Frigid Affair by Jennifer Foor Page A

exactly been waiting around for your return. If anything, I’ve only grown more furious with the whole situation.”
    “You have every right to assume I’m all those things. There was a time when I felt like I was the devil. God knows I would have made a deal with him if he could make all my troubles go away, but we both know that’s not the case.”
    “Maybe you do,” I reminded him.
    “Fair enough. You have a right to your opinion. First and foremost you need to know I’m not a criminal. You don’t have to be afraid of me, Amantha. If I wanted to harm you in any way I would have let you burn to death in the fire. I think you know that.”
    “Do I? You and your friends stole things. You’re lucky I didn’t tell Eve who you really were.”
    “Eve knows who I really am. It was you who I lied to, and only because I knew you wouldn’t let help you if you found out who I was and where I came from.”
    “You’re damn right about that too. I wouldn’t have.”
    “What’s done is done. You lived. You look like you’re doing well.”
    “I don’t have a choice. Will you get to the point already? It’s getting dark soon and I don’t want to have to take a fifteen month old baby up that mountain at night.”
    “I’m not a criminal,” he repeated. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve made mistakes in my life, but I didn’t steal from your friends.”
    “What about your friends? Doesn’t that make you an accomplice?”
    He chuckled, like I was too airheaded to understand. It annoyed me. “Not if they forced my hand.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Give me a break. That’s what you want to say?” I stood. I’d heard enough. He was blowing smoke and I wasn’t having it. “This was clearly a big mistake.”
    “Amantha, please. Just wait a minute. I’ve had years to think about what I wanted to say to you, but every time I get the chance I can’t find the words.”
    “Spit it out, or I’m leaving.”
    “I’m trying to. Damn. Stop being stubborn and give me a second. Has anyone ever told you how difficult you are to talk to?”
    I shrugged. “My parents, but we both know it’s been a while since I’ve been reminded.”
    Christopher stood up and carried his truck over toward Jensen. He held it up for him take. I gasped. I didn’t want them touching, and I hadn’t expected how speechless it would render me.
    “Thanks, little guy. You sure are cute.”
    I grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him away from his sperm donor. “You were saying?”
    “I’d never hurt him either.” I could tell I left him feeling worthless, but he needed to know I wouldn’t change my mind.
    “Look, after Alice died my whole life turned to shit. All those people died because of her choices.”
    “I know what happened. Explain why you came looking for me. I didn’t know her.”
    “One night after the crash, after her funeral, I was sitting at a bar trying to drink away the pain. I loved that woman more than life itself. Everything I did was so I could give her the life she deserved. I busted my ass to be someone her family could be proud of. She set out to hurt me, and in killing herself she did exactly that. She destroyed me.” He paused for a minute and rubbed his face like he was gathering himself. “Anyway, I was sitting  at the bar hoping no one would recognize me and offer condolences when I looked up at the television and saw you doing that big interview. I asked the bartender to change the channel, but he refused. I was prepared to leave, because let’s face it, I felt responsible for your loss. Something wouldn’t let me stand up. I couldn’t look away. Your story was unlike the others. You didn’t just lose someone you loved. You lost everyone. I sat on that barstool listening to you pour your heart out to the world. The people around me were also glued to the screen, some even mumbling how awful it was for you. Maybe it was the liquor, but in that moment I knew I had to find you. I