Page 63 of First Chance

“Yeah, maybe it is,” I agree, and she flinches at my clipped tone. “I’m going to sweep the property one more time.”

“Lochlan!” She yells after me.

I stalk off without looking back.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jo

I’m staring blindly into stage lights, disassociating just to make it through hearing my brother talk for ten minutes. Hearing him schmooze people as if he is the best man to run this state’s administration, but all I can think about ishim.

I had the best evening of my life with Lochlan, and then everything shifted. I shouldn’t be surprised, it seems like it always happens this way.

Every time I think we’ve turned over a new leaf, the same walls go back up, and I’m reminded how little companionship I have.

The hot and cold is exhausting. No matter how hard I work or how friendly we get, I seem to mess something up.

Jackson suggested I leave, and he agreed… Just like that. I thought we were past the miserable neighbor act. I know he was upset about someone being on the property, but I don’t know why he took it out on me.

I haven’t spoken to him. We’ve gone back to being strangers, floating around each other.

I didn’t bother checking to see if he was attending tonight’sevent that I had circled on the calendar. There’s no point in my searching the crowd for the people I’ve started to think of as friends.

Instead, I’m standing on a stage in front of 500 people like a show pig in a fitted dress, begging myself not to look as sour as I feel inside.

My mother’s teeny tiny petite figure stands next to me, making me feel like an ogre in front of all of these cameras.

I don’t want to be here.

I want to be with my people.

My people.

Second Chance Sanctuary has become a safe place to me despite how Lochlan acts, not this environment that my parents forced on me.

Applause erupts around me, but I can’t force myself to clap for a man I’m not voting for. I keep my hands clasped in front of me and wait for my cue to exit the stage.

My brother takes his time smiling and waving at the cameras before strolling across the stage and down the only set of steps. Austin follows behind him, and then my parents. I start after them, standing motionless while conversation congests my only escape.

These frustrating, selfish people. Leaving me to be ignored as if I’m not here at all, even though they forced me to be here.

As if I don’t have my own life or better things to do.

They’ll make me stand here until my feet go numb and I topple over in exhaustion. I’m so tired of being invisible.

A shrill whistle interrupts my pity party.

I know that whistle.

“What are you doing?” I ask him, barely being able to bendin my dress enough to talk to him, where he stands beside the stage.

“You look miserable.” Lochlan holds his hands out in a come-hither motion. Surely he doesn’t expect to lift me off the stage?

“Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Jo, you can do this easily, or I can throw you over my shoulder and embarrass you in front of your friends.”

I gasp in offense. “These people are not my friends.”

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