Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 27

27 Amends (Part 1)

27 Amends (Part 1)

Clarice POV

Soft lips touch mine, pulling me from sleep. Before he can move away, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his lips back down to mine. The kiss starts out gentle, but I don’t want gentle right now. I know I shouldn’t even be thinking about s*x because of everything that’s been happening, but my body wants him. Hell the whole time I was sleeping. All I could think about was Nick’s

hands and mouth all over me.

As he deepens the kiss, I moan and try to pull him closer. He chuckles but doesn’t break the kiss. I move my hand down his neck toward the buttons of his shirt, but he catches my fingers. He breaks the kiss and presses his forehead against mine. “As much as I want nothing more than to explore every inch of your body, you aren’t ready, Clarice. Besides, your parents will be here any minute. Well, that was like a bucket of ice–cold water on my lady bits.

I open my eyes and stare into his. “The only reason I’m not pushing what I want from you is because I have to go speak to my parents for the first time in ten years. I know what I am ready for Nick Kringle. I appreciate you are trying to do the right thing by me, but I know my own heart and body. Now, next time I make a move, you have two choices. You give in to the desire that is very evidently tenting your pants, which is a little scary by the way, or you continue to treat me like I’m made of glass. I’m not, by the way. Just because I’ve been hurt doesn’t mean I’m fragile.” “I’m sorry Clarice. I didn’t mean to insinuate you’re anything but strong. I just don’t want you to regret anything the first time we are together. It wasn’t that long ago that you were in love with the man that betrayed you,” he grits out. “You’re right, I was, but you would be surprised how quickly betrayal turns love into a memory. I don’t feel anything for him now, which is how I know I’m ready for what’s happening between us. If I still hated him I wouldn’t be so sure, but honestly, the only one in my heart right now is you, Nick. I know it’s crazy, but it’s the truth.”

“I love you Clarice. I know that sounds nuts since it’s only been such a short time, but I knew the moment I saw you that you were going to change my life. I am not the easiest man to love despite who I am meant to be, but I couldn’t fight what I felt for you even if I wanted to. Now I need to get my problem under control, and you need to get up so you can talk to your parents. I still can’t believe your father called her father

on her,” he says with a chuckle.

“I love you, Nick. I know I’m not like you. I’m not magical, but I know in here that you will never hurt me. I can feel how much you love me even before you said the words. I know without a shred of doubt that I am meant to be your one,” I say, pointing at my heart. He slams his mouth down on mine and kisses me breathless. When he finally pulls back, he offers me his hand. If a kiss makes me feel like this, I can’t imagine what it will be like when he buries himself inside me.

27 Amends (Part 1)

He presses one more soft kiss on my lips before he leaves me to get ready. I head into the bathroom and do my business before I run the brush through my hair. I look at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath. I have no idea what I’m going to say or what they are going to say, but I know in my heart it’s time for us to talk. I make my way down the hall and into the living room. I’m shocked to find Chrissy, Jack, and Nick.

Chrissy is dressed like she is going dancing in a shimmery black mini dress and Jack is wearing a pair of dress pants and a black button–down shirt. “Are you two going on a date,” I blurt out excitedly. Jack chuckles and Chrissy’s cheeks blush before she nods at me. “Oh my God, I’m so happy for you two,” I say, and wrap Chrissy in a hug. I move to hug Jack when he opens his arms

me and a strong arm pulls me back. “Hug your own girl,” Nick says, and I giggle.

I

to

I know he really wouldn’t care if I hugged Jack. “Nick told us what happened. Are you going to be

alright by yourself,” Chrissy asks. “I love you for worrying about me, but I want you to go and have an amazing date. Besides, I won’t be alone. Nick will be with me.” I notice the surprise in his eyes, like he didn’t expect me to want him there. “I’m proud of you, Clarice. You are being brave, unlike some people,” Chrissy says, looking at Jack with a smirk.

I

I giggle when he glares at her, but I can see there is no anger in it. “Alright, we had better go if we want to get to the restaurant on time. Good luck Clarice. We can pop right back if you change your mind, and you need your sister,” Jack says. This time I step out of Nick’s hold and hug him. “I’m glad you were brave even if you took you a while,” I whisper. “Me too. Thank you, sister from another mister” he says, and I giggle. A few seconds later they’disappear.

