Free Second Chance for Love by Leona Jackson Page B

messed up right now. Your accident and our parents. I don't know what to make of them. My mother's lost her mind and I don't know what to do about her. Part of me believes I should just go back to the city and tell her to fuck off, but I can't. I can't go back to the city and stay. You're here. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but I want to try again. It's been six years since we've split up and I can't get you out of my heart. I don't want to. I know you've got no reason to give me another chance, to give us another chance, especially after the shit I pulled the other night, but I really want to try.”
    Tears were falling down my cheeks and it was becoming pretty hard to speak. I knew I had to keep going.
    “Chase, please, let's give it one more try,” I begged.
    Chase was quiet for a moment and I feared that he wasn't going to give me another chance. Hell, maybe the concussion had knocked some sense into him.
    “There’s nothing I want more,” he finally said.
    A sigh of relief escaped my lips and Chase laughed.
    “Did you honestly expect me to say no?” he asked.
    “Maybe…after everything that's happened.”
    “After everything that happened? That's the very reason I know we have to try again. I mean death seems to be everywhere. Your dad died and then I almost died. It’s a miracle I didn’t die if I remember the accident correctly. I think the odds were against me living at least. I couldn't imagine if I’d died without being able to tell you how much I love you. If I never got the chance to sit here with you and talk things through.”
    I brushed my lips against Chase's and he pulled me close to him with his good arm. His tongue darted between my lips and I held on for dear life. Our movements were slow and tender and I savored every second. When the kiss broke, I rested my head against his chest gently and took a deep breath. I knew there was still a lot to deal with, but at least I was back with Chase. As we sat there together in the silence it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
    “Do you still have my class ring with you?” he asked.
    “Always do,” I said, holding up the chain it was on.
    “Can I see it?”
    “Okay, give me a minute.”
    I feared after six years of being worn that the clasp wouldn't open. It took me a few tries to get it undone.
    I placed it in his palm. “Here you go. Why do you want it?”
    Looking at the ring brought back memories of the night he’d first given it to me. Chase had said that it was a promise to our future and I’d held onto it even after it looked like our paths would never entwine again.
    Smiling, Chase took my hand and pressed his lips against it. “Talk about déjà vu. I want to promise you a future, our future,” he said. “It won't be perfect and it most likely won't be peaceful if our families have anything to say about it, but it will be ours. I want you to know, I've never quit loving you. I don't think I ever could. The odds may still be against us. At least now though we’re old enough to make our own rules.”
    Chase slipped his class ring back onto my finger just like he did when we were teenagers in high school. Tears of joys replaced my fears and I kissed him again. This time it was more passionate and I couldn't stop smiling.
    He reached up to touch my face tenderly. “I can't wait to see your smile again,” he said.
     
     
    Chapter 20: Chase
     
    The next three days passed more slowly that I would’ve liked. The second day, I was finally allowed to eat something besides hospital food and my mother and Jetta nearly got into an argument. Jetta wanted to pick me something up from the diner and my mother wanted to cook me dinner. I hated to take sides between them and wondered if this was what I was setting myself up for.
    I decided a fast trip to the diner was easier for everyone involved. I was glad that my sight still hadn't fully returned so I couldn't see the dirty look my