An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 100

Extra Story – Chapter 8

Age 16

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The change in Evan was sudden and somewhat concerning. Riley hadn’t realized she might actually miss Evan’s cocky attitude until it disappeared overnight. He became noticeably withdrawn, his smile gone, his forehead constantly furrowed as though something was bothering him.

Max had been irritated with Riley at first, questioning why she would tell a sixteen–year–old boy about her abusive first mate. He hated that she had pointed out ways Evan reminded her of Paul and accused her of making him feel bad about himself. But Riley waited him out. Max could be temperamental and short–sighted, but she knew he would come around, especially after Evan finally agreed to go back to therapy and give it an honest try.

After that, Evan showed up on time to nearly every training session. He worked hard, and Riley noticed a dramatic improvement in his skill. He was becoming harder and harder to beat in a sparring match. Riley had always prided herself on her speed, but she had nothing on Evan. And somehow, he kept adding muscle until every shirt he owned stretched across

his chest.

He also grew more focused. In the evenings, he studied with Alex, working on homework and preparing for tests. Evan had always been smart enough to pass without much effort, but once he actually tried, he started pulling straight A’s.

“I can’t come to training tomorrow,” Evan told her one morning as they sat in the grass, stretching after a particularly grueling hour.

“Why not?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I have a phone interview at eight. I don’t want to be late.” His voice was quiet, almost flat.

“An interview?”

He nodded. “With the academy.”

Riley blinked. “The academy? I didn’t even know you applied.”

He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “Alex was applying. He helped me with the application. It wasn’t too hard.”

“You did the essay and everything?”

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He nodded. “Yeah.”

“What did you write about?”

He hesitated, eyes fixed across the field. “My therapist gave me some ideas. I took his

advice.”

She studied him for a moment. “You didn’t answer my question.”

He glanced at her, the corner of his mouth tipping up just a little. “I know.”

She gave a quiet laugh. “So, are you not going to tell me?”

Evan sighed. “I just… I don’t want to talk about it right now. You’ll ask to read it. Same as

Mom and Dad did.”

“Did you let them read it?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t let anyone read it. Not even my therapist.”

“Well,” Riley said, still watching him, “I’m sure it was beautifully written.”

He almost smiled, but there was something soft and uncertain in his eyes. “I hope so.”

She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. “How are you doing, Evan?”

He looked at her, blinking like the question caught him off guard. “I’m fine.”

“Are you, though?”

A line creased his brow. “What do you mean?”

She shrugged slightly. “You’re quieter lately. Almost… sad, I guess.”

Evan looked away again, toward the treeline. “I’m just tired.”

“You’re allowed to be,” Riley said gently.

They sat in silence for a moment, the morning air still clinging to the dew–soaked grass

beneath them.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel like you were a bad person,” Riley added softly. “You’re not.”

“I know,” Evan said, though his voice lacked conviction.

“You’re still figuring things out. That’s not weakness. That’s just being sixteen.”

He gave a quiet snort. “Sixteen feels a lot older than I thought it would.”

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“I always doves”

Another silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t tense. Just quiet. Evan’s shoulders slumped a little, some of the tension easing from his frame.

“I don’t know if I want to go to Green River,” he said at last.

Riley looked at him, her expression calm and open. “You don’t have to decide today”

He gave a faint nod, then rose to his feet and brushed the grass from his hands. “I should get

home.”

She watched him walk away, the morning sun catching in his hair, and wondered just how much he was carrying that no one could see.

“Come in,” Riley called, not taking her eyes off the screen as she tried to make sense of the email from one of the council reps.

The door opened and closed, but she frowned a moment longer at the screen before finally

glancing up.

“Hey, Ev.”

He stood just inside the doorway, clutching a sheet of paper in his hand and glancing around awkwardly.

“Hey,” he said quietly.

“How was your interview this morning?”

“Good.” He looked at her. “I think it went pretty well, actually. The guy interviewing me really liked my essay. We talked about it for a while.”

She smiled. “That’s good to hear.”

He swallowed. “I hope I get in.”

“I’m sure you will,” she said, standing and walking around the desk. “You’re strong, talented, and very smart. You’d do really well at the academy.”

He shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. “Thanks.” He glanced down at the paper in his hands. “I thought…” He sighed. “I thought you might like to see it.” He held the paper out to her.

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Extra Story – Chapter 8

She took it and turned it over. “Is this your essay?”

“Yeah.” He nodded.

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