Second Chance for Love Read Online Free PDF

crossed my arms and settled back against the seat. “Tough shit! I know you don't. Maybe I deserve some answers though. Especially since that stupid will was one of the main reasons you gave for dumping me!”
    “Fine!” Chase snapped. “He cut me out of the will because he blamed me for their divorce. Look, everything changed after you left.”
    “I want to know exactly what happened. I won't make you talk about it right now, but you’re going to tell me.”
    “At least let me get dinner first.”
    I stepped out of the truck and opened the door to the backseat. “Come on, Bosco.”
    Chase disappeared inside the diner and I sat down at the empty picnic tables outside. Bosco spotted a squirrel and I had to grab his leash to keep him from dashing after it.
    “I ordered your usual,” Chase said when he returned. “Or should I say what used to be your usual.”
    “The baked ham with mashed potato?”
    He nodded.
    I leaned down and scratched behind Bosco’s ear. “That sounds great about right now.”
    An awkward silence settled around us while we waited for our food. I was still angry though I wasn't sure exactly who I was angry at.
    “Thanks for saving me from Keri,” I said, trying to break the tension.
    “Not a problem,” he replied. “She's always been a head case.”
    “Believe me I know. And Chase…it's really good to see you again.”
    Chase looked over at me in disbelief.
    “I mean it. I'm still mad at you though. I'm still mad at a lot of people, but I'm glad you came to the funeral. I know you did it to support me and I appreciate it.”
    He nodded without saying anything.
    I wanted to close the uneasy gap between us. I needed to be closer to him. I wasn't sure whether it was because of my grief for my dead father, or the broken heart I still carried with me. My brain told me to run, but my heart refused to listen.
    We made small talk as we ate dinner. I laughed when I discovered Chase was sneaking bits of his dinner to Bosco under the table.
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “I couldn't have him sitting at the table and not eating. That would be rude.”
    I laughed again and remembered how Chase had always been able to cheer me up.
    I put my hand on his knee and smiled at him. He moved his chair closer to mine and I felt like a kid all over again. My heart pounded against my chest and my palms began to sweat. Bosco picked up my nervousness and began to whine and pace.
    “What’s wrong with him? Is he okay?” Chase asked.
    “He's just restless,” I explained, trying to concentrate on dinner.
                 
     
    Chapter 12: Chase
     
    I could tell that Jetta was nervous during dinner and I didn't blame her. She didn't have one excuse to trust me, but she had plenty of reasons not to. After we finished eating we drove back to my house. Jetta sat in the middle and leaned her head on my shoulder. Her sorrow radiated through me and I wanted to be her hero again. The man who could always save the day. I didn't have powers of resurrection or a time machine, so I had to settle for just being close to her.
    Jetta fell asleep on the way even though the drive wasn't far from the diner to my house. Unwilling to wake her up, I sat in the truck watching the world around me change to evening. She looked so peaceful. So different from the last encounter of our youth.
    Like the biggest fool in the world, I’d walked away from her and left her in a heap of tears on the front lawn. How had life in the big city treated her? I looked at her hands and noticed they didn't show any sign of ever wearing a wedding ring.
    Jetta moved in her sleep, and her necklace fell from her shirt. I drew in a deep breath, feeling like someone had punched me in the gut. From the end of the old gold chain still hung my class ring. I couldn't believe that she was still wearing it after six years.
    I felt numb as I watched the sunset, the vibrant colors dancing across the sky. I entwined my fingers with Jetta and