Just One Chance (Just One. Book 3)

by Lynn Stevens

  “You’re crazy,” I said with raised eyebrows.

  Her brown eyes widened, and she grinned. “Runs in the family, little cousin.”

  “You have no idea.” I matched her grin and glanced at the sign. “Did you make that yourself?”

  “Duh.” She looped her arm through mine and led me outside. “This is going to be so much fun.”

  Yeah, maybe it was.

  Over the next two months, I worked harder than I ever expected. Gillian didn’t stop. She worked at the hotel, and she worked on her days off to build her own business. I loved every minute of it, too. If I wasn’t organizing some aspect of a party or wedding, I ordered supplies and learned to track expenses. Our busiest time was just before Halloween. Gillian had a wedding at the hotel and two parties on the side.

  When the clock struck November, I thought we’d slow down, but the holiday parties began. Two weeks before Thanksgiving, before I returned home, Mom called. My time was coming to an end here, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave. I missed my parents, and I missed Lily. We chatted almost every day, and we sent pictures of our lives. I tried to avoid any talk of Aiden, but sometimes she sent me pics of him. My heart ached, not just because of the lost relationship but because of the way I treated him.

  “You got a letter from TCU and one from the University of Missouri.” I could almost see her bouncing in the kitchen, dying to open them.

  “Go ahead,” I said as I stirred spaghetti sauce in a pan. Gillian wasn’t much of a cook, so I made us both lunch.

  Mom squealed. “Both have openings starting with the next semester. You did it, honey. Where do you think you’ll go?”

  It wasn’t even a question.

  Chapter Thirty

  My dorm room was smaller than my closet back home. Fortunately, I managed to get a single. No roommate to worry about, nobody stealing my shit. Nobody snoring or eating my food. Mom and Dad left after several hours of arranging and rearranging my things. When they were finally done and gone, I fixed everything the way I wanted it.

  Then I texted Lily that I was in my dorm at last. She sent several excited emojis and demanded pics. Smiling to myself, I took a few, but I didn’t send them right away.

  Lily: How’s Mizzou?

  Me: Pretty amazing. I think this is where I belong.

  Lily: I get it. I just miss you.

  Me: I saw you at Christmas. And it will be May before you know it.

  Christmas had been a whirlwind with Carly’s announcement and Luke’s engagement. Lily and Aiden had traveled back to Branson. I saw her. I didn’t see him. It was over. I knew that, but I wanted to make it right somehow. I wanted to explain, apologize, maybe even beg for forgiveness.

  Lily: True. Gotta go. I’ll call you later?

  Me: Okay

  I pulled up my Uber app and ordered a car. Not having my own transportation was going to be a nightmare, but there was only one place I wanted to go. Twenty minutes later, I stood outside the door and took a selfie. Then I sent Lily the pics of my dorm room and the pic of me outside her grandmother’s front door. It took less than ten seconds for her to scream and rush outside.

  “Oh my god, you’re here!” she squealed then hugged me and bounced us in circles. “You’re really here. Why are you here?”

  I laughed and put my arms on her shoulders. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Besides, at Christmas, you kept saying how you wished I’d gotten accepted at TCU so I could live with you at your grandmother’s.” I took her hands and tried to keep her from bouncing. “You know I can’t do that. I … It’s just not a good idea.”

  “Because of Aiden?” Lily huffed a breath and blew her new bangs out of her face. “He’s over it. You should be too. I don’t get it.”

  I dropped my gaze to her shoes, flip flops. In January. I was going to love Houston.

  “You are over it, right?” Lily asked.

  I didn’t answer.

  “That’s a great question,” Aiden said. I lifted my gaze to meet his. He stood in the door in a white t-shirt that hugged his body and long red basketball shorts. His arms crossed over his chest, bulging his perfect biceps.

  Lily squeezed my hands and disappeared. I had no idea she’d even left. I stared at Aiden. It had been so long since I’d seen him, seven months. His hair was a little longer, but only because he needed a haircut. I almost laughed at that. He was the same. And I’d hurt him.

