Free No Second Chances by Marissa Farrar

ride.
    But I’d meant what I’d said. Life was too short to hold ten-year-old grudges. We’d been kids, and I was sure we all would have done things differently with a little more life experience in the bank.
    So you’re willing to forgive Taylor for how she acted back then, but you won’t forgive Cole?
    I shoved the annoying voice which had piped up in my head to the back of my mind.
    “Of course,” I said with a smile. “Let’s start over fresh. I know I could still use some friends in this town.”
    Her face brightened and she brought her hands clasped against her chest as though she hugged herself with pleasure. “Thanks so much, Gabi. You always were the one who had her head screwed on.”
    The front door clicked open and everyone turned to the sound. A couple of seconds later, my dad’s head poked around the door. His eyes widened as he saw us all there, and then he stepped into the room.
    “Girls,” he said, as though we were all still teenagers. “How good of you to come and visit Gabi.”
    Jasmine smiled. “It’s our pleasure, Mr. Weston.”
    “Look at you, all grown up. I know you’ve been around town, but I never really knew what to say.”
    “No problem, Mr. Weston.”
    He waved a hand. “Oh, call me Bill now. You’re all grown women. I can’t have you talking to me as though we’re not equals.”
    A yell and a cry came from the back yard.
    “What on earth was that?” I exclaimed.
    Taylor jumped to her feet. “Shit, Oliver!”
    We all rushed to the back door. Oliver was on his feet, but clutching his arm.
    I bit my lower lip. “Is he okay?”
    Taylor had rushed over to her son, and had her arm around him. “Yeah, he’s okay. Just slipped as he was climbing down.” She gave a tight smile. “Guess that was our cue to leave.”
    “Sure he’s going to be all right?”
    “Yes, it’s only a bruise. He’s a boy. A day doesn’t go by where he’s not injuring himself in some way.” Taylor ruffled her son’s fine blond hair, so like her own.
    I saw them all to the front door.
    “Well, I hope we’ll see you around,” said Jasmine. “Maybe we could meet for coffee sometime?”
    “Or wine?” said Taylor, and we all laughed.
    “Sounds like a great idea,” I said. And it did. Though I’d had comrades during my time in the Army, and we’d been close, it wasn’t the same as having girlfriends. There was always a certain amount of watching what you said, being a woman in the Army, joining in with the banter, while still wanting everyone to take you seriously.
    I liked the idea of having friends again.

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Gabi - Eleven Years Earlier
     
     
     
    “What the hell is going on with you and Cole?”
    The accusation chased me up the school hall as I was hurrying to get to my next class on time.
    I blinked in surprise and turned to find Taylor behind me, her hands on her hips, her lips pressed together in a hard line.
    “Sorry?”
    Her nostrils flared as she stared at me. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
    I glanced either side of me, as I noticed other students had started to get an inkling that something was about to go down. They were like piranha fish—just a hint of blood being spilled was enough to get them circling. “Seriously, Taylor. I have no idea.”
    “Then why have I got people telling me that you two are acting cozy as anything, walking around with your arms around each other?”
    The penny dropped. Someone must have told Taylor about Cole putting his arm around me in the hall the other day.
    “He put his arm around me while we were walking. He was just being friendly—I promise there’s nothing going on.”
    “Really? So he doesn’t call me, and then he’s seen all over you? What am I supposed to think?”
    I was starting to get exasperated now. “Taylor, I haven’t done anything wrong. He even asked me to meet him for lunch, and I said no partly because I was already meeting you guys, but also because I didn’t want to