Page 68 of First Chance

“You really do love them, don’t you?”

He shrugs again. “I don’t know if love is the right word. I respect them. They didn’t choose to be locked up for the rest of their life. The least I can do is make sure they’re comfortable and taken care of. This is their home.”

“I bet your grandfather was proud of what you did here.”

He scoffs. “I don’t know why, but he always said as much.”

“You are a good man, Lochlan. No matter how much you don’t think so.”

“You hardly know me, Jo.”

“I know enough.” I pick up a strawberry and bite into it, surprising myself with how sweet it really is. I suck the juice from the soft inside part, before biting it to the stem. It’s the best strawberry I’ve ever had.

I glance up to tell him, but his eyes are trained on my mouth, watching me as I finish chewing my bite. I swallow thickly under his serious observation.

“I need to tell you about my past,” he says suddenly. “I don’t want you to have this false idea of me. I need you to know the truth.”

“I already know–”

“No, I need to tell you the whole story. You’re working your ass off to get donations for this place and I need youto know who I am. People are seeing that you’re associated with this place, with me, and I need you to have confidence in who you’re representing.”

“Okay.” It doesn’t matter what I say; he seems ready to purge his soul, and I’m guilty for wanting him to.

He sits up, rubbing his hands together across his knees like he’s revving up his courage.

“I had just turned 18 and I thought I was in love.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lochlan

18 years ago…

As soon as I turn onto Bethany’s street, every house and yard in sight is lit up in red and blue flashing lights. Cop cars are parked on the curb in front of her house, and my heart rate picks up…

What happened? Did someone get hurt?

There are no ambulances, only cop cars. A few police officers mill about on her porch, but I don’t see Bethany anywhere.

The thought of her being hurt stirs dread in my chest that I’ve never experienced.

I park my truck on the street as close as I can since the driveway is blocked and cut across the front lawns to get to her house.

As soon as the cop on her front stoop sees me, he startles, drawing his gun on me. “Don’t fucking move, boy.” My hands go up on instinct.

“I’m Bethany’s boyfriend. I need to make sure she’s okay.”

“Oh, you’ve done enough, son.” He moves towards me and motions to the ground with the barrel of his gun while twomore cops provide backup.

I’m big for my age, my grandfather always warned me to respect the law because they’d be intimidated by my size. I’m complying, but they don’t seem to care.

“Down on your stomach, now!”

I do as I’m told, lying face first in the muddy grass, staining my nice shirt. I thought tonight would be special, but now it’ll be a night to remember for the worst reasons.

He cuffs my wrists behind my back, and I let him because this has to be a big misunderstanding. There must have been a robbery, and it will all get cleared up when Bethany and her parents see me.

Except when two of the cops work together to help me stand, I see Bethany’s dad standing on the porch with his arms crossed. “Sir, what’s going on? Is Bethany okay?”

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