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My body shot up into a stiff posture, the blanket wrapped snugly around my body. “What?!”
“I could hear you yelling from my room.” Alejandro rested his palm on my leg on top of the blanket. “Are you okay?”
“Thank you for waking me.” I ignored his question. “I guess I was having a dream.”
He shifted his weight on the bed. “That sounded more like a nightmare.”
Averting my gaze to the window, I inhaled deeply. “Coffee is a great start.”
“What?”
Attempting to rid my chest of the lump, I cleared my throat. “You said you wanted to get to know me.”
He nodded, smiling coyly.
“Coffee is all I can agree to right now.”
After studying my face for a moment, his eyes shifted. The smile disappeared from his face, and he stood. “Are you working tomorrow night?”
“I decided that I should try, yes.” Internally, I assured myself that I was making the right decision.
“What if we went out after your shift?” His gentle approach lured me in. “I know it’ll be late, but we can go grab a coffee and talk.”
After a silent moment, I bobbed my head in agreement. “I think that’s a great idea and I’m rarely sleepy after I work. I have to wind down. I used to go out with the girls after our shift.”
“Alright.” Grinning, he winked. “See you at the club, then. I’ll be watching you.”
Something about the tone in his voice made me uneasy, but I shrugged it off. “Goodnight.”
4
ACCEPTANCE
CHANCE
After Amber hung up on me, I drowned my sorrows in a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka while blaring sad music through the speakers in my home.I messed up. I fucking messed up!I didn’t remember the details. She would never forgive me. My incident of leaving the club with those girls replayed on every entertainment news outlet on TV. Every channel I flipped through, there I was, being the biggest ass and embarrassment to the Hardwin name.
For once, I had Amber’s perspective on my mistake. The proof spoke for itself. I didn’t deserve to be forgiven, but I wanted to be. She didn’t deserve to be hurt. I loved her and valued her, though my actions showed otherwise.
Still, there was no way I could run to her and fix the mess I created. I roamed my mansion in agony. My days were busy, but the nights took a toll on me.
Sliding the wide glass doors apart, I staggered onto the enormous back porch. I peered out at the powerful presence of the dark ocean. The moonlight illuminated the foamy waves crashing against the shore. I inhaled the sea air, looking for clarity into why I was such a fuck-up. I wanted her to move here with me, but freaked out and couldn’t ask her to come with me. My dumb ass gave her no choice.Fuck, Chance. What the fuck is wrong with you?!
I dug my phone out of my pocket, calling the only person I knew I could count on right now. Jenna would’ve yelled at me. I was sure of it. It was late, but I didn’t care. I needed Ian right now, and hetoldme to call.
Hollywood, is everything okay?He answered, his voice raspy.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound emerged.
Chance?His voice was clearer this time.
Still, I remained silent. Finally, I ended the call, dropping my phone on a grey pool lounge chair. My throat burned as I downed the rest of the bottle before tossing it over the side railing into the sand. My phone rang, but I ignored it. Instead, I stumbled back into the house.
The music’s bass penetrated my eardrums, and I lost myself in the beat. Squeezing my eyes shut, I thought back to the first time I laid my eyes on her surprise video call to Jenna. It felt as if it were only yesterday.
Jenna had been recovering from her injuries and I had brought her McDonalds. We were hanging out while Ian was at work. Amber video called Jenna while we were eating. The moment my eyes locked on hers, I couldn’t think of anything else from that moment forward. My first words to her were,I love you, Amber, and love her, I did. She was my first true love.
The room spun. I felt a force pushing me down, leaving me heavy and dizzy. My feet wouldn’t move. I tilted my head back, watching the fan above. A familiar sickness climbed inside me. After trying to move for what felt like hours, I fell to the floor. The world went black.
