Second Chance

By L. D. Gilles

They grew up together and have been best friends for eighteen years. Well, even then he hoped for more and she never allowed herself to see him as more than a friend.

Life happened and they lost touch...
She moved away. So did he shortly after, but she never knew that.

Seventeen years later, family and fate decided to give it another try.
Gabe and Gabby both accomplished a great deal in their life. He is rich, handsome and successful. She is independent, smart, wealthy, not to mention gorgeous. He was named one of the most eligible bachelors, and she just wanted to find a guy that will love her... not her money.

When Gabe saw Gabby for the first time after seventeen years, he knew exactly what he wanted. He just had to make her realize it, and Gabby was terrified. Living on her own for so long, never experiencing or witnessing the passion he was bestowing upon her confused the heck out of her. And then there was guilt that assailed her when she realized how oblivious she was about him.

Coming on too strong and with so much passion was frightening for Gabby, but Gabe was persistent and would not give up this time. How else would he make her see him as something more than a best friend she grew up with? He didn't want to spend the rest of his life wondering what would or would not be. After all, seventeen years would not let him forget...

Would he survive if she didn’t want the same thing?

• Language: English
• Publisher: L. D. Gilles
• Release date: Dec 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310175671

L. D. Gilles

An avid reader, classics and romance are my favorite but if my curiosity is tickled I will read and reread anything that captures my interest. Besides reading, I love music, shows, cooking and road trips among other things. I enjoy a good glass of wine with a meal, good conversation and a great company. Adventurous daring spirit and explorative nature in me love to travel and I usually pick a spur of a moment destination and go conquer it. Reading so many interesting novels inspired me to give it a try and write my own fictional tales. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. For comments, suggestions, questions or anything else... [e-mail]

Book preview

Second Chance

L. D. Gilles

Copyright © 2014 by L. D. Gilles

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 9781310175671

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, incidents, events and dialogue described in this novel are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this eBook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer.

Thank you for your support.

Sometimes all you need is a second chance.

Because time wasn't ready for the first one...

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 01

Chapter 02

Chapter 03

Chapter 04

Chapter 05

Chapter 06

Chapter 07

Chapter 08

Chapter 09

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

About L.D. Gilles

Prologue

35 years ago, Green Lake Hospital

Mrs Silas, you neighbour Mrs Vista had her baby girl about 30 minutes ago the nurse said as she walked into a hospital room to check on her and her son whom she gave birth to just yesterday. Her neighbour and a best friend went into labour today.

Is everything ok? she asked as she hoped that it was.

Oh yes, mom and the baby are really good, dad is ecstatic just like your husband was yesterday and everything went without a problem.

Did they give her a name yet?

Yes they did, just like you said they would the nurse smiled at her as she was leaving.

31 years ago – Daycare

Mrs Silas, Mrs Vista; I can’t stress enough how sorry I am that this had happened, it’s just that we never thought it would come to something like this because your son Mrs Silas is such a well behaved boy and it is obvious that they adore each other the teacher looked at both of them now.

The other boy was playing with your daughter Mrs Vista, and he must have wanted to give her a hug or a kiss, they are only four and it would have been an innocent act. It seemed as your son would not have it, Mrs Silas. He is so protective of Mrs Vista daughter, they always play so well and get along, so unfortunately he hit the other boy and then bit him. We just wanted to let you know of this incident and ask if you could explain to your son about hitting and biting. We already did have a talk with him about it, but he seemed upset with the other boy and we are not sure if he understood it.

The two heavily pregnant women looked at the teacher and then looked at each other and smiled an amused smile shaking their heads. Their kids are becoming really interesting.

30 years ago – the Vista home

Mama, I want to go see Abriel her five year old daughter was standing in front of her, cute little pout on her face and a demand. She was so strong willed, stubborn and demanding all the time, determined and focused, she would not let anyone distract her from what she wanted and if she wanted to go see her friend, her mom knew if she did not take her at some point she would have a temper tantrum to deal with and she would scream the house down and wake up her one year old brother from his nap. So she tried to prolong it a little and asked Why?

