Second Thoughts by Jade Winters Read Free Book Online Page B

like this.”
    Melissa winced. “No? What did you think was going to happen? I’d be like a lovesick puppy, waiting for the Dear John email that would surely have followed once you settled down.” She crossed the room and opened the wardrobe doors, ripping down several pairs of jeans from their hangers.
    “That wouldn’t happen. I told you we’d...”
    Melissa spun around, a pained expression on her face. “Yeah you told me a lot of things, Sara. Like all the plans you had for our future. Basically anything you say isn’t worth shit.” She guessed she shouldn’t have been so surprised by Sara’s sudden change of mind. Hadn’t she told her over and over that she would never be satisfied with the mediocre opportunities the UK had to offer her? But Melissa had stupidly thought that Sara’s love for her would have been enough to make her want to stay.
    “Don’t leave things like this. Maybe you can come to America with me,” Sara’s eyes followed Melissa’s every move.
    “The only place I’m going is to my parents. There’s no point discussing this any further.” She sighed heavily. “Go and live your dream. I hope it turns out to be worth it.”
    Sara blinked away the tears welling in her eyes. “Please don’t go, we can work this out.”
    “To be honest, I don’t think I want to. You’ve made your mind up about what’s important to you, and it’s obviously not me. So let’s just leave it at that. I’m not going to play second fiddle to your career.” Her throat ached and her voice was hoarse.
    Quickly pushing the rest of her belongings in her bag, Melissa glanced around the room. For a heartbeat she considered her options as she looked at Sara’s pleading eyes. But in her heart she knew even if she stayed there’d always be something threatening to take Sara away from her. Better to cut the cord now whilst she had the strength.
    Wasn’t it a well-known fact that if you loved someone you set them free?
     
     

Chapter Thirteen
    Present day
     
    Eli was pleased the evening had gone well. So well in fact that she didn’t care if she had a hangover from hell the next morning, it would be worth it. She slipped out of her coat and hung it on the rail. I wonder if Scott’s still awake. She smiled to herself as she peeled off her top. She’d give him the surprise of his life. He always said she wasn’t adventurous enough in the bedroom – well she’d show him tonight. She started along the hall stopping and leaning her ear against the living room door when she heard the sound of groaning.
    Eli frowned. Was Scott crying? What on earth could have happened to reduce him to tears?
    Tentatively, she pushed opened the door and saw an empty bottle of whiskey. Scott was slouched over, his face in his hands. Fear circled in the pit of her stomach. Has someone died?
    She moved to his side quickly. “Scott, what’s happened?”
    He looked up at her like a child grateful to see its mother after having a nightmare. He encircled her waist and dropped to his knees. “I’m so sorry, Eli.”
    Eli stared wordlessly at the top of his head, her heart pounding against her chest. “Scott?”
    “I didn’t know how to tell you.” He sobbed against her.
    “Tell me what?” Panic rose in her voice. She could feel his tears soaking through the material of her skirt.
    “Belinda said if I didn’t tell you she would. Oh, Eli, I’m so sorry,” he babbled on incoherently.
    She tilted his head back, wiping away his tears with her thumb. “Scott, you’re not making any sense.” Dread gripped her. Was this confession time? Had he slept with his ex-wife, or somebody else? Was she blackmailing him with that? It would kill her to find out that her strong, reliable Scott had cheated.
    “Scott, you’ve got to tell me what it is. What is she holding over you? Is this why you’ve given in to her every demand?”
    He gulped in air and nodded.
    “Have you cheated on me, Scott? Is that it? Have you slept with her since