Second Chances (Dreams Come True #2) Read Online Free Page A

than the police. She must be some kind of shrew. I was about to set my phone down when it vibrated. I had a new notification.
     
    Countdown App: 29 days until My Life is Over Event
     
    Shaking my head, I checked the app settings and discovered I would now be getting daily notifications to remind me of my impending doom. It had seemed almost comical when I made the event back then. I was drunk, obviously, and feeling bitter after a fruitless night out with the guys left me to return home alone. I’d edit the event, but the picture of an exploding atom bomb seemed rather apropos, as did the name I’d given it. Calling it My 25 th Birthday and a picture of a cake wouldn’t have been nearly as motivating or disturbing. Still frowning, I stuffed the phone in my pajama pants and decided to focus on the immediate destruction of my life rather than the permanent future one.
     
    ***
    Marisa
     
    I should’ve known better than to think I could get any sleep when my father was in one of his moods. Through the years I’d seen it happen time and again. He couldn’t motivate to do anything good, but when he wanted to do bad, there was no stopping him. He had to be drunk. Somehow, he always found a way to get more alcohol. Tiptoeing out to the kitchen, I left a note for Mattie on the table, in case she woke before my return.
    Slowly I crept down the stairs, grabbed my sweatshirt and threw it on over my coveralls. Picking up my purse and keys, I snuck out the front door and locked it behind me. It was only a few blocks to the gallery. I knew the place well. My father had once sold almost exclusively through it more than ten years ago, before my mother died and he decided to drown himself in a bottle of whiskey.
    The crisp air burned my lungs and made my nose run, but it didn’t matter. I was more concerned over how I was going to get him out of this mess. The gallery owner might not be interested in a negotiation. After all, the police were already there.
    Turning the corner, I saw multiple police cars pulled up at the curb. There was crime tape around the front entrance, but I slipped under it and walked into the gallery anyway. After all, I had been invited. The bright lights caused me to squint for a moment while my eyes adjusted. By then, the gallery owner had found me. He was nothing like I expected.
    “You’re so young.” I stepped back to study him. “What are you, my age?”
    He crossed his arms, too, and adopted a stance which suggested he studied me as well. “I don’t know. Are you twenty-four?” His eyes sparkled a little as if he were enjoying this.
    I shook my head. “Twenty-two.”
    “Then you’re two years younger than I am.” He gestured for me to follow him. “This way. I have something that belongs to you.” He laughed then called out. “Oh, Gilles. Your daughter is here.”
    My chin dropped when I heard him wail. “Not Marisa. Oh no.”
    The gallery owner turned to me and held out a hand. “Are you Marisa? For all I know, he has six daughters.” He smiled. “I’m Sebastian.”
    “It’s just me, I’m afraid. And that would make me Marisa.” I sighed. “So, what shall I call you? Bash, like the guy on Reign , or Bastian, like the kid in The NeverEnding Story ?”
    “You could call me Sebastian, since that’s the name my parents chose.” He shrugged and smirked.
    “I could, but where’s the fun in that?” I shrugged back in response. “Well, let’s get this over with, I suppose.” Putting out my hand, I brushed past him and walked straight to my father’s side. “Dad, what have you done?” I stared down at him angrily.
    Dad’s head drooped. “I just wanted to see the art.” A single tear dripped down his face.
    I caught Sebastian’s eye and rolled mine. “Tears don’t work on me, Dad. You know this.” I tapped my work boot a couple times. “So what are we going to do about this? You have completely destroyed the place. They’re going to want to lock you up and I can’t