  “Are you going to answer her question?” he asked. There was a tightness in his voice, a tension. He wanted an answer. He deserved an answer.

  I just didn’t want to put myself out there yet.

  Aiden dropped his arms and started to turn to the house. “Whatever, Miranda.”

  “That’s not fair,” I snapped. Anger at him, anger I didn’t even know I had, erupted. “You never gave me the chance. You never give me a chance at anything.” I ran my hand through my now blond hair, tugging at the ends. “Damn it, Aiden. Why didn’t you give me the chance?”

  “Give you a chance?” He closed the distance and stared down at me. “I waited for you to realize that he was a piece of shit. I waited for you to see that I was standing right in front of you. How many chances do you get, Miranda? Huh? How many more times can I let you break my heart?”

  “I never…” I took a deep breath to calm myself down. This wasn’t the time or place for this conversation, but it was happening. The least I could do was make sure the neighbors didn’t hear every detail. “One more. Just one last chance, Aiden. I screwed up, but I was screwed up to begin with. And you knew that. It took… it took me choosing you over him for me to realize how much of my life I’d thrown away thinking I loved someone who didn’t even know what love was.”

  “You didn’t choose me,” he said, but there was something in his voice that gave me hope.

  “Yeah, I did. I told you, that night at the theater, I chose you. I chose the hope of you, the possibility of you. He tried to … he said he’d stay for me. And I knew that was a lie.” I swallowed and stared into his gorgeous hazel eyes that held a storm of emotions. “I chose you then. I’d chose you again. Now, but I know that’s not … not what you want.”

  I stepped back, needing space. In the few short weeks I’d known him last summer, I hadn’t really let him know me. Being with Aiden had been freeing. I’d taken and taken in that relationship and never given anything back.

  “I’m sorry I hurt you,” I said, stepping back to the sidewalk. “I’m sorry I sucked at being your girlfriend. I’m sorry I sucked at being your friend. I’ve wanted to tell you that for a while. I’m glad I got the chance to say it.”

  Then I turned and walked down the sidewalk, ordering a car as I walked. Aiden didn’t come after me. I didn’t expect him to either. That shit only happened in the movies. This was real life.

  “Why is this so hard?” I asked, tossing my book on the table.

  Lily laughed and pushed it back toward me. “Math sucks.”

  “Math does suck. I guess I should’ve paid more attention in high school.” I stared at the numbers again and they swirled into a mix of nonsense. “I need a tutor.”

  I was three weeks into my college life, and I was failing. Okay, technically not failing but I wasn’t doing great in my freshman math course. How did I ever expect to own my own business if I couldn’t figure out simple algebra?

  At least the weather wasn’t horrible. It was in the low seventies and sunny. Back home, it was in the forties with a chance of ice overnight. I wouldn’t be sitting outside basking in the sun there. Lily and I were virtually alone on the patio of the student union. A few other students sat together at another table.

  “Just go to the tutoring center. Aiden works there on occasion.” Lily made that slurping noise through her straw as she sucked down the rest of a peach mango smoothie. “Maybe he could help you.”

  I glared at her, and she tossed her hands in the air.

  “Or see if someone in your class can help.” She sucked the remains from the bott
om on the cup. “But Aiden’s good at math.”

  “Please stop.” I set my pencil down harder than necessary. “That ship sailed, Lil. We’ve both moved on.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “When did you move on because you haven’t had a date since.”

  “I told you I’m off the market. No dating, no sex, no guys.” I crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair. Lily and I had made a deal not to bring him up. I didn’t go to her Grandmother’s house unless he wasn’t going to be there. It was easier that way. And he had a new girlfriend, Eve. She was everything I wasn’t, and I really didn’t want to think about that. I didn’t want to think about lost opportunities at all. “This has been the longest I’ve gone without sex since I lost my virginity.”

  “You don’t have to be a nun to prove yourself,” Lily said. She tossed her empty cup toward the trash can and missed. “Shit.”

  I laughed, but I was glad of the distraction. Lily grumbled as she stood to pick it up. TCU wasn’t what I expected. Even with five classes, I still had too much downtime. Too much time to think about the past. Dr. Hale said in our session a week ago that not thinking was just another way to avoid my feelings and suggested I start journaling. I took a notebook and filled five pages with thoughts that night. It helped, but it didn’t help.

