Page 28 of Once Upon A Second Chance
"More than a decade ago!"
"And now he's back with his divorced dick and his fancy doctor hands—"
Behind us, the door creaks open. Richard steps out, holding my purse and a to-go box of tiramisu. "You forgot these," he says carefully.
Jesse rounds on him. "You hurt her again, I'll—"
"Enough." I step between them. "Richard and I are... figuring things out. Slowly."
Richard nods. "With rules."
"Rules?" Jesse looks between us like we've grown second heads.
I hold up fingers: "No love-bombing. No cohabitation for six months. And absolutely no—"
"—mariachi bands," Richard finishes.
Jesse stares. "What the fuck is wrong with you two?"
A beat. Then Richard cracks first, his laugh bursting out like a shot. Jesse's scowl wavers. I bite my lip so hard it hurts.
And just like that, the tensionsnaps.
Jesse shakes his head. "You're both idiots." But when he pulls me into a hug, he mutters, "Just... be careful, okay?"
Over his shoulder, Richard mouths: I'll behave.
I roll my eyes. Liar.
Richard walks me to my door, our fingers tangled together.
"So. Still taking it slow?"
I lean against the porch railing. "Mmm. Define slow."
His kiss tastes like cheap wine and tiramisu, and for the first time in a very long time, the future feels light.
Then Mrs. Delaney's porch light flicks on.
We spring apart like teenagers.
Richard's grin is wicked as he backs away. "Ground Rule #5: No making out where the neighbors can see."
"That wasn't a rule!"
"It is now!"
I'm still laughing when the door closes behind me.
Chapter Seven
Richard
The clinic hums with its usual morning chaos—flu shots in Room 3, a sprained ankle in Exam 2, and Darlene arguing with Medicare on the phone.
But today, the air feels lighter. Maybe it’s the post-tornado camaraderie. Maybe it’s the way Penny’s laughter carries down the hall from the break room.
I’m reviewing charts when a coffee cup appears under my nose.
