Page 62 of Mine Forever
But now that I know, how can I ask him to go back to the city where the memories are so painful he can’t recall the good ones?
God, I’m a shitty person.
It isn’t his fault I’d fucked up. I can’t ask him to step back into the fray just to save my ass.
And yet the claw of anxiety and fear in my throat insists I still try to convince him.
What is wrong with me?
The lines of what I want and what I need are starting to blur, leaving me confused as hell.
But I’m not heartless and as much as I pretend to hate him, if seeing him again has taught me anything, it’s that I never stopped loving him.
I know what I need to do.
I slide my hands into the back pockets of my jeans and blow out a slow breath.
“You know what? This is wrong of me. Now that I know everything, I can’t in good conscience ask you to do something like this.” I sigh with a smile, even though panic is now my new best friend. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Don’t be sorry. You didn’t know.” His voice is tight, as though he’s on the edge of losing his shit.
“Yeah, but now I do. And if it were me in your shoes, I’d turn me down too.”
I pick up my beer bottle from the coffee table. “Well, I need to go get some work done. Thank you for dinner, especially since it was my favorite.”
The tension in his shoulders relaxes a little. “It was my pleasure.”
“And thanks for letting me stay here, giving up your bed. I know this isn’t easy for either of us. But I do want to thank you for putting me up.”
His gaze meets mine, earnestness in those depths. “Eden, I would never let you stay somewhere that would be dangerous for you. I…” He stops and looks away for a moment. “Anyway, you’re welcome. Let me know if you need anything. And don’t forget to stay away from the windows.”
“Thanks, I will.” I turn and slowly make my way down the hall, weighed down by disappointment, guilt, and the whole situation.
Not only am I still without a speaker, but all of those feelings that I swore to everyone—including me—I’d never feel for Chase Hanover ever again have come roaring back with a vengeance.
All I want to do is wrap him in my arms and never let anyone hurt him again.
Tonight, the real Chase emerged from the shadows momentarily.
Kind, generous, and funny. Never mind that he only gets hotter with age.
The one that remembers my favorite meal.
The one I fell in love with all those years ago.
For his own wife and teammate to treat him the way they did makes me want to throat punch them. Well, the teammate anyway, since he’s still among the living.
It’s not quite seven o’clock and at home, when work calls my name, I always come running.
But for the first time in a long time, I ignore the call. I change into some lounge clothes and climb into bed.
Staring at the ceiling, I listen to the thunder, howling wind, and rain as it thrashes against the house. I can only imagine what a mess the storm will leave behind.
Sleep eludes me so I read, but even the spicy, football romance can’t keep my mind from wandering back to Chase and the way he looked telling me his story.
It makes my heart ache to know that Chase has been portrayed as the villain, when he’d actually been the victim.
But it’s easy to do since dead women don’t speak.
