Chapter 1

Paige

The first boy I ever loved was Dallas Brooke, the tall and popular football player that every girl in high school wanted to call their boyfriend. Everyone had a crush on him, but unfortunately for all his fans, Dallas was mine, and I was his. We began dating in the first year of high school, but before my college graduation, he broke my heart.

That same man—Dallas Brooke—is now standing behind my door and looking down at me with his gorgeous blue eyes. As I look up at him, my heart skips a beat, and I immediately grow bitter. Was he always this stupidly beautiful?

Three years later, my heart still doesn’t know whether to cry out in joy at the sight of his face or weep at what we lost.

“Dallas,” I say, a little out of breath. “What do you want? What are you doing here?”

“I just…”

“You just what?” I demand.

“I wanted to see you.”

I glare at him in disbelief. “You wanted to see me, so you traveled across the country?”

“I have a game here tomorrow,” he gauges my reaction, knowing football and his fame are what broke us up since he chose his career over me. I was convinced he could handle both, but then he missed my birthday, our anniversary, my mother’s funeral, and basically every other event where I needed him the most. And yes, the scar is still fresh even after three years. It hurts to look at him. 

“I see…so you’re staying in the city then?” Why is my heart hurting?

“Yes,” he doesn’t look away from my eyes. “And I was actually hoping I could crash here.”

I almost laugh. “I would be crazy to let you stay here.”

“Why?”

“You’re really asking me that? Considering our history?” My hackles are raised. I don’t give a fuck that he is Dallas Brooks, a superstar and a Hall of Famer. I’m mad at him, and I’m not afraid of letting it show. 

Dallas, however, looks amused by my anger. It infuriates me. Out of all the guys I’ve dated, Dallas is the only one who knows how to both calm me down or drive me insane, depending on his mood. I blame his natural charm and how he never takes me very seriously. Instead, he jokes and makes me laugh when I should be yelling at him. 

“I was actually hoping we could talk about that,” he says. 

“Talk?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not interested in talking to you.”

He grins. “We are talking right now…”

I glare at him. Bastard towers over me, and football has been good to him—he is all chiseled perfection. I can tell that he is ripped even though he isn’t naked, but his good looks and wavy Stefan Salvatore hair won’t work on me. Not this time. I close the door, or at least try to; Dallas places his boot between the doorframe and the door, stopping me. 

“Please don’t close the door on me.”

“Remove. Your. Foot.” My words are a warning, practically a hiss. 

Dallas doesn’t look scared. “No.”

“I won’t say it again. Remove your foot, or I will slam the door and break it.”

“You and what army?”

“I don’t need an army to beat your ass.”

His lips twitch, but he doesn’t laugh. Instead, he grabs the door and easily opens it with one arm, even though I’m trying to use two to close it. This amuses him too. There is a little smile on his lips right now. Asshole.

“I want another chance.”

I give up on trying to close the door. The guy is twice my size, and I release the handle to fold my arms over my chest, hoping to appear tough.  “Not happening.”

“Why won’t you give me another chance?”

Because you probably haven’t changed and will take me for granted. Again. “Because I no longer have feelings for you.”

He smiles. “We both know that isn’t true. I was your first boyfriend. God knows I might even be the only man you have ever loved. And knowing how introverted you are, it wouldn’t surprise me if I’m also the only man you have ever kissed and slept with.”

He isn’t wrong, and I hate that.

Dallas and I go way back. He ignored me through middle school, dated me in high school, and ensured everyone knew I was his girlfriend in college. We have history, and when he picked football over me, he broke me. It took a really long time to find myself again after we broke up, and I won’t let Dallas ruin the progress I’ve made. If I let him in, he will just send me back to square one by breaking my heart. 

“I could be seeing someone new,” I growl. 

This surprises him, and I must admit satisfaction barrels through me when I see his eyebrows furrow in confusion. He looks sad, which is actually a shock to me—I thought he was cold and heartless. I guess I was wrong.  

