VERSUS (Second Chances 2)

That was my intention. I wanted him to think that I had taken what he wanted most in the world. I needed him to believe that I’d claimed her virginity.

He did believe it. He shot words at me about his property and my filthy dick being near her.

I left her in a room with his anger and then she got in a car with him.

Sorry is inadequate, so I fumble for the right words. “I was wrong. It was a stupid thing to do.”

Tears wash over her eyes.

I bring her hand to my mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“We didn’t crash because of what you said to him, Dylan.” She looks into my eyes. “You had nothing to do with what happened to us that night.”

Chapter 50

Eden

Clark Dodson was the boy I thought I would eventually love.

I think that was because my dad loved the promise that he held and I wanted to give my dad the world after everything he had done for me.

Clark had a throwing arm that brought scouts from some of the nation’s best football schools to his games.

He was edgy and good-looking.

Tattoos covered his body. His dark hair was always a spikey mess.

He smoked clove cigarettes and got good grades.

My dad told me that Clark would take ‘us’ to the NFL.

Clark’s prospects were good. He was offered a full ride athletic scholarship to Ohio State, but everything changed on the night we graduated.

We left the graduation party together.

Our relationship was mostly handholding and a few stolen kisses.

Clark would sometimes talk about marrying me.

For a girl who believed in romantic fairytales, it should have been exciting.

I had visions of a career on Broadway, a husband who loved me, and at least two children.

The only problem was that the face of the husband in my dreams didn’t belong to Clark. It belonged to Dylan.

“When Clark came into the bedroom, he asked me if we had kissed.”

Dylan’s expression shifts. “Kissed? He didn’t ask if we fucked?”

I shake my head. I remember everything about that night. “No. He asked if we had kissed. I laughed and told him that we talked.”

“What happened then?”

“He laughed too.” I close my eyes briefly, a rush of memories flooding me all at once. “He kissed me. He told me he was tired. I told him we could leave.”

“He trusted you,” he says quietly. “He didn’t believe me.”

He’s right. Clark trusted me just as much as I trusted him. I was holding a secret for him that he knew I’d never share.