Love Renewed (Love Trilogy) by C.S. Janey Page B

tired and realized she was not going to get free because she stopped struggling against him, promptly bursting into tears.
    Trevin looked up at Charlotte, who had taken a seat on the couch at some point, addressing her over Shelby's quiet sobbing.
    “Listen, I know it is hard to believe, but she was not lying just now. She thought she could get me if she could just get rid of you. At the time, she claimed that she needed to use the phone, so she came over to my father's house because it was the closest house of somebody she knew. I had just finished taking a shower and had barely gotten dressed when she showed up, but I let her in, and then I went to get the phone,” he shoved a hand through his hair, sighing as he continued, Charlotte staring at him with round eyes. “When I came back, she had taken off her shirt and threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck before kissing me on the mouth. I heard your arrival, but by the time I could react to her doing that and you showing up, you had already gone.”
    He knew Charlotte did not know what to say because she just sat there, staring at him with a stunned expression on her face. As Shelby had calmed entirely down, he could tell she was listening as he proceeded, sadness creeping into his voice.
    “Her accident was my fault. We fought after you left and I told her that I loved you and only you. Then, I told her that if she did not leave right then I would make her regret it. I was so angry at her behavior that I just wanted her to leave me alone and get out.   I did not even stop to consider that it was getting dark outside and that perhaps I should offer her a ride home. She had been so upset that as she walked home she didn’t pay attention to her surroundings and stepped in front of an oncoming car near the downtown area. The impact threw her into a tree, giving her a traumatic brain injury as well as two broken legs. She was in a coma for months."
    Seeing Charlotte’s eyes fill with tears, Trevin looked away as his guilt ate at him, but he finished what he was going to say. Shelby was still silent in his arms as her head came up just as he spoke again. He figured that she deliberately avoided looking at Charlotte.
    “I befriended her again after the accident, but she did not know what happened and neither did her mother, so I did not mention the argument,” he looked down at Shelby then, seeing her eyes blazing anew at his mention of the information he had withheld from her. “Shelby came over here early this morning to tell me that she had remembered - after all this time, which is a miracle all on its own.”
    Sniffling, Shelby pushed against his chest. Looking down at her again, he scowled. “I will let you go if you promise to refrain from physical violence. None of this is worth hurting somebody over, do you hear me?” At her nod, he released her and she stood up abruptly. He watched as she crossed her arms, facing both of them defensively.
    Charlotte was the first to break the awkward silence. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I had read about the accident but I had no idea it was you. I wouldn’t have made that remark…”
    Trevin saw Shelby shrug as if it didn’t matter. “It’s okay. Everybody here in town knows me so it is hardly ever something that needs told to people. I tend to forget that not everybody was around, although I figured Trevin would have told you before now.”
    “I was going to,” Trevin explained. “I just hadn’t gotten a chance to get around to it and well, you both ended up showing up here today for different reasons. So, now it is all in the open and the question is can all of us finally move past this whole disaster?” He raised his eyebrow at Charlotte who looked down at the ground without replying.
    Shelby gave Trevin a weak smile. “I guess. I’m sorry for accusing you of having something to do with the accident. I will leave you two alone now.”
    “Hey Shelby?” When she turned around, he smiled. “Thanks.