Rain slicked the pavement as Lila stepped off th

e bus, her boots splashing in a puddle outside t

he iron gates of the Harrison estate.

She hadn’t meant to come back. Not after what he

did.

But the letter in her coat pocket changed everyt

hing.

“Please,” it had read, “I need you now more than

ever.”

Signed in bold ink: Jace.

Jace Harrison. Star quarterback. Smalltown legen

d. Her first love.

And the man who ruined her.

The intercom buzzed.

“Name?”

“Lila Hayes.”

A pause. Then the gates groaned open.

The gravel drive was the same, winding past mani

cured lawns and marble statues. The house loomed

ahead, a fortress of glass and stone.

Jace stood on the steps, one leg braced with a s

teel cane. His suit hung loose on his frame.

“You look like hell,” she said.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Still got that mouth.”

He didn’t hug her. Didn’t shake her hand. Just t

urned and walked inside.

She followed.

Inside, the house was colder than the wind outsi

de.

Photos of Jace lined the walls—on the field, in

the press, at galas. None of them together.

“Why me?” she asked.

He poured two glasses of whiskey. Handed her one

.

“Because I can’t trust anyone else.”

She took a sip. The burn was familiar.

“I heard about your injury,” she said. “Tore the

ACL, didn’t they say it was careerending?”

“They did.”

“So what do you need me for?”

He stared at her like he was trying to read her

thoughts.

“To find out who ruined me.”

She blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“I was sabotaged.”

She almost laughed.

“You think someone sabotaged you?”

He leaned forward.

“I know it. And I think it started the night you

left.”

Her chest tightened.

“That was six years ago.”

He didn’t look away.

“And I think you know more than you ever told an

yone.”

The air turned icy.

“I walked out because you cheated on me,” she sa

id.

His jaw clenched.

“I didn’t.”

She stood.

“Are you seriously doing this now?”

He stood too, wobbling slightly.

“Listen to me. That night, I never met her. I wa

s at the stadium. Coach saw me. But when I got h

ome, your stuff was gone. You wouldn’t answer ca

lls.”

She shook her head.

“That’s not—”

“I know you got a letter,” he said. “From someon

e saying I was cheating. It was forged.”

She froze.

There was no letter.

Only a voicemail. From an unknown number. Tellin

g her to come see for herself.

That night. Outside the bar.

Her stomach dropped.

“Who else knew we were having problems?” she ask

ed.

He hesitated.

“Just my agent. And your best friend.”

Her best friend. Mira.

Who’d moved to the city after Lila left.

Who’d been hired as Jace’s new PR manager.

She turned to the door.

“I need to go.”

He grabbed his cane.

“I’m coming with you.”

She looked at him, really looked.

“You can barely walk.”

He gave her a sharp look.

“I can still find the truth.”

They drove to Mira’s apartment in silence.

The elevator ride was long.

“You think she’s capable of this?” she asked.

“She knew everything,” Jace said. “And she never

missed a chance to remind me how much she hated

seeing us together.”

Mira opened the door in a silk robe, surprised t

o see them.

“What the hell are you two doing here?”

Lila stepped in.

“We need to talk.”

Mira’s eyes darted to Jace’s cane.

“About what?”

“The night I left,” Lila said. “You told me you

saw Jace with someone.”

“I did.”

Lila took a breath.

“Who was it?”

Mira’s face twitched.

“Some blonde girl. He had his arm around her.”

Jace stepped forward.

“I was at the stadium.”

Mira backed up.

“You weren’t. I saw you.”

“You lied,” Lila said. “Why?”

Mira’s lips trembled.

“I loved him,” she whispered.

Silence filled the room.

Jace looked stunned.

“You ruined us,” Lila said. “So you could have h

im.”

Mira’s eyes glistened.

“I wanted to fix things. I thought you’d be bett

er off apart.”

Lila shook her head.

“You stole everything.”

Jace turned away.

“I trusted you,” he said.

Mira reached out.

“Please—”

He didn’t look back.

They left her standing there, alone in her apart

ment.

Outside, the rain had stopped.

Back at the house, Jace poured two more drinks.

“You staying?” he asked.

She looked at him.

“You’re still the same arrogant bastard.”

He smirked.

“And you’re still the only one who’ll call me on

it.”

She set her glass down.

“I’m not your second chance.”

He looked up.

“I think I needed someone to tell me that.”

She walked out.

This time, she didn’t look back.