Nick threads his fingers with mine and leads me out of the apartment. When we step into the back entrance of the Inn, my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest. We step into the lobby my parents‘ are standing near the fireplace. I can see fear, sadness, but most of all, hope in both their

eyes.

Nick squeezes my hand, and we move until we come to stand in front of them. “I had Lacey prepare the private dining room for us,” Nick says.

My parents nod and follow us until we come to a small cozy room with a large wooden table that I’ve never seen. It’s decorated just like the rest of the Inn, but you can tell it’s for a more intimate gathering than the main dining area. Once we step inside, Nick pulls out the chair next to his and my father does the same for my mother. Nick takes my hand in his and just knowing he’s with me gives me strength. I don’t know what I expected but none of us speak at first. I wonder if they are afraid they will say something to upset me.

“I’m sorry,” I start to say, and my father cuts me off. “Clarice, you have nothing to be sorry for,” he

you did says. “No, I do. Just let me get this out. I had every right to be angry with you, dad. What was wrong. You hurt my mother. You were selfish, and you betrayed a woman that loved you. I hated you for what you had done, but I never should have cut mom off. I’m no better than you.

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27 Amends (Part 1)

You were hurting her, and then I hurt her.”

His face falls, but I need to be completely honest with him. I look at my mother, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m sorry, mom. I was selfish. I was angry at dad for what he did and for what you were putting up with. I should have kept trying to talk to you.” I turn back to my dad. “I was angry at you. I don’t understand how you could promise to love her and they cheat. I used to think you were this amazing man. You were such a great dad and I thought a great husband.”

“Then seeing you with Elaine, I felt like not only did you betray mom, but you betrayed me. Everything I thought of you changed in an instant. Then, when I told mom, and she defended you, I felt betrayed again. I wanted her to be mad and yell at you, but instead she told me I misunderstood. Then you came to my room and told me what was happening wasn’t any of my business. I felt like I lost you both. I was so angry at you both. Everything I thought was real was a lie, so I left.”

When I look at my father, tears streak down his cheeks. My mother reaches over and takes his hand in hers, and he gives her a grateful smile that is full of love. It reminds me of how they were when I was little. He looks toward the celling before his eyes focus back on mine. “You will never know how much I hate myself for what I did to your mother and to you. I won’t make excuses for what I did because there isn’t one. All I can do is explain what happened when I grew up. Again, it doesn’t justify what I did, but it might help you understand why I was such a pathetic a**hole,” he

says.

“Growing up, my father cheated on my mother all my life. He was never discreet. He told me that as long as you provide and come home to your wife, it didn’t hurt to have women on the side,” he says. I can see the disgust on his face as he says the words. “My mother acted like she didn’t know, or it didn’t bother her. When we first got married, it was the first time my mother told me how much it bothered her that my father couldn’t be faithful. I promised myself I wouldn’t be like him.”

He seems to steady himself and the tears fall harder. “She died when you were little and your grandfather never changed. When he got me alone at the funeral, he told me how much of a disappointment I was for being such a p**sy in life. He had drunk during the funeral and was quite drunk by the time we had to drag him out. Every time I saw him after, he made a point to tell me that I needed to find someone else to blow off steam,” he says.

“The first time it happened, I was at a business diner, I was pissed your mother couldn’t come with me because she had to stay home with you. I had too much to drink, and my father had a woman approach me. After it happened, I was disgusted with myself, but his words kept replaying in my head. So I justified it in my mind by telling myself that I was a good husband, so it didn’t matter. I was like a little boy trying to please his father. It took me a year of therapy to realize why I was such a screw–up,” he says.

27 Amends (Part 1)

“Don’t say that, Andrew. You have worked hard to become the man I deserve. I have forgiven your because you proved you are not the man that hurt me,” my mother says. I notice Nick shift. uncomfortably and his face lose the warmth of a few minutes ago. Is he angry about what my father just said? I know it doesn’t make it right, but it does help me understand. So why does Nick

look so angry?

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