One Last Chance by T. A. Grey

Chapter 1
     
    “Heya, byutful . Why don’tchu come sit wiff me?”
    “Jason, the party started only twenty minutes ago and you’re already geared
up to pass out. I prefer my men just slightly above slobbering drunk,” Katie
laughed. He slapped his chest in a come on, give me a chance way. Katie
shook her head and wiggled through party members, giving hellos, hugs, and nods
to her friends as she made her way to the kitchen.
    She found her hostess hovering over a large pot on the stove. Janet’s
eyes lit up. “Thank God you’re here. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
    “Looks to me like you’re stirring something,” Katie said, the corner of
her mouth breaking into a grin. Janet had been her closest friend since
college. They’d shared a dorm room together for two years, then an apartment
for another four. They’d laughed at how their relationship was like something
out of a movie. But their relationship was strong, had endured its own strand
of horrors.
    Janet rolled her eyes. “Whatever, smart ass. I just stopped on my way
through the kitchen to make sure the sauce wasn’t burning. But really I was
looking for you.” Katie sobered at the serious look in her friend’s face. She
came closer and put a hand on her shoulder.
    “What’s the matter, Jane?”
    “You’re not gonna like it,” her friend mumbled.
    “People usually don’t like bad news, Jan. Just lay it on me,” she said
with a heavy sigh.
    Janet looked around the kitchen then leaned in close. Her eyes softened
with concern. “Jack Dempsey is coming tonight.”
    The floor dropped out from beneath her. It took her two tries to close
her mouth and another minute to wrap her mind around the words.
    “No, no. No way, Janet. He’s never been back. He’s never coming back.”
The same words she’d cried after he’d gone.
    “No, he is . Greg just told me, honey. I’m so sorry. He said he saw
him at the store and invited him to the party tonight.”
    Katie was numb. The feeling in her body just disappeared, but her mind
was reeling, fast and hard. She’d felt like this before. This horrible since of
panic. After he left her four years ago. Four long years. A hot pain burned in
the back of her throat.
    She had to get out of here now.
    “I have to go.” She didn’t wait for a reply, but ran out the back door.
She heard voices, someone call her name, but kept going. She pulled her keys
from her pocket and ran to her car.
    There was a burning wetness threatening to escape her eyes. She gritted
her teeth to keep it at bay. She’d cried enough over him. She wouldn’t do that
anymore.
    She just turned the lock, when a deep, hauntingly familiar voice stopped
her.

 
    Chapter 2
     
    Katie turned as if in slow motion.
    “Leaving so soon, Katie?” She recognized that voice. Deep with a rough
edge to it. Yet when she turned around, she still hoped it was someone else
who’d be behind her.
    Oh, God. It was him. Jack Dempsey. Her heart pounded so hard in her
chest, she put her hand over it to keep it inside. Her watery eyes traced over
his face. The past four years hadn’t changed him much. They’d only made his hard
features rougher, more intense. The crease around his eyes was deeper; the
lines around his mouth more severe. He was everything she remembered, yet so
much better.
    “Jack.” Her voice was a croak over the dry heat in her throat. She
blinked to push back the unshed tears.
    His eyes took her in. He always could make her feel like he was devouring
her just by looking at her. “Katie, you look good.” He kept his hands in his
jean pockets, his stance wide. He even wore the same beaten, brown leather
jacket.
    “Thanks, now excuse me, but I have to go.” She turned to escape, but he
stopped her with a strong hand on her shoulder. The touch was gentle, but froze
her in place.
    “Running away, Katie? I don’t remember you being a coward. Where’s the
woman that used to watch horror movies by herself at night? The one who