His Second Chance

by Walker, Kelli

  Chapter 15

  Brett

  I was almost afraid for the plane to touch down but it happened anyway. I knew I had upset her but I hadn’t meant to. All I had wanted to do was show her that she was important to me. That she could count on me to make sure everything was okay. Instead, all I had done was make her mad at me which in turn had made her pull even farther away. I sighed as I watched her climb off the plane. Maybe I was a fool for thinking that things could work between us. Not that I didn’t still want it. I definitely did. But it was starting to seem like she might never want me in the same way. She seemed determined to keep me at arm’s length and maybe that was where I deserved to stay.

  Once off the plane and in the airport, she paused and turned toward me. I thought for a moment she might have had a change of heart. But when she started to speak her words were clipped.

  “I just want you to know, I’m a professional. So I’ll still complete the job for you,” she said with a shaking voice. “I won’t just leave your house half done. That wouldn’t be right. Besides, I already have it three quarters of the way done as it is.”

  I opened my mouth to ask if we were breaking up, but realized that wasn’t the case. We hadn’t even been dating to begin with. She’d made that perfectly clear on multiple occasions. It was just my brain playing tricks on me. I’d been a fool to think it could ever be any other way. I nodded, unable to say anything. Afraid that if I spoke I might say the wrong thing again. That was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d already pushed her far enough away already.

  “Thanks for the plane ride,” she said simply before turning and hurrying away. It seemed as though she were trying to put as much distance between her and me as possible. Maybe she was. As I watched her walk away, I kept hoping she would turn around. To give me one last look. Instead, she never looked back.

  Standing there in the airport, I felt like I had lost her all over again. All this time had passed and apparently, I hadn’t learned a single thing because I was right back where I had started. How could I have been so stupid? I had let my guard down and fallen in love with her all over again only to have her leave once more. How many times would I end up in this position? You would think that I would learn my lesson but I guess I was just a glutton for punishment.

  I stayed rooted to the spot where she left me until I felt like I had given her suitable time to leave. I didn’t want to bother her anymore. Not today. And when it came time for her to come back and finish the job, I decided I would be nothing but professional to her. No flirting, no playful glances. I would treat her like any other person in my employment. I wouldn’t be repeating that mistake again. I would give her exactly what she wanted.

  Eventually, I made my way outside and found a car to take me to my parents' house. While I was here, I might as way stop in and visit. My dad wouldn’t be home, I was sure. He never was. But I could always say hello to my mom and see how she was doing now. Maybe give my brother a call. I needed more than anything a distraction from everything that had happened recently with Leslie. It felt like so much time had passed when in reality it hadn’t even been a week.

  Watching the familiar buildings pass, I felt miserable. Here I was, back in a place I didn’t want to be. And for what? I still didn’t have the girl I loved. I wasn’t even sure I hadn’t done irreparable damage with my comment on the plane. But I didn’t think she would take it in a negative way. I thought she would understand what I was trying to say. That I wanted to take care of her. That I didn’t mind being there for her and trying to make sure she was okay. Somehow, it had all gone horribly wrong.

  Soon I was pulling up outside the family home and I couldn’t help but look over at Leslie’s old house. I knew she wasn’t there, of course, but I could still imagine her up in her bedroom window waving to me. Their house was closer to the road than ours and there were bushes in the way, but I was always able to see her. So many times she had picked me up when I was feeling low and she didn’t even know it. The one time she’d needed me and I’d managed to blow it. As I stared at her old bedroom window, the car kept going up the drive, leaving the house and the memories behind.

  At the house, I climbed out and headed up to the door. Not even bothering to knock, I turned the doorknob and stepped inside. Once through the doorway, I closed the door behind me and heard footsteps approaching. Soon, my mother was peeking around the corner of the entry. At first, she looked confused and then when recognition spread across her face, she grinned.

  “Oh, Brett!” she said happily as she rushed to meet me. “I thought I heard someone coming up the drive but I had no clue who it could be. I wasn’t expecting you home so soon.”