“Are you?” he asks. “Seeing someone, I mean.”

I pause, thinking of how to word myself.

After I broke up with Dallas, I didn’t date for quite some time. I’m an introvert and spend most of my time drawing. This means I seldom see or talk to people, except occasionally replying to fans that write to me on social media. I earn money through art requests and being friendly enough for people to approach me to ask for art, but besides that, I don’t go out much. 

And I’m most definitely not seeing anyone right now, but since Dallas looks torn apart, I decide to lie. 

“His name is…” my eyes land on my makeup bag that is leaning against the wall in the hallway, and I clear my throat. “Dior.”

Dallas gives me a skeptical look, clearly only half-believing me. “That’s an…interesting name.”

“He is from…” there is an IKEA chair where I throw all my dirty laundry, and I stand a little straighter. “Sweden.”

“Ah,” Dallas visually relaxes. “That explains the strange name.”

“Yup…”

“Mhm…”

“Uh-huh.”

“... you’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

I lift my chin, searching his face. “What gave me away?”

“This—” He takes a step forward, and for a hot minute, I’m unsure whether to flee or melt under his intense gaze. My brain chooses the third option: turn into a block of ice as Dallas cups my cheek in his large hand. “You always turn beet red when you’re nervous, and right now, you look like a tomato.”

While my heart flutters, my brain knows better—I wince and create distance between us as if his touch burnt me. Dallas looks hurt, but I don’t feel sorry for him.

“I might not be seeing anyone, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to give you another chance. I’m done, Dallas. So if that’s all you wanted to say, the door is right there. I wish you good luck with your game. Not that you will need it.” 

“I’m pretty good, huh?” 

Even though I’m not faced with him and already heading into another room, I can hear the grin in his voice. Irritating. 

“I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be playing in the NFL if you weren’t,” I reply dryly. “Now, are you leaving or what?”

Dallas sighs. “I won’t get anywhere tonight, huh?”

“Nope.” 

“Alright,” it finally seems like he is leaving, but before he closes the door, he says, “I won’t give up on us, Paige. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the man that you needed, but I’ve changed—you’ve changed, and I’m positive there would be a different ending if we tried again. I think we could be great together.”

I clench my fists and turn around, eyes stinging with tears that I refuse to let free. “Except, we were already great, Dallas. We had everything: passion, love, heat, and emotions. The only thing missing was your time and commitment. That’s what we lacked and why we broke up.”

Dallas doesn’t reply, but his blue eyes speak volumes. There is pain in them, and I can tell that I have struck a nerve. Deep inside, I don’t really want to hurt him, but I can’t let him back into my life. Not after everything he has put me through.

Eventually, Dallas gives me a sad smile. “I know. And I regret it every day, Paige. But I’m not that guy anymore. I’m not the football player that puts his career above all else. I’m a different person now. I want a family and not just with anyone. I want to build one with you.”

I feel a pang of doubt mixed with hope. Could he really have changed? Does he really want a family? Would it be worth it to give him a second chance?

I consider it until I remember all the times he has let me down in the past, along with all the times he made me feel like I wasn’t enough. And I shake my head, trying to dispel the tears prickling my eyes.

“I can’t take that risk, Dallas. I can’t go back to the way things were.”

He nods, looking defeated. “I understand. But just know that I will always love you, Paige. And if you ever change your mind, I will be here. No matter what, I won’t give up on us.”

I watch him close the door, and as soon as he is gone, I can finally breathe normally again. My heart is still in turmoil, though. Seeing Dallas again was hard since he is the man I can’t forget. His piercing blue eyes are so gorgeous and hard to resist, and I’m forced to sit down on my couch since I’m still shaken from our encounter.

Half my brain never wants to see Dallas again, while the other part is thrilled that he won’t give up on us. The thought of him fighting for us makes me happy. But little did I know that Dallas would be in a car accident the next day and that it would change my life forever.