Page 38 of Second Chance Ex
“I’ve seen so many guys go through it. They focus on nothing but the game through the playoffs, and then the draft, only for their girls to get tired of not feeling like they’re a priority. Ineedyou to know that what I’m doing, I’m not just doing it for me. I’m doing it for us. Because over everything I choose you, Prue, and I neverwant you to think I’m doing this because of the love of some stupid fucking game. Yes, I love playing football. But I love you infinitelymore.”
I drop Prue’s hand and reach behind my neck, unclasping the chain I’ve worn every day of my life since I was eight years old. Since my dad went through my mom’s box of belongings like it was trash, threatened to toss it all into the dumpster after she died as if getting rid of her stuff was like erasing her once and for all.
My vision blurs from the sting of tears as I look down at the chain, at the thin gold band dotted with diamonds that dangles from it. It was my mom’s ring. Her wedding ring. And I don’t even know why I kept it all this time; my parent’s marriage failed in the worst possible way. But maybe I knew one day I’d meet the woman who would make me see that love doesn’t always go wrong. My mom was a true romantic at heart; and I know if she’s looking down on me now, she’d be happy.
With a sniffle, I wipe violently at the tear that’s escaped, swatting it away with the cuff of my shirt before reaching my hand around the back of Prue’s head, fingers tangling through her silky hair. I move in so close, resting my forehead against hers so I can really look into those eyes, so close I can almost see deep down into her perfect fucking soul.
“Prue Margaret Watson, you are the woman I want to marry, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, the one I want to go to sleep next to at night, and the one I want to wake up next to every morning until the day I stop waking up. I want to have babies with you. I want to grow old with you, and watch our babieshave babies. I don’t want to do life with anyonebutyou.” I pull back, my hands trembling like a bumbling fool as I place the ring onto her finger.
Her glassy gaze dips down to where the ring sits almost perfectly on her finger, the chain dangling from it.
I sniff again. “This isn’t an engagement ring, but it’s my promise, baby. That I am yours for as long as you will have me, and then some. I am committed toyou, Prue Watson.Onlyyou. I’m just asking for three months to focus on football. Three months where it might feel like I’m not around as much a boyfriend should be. Three months until I can finish out the season and then I’m all yours, baby. Forever. And always.”
She breaks down then, a gentle sob racking through her as she rests her forehead back against mine.
“It’s you and me, Prue. It’s always been you and me. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and nobody,nothingwill ever come in between us. Especially not fucking football. That I promise you.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “I love you so much. And you may notneedme, but fuck I need you, Prue. I need you more than I need anything. You’re my whole world, and I can’t bear the thought of my life without you in it. So, please, baby. Please.”
She meets my eyes, and then after a single moment where I’m not quite sure what the hell is going to happen. When it feels like everything is about to crash down around me, as if time stands still and it’s make or fucking break, Prue throws herself at me with a racking sob, wrapping her arms around my neck so fucking tight I can barely breathe. I pull her out of the truck,securing my arms around her waist and lift her so her legs are forced to wrap around me.
Burying my face into her hair, I breathe her in and allow my tears to fall freely, because fuck it; if anyone gets to see me vulnerable, it’s the girl who owns my heart.
And it’s right here, in this moment, on the side of a darkened road, I know that no matter what, Prue and I will be okay. We have to be. I refuse to accept any other ending to a love story like ours.
The picturesque drive through the mountains has done little to ease the anxious unrest that’s been stirring deep in my belly since leaving Rosewood. Adam has been trying to take my mind off the inevitable, trying to get me to play car games with him, trying to get me to sing along to his favorite songs—who knew Adam Hopper was such a raging country music fan, definitely not me—but other than the occasional giggle he’s gotten out of me at his downright offensive singing, his attempts have been in vain.
I cannot stop thinking about what happened between Joey and me at my house on Saturday. And, lucky me, I’ve had all week to think about it.Overthink about it. All week to overthink about the way his hands gripped my waist like he had no intention of letting me go, the way his gaze lingered on my lips like his next breath was dependent upon kissing me, the way helooked into my eyes like he knew without a sliver of a doubt just how much I wanted him to kiss me.
The chemistry between us was undeniable. And, like an addict, all I wanted was to inch closer and closer, to allow myself just one taste. But I knew I couldn’t. Sure, the moment brought back memories which caused long-dormant feelings to stir—I’m not denying that—but there was so much more.Joey looked at me in a way I haven’t felt anyone look at me since… well, since Joey. And that scares me. He’s the only boy, man and person on this planet who has ever looked at me like he can see past the stoic, indifferent façade I’ve perfected over the years. It’s almost as if, with one glance, he can see straight into my soul, even now, after the time that’s passed. And that terrifies me because he’s not allowed to look at me like that anymore. Not only did he lose that right a long time ago, but he has a girlfriend. And, for all he knows, I have boyfriend. Heshouldn’tbe looking at me the way he did.
Honestly, my heart is still broken. After all this time. I’m still hurting over what happened between us. And I hate it. But I know allowing Joey insight into my soul, my heart, my mind, it can only lead to trouble. I can’t risk picking at the scab of the wound that is still so fresh; one kiss from Joey would undo all the work I’ve done to put myself back together from the broken mess of pieces I was when things ended between us. And that’s why, on Saturday, when our lips had been less than a hairsbreadth apart, I forced myself to come to my senses.
I pushed Joey away and, with treacherous tears threatening, I blindly unclasped the necklace I’ve worn almost every day since the night he gave it to me on theside of the road, and I handed the ring back to him, trying desperately to ignore the look of hurt that flashed in his eyes when I told him to give it to his girlfriend, to leave.
I haven’t heard from him since then, which is why I’ve been a nervous wreck during the lead up to my best friend’s bachelorette party; frankly, I’m dreading it.
“Hey, it’s snowing!”
Adam’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I come to, noticing snow fall lightly against the windshield. It’s dark out. Dark and a little threatening; granted, a lake house in Tahoe with Joey Tanner is probably the last place I want to be right now, but I’d rather be confined to a lake house with my ex than go sailing off the side of a mountain to live in the eternal after-life with Adam Hopper.
“Do you know how to drive in the snow?” I ask, warily glancing out at the slippery looking road.
Adam scoffs. “I’m not completely hopeless,honey.”
I grimace. “You’re really going with the whole honey thing, huh?”
“I think it’s classy.” He shrugs, grinning to himself.
“Oh, yeah, because you’re all class,” I snort.
I’m only teasing, although it’s not an entirely false statement. Adam spends more time scouringOnlyFansandTinderthan he does almost anything else. Not to mention, over the course of the last two-and-a-half hours while stuck in this car, the screen on his dash has flashed with multiple incoming calls from names stored into his cell such asSonia - Big Tits,Michelle - Analand, my personal favorite,Holly - Squirter(I wish I were joking). Adam is a fuckboy through and through. But,for this weekend, at least, he’smyfuckboy. Hands off, ladies.
“Holy shit….” Adam lets out a low whistle as he turns his SUV into the gates of a long drive that slants down toward the water’s edge.
My eyes bulge at the sight before me. A house lit up against the darkness like a Christmas tree. Actually, scratch that. A mansion. A sprawling mansion. Three stories, multiple wings, all log and stone and glass surrounded by sky-high Ponderosa; it’s breathtaking in the dark, I can only imagine what it looks like during the daylight.
“Good job, JT,” Adam mutters, and I don’t miss the disdain in his tone.
“What’s the deal between you and Joey, anyway?” I pry.
