Shattered
****Teaser****
“You have to understand, I was in
my early twenties. I was young and stupid. I took what we had together for
granted and lost. It broke me and I lost her. I was afraid to admit that I love
Jordan with everything I am.”
“‘Love’? Don’t you mean ‘loved’?”
“If you say so. Anyway, where was
I? I thought we had something special, but apparently it wasn’t enough for her
to stay. She got into trouble and the next thing I knew, she was gone.”
“But why didn’t you go after her?”
“I did. I mean, I tried. Jordan
just disappeared. I looked for her, I went to her house, I went to her cousins,
I even went as far as pulling a few of her friends over. I got nothing until
after she was long gone. Then it was too late. She had enlisted in the Navy and…well,
I’m ex-military, there was nothing I could do.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.
You could have found her and went to her.”
“I could have, yes. But I knew
deep in my heart that she was better off. Jordan is and always has been too
good for this damn town. She is better than me, so I let her go. It hurt like a
bitch, but it was for her own good.”
“Apparently there was something
in this town because she came back.”
“Yeah, and she was married. I had
to step aside.”
“That’s it? That’s all you have
to keep me away from Layla?”
“Please don’t do this Garrett. Layla
is like Jordan; she deserves more than what this fucking town can offer.”
“You’re wrong, Gavin. I refuse to
wind up like you, sitting here after twenty years drowning your broken heart in
alcohol.” I stand and pull two twenties out of my wallet and throw them on the
bar. “Do you need a ride?”
“No, I’m fine. I just need to
clear my head. I think I will take a walk down by the river.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.” I turn to
leave when Gavin grabs my elbow.
“Garrett!”
I pull my arm out of his grip and
look over at him. “Yeah?”
“Please don’t.”
“Gavin, stop. I cannot say for
sure if anything will come of this, but I will be damned if I don’t see where
this goes.”
“If you hurt her; I swear, I will
kill you.”
I don’t even acknowledge his
threat before I leave the bar. By the time I crank the truck up, Layla is the
only thing on my mind.
