Chapter 18

Byron sighed, looking at the trees. "I saw him leave your house, Jennifer. I know you told me what went down... but watching him walk out that door it messed me up." "You think I lied?" she asked, stunned. "No," he quickly said. "I believe you. I do. But it doesn't make it any easier, okay? I spent years loving you from a distance. Watching you get hurt, wishing I could fix it. "But now, finally, I will be near you, but he is here. Still creeping into your brain." Jennifer’s heart shrunk within her, and she reached for his hand, but he drew it back gently. "I am not second hand, Jen, not that sort of thing." "You're not! You've never been," she argued. "Devlin was part of my past. An unfortunate part. But you... you stayed. The one who taught me to breathe once more." He looked at her, and this was real, and she saw the pain for a moment in those eyes. Not anger. It was fear. Fear that he will lose her to a man who has already broken her once. "Then help me believe that," he sa