Page 43 of Her Second Chance

I stare off into space, both hands around my warm mug when a shadow falls over the table. I look up and find Jason standing next to me. Dread pools in the pit of my stomach.

"Hey," he whispers. "Can we talk?"

Despite wanting to tell him to get lost, I nod, gesturing to the seat across from me in the booth.

"Are you still mad at me?"

I toy with the napkin, shredding it into small pieces. How do I answer this? I frown. "I'm not mad at you. I'm just not sure where we go from here."

"What do you mean?” His face is drawn, and it looks like he hasn't slept for days, making me realize something’s not quite right with him. What did I ever see in him? How could I possibly think he’s ‘the one’ for me?

"You treated me like shit. I don't deserve that." Gone is the wishy-washy young girl. The grown woman has replaced her. And this thirty-one-year-old doesn’t take shit from boys.

"Jesus, Hannah. I apologized. We were in the heat of the moment, and you just left me high and dry. What did you expect?"

"Not that," I mutter through clenched teeth.

"I fucked up. I've apologized. Can we please move past this?"

He looks so contrite, I almost believe him. Almost.

I smile, not letting my face show how I really feel at this moment. Because honestly, I’m not sure what I think about everything. He’s the key to whatever brought me back in time, but now I know for sure it was never about a second chance for us. There’s something else. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know once I do, I’ll wake up in my future.

"We can be friends." I don’t mean it, but I want him to go.

He grins. "Friends is a start. Just know I’m not letting you go without a fight." His smirk is unnerving. Why does he suddenly make me feel uncomfortable?

Once he’s apologized and thinks I've forgiven him, he returns to his usual self. We talk about our classes. I do my best not to show how much I want to get away from him. I need space. How did I ever think he was a better choice than Brock?

“I need to go,” I tell him, desperate to get away from his company so I can try to solve the puzzle of how to get home. With each passing day, the urgency to wake up in my real timeline grows more and more pressing.

He grabs my arm when I stand to walk away. “I’ll walk you home.”

Not wanting an argument, I nod. “Okay.”

Jason holds my hand as he walks me to my dorm. It’s not the way lovers hold hands. No. This is a grip of trying to control someone and keep them in place. Despite the cool evening, my hand feels too hot in his. We stop in front of my dorm, turning to face each other.

He smiles as he reaches up and cups the back of my neck, tracing his thumb along my cheekbone. "You do something to me that no girl before you ever has."

"I’ll see you later." I smile even though every part of me is on high alert. I’m desperate to get away from him, but don’t want to fight. What I really want is Brock, but I’m afraid I fucked that up royally.

He leans forward and kisses me. I move my arms up and grip his broad shoulders, pushing him away.

“I’m not ready for this,” I tell him.

“I won’t wait forever.”

“Good,” I say under my breath so he can’t hear me.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He turns and leaves before I can tell him that’s not happening.

How did I get myself into this mess? Better yet, how can I get out of it?

Chapter 21

Hannah

In the two days since Jason apologized, I haven't seen Brock. Having distance and space cements the fact that I don’t want to be away from him. Jason’s constant hovering makes that even worse. I’m trying to friend-zone him, but I’m not sure he’s getting the message. If I didn’t think he was the key to me getting home, I’d cut him completely loose. Until I figure out why he brought me back here, I plan to tread lightly and never be alone with him. It’s not like he’ll hurt me.

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