Free Deceive (Declan Reede: The Untold Story #2) by Michelle Irwin Page A

with memories.
    “Did you and Flynn ever . . .” I couldn’t even finish the question.
    She laughed. “No. I tried once or twice but he’s firmly in the other camp.”
    “Was there ever anyone else?”
    “Not really. Just Cain.”
    I nodded. “What happened?” I didn’t really want to know, but I needed to know her and that included learning about her past after us.
    “I don’t know. I guess I sort of thought I could have something with Cain, so I chased him. I learned pretty quickly that I really only wanted him because of his resemblance to Flynn though. He was like Flynn-lite. Then not long after we broke up, I found out he was in love with his boss’s daughter, Kirsty. The way they are now, it was like they were made for each other. There’s no hard feelings there at all.”
    “Why did you chase him so much?” It didn’t really sound like the Alyssa I’d known.
    She stared straight ahead and I could almost see thoughts formulating, so when she spoke, I knew each word was chosen with care. “When you’re at the track and something happens, and you know you can’t get first place, no matter how hard you work, do you try hard for second?”
    “Of course.” I was confused by her change of tack and wasn’t sure where she was going with the question, but allowed her to go with it.
    She glanced at me, and the intensity in her gaze burned through me. “And if you can’t get second? You fight for third?”
    “Yeah.”
    “But then, at some point, you realise third place might be good. It might be the best you can ever get, but it’s never going to be first, no matter how much you might want it to be. Third place is never really going to get you anywhere.”
    “I don’t understand.” Even as I said the words, it hit me. I couldn’t help the grin that crossed my face even though my heart broke for her. “Are you saying I was your first place?”
    She smacked my chest playfully at my smile. Then she grinned in return. “Yes, you were .”
    “I’m offended,” I mock-protested. I wrapped my arms tightly around her and began to tickle her lightly. “Am I still first place?”
    “More like a consolation prize, I think.” She managed to squeeze the words out between squeals.
    Phoebe ran back over to us with a smile on her face. She wrapped her arms around Alyssa’s neck while I held Alyssa’s waist. I couldn’t even begin to explain how right it felt to be together like a family.
    I was forced to relinquish my hold when Phoebe climbed onto Alyssa’s lap and started to eat her sundae. I watched as the two of them giggled and played, Phoebe feeding Alyssa occasionally.
    In that instant, I knew my world would shatter if I was unable to see them again. The doubt I felt over Alyssa’s apparent departure began to niggle in the back of my mind. I wanted to talk to her about it, but I didn’t want to ruin our date—which had gone surprisingly well given its start.
    After Phoebe had finished her sundae, she ran back into the playground. I put my arm back around Alyssa’s shoulders and we sat like that in silence, both watching Phoebe running around, playing on her own. I felt the missing part of our life so sharply. I wondered whether Alyssa did too. A quick look at her face told me she did. I squeezed a little to let her know silently that I was there for her. That I understood.
    Phoebe darted off the playground. “I want to go home, Mummy.”
    “What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
    Phoebe just shook her head before resting it against Alyssa’s chest.
    “Is she all right?” I asked. “She looks a little green?”
    “I think it’s just time to call it a night,” Alyssa said. Despite the situation, I was pleased to hear the tinge of regret in her voice.
    I nodded then held out my hand to help Alyssa to her feet. She clutched Phoebe to her chest as she carried her back to the car and put her into the car seat. As she bent over the seat I was once again afforded a view of her creamy thighs. I