Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection (Stark World 2.50)

"Are you?" My pulse quickened.

"Maybe a little. But mostly it's seizing the moment to get close to you again, and try to explain why I acted like such an ass." He slid around next to me, leading me in slow steps toward our houses, while his hand gently cupped my waist.

"I never told you how things ended with Willa." He stared into space for a long moment. "She'd been cheating on me for months."

Aha, no wonder he'd wanted to take a break from dating.

"At the time you came to me with your idea, I was still pissed off--at her and myself. So I was torn. I mean, I definitely could see myself with you." He stole a look at me out of the corner of his eye. "But it was complicated. Eventually, I convinced myself it was a win-win, with you getting what you needed and me finding a safe way to move on. Not realizing how hard and fast I'd fall for you."

I went to remind him of the feelings I had for him, then thought better of it. For once, I needed to zip my lip and listen.

"When I saw Alec at the park, I assumed he was there to kick my ass. I got all pumped up, went over there ready--not just to defend myself, but against anything he said about you. So when he blew me off with a laugh, all I had left was the anger."

Stopping in front of my house, he gave his head a slow shake. "Which I, unfortunately, took out on at you. Yes, you'd made me feel stupid, but mostly I was furious at myself for not seeing the writing on the wall with a girl again. It took me a while to come to terms with all that, and to be in the right place to tell you how sorry I am."

My heart pounded. "I'm sorry, too. I should never have been dishonest with you. If I could take it back--"

"Forget it, Maddie. What I liked was your idea of starting over."

"Starting over?" Practically breathless, I stared deep into his eyes. "You mean, you're going to give me a second chance?"

"I was hoping you'd give me one."

Emotion swelled inside me as he sealed his lips over mine. I felt like the luckiest girl alive. Whatever I'd done, right or wrong, I couldn't be happier to be here, with Hayes, at this moment.

And when I got inside later, omigod, did I need to call Linzee.

THE HOMETOWN OF APPLEWOOD Club went from four members to forty in the next few weeks. Hayes and I came up with the idea to honor Applewood's emergency first responders as the club's launch project, which got a strong response. Mrs. Puglisi was very pleased and even brought Nana to a couple of the meetings. Sitting quietly in the rear, Nana tended to be forgotten, which I rationally understood but was a mistake I wouldn't make again.

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In fact, Linzee and I had been dropping by on Saturday mornings to have coffee with Nana, to share details about our lives, and hear her takes--which could be even more out-of-the-box than Linzee's. We called Nana our life coach and our secret weapon, but never did she let us forget where her true royalty rested. She was Hayes's number one fan.

No problem there. I was all about making him happy, too--as happy as he was making me. For now, for our whole senior year ... and well, as long as this wild ride took us.

Tina Ferraro is the author of numerous novels and novellas and is a two-time RITA finalist for Young Adult Romance. She can usually be found in front of a keyboard in the Los Angeles home she shares with her husband and their two cats, writing her butt off--or, let's be honest, adding more on.

"THE BEST MAN IS missing."

Victoria kept her don't-worry-everything-is-under-control smile firmly in place and turned toward the bride, who was currently wringing her hands as the rest of the party milled around in the sanctuary, waiting for the rehearsal to start.

Lolly, though genuinely sweet, was also young, sheltered, and wildly dramatic. She never missed an opportunity for exaggeration, so Tori hoped this was just another bridal overreaction.

"Define missing?"

"His flight was supposed to arrive three hours ago, but no one has heard a word from him, and all Kipp's calls are going straight to voicemail," Lolly moaned with the level of angst usually reserved for disaster movies about planet-wide annihilation.

"I'm sure he's on his way," Tori soothed. "His cellphone battery probably died because he overdid it playing Candy Crush on the plane."

"No, you don't understand. Taylor never plays. And he'd never forget to charge his phone. He's a machine."

Since Victoria had never met the Manhattan-based best man, she couldn't argue for his humanity--and the fallibility that came with it. Instead, since a wedding planner's primary job within twenty-four hours of "I dos" was to stave off bridal panic attacks, she amped up the reassurance in her smile and took Lolly's arm. "Don't worry. Leave it with me and I'll track him down. Right now, all you need to be thinking about is how perfect the ceremony is going to be tomorrow. Let's find Kipp and the two of you can speak with Pastor Jim about your vows while I get this wrinkle ironed out."

Lolly let Tori guide her toward the altar where her fiance waited. "Do you think we made the right choice by writing our own vows? My grandmother's so traditional--"

"You love your vows. Your grandmother's going to love your vows. And when you walk down the aisle, all she's going to think about is how amazing you look and how happy you are."

Lolly's concern melted into relief. "You're so right. What would I do without you?"