So he can see my bike and we can ride and play.

Do we have to go now? Nick is sleeping. Can we wait until he wakes up?

But when is he going to wake up? she asked looking at her with those brown-gold flecked eyes, her blonde locks bouncing around her round shaped face. She looked at the clock and realized that her son was sleeping for about two hours now and he should be up soon.

Soon sweetie, and then we can feed Nicky, get you a snack and go visit your friend she said to her. Not even five minutes later, she heard her son’s cheery voice like he was cooing at someone and walked into his room. Her daughter was on the floor next to his crib and she laughed. Impatient little bugger that she was she went to wake him up.

Now can we go see Abriel?

22 years ago – Grade school, History class

School desks were designed for two students to sit together. Every classroom and every school in Green Lake had the same school tables for their students. Classrooms usually had three rows of 5-6 tables to accommodate about 30 students. Sometimes more often than not, it was not such a good idea to have two students sitting together.

Like now, for example. Vista and Silas were disrupting this class lesson with constant chatter and a laugh from the last table in the middle row.

Will you two please stop talking during the class the teacher warned them for the fifth time already. Or was it the tenth, he lost count. They stopped for a minute. ‘Those two always sat together’ he thought for a second and then continued a lesson. They were very mischievous, impish and troublemakers, but in a good way. They were also great kids and a straight A students, so most of his colleagues and him gave them some slack for their class interruptions, unless one of the other kids complained, which was rare. Not even a minute later and they continued their chatter again. He was determined to stop it this time, they were obviously not interested in the lesson, so they can wait outside for their next one.

Ok, that’s it! he stopped and pointed a finger at the two of them You two, middle row last table – out! both of them stopped for a second, looked at him, then looked at each other and smiled. ‘Oh ooo’ he thought ‘they are up to something’.

What happened in the next instant, he never saw coming.

Together they gathered their things and shoved them in their backpacks. Then Silas grabbed front end of the desk and Vista held the other end, they picked it up and proceeded walking towards the door, opened it and took the table out with them and gently closed the door behind.

He was so stunned; he had no idea how to react, what to say or what to do for that matter. The rest of the class burst into a laugh, so he just started laughing with them. He never expected them to do that.

Mentally he added another adjective to their traits – playful.

* * *

Two weeks later and the same problem, same two: Silas and Vista. Boys were usually bigger troublemakers than girls, but Vista was in the class of her own. He knew about that whole group of kids, all eight of them; all of his colleges did; two brothers from one family and six cousins from another. They all went to the same school and more or less were good kids, mischievous but happy and good students. These two he had now were starting high school next school year. He remembered what happened two weeks ago, so he decided to separate them this time.

All right you two, Vista get your things and go sit over here he pointed at the last desk in a row over and closer to the door. She pouted and gave him a ‘seriously?’ look, but did it. They may be mischievous, troublemakers and playful, but they were not disrespectful.

A little while later he noticed that the desk were she was sitting was pushed half way out of the row and close to his table, and they were at it again.

‘What could they possibly have to talk about all the time?’ he wondered. He walked down the aisle to her desk, raised his eyebrows in wonder and looked at her.

Could you please move your table and bring into line with the others? he asked her and pointed to the other tables in the row in front. She did as he asked, moving her desk just a little though.

Move it a little more please he repeated and she did, just another inch or so, still not lined though. He was getting exasperated with both of them.

Vista, that is not enough, please move your table so it is in a line with the ones in the front she moved it more but a smidgen out of a line, so he asked her again.

Please a little more all at once he realised that he was turning petty with her. She was irritated with him, he could tell, he centered her out and an entire class was looking at her right now. She didn’t seem like she cared about the looks directed her way, he perceived her as a very confident girl and something like that did not bother her. The Silas kid was giving him a nasty look though.

And then...

She sighted exasperatedly, got up, opened the door, pushed her table into the hallway, closed the door and came back and sat into her chair. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him; serious, amused and somewhat pissed look on her face. The entire class broke into laughs again and he joined them. He didn’t know what else to do; it was funny as hell after all. She outdid him for the second time in as many weeks. She was bright, funny, witty and smart girl and he really liked both of them.

