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Holy shit, am I really doing this?

Pushing off of the door, I walk over to the sink and brace my hands on the edges, studying my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed and my hair is messed up from where he threaded his fingers through it. Gray eyes that have lacked a certain sparkle for a long time twinkle back at me and even I have to admit Chance looks good on me. It’s so hard to think through the haze of lust he takes me to each time he’s around but I can’t help it. The minute he comes near me, I’m weak but then again, I feel stronger than I ever have before. Not even the anniversary of the rape or Austin’s check in the mail could derail my life like it used to and I have to wonder if that’s all because of Chance.

The walls around my heart are rubble, lying in pieces around the fragile organ in my chest and my fear is gone. In fact, thinking of a life with Chance fills me with nothing but joy and excitement. I still don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know how to be someone’s girlfriend and I have no clue about how to make a relationship work, but we’ll figure it out.

Of course, I’m doing this. He beckons me and I want to go. He asks me a question and I’m spilling my guts, desperate to see how he reacts to my words – how he reacts to me. It’s insane but true. We haven’t known each other long but he may be one of the only people in this world who truly knows me, who sees beyond the image that a young girl erected to protect herself. Maybe I’m losing my mind. That would explain why I’m considering abandoning principles that have kept my heart safe for most of my adult life but honestly, I don’t care anymore. A piece of advice I gave Ali a couple weeks back pops into my mind and I sigh. I told her that even though it was scary, she had to take the leap or she’d regret it and even though I was talking about a job, it still applies to my situation. If I walk away from him now, I know I’ll regret it.

Butterflies flutter around in my stomach and I push off the sink with a smile on my face before smoothing my hands down Chance’s shirt. I’m really going to do this. I will give whatever this thing is between us a chance and hope for the best even if the pain of my past is screaming warnings at me. Turning toward the door, I pause with my hand on the knob as my nerves take control for a moment before I suck in a breath and pull the door open. Chance is on the bed where I left him, his hand on his stomach and he lets out a soft snore that makes me giggle as I prop my hip against the door jamb.

I love him.

The thought flits through my mind so quickly I would doubt it really happened if my heart wasn’t racing and my stomach wasn’t rolling. Holy shit. It’s true. Somewhere along the way, Chance snuck right past every defense I had and stole my heart right out from under me. And what’s even crazier is that while I’m scared, it’s different from the fear I’m used to. There is an excitement in knowing I love this crazy man who complements all my jagged pieces and supports me when I’m falling apart in front of him that pushes me past my fear, toward him.

With a smile still on my face, I push off the door jamb and take a step toward him when someone clears their throat, making me jump and pulling my gaze to the corner of the room. There, perched in a chair, is a gorgeous blonde with mile long legs and huge fake tits glaring at me. She arches a brow like she’s waiting for some kind of explanation and her gaze rakes down my body, disdain radiating off her as she inspects me.

“Who are you?” I ask, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. It’s an impending storm. I can feel the charge in the air as clouds fill the sky and I know any minute the heavens will open up and drown me in their wrath.

She stands and crosses her arms over her chest, making her breasts look even bigger in the ridiculously short gold dress she’s got on. “I’m his wife. Who are you?”

An ice pick slices through my chest, carving my heart out and dropping it on the floor in front of me as I look over at Chance, all the color draining from my face. Two rules – that’s all I asked and I completely threw one of them away for him. Tears sting my eyes and the pain in my chest throbs, like it’s a living, breathing thing and in that moment, I’m sixteen again – the butt of everyone’s joke. Shame crashes down on me and I back away from her, shaking my head.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

A smug look crosses her face and she nods. “Well, now you do. Stay away from him.”

“Trust me, you never have to worry about me again,” I tell her, grabbing my jeans and jerking them on my legs before heading toward the door. As I yank the door open and run down the hallway, tears drip down my cheeks, and I wish I had never met Chance Turner.