Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle Page B

goals."
    "That's admirable," Tiffany said and sounded sincere. 
    "She's in a place financially where she can take care of Jack and go to school, and I think she's trying to get her life back on track."
    "And she wants your help."
    "Well, yeah. I mean, it may not be what you want to hear, but we are connected in a way. Josh was my best friend, and I feel responsible for Carrington and her son because he's not here to take care of them."
    "But—"
    "Wait, before you say anything, let me explain." I took Tiffany's hands and stared into her eyes. It was the most honest conversation we had ever had about Josh and Carrington, and I needed to get it out.
    "I had feelings for Carrington, and I didn't act on them. I think if I had, Josh would still be alive, and she wouldn't be so damaged. I stood back and watched him destroy her mentally, at first, and then physically. I can't get that out of my head."
    "Oh, Jackson." She blinked back tears and held my face in her hands. Her eyes were so expressive and beautiful, and I felt good about telling her the truth. It felt good to say it out loud, and I wasn't pathetic for having these thoughts.
    "When he attacked her, she was calling for me, and I couldn't get to her fast enough." I wiped the tears from my eyes. I cringed thinking about her lying on the floor of Josh's room, covered in blood. "I couldn't stop him."
    Tiffany crawled in my lap and pulled me close. She put her hands under my shirt and I sighed and held her tight. Her contact comforted me. She wanted to comfort me, and I let her, because I needed comforting. As close as Carrington and I were, we never talked about it anymore. When I tried to talk to her about it, she would change the subject or make jokes about it.
    "I'm sure you did what you could. And you're here for her now."
    "Yeah, but I don't want her being here to effect us."
    "It won't. I've been jealous of Carrington for, well, as long as I've known about her, but not for the reasons you think." Tiffany took my face in her hands. "The two of you are connected by this tragedy, and it will bond you for life. I could deal because, well, besides phone calls and an occasional visit, I didn't have to see it, but now she's here."
    "It doesn't change anything."
    "That remains to be seen." Tiffany wrapped herself around me as if trying to prevent my heart from leaving her.
    I tried to convince her by being as honest as I could, but she knew I was holding something back and wasn't ready to hear my answer, so she didn't ask the questions.
    "I want to meet her," she said instead.
    Tiffany pushed back, but I held on. I needed to get my face right. Remove the panic I felt in my chest at her suggestion.
    "Why?" Stupid question.
    "She's important to you, and if she is going to be a part of your life, I think we should at least get to know each other."
    "Okay."
    I tried to keep my voice neutral. She climbed off my lap, took my hand, and led me upstairs. It wasn't until we entered my dark room did she face me, pulling her shirt over her head. She removed the rest of her clothes and I stood and watched. She wanted to confirm our connection by having sex.
    It seemed wrong, but I did it anyway.

Chapter Nine
    C arrington Olivia Butler
    The rest of my first week in Tallahassee was uneventful. It seemed I'd been gone long enough that my return didn't register with anyone. The professors knew the story, but they were too polite to bring it up.
    I reconnected with one of my old roommates, Jessica, but my other roommate, Melinda had dropped out of school last spring semester. She moved back to Miami and last Jessica heard, she was dating some old guy and working in his boutique on South Beach.
    Melinda was the self-designated leader of our group of girls, but she disliked me because I had nabbed Josh Griffin. She would have given her firstborn to the devil if it meant landing a Griffin or another wealthy Florida family's son.
    Jessica was honest. She said what she meant and although her