Chase shifted uncomfortably as he calmed himself. “Seeing you the other day took me by surprise, and I wanted to know how you were.”

“Oh, please. You could have asked me that while I was locked up. It’s not like I was going anywhere. And that answers your question: I just got out of prison after serving thirteen years for a crime I didn't commit, so how do you think I’m doing? And now, after I’m finally free, I’m being hunted down because there’s proof I’m innocent.” Sara put her hand up. “Life is freaking great.”

She couldn't help but lash out. She felt abandoned by the one person who swore to always love her and protect her. But when push came to shove, and the whole world turned against her, he had too. And she wouldn’t forgive him for it.

She was also bewildered by his nerve to ask how she was as if she hadn’t just lived a traumatic life thus far. It wasn’t as if she went off to New York to actually pursue modeling and was coming back to town. It wasn’t as if she was visiting after moving away with a wonderful man that she built a life with.

No. She was, by everyone’s account, a murderer, an ex-junkie, and a girl who had so much potential but just couldn’t live up to it.

What a joke.

She turned to leave but he gently grabbed her arm. “Sara, wait. I shouldn’t have said that. That’s not what I meant. I just…”

Sara stood with her back to him and closed her eyes. She spent years learning how to detach from her emotions, because feeling anything got you hurt or killed. But being around Chase, she didn’t think she could and that terrified her.

Yet, as much as Sara wanted to run away, she also wanted to stay with him. Even after all these years, after the betrayal and heartache, she couldn’t deny the heat that burned within her when he spoke to her.

Sara knew she should push those thoughts from her mind, but she couldn’t. After all, she quickly noticed the wedding ring on his finger. She considered living up to the Gallagher namesake and adding homewrecker to the list, but she knew that would only break her even more.

And she really liked Gavin. In the short time he’d known her, he understood her in a way Chase never had. He respected her privacy and secrets, never expecting her to give herself to him completely. He was content with her independence. And he understood that, while she was broken, he couldn’t be the one to put her back together.

Chase continued, his voice soft as he said, “I just needed to talk to you. I never wanted to admit it, but I missed you. And seeing you again brought back all of these feelings I thought no longer existed.”

Sara quickly spun around. “Ugh! I’m not doing this with you. And I'm sure your wife wouldn't approve either.” Sara eyed his ring, and he followed her gaze.

He let go of her arm. “She doesn’t have to know.”

“You have some nerve-”

“Sara, please.” Chase touched her cheek, and she instinctively leaned into his hand, her heart skipping a beat. He paused for a moment and then she pulled away, embarrassed by her reaction.

“We had something special. Even Elizabeth doesn’t compare to you.”

Sara laughed bitterly. “Do you hear yourself?”

Chase slowly stepped closer. She suddenly found it hard to breathe. She spent most of the last decade grieving their relationship after she royally screwed it up. But he was the one who put the nail in their coffin when he didn’t come to her defense while she rotted behind bars.

So much for a love so special…

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