Page 68 of Once Upon A Second Chance
Travis.
He’s leaning against the porch railing like he belongs there.
Same smug smile. Same grease-stained jeans. A cocky little tilt to his head that used to make girls in high school swoon. Now it just makes my skin crawl.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I say.
“I heard about the thing at the pharmacy,” he says, like this is a casual check-in and not a violation. “Thought I should come see for myself. Make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
He steps closer. “That’s not what I heard. They’re saying he hurt Rebecca. And if he hurt her, Penny…”
I back toward the steps, keys tight in my fist. “You don’t get to play the hero here, Travis.”
He lifts his hands. “I’m just trying to save you from making a mistake.”
I almost laugh.
“Save me?” I repeat. “You’re the reason I double-check locks. You’re the reason I changed my goddamn phone number. I don’t need saving. Except maybe from you.”
He frowns, like I’ve broken some internal script.
“You don’t mean that. You’re just upset. The whole town’s talking—”
“Yeah. And you’re not helping.”
I move to unlock the door, but he takes a step toward me.
“You’re still not seeing it,” he says. “He’s got you twisted. I’m the only one who ever really cared about you.”
I spin to face him. “If you don’t leave right now, I’m filing a restraining order.”
That gets a laugh. “No, you won’t. You wouldn’t do that to me.”
I meet his eyes, dead steady. “Watch me.”
Then I walk.
Down the porch steps. Past the driveway. Straight onto the sidewalk like my spine is made of iron.
“Penny!” he calls, confused. “Where are you going?”
I don’t answer.
He follows.
“Come on, stop being dramatic. You’re not seriously doing this—”
I keep walking.
“You file something like that, and you’re gonna regret it.”
I stop.
Turn.
And I say it loud. Clear. For the whole block to hear.
