Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,96

threw a punch. “Come on, you can do better than that!” Jared clapped the pads together before holding them out for me again. “Hit them like you mean it, Katy. Take all your anger, all your fear, out on them.”

I narrowed my eyes, pretending the pads were Preston, just like I did with the punching bag.

I punched, the loud slap echoing around the room.

Jared grinned, “Now that’s my girl.”

I hit the other one and Jared whistled. “I felt that one, Katy.”

Jared’s training and my self-defense training, kicked in and I punched those pads as hard as I could. I let all the hatred pour out of my body. I needed to let it all go. I needed to find my peace.

Jared’s encouragements faded to the background. The only thing I could focus on was punching the smile off that fucker’s face. He deserved to pay for what he did to me. Why should he get to go on with his life and be free and happy, when I had been stuck in this miserable in-between state? Why was I the one that had to suffer? He should too.

With a cry, I fell to the floor of the ring. Sobs raked my body; I couldn’t get enough oxygen to breathe properly.

“Katy,” I heard Jared say, tossing the pads away and sinking to his knees in front of me.

I tried to stop crying. I didn’t want to cry over what had happened anymore. I wanted to let it go. I wiped my face, the sobs still making my body flail.

“Katy, please, tell me what to do,” Jared pleaded, his brown eyes full of remorse. “Let me help you.” He reached out for me and I collapsed in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck. I held on to him like he was a life jacket keeping me afloat.

“I want to forget, all I want is to forget,” I sobbed.

He ran his long fingers through my hair. “I know, kitten, I know,” he said, and I believed him.

31

WHAT ON EARTH DID ONE WEAR TO GO TO THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH THEIR BOYFRIEND’S parents?

Jared had said to dress up, but what did that really mean? Obviously not jeans, but I didn’t want to wear something too fancy.

Oh, God. I dropped my head into my hands.

I had less than an hour until Jared picked me up.

Thankfully, I had my hair and makeup done.

I sifted through my clothes. There had to be something in here. I’d just bought all those new clothes.

I went through my dresses and decided that none of them were weather appropriate.

I settled on a pair of cuffed boyfriend trousers in a dark gray color. I paired it with a crochet ivory top with a flowery design. I assessed my appearance in the mirror and decided it was dressy without being over the top; exactly what I’d been going for.

I dug through the mess on the bottom of my closet floor and found a pair of black heels. My feet were going to kill me by the end of the day, but nothing else would look right with my outfit. I sighed; women would endure anything for the sake of fashion.

I grabbed my rose gold Michael Kors watch and put it on. I rarely got the chance to wear it because it was far too nice to wear with my everyday clothes.

I ran my fingers through my loose waves and checked the time.

Jared would be here any minute.

I tried to straighten up my room. It looked like a tornado had hit it.

My phone beeped and I knew that had to be him.

I checked the text and saw that it was, indeed, Jared. I dropped my phone into my bag, grabbed a black jacket, and raced out the door.

The bright blue, hulking, SUV was easy to spot, when I reached the parking lot.

Jared leaned against the passenger door, arms crossed over his chest, grinning as he watched me approach.

“You clean up nice,” I smiled up at him, fingering the silver tie and then his purple button down shirt tucked into black slacks.

“I always look nice,” he chuckled, kissing my cheek and opened the door for me. “You look beautiful,” he said as he helped me inside.

“Thank you,” I blushed. He took my hand and kissed the top of it, before flipping it over and kissing the palm as well. “Thank you for agreeing to this. Patsy can’t wait to get to know you better.”

My stomach lurched at his words and I tried to smile but