Read No Regrets (Live Today #2) for Free Online Page A

mom. “You’ve got to be shitting me?”
    “I forgot she had it.” Mom replies but looks to Carmen. “I expect you will be returning it today?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry.” Carmen answers. Reaching in her handbag, she pulls out an envelope. “Gabriel. I have the results for the test.” She holds it out to me. “I tried calling you, but your number suddenly said it was disconnected.”
    “That’s because I blocked you.” I snap standing and walking toward her to retrieve the envelope.
    “Can we talk? Please?” She holds onto the envelope. “It’s important.”
    “I have nothing to say to you Carmen.” I tug the envelope from her grip.
    “All you have to do is listen.” She encourages again. With a deep sigh, I gesture her toward the back patio. The blinds are pulled open where everything is visible. She walks past the table before walking outside.
    I gather my half eaten plate and discard it in the trash. “Sorry mama, I lost my appetite.” I say placing the plate in the sink before following Carmen outside. She’s standing on the edge of the patio. Her hands are trembling. I can’t say I blame her for being nervous. I would be too if I was going to speak to someone who despises her for everything she’s done. As I take her in, I notice how the years have been kind to her. Maybe it’s because she was forced to grow up after LG was born. I don’t know. Honestly I don’t care.
    “Well?” I spit, “You have my attention. I’m giving you two minutes.”
    She steps toward me quickly. Before I can move, she has her arms around my neck and she’s crying on my chest. “I’m sorry Gabriel” I keep my hands to my side looking through the glass at Brennan for help, who’s staring back in confusion. He reads my mind and offers me a shrug and mouths “Sorry man” in my direction. She releases me when she notices my lack of movement.
    “You’re wasting precious time Carmen. Which is almost up. So if you have something to say, say it now. I won’t fall for your tricks anymore. No one will. You see, I changed when I left here. I became cold and hard. I have you to thank for that. I taught myself to trust no one. Then one day, I met Jenna. That’s when I realized what life was all about. All you ever did was bring me down. You used me to gain popularity and wealth, then crushed me when you got it.”
    “Is that what you think?” Anger rises in her voice, I know it all too well.
    “It’s what I know.”
    “I loved you Gabe. I… I just needed more.”
    “And you got it. Didn’t you?” I turn toward the house. She grabs my arm to stop me.
    “For what it’s worth. Thank you.”
    “What?”
    “Thank you.” She reaches in her bag again and pulls out another envelope. Handing it to me. “Your persistence over the years gave me strength to do the right thing. Of course it was too late.” I look down at the envelope and notice it’s addressed to Jenna. “When I found out you had returned, I thought it would be great to try to get back with you. Maybe rekindle what we lost. But then I saw how you looked at her. I never once, in the entire time we were together, saw that look in your eyes the way they glow when you look at her.” She begins to laugh. “Look at you now. Just thinking about her, your eyes brighten.”
    “I love her Carmen. She is my entire world.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring I bought her years ago. “One day, I will put this on her finger and she will be my wife. But first I have to fix this mess. I waited almost eight years to be with her. I won’t let you or anyone else ruin it for me, for us.” Looking into her glossed over brown eyes, I continue. “I want to thank you as well.” A glimpse of hope appears on her face. “If it wasn’t for you all those years ago, trying to ruin my life, I would have never met them. They welcomed me with open arms. Showed me what a true family really was. No strings attached.” She begins to cry. Once there was a time