A New Hope (The Second Chance Series Book 2) by Christina Escue Page A

she hung up she went back into the media room, explained what was going on and asked Kiara if she wanted to come with her. When she nodded they left the room together and found Leslie working at the bar. Within ten minutes of hanging up the phone Leslie was pulling the car into the Newberry’s driveway.
    “Crap. Kiara, please tell me you aren’t afraid of dogs.”
    “I’m not, why?” She asked, but before Karla could answer Kane and Abel bounded around the house and started barking enthusiastically.
    “That’s why.” Karla answered with a smile as she got out of the car. “Kane, Abel, down boys.”
    Just then the door opened and Conner stepped out. “Kane, Abel, down.”
    As soon as the words left his mouth the two big dogs barreled toward the porch and Karla opened the gate. Before they made it to the porch the dogs were back and wanting attention. “Boys, be nice. This is my sister Kiara, she’s a friend.”
    They took a second to sniff Kiara’s hand before they licked it and bounded back to the back yard. “Well, they are just bundles of energy.” Kiara said with a laugh.
    “To say the least.” Karla agreed as they walked up the porch steps together. “Hey Conner. I’d like you to meet my sister, Kiara. Kiara, this is Conner, my best friend’s twin brother and my boyfriend.”
    “Nice to meet you Conner.” Kiara said with a smile.
    “Nice to meet you too.” Conner answered then he turned to Karla, “I don’t know what’s going on, but Callie never shuts me out and I’m really worried.”
    “We’ll go right up. Don’t worry, we’ll find out what happened.” Karla told him and gave him a comforting hug and a small kiss on the cheek before she walked into the house and straight up the stairs.

Chapter Twenty-Two
     
    Karla knocked on Callie’s door as she called out, “Callie. Open up.”
    Callie opened the door immediately and launched herself into Karla’s arms. “I am so glad you’re here. I needed someone to talk to and Conner just wouldn’t understand.”
    When she released Karla she noticed Kiara standing there and looked at Karla in shock. “Callie, this is Kiara, my sister, Kiara, this is my best friend, Callie.”
    “Hello. Both of you come in. I need to talk to Karla and Kiara, you may be able to help too.” Callie said and looked at the floor.
    Once they were inside Callie pulled Karla over to the bed and they sat down. “Callie, I’m starting to worry. What’s wrong?”
    “It’s Chase.”
    “What happened with Chase?”
    “While you were in Texas Chase and I went to the movies. About half way through the movie he touched my breast and slid one hand between my legs. I told him no and he kind of shrugged his shoulders and finished watching the movie. After the movie, while we were waiting for my mom, he went to the bathroom and when he came back he apologized, but he was acting weird. I shrugged it off at the time, but over the past few weeks he’s made other passes like that. He always backs off when I say no, but they’re becoming more frequent. Today we were hanging out with some of his friends and he started saying things, sexually suggestive things, about me to his friends. I was uncomfortable to say the least so I asked him to walk me home. We started walking and about half way here he stopped and pulled me into his arms. He’s done that a thousand times so I didn’t think anything about it until he grabbed my hair and pulled my head back a little. He looked into my eyes then kissed me, not the soft, sweet kisses we’ve shared, but an aggressive kiss. He forced my mouth open with his tongue and when his tongue met mine I tasted alcohol.”
    Callie stopped when Karla gasped, “Chase had been drinking?”
    “I never saw him drink, but the cups were colored and I never took a drink of his. I had my bottle of water, like always, but when he kissed me I knew he’d been drinking. I asked him about it and he told me it was none of my business and pulled me