Defending Hayden: A Second Chances Novel Read Free Page A

she found those on her doorstep.
    However, it’d take a million lilies to get her to forgive me for what I’d done recently. I could only imagine what she’d say if she knew I’d spent most of my nights getting fucked up and screwing countless women. She’d be disgusted. Hell, I was disgusted with myself. The closer I got to her grave, the harder it was for my legs to move. After eight months of hell, it was time I faced her.
    Swallowing hard, I knelt down and placed the flowers on the ground. I looked around, but the cemetery was desolate. There were no sounds other than the birds chirping in the nearby trees and the wind whistling through the branches. I almost convinced myself I could hear her laughing—the same laugh that had caught my attention when she’d joined the Carolina Cougars cheerleading squad a couple of years ago. I’d give anything to hear her laugh just one more time.
    Clouds started to roll in and thunder rumbled in the distance. It was a typical summer day in North Carolina. The storms could sweep in and then move out in a heartbeat. That was how I felt, tossed back and forth. Bowing my head, I rested my hand on her gravestone.
    “I’m sorry, Bri. I know no amount of flowers and apologies will make up for what I’ve done. I’m not making excuses other than I’ve missed you so goddamned much. I didn’t know how to handle it, especially after…” I stopped and closed my eyes, clenching my hands into tight fists. “After I lost not only you but our child as well,” I finished. My throat closed up and I let the tears fall. I never fucking cried, but it was the first time I’d let myself truly feel since she’d been gone. The thunder vibrated the ground, but I didn’t want to leave. If I got struck by lightning, I didn’t care; I had to ask for her forgiveness.
    “I love you, Brianna, but it’s time I let you go. I don’t want to, but I have to face the fact that you’re not coming back, that I’ll never see your face again. You believed in me, and now I have to believe in myself. I just hope you can forgive me for all the stupid shit I’ve done.”
    The rain started to fall, but when I looked up at the sky, the clouds broke and a ray of sunshine shone through. Maybe it was a sign, or it could simply be our sporadic weather. Either way, I had to believe anyone could be redeemed, and I was going to make damn sure I worked hard to achieve that for myself.
    —
    I had just arrived at the Carolina Tavern and parked my truck when a text came through on my phone.
    Evan:
You’re not standing me up, are you?
    Me:
Keep your panties on and watch the front door.
    I got out and headed toward the entrance, pocketing my phone. I opened the door, expecting to see Evan waiting for me at the bar. He was there, but he wasn’t alone; the whole damn football team was there. What the fuck were they doing?
    “It’s about time you showed up,” Evan teased, putting his arm around me.
    Winking, Cooper came up on my other side and stood in front of the door, blocking it. “Just in case you try to escape,” he said.
    “What is this?” I grumbled.
    Evan waved a hand at the room. “It’s a party. Well, an intervention, actually. All the guys have been dying to see you.”
    Huffing, I glared at him and Cooper. “You had this planned, didn’t you?”
    They looked at each other. “Not exactly,” Cooper admitted. “None of us knew when you were coming back. We were just prepared for when you did. The guys want you back on the team, and I don’t think they’re going to let you leave tonight until you promise you’ll show up for practice tomorrow.”
    “What are they going to do if I don’t?” I asked loudly, so everyone could hear. Some of the guys smirked and cracked their knuckles, but it was Chris Waters, our biggest and best defensive lineman, who burst out laughing.
    “Keep it up, McLaughlin. There’ll be hell to pay if you don’t show up. I’m not afraid of your sexy ass,” he teased,