  “Hey,” Miles Green dropped into a chair by me. He grinned, flashing too white teeth from a failed bleaching experiment. We had two classes together, including math. Like me, he started a semester later, but not because he had been waitlisted. Miles opted to backpack along the Pacific Coast Trail in the fall. “Need help?”

  I pointed at the book. “You get this shit?”

  “Duh. I’d be a dick to offer help if I didn’t get it.” He leaned closer, his shoulder length brown hair falling forward. “A guy offers help and doesn’t know what he’s talking about is just trying to get laid.”

  “Oh? And are you trying to get laid?” I asked with raised eyebrows.

  “Always, but you’re not interested.” His gaze darted toward Lily then back at me. “And she’s more my type.”

  I pressed my lips together. “Not sure if I should be pissed or not. Why do you say I’m not interested?”

  He took my phone and swiped it to the lock screen, then he turned it around so I could see what I already knew was there.

  “Fair enough,” I said, taking the phone and shoving it in my bag. “I really should change that.”

  “If you’re looking for a date, yes. If you don’t want to date, leave it. Quick way to keep guys away from you. Unless they’re dicks. Or drunk.” Miles leaned back and watched Lily walk toward us. “She single?”

  “She’s my best friend, and if you fuck with her, I’ll kick your ass.” I pinched his arm, and he flinched. “But she is single. If you’re looking for a quick lay, look elsewhere. If you want to actually date her, then ask.”

  Miles grinned again. “This is why I like you. No bullshit.” He stood when Lily got within earshot and offered his hand. “Hi, I’m Miles.”

  Lily, in typical Lily-fashion, bounced when she shook his hand. “I’m Lily. You know Randi?”

  “Randi?” he said lifting an eyebrow as he glanced at me.

  “Don’t call me that,” I said to Miles and pulled my book back to me.

  “Oh, sorry. I’m the only one she let’s call her that.” Lily giggled.

  I tried to tune them out, but it was hard. And trying to focus on math was harder. Miles charmed himself into a date with Lily. After his Friday was secure, he took my math book, showed me what I was doing wrong and gave me his number.

  Lily’s grin never left her face. And math, it actually made sense.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I ended up acing math, thanks to Miles. The semester wasn’t that bad, and I decided to stay in Houston over the summer for a full course load. With most of the campus gone, the dorm was too quiet when classes resumed. And without Lily, I was bored. So I got a job.

  The summer flew by, and I loved working for the catering company. Malcolm and Telia, the owners, taught me a lot about business, catering, and event planning. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to make that my career. Mom and Dad came to visit and brought my car, but other than that, I didn’t see much of my family. For the first time in my life, I felt a freedom I didn’t know I was missing or that I even wanted.

  And something shifted between me and Aiden. We ran into each other a few times. The anger we had both harbored was gone. I’d accepted that he wasn’t meant to be mine, and I think that helped. Plus he had moved on with Eve.

  The fall semester started, and things changed. Lily and Miles were hot and heavy. I didn’t see them often. It sucked being a third wheel in their love circle. Not that I wasn’t happy for her, but I missed my friend.

  And I was lonely.

  A month into the semester, I got a surprise call.

  “Cami?” I answered. It had been over a year since I talked to her, but we texted a lot. She was busy with her tour and a new album.

  “I miss you!” Cami’s voice was as angelic as ever. “We’re in Houston next week. Come to the show. You can hang backstage after. Please say yes.”

  “Of course.” I knew she was coming, but I wasn’t able to get tickets before the show sold out. “Yes, god. I miss you too.”

  “How many?” she asked. “Tickets?”

  “Um. I don’t know.” What was the protocol? I didn’t want to be greedy. “Two, I guess.”

  “Great. They’ll be at the box office under your name. Can’t wait to see you.”

