Page 71 of A Second Chance

Avery and Nick finished up their first dance and the beat intensified. Without many people in attendance, it didn’t seem like much dancing would happen, but Gwen had him by the hand and he followed, doing his best to breathe. He hated flashing lights and loud noises. The logical part of his mind realized that he was safe and no longer in a war zone. The primitive part of the brain, however, didn’t seem to get the memo, or if it did, it didn’t give a shit. His vision tunneled, the world swallowing him up whole. The sound of bullets whizzing past his ears. The only thing he knew was he had to leave the barn before his logical brain shut down and the primitive bastard took control. He let go of Gwen and didn’t stop until the cool afternoon air hit him and he closed his eyes and gulped in air. Outside the noise wasn’t as loud.

“Jason,” Gwen’s voice came from behind him. And he hated that he had to leave her in there on the dance floor, alone. “Jason,” she repeated. “You’re having a flashback. It’s not real.”

He nodded, “Yeah.” But he didn’t open his eyes. Gunfire rang in his ears.

“Open your eyes,” she said, voice gentle. He hesitated, then obeyed. “Now tell me what you see.”

“Um…” he looked out the porch, his pulse still pounding in his neck. “Grass, the tree line…woods, the side of the plateau.” His gazed moved closer. “Stone walkway, the Adirondack chairs around the fire pit. That’s where I saw this gorgeous blonde chick. She blew my mind she was so damn hot.”

“Jason,” she warned, but he heard the smile in her voice.

He turned to her, those big blue eyes staring up at him. “It turns out she was so much more than just hot, she’s sweet and smart…Thank you.”

Her cheeks flushed pink and he adored it. “Are you sure you’re good?”

“Yes, please don’t baby me.”

She hesitated, but nodded. “I’ll try.” Gwen sat in a chair and motioned for him to take the other; he did.

“So, that’s why you wanted to see my shrink?”

She shrugged. “I wanted to know how to help you through a flashback or panic attack… just in case.”

Jason stared at her for a beat, trying to put his jumbled thoughts into words. But before the thoughts materialized, she spoke again.

“I’m sorry. I should have considered the loud music and strobe lighting might cause an issue.”

“Don’t apologize,” he reached over and grabbed her hand. “It didn’t even occur to me, babe. So you can’t take responsibility for me. That’s my job. You’ve already gone over and above with not only asking how to support me, but then following through when it happened. I wasn’t full on, yet…” The look on her face stopped him cold. “What?”

“Over and above?” Gwen asked. “Isn’t that what you do for someone you love?” She stopped as if she realized the words that came out of her mouth. “Uh…”

Jason almost laughed at her expression, but that wouldn’t turn out well, so he stuffed back any amusement and stared at her. She tried to pull her hand away but he tightened his grip. “I love you too,” he said.

Gwen went still. “You jerk,” she laughed. “How dare you leave me hanging out there like that…”

“I’m sorry, I just saw you freak out the minute it came out of your mouth. But I’m so obviously madly in love with you, there’s no way you don’t know already.”

“I wasn’t positive,” she said, leveling him with those eyes sparkling in the setting sunlight.

“Well then,” he said, leaning forward taking her other hand so he held both of her hands on the table. “Let me make all of intentions known, so there’s no confusion.”

“Okay,” she said, drawing out the word.

“I’m in love with you, and I would like our relationship to last for as long as we live.”

“Are you asking me to marry you, or are you asking me if I would say yes if you did?”

“Is marriage something you want?” he asked. Avery getting married was a bit a foreign concept to her.

“You two are getting married?” a woman’s voice said. He turned and to his horror, Gwen’s mom Natalie stood there, beaming a wide grin and almost jumping up and down, her hands waving in front of her in excitement.

“Mom,” Gwen said, “we were having a hypothetical discussion.”

“I will have two married daughters,” she said as if Gwen hadn’t answered. “Suck on that, Phyllis Reed.”

“Who is Phyllis Reed?” Gwen asked.

“Oh, she was such a fuddy-duddy, kept telling me that my way of life would turn you girls into sluts. Both of my daughters are settling down with nice young men; not a slut to be found.” Natalie fluttered off, smiling.

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