No Second Chances by Marissa Farrar Read Free Book Online

reason, I liked that. This was certainly an area where I had one over on him. Annoyingly, the blush made him look even more handsome, the pink in his cheeks a contrast to the ice blue of his eyes and hardness of his jawline.
    It suddenly occurred to me that he’d made a joke about me stalking him, but what was he doing at the hospital? I asked him the question.
    “Oh, I’m mentoring a kid. He’s not doing so well.”
    “What?” There was so much in those two sentences that threw me for a loop. “A kid? Not doing well?”
    “Yeah, he’s got issues with drink and drugs. Actually, he’s got issues with pretty much everyone and everything. I’m trying to help him, but it’s not going so well.”
    “Why would you be helping him?” Considering Cole’s background, I was amazed he’d be allowed anywhere near another kid who was trouble.
    “It’s part of my program to get me back into society. I’m volunteering to try to help youngsters not to make the same mistakes I did.”
    He studied me again, and my whole insides lifted and tightened. I hated how he had such an effect on me.
    Cole ran a hand over his head. He used to do the same thing when he was eighteen and had long hair to push back. “Look, Gabi. We don’t have to talk about all of this stuff in the parking lot. Let me take you for a coffee.”
    I physically backed away. “Oh, no,” I said, even though I’d been promising myself coffee—ideally iced, with vanilla syrup—only moments earlier. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “We have a lot to talk about, though. Surely that deserves at least one coffee.”
    All I could think about was the pain he’d caused me, how long it had taken me to put myself together again. I’d managed to do it back then, but now I was literally not the same person—not all of her, anyway. I didn’t have the strength to let him back in only for him to break my heart again.
    Don’t be stupid, Gabi. He’s not going to want you again. Look at him. He’s ridiculously hot, and you don’t even have both legs anymore. The idea of being with you in any way other than fully clothed would totally gross him out.
    I hadn’t even been able to bring myself to think about what sex would be like with a missing limb. I couldn’t imagine it—especially not with Cole.
    “I’m sorry, I just can’t.”
    “Gabi, I know you still hate me for what happened, but we both live back in the same town again, and we’re going to keep running into one another. Can’t we make this whole thing a lot easier on both of us and at least try to be friends?”
    Sudden anger surged up inside me. “So you just want me to sit and drink coffee with you, smile nicely, and chitchat about the good old days.”
    His forehead pulled down in confusion. “No, I just want to talk to you, that’s all.”
    “Yeah, to make you feel better about all the shit you put me through when we were kids. So you can go home and sleep better in your bed, without having to worry about the poor girl who you’re now living in the same town with, and who is missing a fucking leg.”
    It was his turn to step away. “I promise, there was no ulterior motive in asking you for coffee. I honestly just wanted to spend some time with you.”
    “Sure, I know how that works. Then you’ll go and share all the juicy gossip with your buddies over beer, and you can all have a good laugh about how Gabi Weston is now hopping all over town.”
    He shook his head, looking to the ground. “I’m sorry you think that.”
    “Yeah, sure you are. You proved to me just what kind of person you are ten years ago.”
    With tears burning the backs of my eyes, I fumbled for my keys again. I secured my fingers around them, and without looking back at Cole, I walked at a quick pace to my car.
    I got in, and sat, trying to breathe without crying. I was too old, and had been through too much, to sit in my car crying over a guy I hadn’t seen in over ten years. Besides, my outburst at Cole