Page 1 of Full Throttle 2

Chapter One

One Year Ago

It was never a good time to have a difficult and painful conversation. No matter how many years had passed since that fateful night that changed Lila James and Brian Lockwood’s life.

She would have ignored it completely, but Brian said it was necessary in order for them to move forward.

He’d chosen an intimate dinner at a quiet, upscale restaurant. The candlelight flickered between them, casting shadows on the white linen tablecloth. They sat across from each other but were still connected as they held hands.

Brian used his thumb to stroke the back of her hand as a long pause hung between them. The clinking of silverware and the low murmur of other diners could be heard in the background. By the time their meal arrived, neither seemed interested in eating.

Brian shifted uncomfortably. “Lila . . . I know this isn't exactly a fun topic to bring up, but I think we need to talk about that night. The night we broke up.”

Lilatraced the rim of her wine glass, avoiding his gaze. “I didn’t think you’d ever bring it up again.”

“I never wanted to, but it’s been sitting on my chest, and I just want us to truly move past it. You told me the broad strokes, and I...” Brian stopped short. “What Anthony did was criminal, but what I did was unforgivable.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I never should have trusted Anthony.”

“No. He was our friend. Normal people can trust their friends.” Brian tightened his hold on Lila’s hand. “I want to do what I should have done all those years ago. I want to listen. I think it would help us both to get closure.”

Lila squeezed Brian’s hands, staring into his eyes. She took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh as her mind returned to that fateful night.

Lila had stood outside of Anthony Luccesse’s dorm room. Her hand had risen, poised to knock, but she had frozen.

She had a moment of hesitation.

Lila wasn’t one to second-guess herself, but something felt off about tonight. Her boyfriend, Brian Lockwood, had mentioned a quiet evening in, but then his best friend called to say that Brian needed her. That Brian wanted Lila to meet him at his place. That was a weird request since she and Brian had recently moved in together.

“Shit. Where are you?!” Lila disconnected her cell. She had been calling Brian all evening but kept getting his voicemail. “I’m trippin’. It’s just Anthony. He’s harmless.”

Anthony had always been a bit of a character, charming, although a bit unpredictable. Rumors on campus had swirled about his family being some big crime family, but Anthony didn’t fit that description. He just seemed like a normal person,maybe born on the wrong side of the tracks and desperately wanting to fit in. That part...Lila understood because she was also born on the wrong side of the tracks, and being on a scholarship at this highfalutin college made it more apparent.

Shaking off the unsettling feeling, Lila knocked on the door. There was movement and a bit of rattling behind it before the door opened.

Anthony stood on the other side, smiling wide. He was all teeth. “Hey, Lady Lila, come on in.”

“Hey, Anthony.” Lila stepped inside and scanned the room. “I’m supposed to meet Brian here?”

“Yeah, yeah. He’s on his way. He got caught up at the gym.”

“Weird that he would ask to meet him at your place.” Lila glanced at her watch, noting that it was already a few minutes past their scheduled time. She was about to pull out her phone to text Brian when Anthony interrupted her.

“Look, I know this seems strange. I thought it was weird too. My guess is he just wants to surprise you at your place and couldn’t do that if you were there. Isn’t tomorrow your sixth-month anniversary or some shit like that?”

Lila’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Yeah. It is. I can’t believe Brian remembered.”

Anthony flashed a sly grin. “You got his nose wide open. Dudes in love. Of course, he remembered. You want some water or something while you wait?”

“Um . . . yeah, water is good.”

Anthony pulled a cold bottle of water from his small dorm refrigerator and tossed it to her.

“Thanks.”

“You and Brian...you two are kind of a big deal on campus.” Anthony leaned against his desk, the same big smile on his face.

Lila felt her cheeks flush. She wasn’t sure what to make of the compliment. “I don’t know what you mean,” she replied, forcing a light laugh. “We’re just regular people.”

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