Chapter 12

“As Stellan, I had an image to uphold. I couldn’t be anything else but the straight star running back for the team. It wasn’t an option. Or so I thought. I graduated and went to college. Within the first week, I found that the person who I’d been in high school had no chance in hell of surviving in the adult world. I learned a few hard lessons, discovered some truths about myself, and here I am.”

He sipped his coffee. “I’ve tried to find the people I used to pick on in high school to see if they would ever forgive me for my behavior. Not everyone has, and I don’t blame them. I was an unhappy, conflicted, and angry person back then. Abusing people for my amusement was second nature to me. And there you were, unafraid to be yourself and put your heart out there, and I stomped all over it.”

I studied him. His remorse was real, and while I didn’t know if I’d ever call him a friend, at least I understood why he’d been a complete jerk in high school.