SECOND CHANCES

Chapter 3

"I know." I whispered. It may have been five years ago but it still felt like yesterday that my heart was ripped out of my chest.

"Bella," Hannah put her plate down and turned to face me. Her voice was so soft as she spoke. "It was not your fault. If it’s anyone's fault it's his."

I shook my head at that. I would love to blame Harold James for breaking my heart but I just couldn't. Most of it was on me. I knew at the time we never would have worked. We lived in two different worlds and the idiotic part of me believed it didn't matter. But in the end it did.

"You know...maybe it just wasn't the right timing. You both had other goals in mind, different paths to travel, and then with your mom..." She trailed off on the last part, not sure how I would take it. I sent her a little smile letting her know her mentioning my mom wasn't going to send me in a tailspin.

"I know. It just wasn't meant to be." I tried to play it off cool but we both knew I was lying. I had told Hannah basically everything about Harold and I's relationship and how much of a whirlwind it was.

"You deserve better than that Bella. I know it and you know it too." Hannah's hatred for Harold was kinda justified. She saw how much of a mess I was four years ago and how I've been ever since. One of the reasons she's always pushing me to go out and do things with her.

"I think it's time you move on B. You need to go out and experience love again. You are 26 years old for god's sake and let’s not forget you are smoking hot." I couldn't help but laugh at that. Right now I looked far from 'smoking hot', clad in my baggiest sweatpants and t-shirt and my hair in a messy bun on top of my head.

"Okay maybe not right now." Hannah laughed along side of me. "But I'd kill to have your red hair with those curls." It was a weekly thing that Hannah asked if she could cut off my hair and give it to her.

"All I'm saying is just think about it, okay? It's two days from now." I sighed before nodding.

"I'll think about it." At my words she squealed loudly.

"What is this guy's name that you've been talking to?" I asked, shoving an egg roll in my mouth. Come to think about it, I don't know much about this guy. Usually Hannah goes on and on about the guy she's with but she's been pretty tight lip about this one. I've heard her up late at night talking on the phone but she hasn't said anything else.

"His name is Ryan and he's 27." Almost instantly a dazed look crossed her face. "We met when I went Boston a few weekends ago. He's so sweet and hot."

I silently ate as she talked about Ryan. Going on about how he was a physical therapist, that he was funny yet sweet. They've only seen each other twice since they met but both have been too busy until this weekend. Hence why she wanted me to come along.

"I don't think I've ever heard you go on about a guy like this before." I partly teased. It was...a nice change hearing how smitten Hannah seemed to be over this Ryan guy. Hannah tends to....lose interest in a guy pretty fast which is why I'm curious about this guy.

"He's different." At the change of tone I perked up, setting my fork down. "I like him a lot."

"Why do you say it like it’s a bad thing?"

"We...we just met a month ago. I shouldn't be feeling like this." Her voice was soft and almost shaky. The last real relationship Hannah had was not a good one. I was only around for the tail end of that relationship but from what she's told me, it was beyond horrible. It's one of the reasons she's the way she is with men.

We both clearly had issues with men.

"Aw babe." I leaned closer to throw my arm around her shoulder. "I'm going to say exactly what you just said to me. You didn't deserve any of what happened to you with, he-who-shall-not-be-named. You are amazing and gorgeous and it sounds to me that this Ryan sees that too." I rubbed her arm.

"And if he doesn't then when I see him Friday I will kick his ass...and his friends too." I vowed. If Ryan couldn't see how amazing my best friend was then he's in for an ass kicking.

"Wait? You'll come Friday?" Hannah pulled away to look at me, hope filling her eyes. Of course I would say yes, especially after hearing how vulnerable she sounded about Ryan.

"I will. But," I put my hand up to stop her before she spoke. "don't except anything else from me. I'm going to support you." I wasn't sure I was ready to get back in the dating pool quite yet. But I would meet this friend of Ryan's only for Hannah's sake.

"Yes!" She cheered. "We'll make you look fine as hell, don't worry." I decided to ignore her comment for now and turned back to my abandoned food.

For some odd reason I had a sinking feeling in my gut as I thought about Friday night. I shrugged it off but if only I had listened to that feeling.