The Lost Days (Prairie Town Book 3) by T.E. Ridener Page B

holding an umbrella in the other, he made his way back towards her house about thirty minutes later.
    Tonight will be a good night.
    That was something else his doctor had drilled into his head; he was supposed to claim good things so they would actually happen, not bad things, and Devin definitely knew he could be on the pessimistic side—as proven with the situation he was in at the moment.
    “Claiming good things means they will happen if you set your mind to it, just like if you claim bad things.  You’ve got to be optimistic, Devin, or you’ll live the rest of your life in negativity and that’s not a life you want.”
    Of course, it wasn’t a life he wanted!  While he didn’t know what kind of life he wanted at the moment, he knew damn well it didn’t involve being miserable.
    I’d like to be happy. 
    He’d thought about it many times while in the institute—being happy.  He imagined, by some great miracle, that he’d meet someone nice and settle down with the white picket fence and the whole nine yards.  He would not be like his father or brothers, but rather more like Laney.  She was a hell of a woman if she was capable of forgiving him after everything he’d done to her. 
    I wish I’d never done any of it – why did I do it?
    Sometimes he was tempted to make contact with Mia, the girl who had been his partner in crime that night.  He wanted to ask her the details of what happened, why it happened, and what led up to the night that no one else could forget.
    Except for him.
    It’s better that I don’t remember.
    Remembering the atrocities of that night – remembering he’d hurt Laney – he hated himself enough already without adding anything else to it.  Maybe it was for the best.  Maybe that’s why he couldn’t remember anything.
    I hope she’ll forgive me.
    He lifted his eyes to gaze at Kelly’s front porch and his stomach twisted into anxious knots.  Nick seemed to be right about a lot of things, but what if he wasn’t right about this?  What if Kelly really did hate him and any potential friendship was now ruined?
    Good going, you idiot.
    Forcing himself up onto the porch, he closed the umbrella and set it aside, and then he lifted his hand to knock once more.
    Please don’t let me screw this up again.  Don’t let me say anything stupid.
    The door swung open and there stood Kelly, all smiles. 
    “Come on in, Devin!” She grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.  “What pretty flowers!”  Snatching them from his hand, she lifted them to her nose and sniffed loudly.  “They smell lovely – they’re for me, right?”
    “Hello—yes, yes they are.” He stumbled forward in confusion.  She didn’t seem very mad anymore.
    Music filled the air, a fast song with a good beat.  Kelly kept a firm grip on his hand and he watched, even though he tried not to, as her hips swayed back and forth.  She’d changed since his last visit, and holy hell that dress made her look good enough to eat.
    No!  She is only my friend, if we’re even that.
    His eyes darted back up to her when she turned to face him, that beautiful smile still plastered on her lips.  “Do you like dancing, Devin?”
    “I...I...” God, he didn’t know!  He didn’t know anything he used to like, aside from cheesecake.  “I...maybe?”  
    “Everybody likes dancing.” She slurred, wrapping her arms around his neck, the flower petals tickling his heated skin. 
    The movement was so sudden and unexpected.  All he could do was stare at her with wide eyes and pray he didn’t look like a complete idiot as she continued swaying to the music.
    “Patrick used to dance with me.” She murmured as she rested her cheek against his chest.  “We danced all the time.”
    God, could she hear how hard his heart was pounding?  He didn’t mean to be nervous about it, but there was just something about having a pretty lady in his arms, and the sweet scent of her perfume made him dizzy. 
    Surely, I was smoother