Free Reasons to Leave (Reasons #1) by Lisa J. Hobman Page A

Remember when we used to do that?”
    She closed her eyes and nodded, determined to stop the flood of memories trying to invade her mind. “Of course I do.”
    His voice softened. “I used to love spending time with you. I really did love you. I hope you believe that.”
    She snapped her eyes open. “No, no you didn’t. If you’d loved me enough, you would’ve stayed. You would’ve kept your promise to me. We said we would never leave each other. Do you remember that ?”
    He pulled his lips into a line and inhaled deeply through his nose before speaking again. “Please…please sit down.”
    Reluctantly, she sat once again on the leather sofa. Silence engulfed them for minutes that dragged on like hours. He looked like he was calculating his next words, but it was eventually Stevie who broke the silence. “How long have you been here, in Scotland I mean?” She picked up her glass and took a large gulp of wine before placing it back down with shaking hands.
    He frowned. “Oh…ahhh…around three years now.”
    “Three years? Gosh, what made you decide to do this? You know, run a place like this?”
    He ran a hand over his face. “Lots of reasons. I wanted to do something outdoors. And I wanted to help underprivileged kids.”
    “That’s very noble of you,” she replied sardonically and immediately regretted it.
    He shook his head slowly. “No…not noble. I didn’t do it to be noble. I did it because I realised how shitty some kids have it, and I saw…” He took a deep breath and his words trailed off.
    Her interest piqued. “What did you see?”
    He let out a long breath. “I saw things that I wish I could un -see. But the images are etched on my brain forever.” He closed his eyes for a few seconds as if pained by some memory that had popped into his head.
    She gasped. “What? When?”
    “It’s a long story, and I’ve only got you here for ten minutes, remember?” He smiled.
    “Wasn’t that the whole point? Getting me here so you could explain everything?”
    “Yes…no…I don’t really know. I just…I just wanted to be near you again.”
    She smiled a cold smile and shook her head. “It didn’t bother you so much ten years ago.”
    He clenched his jaw. “No, you’re wrong. It did. I should’ve…” His words trailed off again.
    “Look, Jason.” She stood again. “If you can’t even finish a sentence, I may as well just go. This is a waste of time. And I need some sleep.”
    He crossed the room and grabbed her arms. “I should’ve made love to you. I should have given you that much.”
    She stared at him wide eyed. “What? So you could take my virginity and then desert me?” Her acerbic tone left a bitter taste in her mouth.
    He let go of her and stepped back, as if she’d slapped him. A line appeared between brows. “No, no it’s not like that. It was never like that… I mean, because it was what I wanted more than anything , to show you what you really meant to me.”
    She clenched her teeth and fought back angry tears as she fronted up to the man who had caused her so much pain. “Hmmm, let me refresh your memory of just what I really meant to you. I gave you my time and my friendship for years, Jason. I loved you with my whole heart .  My mum—who was not the wealthiest of parents I hasten to add—spent God knows how much money on a beautiful dress so that you could take me to the Leavers’ Ball, but instead of having the best night of my life I was abandoned, Jason. Abandoned by the one man in my life who I thought I could trust.” Her voice became louder as her anger grew.
    “I gave you my heart and would’ve given you my body too… willingly . I thought you were worthy of my trust but I was so wrong about that, silly me. Because just like my arsehole of a father, you left .” She prodded his hard chest with her finger as her voice broke. “So, thank you for showing me just how much I meant to you. And I want you to know that I’m glad we didn’t add sex