  “Something came up and I had to come back,” I explained as she wrapped her arms around me. While I didn’t understand my mother and her motivations for putting up with things the way she did, I still loved her. Sometimes I wanted to shake her silly for not leaving my dad years ago, but in the long run, I knew that wasn’t my decision to make. My feelings were often mixed when it came to her, but she was still my mom.

  “You know son, business isn’t like a woman. You can’t just ditch it when you get tired of it,” a low voice chuckled. My dad came into view, a smirk on his face and a whiskey in his hand. I saw the hurt on my mother's face as her jaw clenched. Dad was notorious for that. Never really caring if he hurt her or not. Sometimes I wondered why he had ever even bothered to marry her. Who would claim to love someone only to say things they knew hurt them? Assholes, that’s who.

  “Come,” my mother said as she looped her arm through mine. I could tell she was doing her best to shut him out. Too bad I hadn’t inherited that trait, I could use it. “Let’s go sit down and chat. Tell me how things have been.” I followed her into the living room and sat with her on the couch while my father followed, slowly sipping his drink. He went to the bar instead, perching on one of the barstools. I noticed that my mother still would cast glances to see if my father was still around.

  “It’s not even been a week, Valerie. He’s the same as he was when you last saw him,” my father chuckled. Frustrated, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

  “So when are you going to leave again like you always do?” I asked suddenly. I felt my mother’s grip on my arm tighten.

  “I’m not really sure. Why? Do you want to talk behind my back? Trust me, I already know what you’ll say. Go on ahead. Pretend that I’m not here,” he said as he leaned back against the bar as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Right then I wanted nothing more than to cross the room and beat him until he was bloody. Maybe if I put him in a coma my mother could find some peace.

  “It wouldn’t be too hard to pretend. After all, you’re never around. Tell me, why did you even bother to come back this time?” I spat. I was doing my best to control my rage but the fact that he seemed to get enjoyment out of hurting my mother was just too much.

  “Tsk, tsk, little boy. Are you back on the drugs again? Do we need to book a rehab for you? Is your pampered lifestyle too much for you to handle?” my father mocked.

  I stood, unable to remain seated any longer. “You don’t know the first thing about me. You really don’t know any of us. You pretend like you give a damn for the cameras but once they’re all gone you just walk away and abandon your family. But the truth is, you’re just sad and pathetic. You have to use your money to get attention from people because nobody wants you around.” Once the words left my mouth, I saw them sink in. My father flinched, almost as if I had physically slapped him.

  He tossed the rest of his drink down and slammed the glass on the bar. “If I were you, son, I’d watch my tone. You should learn to stay within your limits.”

  “My limits?” I asked as my mom stood and put her hands on my chest. “If I were you, I’d think about your limits. You might want to make sure all those pills you’re popping to keep it up for those young things aren’t going to harm your health. Not that we care. But I’m sure those girls that are young enough to be your
daughter wouldn’t want you croaking while you’re with them.”

  “You’re just upset because girls your age throw themselves at me,” he said, his face starting to get red.

  “Am I? Because last time I checked you were married. Perhaps you should do your best to remember that. Mom deserves a hell of a lot better than what you give her.”

  “What I give her? I have given her everything she has. This house, those cars, you boys. It’s all because of me. She wouldn’t have one red cent if it weren’t for me and my fortune,” he bellowed. “And the same goes for you, you ungrateful little shit.”

  “You know what? Fuck this,” I said turning toward the door. “Mom, I love you but I can’t be here with this guy.” I turned and walked outside, unable to stand to be there for one more moment. I needed to get away.

  I turned and headed for the garage, finding the one car I always drove, a Mercedes, and pulled the keys off the wall. I backed it out of the garage and headed down the drive. I had to put as much distance between me and my father as possible. For now, I would just drive. I had no destination, nowhere to be. I turned the music up and rolled the windows down, hoping that with time I could find a way to calm down.

