“What are you doing?” Chance asks, startling me. I glance over my shoulder to where he stands, arms crossed over his wide chest, leaning against the doorjamb of his office. I scan the scattered mess of papers on his office floor and let out a frustrated groan. I’ve just spent the last two hours sifting through my small box labeled important papers and still can’t find what I need.

I begin gathering the papers into a pile. “I’m sorry about the mess.”

“I don’t give a shit about the mess. What are you looking for? Can I help?” he asks, stepping across the rug and lowering onto the floor next to me.

“I need my car title or the junkyard won’t tow my car.” My voice quivers as emotion finds its way through the frustration. Chance wraps his thick arm around my shoulders and tugs me closer. “I know my car wasn’t much to some, but my parents bought that car for me.” His grip tightens and the tears start.

“I’m sorry, Mia.” He presses his lips on the top of my hair.

After the coffee shop, I realized I’m falling in love with Chance…hell I’m already there. But in the end, I’m going to end up losing him. Between being involved in Audrey’s shit and Brandon not liking me in the picture, the need to talk to my mom overwhelmed me. When I finally got myself together, I was parked at the curb outside of my childhood home, not remembering how long I’d been there.

“Want to talk about it?”

“I’ve been procrastinating on getting rid of it. I called my landlord today and told him I’ve moved out so now I need to do it, but I can’t find the damn title.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, Mia,” he says softly. “You once told me when things get tough, you feel the loss again. Tell me what’s on your mind.” He lowers us both down onto the carpet and wraps his arms around me. I rest my head on his large bicep and he gently kisses my ear. “Talk to me Mia.”

“It’s just some days when I want to talk to them, they’re not here. Today is one of those days and it hit me hard.”

“I can’t bring them back, but you know if I could, I would. I’m here, will you talk to me?”

I force a smile, knowing that if he knew about Paul or that my sister is slipping through my fingers, falling back into her addiction, he wouldn’t be here. Chance has done everything in his life to break free of the junkies he was surrounded by. And even though it hurts to admit it, even to myself, a junkie is exactly what Audrey would be if she weren’t holed up on a farm eight hundred miles away.

“Where are the boys?” I ask, needing to change the subject.

“They’re back at Michelle’s. Against my better judgment, both Edward and Vic talked me into letting Smith take them home.”

“That’s probably smart.”

He groans. “You’re supposed to be in my corner,” he says, squeezing me playfully and forcing a smile despite my mood.

“I’m always in your corner, Chance.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“I want to apologize for Brandon’s behavior this morning. I hope he’s not who made you feel this way.”

“Chance—”

“No, listen. I know he was quiet and certainly not welcoming conversation from you...or anyone, actually. He’ll get there and soon he will love you as much as I do. I talked to him on the way to the gym and he just needs time to adjust.” Was that a profession of love wrapped in there? “Please just be patient with him.” He kisses my ear again.

“Okay,” I say numbly, my mind still swirling with his words…soon he will love you as much as I do.

“Why don’t you let me take care of getting your car towed? Smith knows some people that will do it without the title.”

“You’ve already done too much for me Chance.”

“Haven’t I convinced you we’re in this together yet?” He squeezes me and nuzzles his chin into my neck playfully. I smile again. Chance always has a way of making me forget all the drama outside these walls. “Please don’t be too proud to take my help, Mia. Let me do that for you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” He looks down at me as if he’s expecting me to retract it.

“Okay, you can help me with my car,” I say.

“Wow, Mia’s letting me help her,” he says, playfully rolling me over and straddling over top of me. “Are you ticklish?” he asks, holding out his hands before landing on my ribs. I giggle and kick uncontrollably and he laughs, putting his mouth on mine. His hands cease their assault and I still just as his tongue slides into my mouth, working smoothly with mine. “Anything you need is yours Mia. Just tell me what it is,” he whispers against my mouth before sitting up.

I look him in the eyes and study his handsome face. My fingers reach up, roaming over the short dark stubble of his five o’clock shadow. “Just you, Chance.”

“You have me, Mia.” He places his hand over mine before bringing it to his mouth and kissing my palm softly. “I’m serious. Anything you need, it’s yours. I may be too dense to figure it out, so you gotta help me sometimes, okay?” He grins, bringing out that little dimple and I run my thumb gently over it.

“You’re doing just fine.” His eyes search my expression and it breaks my heart a little to see the skepticism reflected at me. “Were the boys really upset?” I ask and he rolls to the side, lying down next to me. We both lie here, looking at the ceiling.

“Yeah, probably even more so than I am. It doesn’t seem fair that I get to come back here to you and they have to go back to that.”

“Did Edward ever find out what happened to her?”

“She said she broke down and didn’t get home until after midnight.”

“But she didn’t think to call when she got home, wondering where they were?” I ask skeptically, which isn’t really fair. I don’t know Michelle, but I do know that Chance loves those boys and would do right by them.

“It’s all made up, Mia. Edward’s told me she’ll hang herself out to dry all on her own and I don’t have to intervene, but I’m tired of waiting.”

“Sometimes good things come to those who wait.” I turn my head, my eyes landing on his profile, until he turns. His eyes search mine before a soft smile forms on his full lips.

“I was never a believer in that, but I think I am now.” He rolls onto his elbow, hovering over my body. “I think you made me a believer,” he says quietly before lowering to kiss me softly and I fall a little harder.