Page 73 of Second Chance

“Me? Well, I’m not too happy with you, either,” I mumble into his lips.

“Why?” He releases me.

“Why what?”

“Why are you mad?”

“Because you were an ass last night.” Denton pulls farther back and stares down at me.

“Did I hurt you?” His question startles me, as does the genuine concern.

“Only my feelings,” I admit, looking down at my feet. My lips linger with the pressure of his, and I’d like him to kiss me again, but I realize where we are—our high school hallway. “I need to finish practice.”

Ignoring what I said, Denton tugs me by the arm down the hall. He looks left and right as if looking for something. The building hasn’t changed structurally in almost thirty years, despite updates to the decor. Finding what he must be looking for, he pulls me into an alcove near the library. My back hits the wall again, and his mouth finds mine. Kissing me, his lips devour mine like he hasn’t tasted a favorite flavor in too long.

“I thought you were mad at me.” I hardly get the words out as his mouth continues to move over mine.

“I am, but your lips,” he mutters without breaking his attention.

“Denton,” I exhale. “What are we doing?” His mouth sucks at my chin, traveling to my neck. His fingers have found their way to the place he likes to hold me. He covers my throat.

“I’m kissing you,” he mutters against my skin before drawing back and peering into my eyes. “But we need to talk.”

I freeze, stiffening at his words.

“What was that stunt with your son?”

I pull back. My hands gripped his biceps, but they slip to his chest, pressing him away from me. “What are you talking about?”

“You left me Jax’s number this morning, to call him instead of you, for a ride.”

My forehead furrows. “I did no such thing.” Jax would rather punch Denton in the face than give him a ride.

Denton stands to his full height, glaring down at me. “What about the letter?”

“I didn’t...” Oh my God. What happened? How did Jax find the letter? And why did he leave his number?

“Where?”

“What do you mean where?”

“Where was the letter and the number?”

“On the coffee table with the water glass and the medicine.”

I step back from Denton, crossing my arms. Suddenly, a chill skitters over me, and I recall again where we are—in the halls of our high school.

“I didn’t leave the letter or the number. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Or what Jax is playing at or why he was snooping in my house.

“I thought the number was yours. You left my keys and my phone but no means to get back to the pub. When I called the number, your son answered. I asked for you, not knowing if you worked at the brewery also, but he said you didn’t work there. That’s when he told me I called his number. I told him I didn’t know it was his and I was looking for you.” Denton combs his fingers through his hair. “After a few choice words, he asked me why I would be calling you. I didn’t really feel like explaining everything, so I told him it must have been a mistake. A mean joke, Spice, but still a mistake.”

My brows pinch as I continue to roam Denton’s confused face. I agree with him. There has to be a mistake as Jax clearly didn’t leave the number and neither did I. Another chill prickles my skin, and I suddenly feel like the halls are haunted.

“Could it have been Jordan?” I don’t know why I’m asking Denton, as if he knows any better than me why one son or the other would give Denton the long overdue letter or leave Jax’s number.

“How would I know?” Denton’s right. He’s been played by someone, but which one of my people did this to him?

“How did you get here?”