Page 33 of First Chance

“Why didn’t you tell me you were staying here?”

“It’s a new development.” The Sheriff and I haven’t known each other very long, but his protective instincts have already umbrella’d over my life. Even though our situation is atypical, I appreciate his concern.

We talk for a few minutes in hushed tones before I catch Lochlan’s glare from across the yard. “I need to get somesleep, I’ll talk to you soon.” I hug him before walking away, but he calls after me.

“You’re sure about this, right?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” I confirm with a smile, heading back to the guesthouse as he leaves in his cruiser.

My hand turns the door knob when I’m ambushed from behind by Mr. Grumpy.

“What the hell was that?”

“What?”

“If there’s some weird shit going on between you and the Sheriff then you need to leave it off my property.”

“Define weird?”

“Don’t start with me, Jo.”

“I’m a grown woman, and I don’t need to explain all the details of my life with you.”

“Like shit you don’t.”

We’re exhausted, the night took a toll on us, and neither of us can curb the escalation happening.

“What, Lochlan? What do you want from me? Should I go back to being scared to breathe in front of you, or are we past that? Because that was miserable.”

He scoffs. “Miserable for you? You make me feel like I’m back in fucking prison!”

There’s a heavy beat of silence as I process his angry words.

I step back.

Then another step.

And, I slam my door right in his mean face.

God, what is wrong with me?

Why do I keep putting effort into people who don’t care about me?

Because I have no one, and the pain of that is worse thananything Lochlan could say to me.

No one cares about your problems, Jo.

My mother’s voice nags in my head and forces a sob out of my throat. What is so terrible about me?

“Jo, open the door.”Lochlan’s voice penetrates my breakdown, but it only lets the tears in my eyes loose as I slump to the floor. “I’m sorry. Shit, Jo. I’m sorry.”

“Go away,” my voice cracks, and I cry harder.

I crawl to the tiny single stall shower and raise my hand high to crank the handle. With my knees to my chest, I sit on the cold tile floor, fully clothed, and let the water beat down on me until the stench of smoke dissipates from my hair.

By the time I make it to my bed, I’m a shivering, exhausted shell of a person.

Chapter Eleven

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