Desperate Chances

Read Desperate Chances for Free Online

Book: Read Desperate Chances for Free Online
Authors: A. Meredith Walters
Tags: Romance, new adult
wasn’t making any effort to hide. “I know you’ve been through a tough time. I can also tell when there’s something else going on here. I know you and I know when you’re hiding something. I’ve seen it before, don’t forget.”
    Yeah, he had to go there. I winced at the implication even if it was totally deserved.
    I was quiet for a long time, not sure what to say. How do you find the words to admit that you no longer felt like part of a group that you had once belonged to? I didn’t want to tell him that I felt like an outsider. I wouldn’t whine and feel sorry for myself either.
    And I certainly didn’t want to admit to Garrett—or anyone— that I couldn’t stomach the sight of Mitch and Sophie. I wanted to try to ignore the pain in the center of my chest that flared to life whenever I saw Mitch hug his girlfriend and kiss her mouth tenderly.
    Seeing them forced me to face how monumentally I had screwed up. It made me face how I had thrown away my chance at a happily ever after.
    All because I had been scared and too miserable to see what was right in front of my face.
    Love.
    So I didn’t want to think about how much I missed how our Fresh Prince of Bel Air binges—and yes we’d sing along to the theme song over and over again—or how every time Mitch put gas in his car he made sure to buy me a Baby Ruth candy bar just because they were my favorite.
    And I certainly didn’t want to think about how in a room full of people he had always been my safe place. He never left my side and I hadn’t wanted him to.
    Mitch’s arm was slung casually around my shoulders. I leaned into him, appreciating the warm solidity.
    I was tired. My head hurt. I felt sick from the inside out. It had been less than a month since I had almost died and I still felt hollow and empty.
    And I craved a drink so badly I thought I’d go insane.
    “My parents are telling me I have to go to rehab,” I whispered, almost scared to raise my voice even though we were alone in my parents’ house.
    We were cuddled up together on the couch, the TV on in the background, neither of us watching it even though our favorite show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, was on. Mitch had been sitting with me for hours, neither of us really saying anything. There was just something about his quiet, strong presence that healed parts of me that had been broken for a long, long time.
    “And what do you think about it?” Mitch asked, his hand slowly rubbing my arm. Up. Down. Up. Down.
    I leaned my cheek against his chest, finding comfort in the rhythmic rise and fall. After everything I had done, after all the mistakes I had made, Mitch was still there, offering his support. I was pretty sure I didn’t deserve it, but he gave it anyway.
    And he was the only one to really ask what I thought I needed to do. He wanted my opinion. It mattered to him.
    I felt the tears on my face, but didn’t wipe them away. “I think I need to change,” I admitted, feeling defeated.
    Mitch sat up and turned me around so that I faced him. I looked up into his handsome face and for a moment I was overwhelmed.
    I had never taken the time to really, and I mean really, look at him before. I had been completely obsessed with Garrett and trying to make him love me that I totally ignored this beautiful man that had always been there.
    His hair was dark brown and on the messy side. It was often in his eyes and he would toss his head to flip it back. He’d give me a shy smile that was so sweet it made my heart pitter-patter. His dark eyes were clear and intense and seemed to see me clearer than anyone ever had.
    He really was beautiful. Inside and out.
    “You don’t need to change, Gracie. But you need to learn to take care of yourself. To put yourself first. I can’t lose you. Not ever.” He gripped my hands between his. His face was flushed and his eyes flashed with emotion.
    “I’ve hurt so many people,” I agonized, trying to turn my head.
    Mitch grabbed my chin and forced

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