I have waited too damn long for her.

Longer than anyone knows. Longer than she would ever believe if I told her.

Even now, with her lying warm and pliant beside me, I can’t shake the memory of the first time I saw her. High school. She was younger, bright-eyed, all fire and laughter, her world not yet stained by betrayal. She didn’t see me, at least, not the way I saw her. How could she, when her eyes were fixed on Chase?

Chase.

The golden boy. The one who got everything handed to him ...