The Guy on the Left (The Underdogs, #2)(101)

2 Packages German Chocolate


4 Tbsp. Water

4 Eggs – Separated

1 Tsp. Vanilla

1 Dozen Lady Fingers – Plain

1/2 Pint Whipping Cream

3/4 Cup Sugar



Dissolve chocolate in double broiler. Add water and stir well. Fold in slightly beaten egg yolks. Add vanilla. Cool Mixture. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold cooled chocolate mixture into egg whites. Line narrow bowl or mold with Lady Fingers, brown side out. Pour 1/2 chocolate mixture over Lady Fingers. Add another layer of Lady Fingers. Add the rest of the chocolate mixture. Chill in the refrigerator until set (about 2 hours). Whip whipped cream and sugar until stiff. Top chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.





Clarissa



It’s been the longest week of my life. With finals out of the way, the school days drag by. I’m merely going through the motions at this point. Passing my real estate exam brought me little joy, and for the last few nights, I’ve been updating my résumé to send to realtors, in hopes of finding the right fit. With the end of the school year just around the corner, I’m thankful for the distraction of working this summer. With the job comes flexible hours, which I’ll need to get to spend my time with Dante. I’m hoping with the extra income, I’ll be able to afford our first real vacation.

Troy graduates soon, and I have every intention of watching him walk the stage with or without an invite, but I’ve been holding my breath in hopes for one. Whether he thinks so or not, he’s still punishing me. Keeping me at arm’s length. We’re back to the place of doing things together as a family, and while I’m all smiles while we’re together, inside my heart withers with every goodbye. Soon he’ll be gone for weeks at a time.

It’s taken all my strength not to ask any questions about us, but as far as I can tell, he meant what he said. Dante may be our only tie.

Laptop open, I sit in my chair, staring up at the ceiling berating myself for what I had, and the chance I lost. Men like Troy don’t come around often. I’m furious with myself for ever thinking differently. For taking advantage of his patience. For not waking up sooner. I just keep remembering the inhuman amount of patience he displayed when it came to me, and that’s all that keeps me going.

A part of me wonders if he hasn’t started the process of moving on. The thought of him touching another woman eats me alive.

I don’t think I’ll be able to bear it when another claims his heart.

Gathering myself from my recliner, I begin to turn out the lights when a light knock sounds at the door. My heart leaps into a gallop when I see Troy on the other side. His hands stuffed in his jeans.

“Hey,” he says softly, peeking past my shoulder. “Sorry, I know it’s late.”

“He’s asleep,” I say, opening the door and ushering him inside.

“I know. I just want to check in on him.”

I glance past to see a new King Cab in the driveway. “You got your truck back?”

“This one’s new. Well, it’s an older model but new to me.”

“It’s really nice.”

“Thanks. So, can I see him?”

“Sure, okay.” I gesture toward Dante’s room.

“Thank you.” He pads through the house and twists the knob, peeking in where Dante lays asleep on his side, hair still damp from his shower. Troy studies him for a long minute, exhaling fully when he sees he’s safe and asleep.

“I’ve never felt a love like this,” he says softly. “And I know I never will. Kids aren’t harmless, they’re terrifying. I love him so much,” he says with an ache in his voice that gives me a sinking feeling. “I can’t imagine any harm coming to him. I can’t imagine how that would feel.” I touch his arm and lean in on a whisper of my own.

“Troy, is everything okay?”

He looks over at me, the picture of beauty, the love in his eyes hypnotic. I know the look. I’ve seen it dozens of times, for myself, and it never fails to take my breath away. This man, the way he loves, everything about him moves me.

I’m too wrapped up in all I feel to speak and thankful when Troy is the first to break the silence. “You know, I was his age when my parents split up. When Dad left, I played okay with it because I knew they made each other miserable. But it killed me. I suffered in silence. I understood why he left her, but I couldn’t understand why he left me too. After a while, I came around, and I was okay with it. She was tough, fair, but so loving. But she worked her fingers to the bone. That’s what I hold against my dad now. Not the fact that he left me, but that he left her alone in the struggle. I couldn’t have been easy. Hell, I know I wasn’t. But she loved me, cared for me so well, I never suffered.” He turns to me and palms my cheek. “I don’t want you to suffer. I don’t want him to ever see you suffer. I don’t want him to want for anything. I’ll spend my whole life making sure he’s cared for, both of you. This, I swear, Clarissa.”

The sincerity in his eyes, his voice, is my unraveling. “And maybe if I would have told you how important that was to me before, you would have understood just how badly I wanted to be the one you leaned on.”

“I’m so sorry that I made you feel like I didn’t trust you to do that.”