Last Chance - L. P. Dover Page 0,21

and so is Luke. And to put it bluntly, it’s not fair to Grayson. You need to follow your heart and stop being afraid.”

Tears fell down my cheeks and he pulled me into his arms. “I’m scared, Evan. What if I give Luke my heart again and it’s not enough? I can’t go through this again.”

“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I’ve never seen him this heartbroken over a woman before. He’s genuinely changed this past year. When I look at him, he’s not the same person anymore. It’s amazing what loving a woman can do.”

I gasped at his words. Letting him go, I wiped the tears off my cheeks and looked down at the ring on my finger. “What about Grayson? The last thing I want to do is hurt him.”

“He deserves the truth, Lara. It’s not fair to him if your heart belongs to someone else. Either way, someone’s going to get hurt. It’s either going to be you and Luke, or Grayson. It’s up to you.”

I knew what my heart wanted, and it would be the most difficult thing I had to do. “I think I know what I have to do,” I told him. Turning on my heel, I walked around the house and hopped in my car.

“I hope you make the right choice,” he called out after me.

Who really knew what the right choices were in life? All we had to do was make our decisions and hope for the best. I had to believe what I was doing would be the right thing for all of us. Shutting my door, I pulled out my phone and called Grayson.

“That was fast.” He laughed. “Are you ready for me to come over?”

“Actually, I’m on my way to you. I’ll see you in a minute.” I hung up and headed straight to his house. When I walked in, he was in the kitchen, wearing only a pair of jeans. I’d be stupid not to think he was one of the most handsome men on the planet.

“Hey, baby,” he said, grabbing a beer out of the refrigerator. “Want a glass of wine?” He glanced back at me and I shook my head.

“Not tonight.”

With his back to me, he opened his beer and took a long, hard pull before setting it down. I waited for him to turn around, but he never did. “You’re not happy, are you?”

My throat closed up and I lowered my head as the tears fell. When he turned to look at me, I broke down in sobs. “I’m so sorry,” I cried. “I love you so much, but . . .”

“But what?” he snapped. “It’s not enough? After all this time, you’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”

“I don’t want to be. You have no idea how many nights I’ve prayed I could love you the same. You’re everything a woman could want in a man.”

His jaw tensed. “I’m just not good enough for you.”

“No,” I gasped, “that’s not it at all.” I hurried over to him and grabbed his arms. He turned his head away, his fists clenched tight. “Grayson, I’m not the one who’s good enough. You deserve someone who can love you with all their heart.” I slipped the ring off my finger and placed it in his hand. “I’m just not that woman.”

Gripping it in his hand, he leaned his forehead to mine. “Please, Lara. Don’t do this to me, to us. I would never hurt you.”

Placing my hands on his face, I could barely see him through the tears. “And that’s what makes this so difficult.” I leaned up on my toes and kissed his lips.

His arms wrapped around my waist and he held me tight, his kiss rough and hard. I could feel his desperation to keep me close. “I love you so damn much it hurts.”

I stepped back and he reluctantly let me go. His sea-green eyes were red, his face showing every ounce of torment he was feeling. It killed me to leave him, but if I stayed it’d only make him miserable. “And I’ll always love you. Goodbye, Grayson.”

I walked out the door and glanced back to find him leaning over on the counter with his head down. Please, God, help him get over this. I didn’t want him to hurt. It felt wrong of me to seek my own happiness when I’d just ruined another’s, but I’d lost so much time with Luke, I couldn’t wait anymore.

Getting in my car, I hurried