  Chapter 16

  Leslie

  “Seriously Aimee, what were you thinking?” I asked as I sat down next to her on the couch. Mom and Dad had left to go to the store, so for just a little while it was just my little sister and me. I had waited until they left to bring it up so that my mom wouldn’t get upset again. She was taking it all fairly hard, even though she now knew Aimee was safe. She felt betrayed and hurt, not that I could blame her.

  “I know, I know,” she muttered. “It was stupid.” Ever since she’d come back, Aimee had been withdrawn and sullen. At first I thought it was just because she knew she was in trouble, but she hadn’t been making fun of me like she usually would. Not even a glare or stuck out tongue in my direction. Something was definitely up.

  “So what happened?” I asked. “You seem different.” I leaned closer to her after tucking one leg beneath me.

  “What do you care?” she said softly as she turned away. She let her hair fall in her face, blocking it. She was hurting, that much was clear.

  “Because I’m your big sister. I care,” I said softly as I leaned over and pushed her hair behind her ear. “Something’s up. I can feel it. Tell me what happened. I promise I won’t tell a soul. Your secret is safe with me.”

  A single tear slipped down her cheek and she brushed it away angrily. “I was such an idiot,” she said grumpily. “I should have known better.”

  When she didn’t say anything else, I leaned forward and touched her arm. “I’m listening. Whatever you say stays between you and me.”

  Aimee turned on the couch and looked at me with the saddest eyes I’d seen her have since she was a little girl. “So you know how I have been kind of seeing Tyler from school?”

  “Yeah,” I nodded. “The one you couldn’t stop talking about?”

  “I guess,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, he said he was taking off for Lake Tahoe and told me I could come along if I wanted. I knew there was no way Mom and Dad would let me go, so I just went. I thought he’d think I was really cool if I just did what I wanted, you know?”

  “Which is so not cool, by the way,” I interjected. “Mom was terrified. Heck, I was terrified.”

  “I know, I know,” she sighed. “So I went and we were having a great time. The place was so cool and fun. I was having a blast. Then one night Tyler was being really nice to me and telling me how pretty I was. I ended up having sex with him. But then the next morning he dumped me.” Tears started streaming down her face.

  “Oh, Aimee,” I said as I pulled her into my arms. “Does Mom know?”

  “No,” she said quickly. “And I don’t want her to. Don’t tell her, please. I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Okay, I won’t tell her,” I said quickly. “Don’t worry.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk to you,” she sniffled. “I know it’s no excuse but I’ve been trying so hard to fit in at school and it’s just not happening. I get so frustrated and angry and end up coming home and taking it out on you. I know it’s no excuse, but still.”

  “I get it,” I said. “I was a teenager once too.”

  “Like you ever did anything wild and crazy,” she scoffed. “I bet you have been a goody goody ever since you were born.”

  “Not so!” I objected. “You remember our neighbor Brett from when we lived in Beverly Hills?”

  “Of course,” she nodded. “You were always talking to him.”

  “Well I met him again on a flight to London and we spent some time together. He actually was having me decorate his place there. We were kind of seeing each other but not. It’s hard to explain. But he offered to have me decorate the hotels he’s now managing.” I wasn’t sure how to describe what had happened between Brett and me. We hadn’t really been seeing each other but it had almost felt like it for a little while. Of course, he wanted more and I kept pushing him away.

  “So you accepted, right? I mean, that’s huge!” Distracted from her problem, she was shocked and excited for me. This new, nicer sister was a welcome change.

  “No, actually I didn’t. I did start on his house but I turned him down for the hotel,” I admitted.

  “Why would you do something like that?” she gasped. “I mean, that’s like a dream come true! Do you realize how many people would kill for an opportunity like that? He must really have it bad for you if he offered you that. Please tell me you two are at least a thing now.”

  “Actually, no,” I confessed. “I may have shot him down on that end too.”

