Page 51 of Second Chances

She sighs heavily.

“I don’t feel as fit as I did before the accident. Dancing all day is exhausting me. That’s all.” She looks at herself in the mirror. “I probably have lost a little bit too much weight.”

“You’ve not been eating properly. That could be the reason you’re tired after dancing all day. Would you like to see if we can get an appointment with the doctor and check your leg over again?”

She shakes her head.

“No, it’s fine. I’m sorry. The memories of before are so fresh in my head. I’m worried.”

“I know. Come on.” I lead her out of the gym and into our bedroom.

“What are we doing?”

“You’re going to shower and get in your pajamas.”

Elena raises an eyebrow at me.

“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m going to nip to the shops and buy cake and ice-cream, and we’re going to watch a film and eat all afternoon.”

“Ryan?” Elena places her hand on my chest, half in protest but half in interest, the mischief of doing something so decadent shines in her bright eyes.

“Are you saying no?” I tease her.

“No, I’m definitely going to say yes.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Elena

“Shit, shit, shit,” I shake the empty bottle of tablets and then bash my head against the desk. I can’t be out of tablets already. I only bought some last week. I can’t believe it. I must have some more. Reaching down under my office desk, I pick up my bag. It’s one of those massive holdalls that contains everything, including the kitchen sink. Opening it, I tip it upside down and let everything crash down onto my desk.

Tablets.

Tablets.

Tablets.

Frantically I search through all the junk in my bag:

Half-eaten packets of sweets.

Tissues.

Tampons.

Loose change.

Something I’m not sure what it is but clearly has gone moldy.

But no tablets.

This can’t be happening.

My leg begins to hurt. It’s unbearable—sharp pains shoot down from my thigh. Why did this happen to me?

What cruel destiny decreed I needed to be left a virtual cripple by the age of thirty?

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