Page 54 of A Second Chance

“I ran into Scar.”

I suck in a breath and slowly let it out. My head spins out of control whenever I hear her name. It’s a reminder of how much I failed her.

There’s a pause between us until he speaks again.

“Something was off. She was delivering lunch and seemed fine until Cole entered the room.”

“What do you mean something was off?”

He sighs. “I don’t know, man. I mean, Scar was always a badass and wouldn’t take your shit when she was younger, but this was a different version of Scar. Her whole body locked up like she saw a ghost. She was uneasy, and I didn’t like it one bit.”

I don’t like it one bit either.

From what I heard while I was in LA, Cole was Scar’s boyfriend for a short time. She started spending time with him after Seth passed away. I knew Cole was bad news at the time, and Daddy dearest made sure nothing would touch his beloved son. I went to school with Cole’s older brother until he died of alcohol poisoning when he was a freshman in high school. After that, Cole became a different person. The friendly and respectful kid was replaced with a soulless SOB.

“I didn't know she had a kid, man. I wonder who the father is.” Mason continues.

If my math is correct, her son is five years old, so she was pregnant when I left. Maybe it’s Cole’s baby? No, there’s no way she would’ve given her virginity to that asshole. I grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white at the thought of anyone touching her and kissing her body. I shake the thoughts from my head before it explodes and turn my attention back to Mason.

I approach my parents’ driveway and glance at Scar’s house. “I just pulled up to my parents’ house. We should catch up,” I suggest, putting the car in park.

“Yeah, man. I’d like that. I’ll text you.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up.

As soon as I enter my childhood home, I’m greeted by the smell of Mom’s famous pot roast.

“Mom, Dad?” I call out as I remove my shoes and set my keys in the bowl on the entry table.

“We’re in the living room, sweetheart!” Mom calls back.

When I go to the living room, Dad is rocking in his chair, watching a black and white Western film, and Mom is crocheting a blanket or something. Dad looks up from the TV and gives me a broad smile. Mom leaps off the couch and wraps her arms around my waist.

“Don’t squeeze the life out of the boy.” Dad chuckles.

“Oh, you hush. He is my baby,” Mom gushes, grabs my face, and kisses my cheek.

“So, how long will you be staying?” Dad asks, and before I can respond, a car pulls up next door, and a little boy’s voice rings in the air. I walk to the window and pull the curtains back and see Scar’s little boy pulling her up the steps with a huge smile.

“I didn’t know she had a son,” I say as I watch Scar disappear into her house.

“Shaun or little monster is what she calls him,” Mom says.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me she had a kid?” I ask, disappointment clearly evident in my tone.

When I met Shaun, I was overwhelmed with emotions. He seemed like a great kid, and I can tell Scar is an incredible mother. I thought about all the missed opportunities and milestones that I could have been a part of if only I had known. But I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on being there for her even if she doesn’t want me around.

Mom sighs. “Because she asked us not to. And it wasn’t our place to say anything, son. It’s her story to tell if she wishes to tell it.”

As much as it hurts, I know she’s right. There was a time when Scar would tell me everything. But me being with Skye fucked it all in the ass.

“Is she okay? I mean, has she been okay?”

“Yes, as good as she can be. After all she has been through, her son brought her back to life.”

Sadness creeps its way through me, crippling me in two. I wasn’t there for her when she was pregnant or when she had her son.

I left her all alone.

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