So…today’s #1lineWed THEME is **SECOND CHANCES**. Since I’m featuring Lucas “Lucky” Malone this week over on my FB page, I thought I’d dig into REMEMBER THE NIGHT, a Nightrider novella for today’s words. That story is all about second chances.
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Lucky

AS THREATENED, I’D returned to Gemma with blood on my hands. And with that blood came the realization that it was time. No more secrets.

Gemma stared at the leather-bound notebook nested on her flattened palm. “I don’t understand.”
I resisted the urge to dig my boot toe in the dirt. “It’s Ethan’s.” Ethan West. My best friend growing up and Gemma’s big brother. And the man I almost went to prison for.

“His journal?” When I nodded, she closed her fingers over the spine. “How did you get it?”

“Don’t ask.” She tried to hand it back but I kept my hands jammed in my hip pockets. “It’s all there, Gem.”

Damn but she looked…small, all curled in on herself emotionally and physically.

“Why are you giving it to me?” She didn’t look up at me when she spoke.

“Because I want you to have it. That book holds the truth and you deserve to know.” Gemma’s throat worked as she gulped. It was so damn hard not to take her in my arms. I wanted her in my bed. Now. But I had to come clean first. Because this was about far more than fucking her. This was about love, about claiming her as my mate. I took a step back to put more distance between us. I didn’t want to screw this up by rushing her.

When she spoke, her voice sounded like shifting sand—soft but gritty. “I already know the truth, Luc. I know what he did to Janie, that he accused you and tried to blame you for it. I tried to tell my parents. They called me a liar.” Pain flooded her expression. “And worse. Ethan was golden. He was…theirs. I…wasn’t.”

“What are you talking about, Gem?”

“Adopted. I was…adopted.”

I could no longer stand the separation or the waves of pain radiating from her. I reached for her with both hands and coaxed her to lean against my chest. “I didn’t want to leave you behind. But you were so young, Gemma.”

“I wasn’t. I’ve never been young.”

“I realize that now. I’m sorry, and I want to make up for lost time. Will you give me a second chance to make it right? To be the man you need me to be?”
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If you want to know the answer to that question, grab the book. Most of you have already read it but just in case someone new drops by…you can CLICK HERE to grab your copy. What about y’all? Any second chances in your worlds?