All right, both of you he pointed at him and her, he was still laughing, but both Silas and Vista looked serious Out, now! And the table stays in this time!

18 years ago – High school

Man, she is soooo fine! the asshole stretched out saucily as they all looked at the group of girls walking past them. They all knew who he was talking about. The asshole would not shut up about her and he was seriously getting on his nerves.

Just look at that firm ass... mhmm... mhmm... mmhh... I can’t wait to get my hands on that again he mumbled loud enough for the rest of their group to hear him and at the same time moving his hands in a motion that displayed rubbing and squeezing mentioned derriere.

He was staring at the pimpled faced asshole in front of him who was gloating now and felt immense rage filling him, his vision turned blurry, his jaw taut and clenched, his body tense and his hands turning into fists.

That intensified feeling of tightness inside his chest was back, along with haziness that covered his livid mind and colossal urge to drive his fist at that bastards face. He didn't recognize it at first, but now he was sure that it was jealousy; blind, hot, red hazed, mind numbing jealousy.

God, why was he jealous? He didn’t believe him for a second, but the other guys around them were drinking in every word the asshole was saying. He knew that his best friend would never allow this idiot to lay a finger on her, yet alone touch her the way he was so succulently detailing it now. He had to do something before this moron made her look easy and made all the others think they can do the same thing with her.

She’s his best friend and he was so protective of her, like of a sister he never had. They grew up together and he knew her better that anyone else; so what this idiot was insinuating, he knew that she would never allow him to do that to her or with her, there was not even a smallest amount of doubt in his mind. She tutored the dumbass in math, nothing else. She didn’t even like him; he knew that, she shuddered with genuine disgust when she told him about him, the way she caught him starring at her sometimes. But, he was buddies with the said asshole and she was worried that he would be offended when she told him that he grossed her out. That just made him laugh and respect her even more.

He had no secrets that he hid from her, the two of them talked about everything and were still close, not as close as when they were younger, but still closer than most friends he knew. The fact that girls were constantly chasing him probably made her put some distance between them and he didn’t like it, but he couldn’t do anything about it. She didn’t see him the same way other girls did, even though he hoped she would and he wanted her to.

She was still an innocent one, he knew that for sure, and he didn't know why that made him happy but it did. Yeah, that did make him a hypocrite but somehow he did not want to lose the illusion he had about her. After all, there was a little that all the other girls he was with would not do with him and he hated the idea of her being like that with other guys. He always regretted not asking her out to that movie with him instead of what's her name and he couldn’t even remember her face now. He never thought that she would go out with that bozo either.

Technically, he was the first guy to take her out when he snuck her out for a concert, the first for both of them and the first of many shows they did see together after that one.

You are full of shit, why are you making all this up? he asked, and looked at the guy like he wanted to rip his head off. The others around him kept quiet.

You think I am making this up? You are just pissed cause I got her he said with triumphant look on his pimpled face, fist bumping another asshole next to him. God, he was going to beat the shit out of both of them soon if they continue with this bullshit.

No, I am pissed because you are a lying sack of shit that is saying things that never did or will happen. She is my best friend and I know she would never do things you say she did.

Don't be a sore loser man. Just because she didn't stick her tongue down your throat and let you feel her, don’t mean she didn't allow me to do that, or someone else.

‘Was he purposely trying to make me pummel him?’ he thought to himself as idiot continued to goad him it seemed.

And she loved it when I took off that sexy lacy bra off of her and sucked on her nip... the bastard did not get a chance to finish that sentence. He was not a small guy, but he was smaller than him. He flew at him with his clenched fists, blinding rage overtook his mind and body, he took one swing to his face and you could hear sickening sound of a bone breaking, either a jaw or a nose and blood gushed all over. Second punch ended in his gut and the asshole was sprawled on the ground moaning and crying. Everyone was in shock around them. Hell, he was in shock too as he bent down and grabbed him by his shirt on his chest and