Page 6 of Second Chance with Seth

“Don’t play coy. It’s been a year since you left Everly.”

I wish he wouldn’t put it like that. It reminds me of my mistakes…

“Nearly,” I murmur, knowing it’s exactly two weeks away from being a year since I slammed the door on the best thing that’s ever happened to me… or is ever likely to. It’s not a milestone I particularly want to get to. A year without Everly doesn’t bear thinking about… and yet I think about it every single day. I think about her every single minute of every singleday, because I know I screwed up. Just like I know she’ll never forgive me… which is why asking her to be mine would be pointless.

“Can I take it you’re not over her?” Aiden asks, putting his cup on his desk and resting his elbows on its surface, his eyes boring into mine. He looks younger than his forty-three years, his hair barely touched by gray, except perhaps at the temples, and I know he works out several times a week, which is reflected in his muscular frame… not that I’m any slouch. I also have the advantage of height, being at least four inches taller than him, but as we’re sitting down, that doesn’t count for much.

“No, I’m not,” I say, knowing it’s no use lying to him. Not only would he see through me in a moment, but I won’t get anywhere by pretending.

“Have you dated anyone since you split up with her?” he asks.

“No.”

“Really? I heard a rumor about you and Matilda in accounts.”

I nod my head, thinking about the pretty redhead, renowned for wearing short skirts and revealing tops, and he raises his eyebrows, like he expects some kind of revelation. “She asked me to have dinner with her,” I admit.

“And?”

“And I declined.”

“Because you need your head examined?”

“No. I just didn’t wanna go out with her.”

He lets out a long sigh, picking up his cup and taking a sip of coffee before he looks at me again. “That might explain why she left so suddenly.”

“I doubt it.”

“No, you’re probably right, although I’m still surprised you turned her down. She’s beautiful. Maybe a little obvious about it, but beautiful.”

“I know. I’m not blind. But she’s not Everly, is she?”

He puts his cup back down. “She really is the love of your life, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

I knew that the moment I met her, and she felt the same way. Together, we could light up a room… hell, we could light up the world. And we did, until I left her.

“Maybe you should go see her,” he says, and I jump. I actually jump at his suggestion.

“Are you crazy?”

“No,” he says, smiling. “I mean, what’s the worst that can happen?”

“I don’t know, but I imagine it will involve you attending my funeral.”

“No, it won’t. Worst case scenario, she’ll yell at you and throw you out.”

I don’t think I like the sound of that. Even my own funeral sounds more appealing. “And best case scenario?” I ask.

“You’ll work things out.”

I shake my head. “You’re assuming she can forgive me?”

“What for? You didn’t cheat, did you?” he asks, his eyes narrowing, his lips forming into a hard line, no doubt caused by memories of Roselyn and what she did.

“No. I may be crazy, but I’m not that crazy.”

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