  “What is wrong with you Leslie?” she asked. “You have this rich guy that’s totally into you. He offers you your dream job and you just say ‘no’? Why would you do something like that?”

  “It’s complicated,” I began.

  “No, I don’t think so,” Aimee said as she shook her head. “You’re overthinking things again. Why would you not date Brett? Didn’t you always have a crush on him when you were younger?”

  “Yeah, but…” I started but she cut me off again.

  “Dude, you are terrible at overthinking, seriously,” she sighed. “Sometimes you need to take a chance. Sure, things might go badly between you both down the road. But what if it doesn’t? What if you take that job with him, make a name for yourself? What if he’s the one and you’re just too scared to go for it? Do you really want to live your life that way?”

  I opened my mouth to fire back a retort but I knew to a certain extent that she had a point. I was always cautious. Never taking too big of a risk because that was exactly what caused my family to lose everything. Dad had taken a big risk and it had blown up in his face. Ever since then, I had been afraid the same thing would happen to me. If I was honest with myself, I knew that I had been relieved when I dropped out of college. It had felt like such a huge risk when there was no guarantee that it would happen.

  “You have a point,” I finally said.

  “Of course I do,” she said smugly. “I knew that I was going to be in big trouble when I took off with Tyler, but I did it anyway. It was a risk, but there was the possibility that I would have fun. And with the exception of one part, I totally did. I will probably remember it for the rest of my life.”

  “When did you get so smart?” I asked as I bumped my shoulder into hers.

  “I always have been, you were just too dumb to notice,” she said with a wink.

  “Ha, ha,” I said. “I’ll think about it, okay?”

  “That’s all I ask,” she said with a yawn. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I hear my bed calling. I haven’t slept much and I need a nap.” She leaned over and gave me a hug. “Good talk,” she said with a grin before heading to her room.

  I leaned back on the couch and thought about what she’d said. Had I been too hard on Brett? I didn’t know. Yawning, I realized that I was exhau
sted too. I stood and stretched, deciding that I would worry about all of that later. Right now, I needed some rest.

  Shuffling to my room, I kicked my shoes off as I entered. I softly clicked the door shut behind me. My heart ached for my sister. I knew she wouldn’t have just given up her virginity like that unless she had really liked the guy. To find out he only wanted to get laid and didn’t give a damn about her was the worst. I wanted to find the little troll and beat him until he begged for forgiveness.

  Suddenly I remembered the time Brett had beat up Richard for me. The look on Richard’s face had been priceless and I wish I could give that to my sister. I suddenly realized just what Brett had done for me all those years ago. I mean, I knew he’d taken a risk going there. I wasn’t stupid. But just how much had he cared about me to take that risk? He could have been thrown in jail. But it didn’t seem like he ever even thought twice about it.

  As I slid under my blankets, I thought about the night he promised he would do something about Richard. I hadn’t believed him, of course, but that was because I thought he was just being nice. He was the hot guy next door. Completely out of my league, I had felt lucky he hadn’t turned his nose up at me when we had first started talking. But he hadn’t. Instead, he had become my protector.

  Maybe I had been a little hard on him on the plane. Maybe that was how he knew to show his affection, by trying to fix things and take care of those he loved. After all, look at his family. Wasn’t that what he’d been doing for them this whole time?

  I closed my eyes, wishing I could talk to him again. Maybe I should reach out and try to make things right? I pulled the blankets up and got comfortable. For now, I just needed some rest.

  Chapter 17

  Brett

  I was walking through the mall, trying to decide what I was going to do. I didn’t want to leave with things the way they were between Leslie and I, but I didn’t know how to change it. Everything seemed so confusing and I just wasn’t sure which way was up at this point. I couldn’t stand being at my parents’ house, so here I was, walking around the mall and completely unsure what to do with myself. I remembered why I had left in the first place now that I was back here. I had almost convinced myself to just get on a plane and head back to London when my phone began to ring. Looking at the caller ID, I saw it was my mom.