Read Online Whatever It Takes (Second Chances #2) by L. E. Bross - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: L. E. Bross
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said, making my tone equally neutral as I reached for a wrench. “Saw her, gave her a ride, then fixed her starter, then said see ya.”
I really didn’t expect to see her again. The park was a fluke. That we were both there on Sunday.
“She tell you what the deal was with the kid?”
The way he said it, so condescending and judgmental, made anger flare in my gut. Seth was normally the last guy to pass judgment on anyone’s choices. “His name is Noah,” I ground out.
“Whoa. Hold the fucking fort. Why the hell are you getting all defensive? You met the kid, like, once. All I was asking was did she tell you anything?”
I stood up and tossed the wrench into my toolbox. We’d barely spoken since his dickheadedness at the park, and when he came over looking for help with his truck, I thought it was a peace offering. Clearly not so much. “Yeah, man. Right between the starter and spark plug she spilled her guts and told me her entire fucking life story.”
“Jesus, Ry, chill out. What the hell is up with you?”
I pushed back from the truck and walked over to the front steps of Seth’s trailer. He had a cooler of beer next to them, so I grabbed one. I couldn’t answer him because I didn’t have a clue. Seeing Tess had scrambled things in my head.
Color me twenty shades of surprised when the first thing I felt was attraction to her, not anger. Maybe I just hadn’t reconciled the woman she was now with the girl who broke my heart. My brain hadn’t quite caught up yet.
When it did, I could stop thinking about her.
“I saw the way you were looking at her,” he said, coming over to sit. He wiped the grease off his hands and tossed the towel on the ground. “Didn’t look like much has changed.”
“For fuck’s sake, Seth, what’s your problem?” I didn’t know why he was pushing it so far. Even if I did decide that I was going to see her again, it wasn’t up to him. He might be my best friend, but he’d done a lot of shit I told him not to do.
“I was there after she left. If you don’t remember how destructive you got, then I’ll be happy to remind you.” And he would list every single thing I did in those weeks after too.
“She’s not fucking Melissa, okay? She wasn’t using me for anything,” I ground out. I knew it was dirty to bring up the pretty little rich girl who’d broken Seth’s heart when we were younger, but dude was pushing all the wrong buttons. “When she left I was hurt, pissed off even, but we were kids. Her grandmother got sick and her father stepped up. She had opportunities that she never would have stuck where we were. I don’t blame her for wanting something better.”
Maybe that was the draw to her. I needed her to know that whatever happened back then was in the past. Seeing her again was my chance to really put it behind me. Closure or some bullshit like that.
It had nothing to do with the emotions that flickered through her eyes when I stared at her lips too long, or the way her breath caught when we got too close to each other.
It definitely had nothing to do with the urge to rediscover how she felt under my fingers, or how she tasted, or what sounds she made when she was on the verge of letting go.
None of those things mattered.
And I’ve got some beachfront property in Iowa to sell you too , my mind snorted.
Seth reached over and grabbed a beer, then leaned back against the door. “I just don’t get how you’re not pissed at her. After what she did . . .”
I shrugged. I didn’t have an answer for that because I knew I should be at least a little peeved at her still. Your first heartbreak is a big deal. “I’m not fifteen anymore. We all made mistakes. It was a long time ago.” Did Seth want everyone judging him by the shit he did when he was younger, or even more recently? I’d bet no.
“She’s in your head already, isn’t she?” Seth asked. “Why?”
It was a legit question. Seth had been the one who made sure I stayed out of
I really didn’t expect to see her again. The park was a fluke. That we were both there on Sunday.
“She tell you what the deal was with the kid?”
The way he said it, so condescending and judgmental, made anger flare in my gut. Seth was normally the last guy to pass judgment on anyone’s choices. “His name is Noah,” I ground out.
“Whoa. Hold the fucking fort. Why the hell are you getting all defensive? You met the kid, like, once. All I was asking was did she tell you anything?”
I stood up and tossed the wrench into my toolbox. We’d barely spoken since his dickheadedness at the park, and when he came over looking for help with his truck, I thought it was a peace offering. Clearly not so much. “Yeah, man. Right between the starter and spark plug she spilled her guts and told me her entire fucking life story.”
“Jesus, Ry, chill out. What the hell is up with you?”
I pushed back from the truck and walked over to the front steps of Seth’s trailer. He had a cooler of beer next to them, so I grabbed one. I couldn’t answer him because I didn’t have a clue. Seeing Tess had scrambled things in my head.
Color me twenty shades of surprised when the first thing I felt was attraction to her, not anger. Maybe I just hadn’t reconciled the woman she was now with the girl who broke my heart. My brain hadn’t quite caught up yet.
When it did, I could stop thinking about her.
“I saw the way you were looking at her,” he said, coming over to sit. He wiped the grease off his hands and tossed the towel on the ground. “Didn’t look like much has changed.”
“For fuck’s sake, Seth, what’s your problem?” I didn’t know why he was pushing it so far. Even if I did decide that I was going to see her again, it wasn’t up to him. He might be my best friend, but he’d done a lot of shit I told him not to do.
“I was there after she left. If you don’t remember how destructive you got, then I’ll be happy to remind you.” And he would list every single thing I did in those weeks after too.
“She’s not fucking Melissa, okay? She wasn’t using me for anything,” I ground out. I knew it was dirty to bring up the pretty little rich girl who’d broken Seth’s heart when we were younger, but dude was pushing all the wrong buttons. “When she left I was hurt, pissed off even, but we were kids. Her grandmother got sick and her father stepped up. She had opportunities that she never would have stuck where we were. I don’t blame her for wanting something better.”
Maybe that was the draw to her. I needed her to know that whatever happened back then was in the past. Seeing her again was my chance to really put it behind me. Closure or some bullshit like that.
It had nothing to do with the emotions that flickered through her eyes when I stared at her lips too long, or the way her breath caught when we got too close to each other.
It definitely had nothing to do with the urge to rediscover how she felt under my fingers, or how she tasted, or what sounds she made when she was on the verge of letting go.
None of those things mattered.
And I’ve got some beachfront property in Iowa to sell you too , my mind snorted.
Seth reached over and grabbed a beer, then leaned back against the door. “I just don’t get how you’re not pissed at her. After what she did . . .”
I shrugged. I didn’t have an answer for that because I knew I should be at least a little peeved at her still. Your first heartbreak is a big deal. “I’m not fifteen anymore. We all made mistakes. It was a long time ago.” Did Seth want everyone judging him by the shit he did when he was younger, or even more recently? I’d bet no.
“She’s in your head already, isn’t she?” Seth asked. “Why?”
It was a legit question. Seth had been the one who made sure I stayed out of
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