  I made sure I had the night off work, and I texted Lily that we were going to see Cami. She sent back multiple emojis. I was excited for something for the first time in a while. It had been forever since I went out. I’d gone to a couple of parties since I started TCU, but I never enjoyed them and left early. This was something I wanted to do. I spent the next week listening to Miranda Lambert to gear up for it. Cami’s songs, I knew all of those already.

  Tuesday, a couple of hours before the show, I pulled up to Lily’s grandmother’s house. Aiden’s car was in the drive beside Lily’s. I didn’t have to avoid him anymore, but I still missed him. The anger was gone, not the other feelings I chose to ignore. Lily said Eve was out. They’d broken up when the semester started. Not that I noted such things.

  I rang the doorbell and waited.

  Aiden opened the door. He looked good. Beyond good. He was gorgeous. His black button-down shirt hung off his broad shoulders and stretched perfectly over his chest. Not that I noticed. And I didn’t notice how his jeans hung off his hips either.

  “Going out?” I asked casually.

  “Nope.” Aiden stepped back to let me in. “Lily, Miranda’s here.”

  “What? Why?” Lily shouted down the stairs. Her footsteps hammered down the steps as she herded herself into the foyer. She was in a gray robe with her hair in rollers. “Hey. What’s going on?”

  “The concert?” I raised my eyebrows. “Remember?”

  Her eyes widened. “That’s tomorrow.”

  “No, it’s tonight.” Panic filled my chest. Of all the people, Lily was the one I could count on.

  “I can’t tonight. Miles is surprising me with…” She rushed me and pulled me into a hug. “I am so sorry, Randi. I really thought it was tomorrow.”

  I hugged her back and let go, careful not to let her feel or see my disappointment.

  “Please forgive me.” Her eyebrows furrowed into a deep V. “I can cancel. Give me a few minutes. I’ll be ready. We can go and—”

  “Don’t.” Now, I felt bad. “I’ll go with someone else. It’s fine.”

  Lily hugged me again and took off upstairs. “Thank you,” she yelled down. “Tell Cami I said hi.”

  “I will,” I shouted back up. Aiden stood in the foyer and stared at me. I glanced at him, smiling then shrugged.

  Aiden didn’t say anything else as I stepped outside. The ache hit me then. The loneliness, the disappointment
, the anger. I sat down on the steps to collect myself. Lily had always been there when I needed her. Until now. But I couldn’t fault her this time. I could, but I wasn’t going to. She found somebody, and she loved him. If Miles had something planned for tonight, something special if it was a surprise, then I wasn’t going to stomp my feet and pout. I’d do what I’d always done, hold my disappointment inside. It was inevitable.

  The door opened behind me, and I wiped the tears from my cheeks so Lily wouldn’t see me like this.

  “Heard you have an extra ticket to a concert.” Aiden’s voice sunk into my soul. We really hadn’t been alone since that day on the dock when he told me he was leaving. “If you’ll tolerate my presence, I’d love to go with you.”

  I looked up at him over my shoulder. “Can you tolerate being alone around me?”

  He smirked. “Just keep your hands to yourself, Reynolds.”

  “Right back at you, King.” I stood and took a deep breath. “I also have backstage passes.”

  “Seriously?” He stepped down beside me. There was barely enough room on the sidewalk for both of us. His arm brushed against mine, and I felt the world shift. God, I missed him. “I might have to take back that last statement and put out for backstage passes.”

  I laughed and turned toward my car. “You’re insufferable.”

  “Miranda,” he said, his hand touching my arm briefly. Fire shot through my nerves, and I knew. I just knew. Turning around, I braced for whatever he wanted to tell me. “Are you sure about this? Things didn’t exactly—”

  “We can’t ignore each other forever.” I tried to smile cheerfully. “Lily’s suffered enough. The least we can do is be friendly, maybe even friends.”

  Aiden nodded and twirled his keys around his finger. “Okay then.”

  The drive to the show was easy. I just cranked the radio. We both sang along to my early 2000s alt rock playlist. I skipped songs that reminded me to much of him, and he didn’t ask why I skipped them. It was awkward at first. My nerves ate at me, and I wanted to show him that I missed him. This thing between us hadn’t gone away. It evolved. I’d evolved. And I was ready for it.