Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 44

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44 Don’t Call Me Ma’am

Trevor POV

My heart feels heavy as I make my way to the rental car. I never thought that Clarice and I would be here. That I would hurt her in a way that was so unforgivable. My parents kept reassuring me of their love, but I don’t love myself very much right now. I pull the key from my pocket, and it takes effort to even slide into the driver’s seat. My parents‘ words replay over and over in mind for the two–hour drive back to the hotel. I debate about simply grabbing my

things and heading to the airport, but I need to sleep.

Although I doubt sleep will come. Besides, I don’t think I can do another long flight today. As soon as I pull into the hotel parking lot, a wave of exhaustion washes over me. My eyes feel heavy. I trudge the few feet to the hotel doors. Once I step inside, another thought strikes me. Loretta is probably waiting to catch me going to my room. There is no way I can deal with her right now. I know I am responsible for what I’ve done, but she intended to cause this. She played me like a fool and I jumped with both feet.

She is the last person I want to see. I make my way over to the desk and an older woman greets me. “Can I help you, sir,” she asks. “I’m hoping you can. I was hoping I could have my room moved to a different floor. I would also like a member of your staff to retrieve my bag from the old room if it’s possible.” She looks at me like she isn’t quite sure what to make of my request. “There is a woman in the room next to mine that I would rather not deal with, and she is persistent. Do you think you could help me out?”

“Of course, sir,” she says and starts tapping on her computer. A few minutes later, I have a new key card, and I’m heading toward the elevator. My new room is a floor below the old one. I step off the elevator and quickly make my way to the room. Once I’m inside, I breathe a sigh of relief. I throw my phone, the card, and my wallet on the nightstand before I head into the

bathroom.

I strip off my clothes and make the water as hot as I can take. When I finally step under the spray, I brace my hands against the shower wall. The tears from earlier return and I sob as I think about all I’ve lost. I have no one to blame but myself, but it doesn’t make the hurt any less. I’ll never get to hold my wife again or wake up next to her. I’ll never hear her laugh while

we snuggle on the couch watching a movie.

I’ll never make love to her all night. She’ll never love me with her whole heart ever again. Why the hell was I so stupid? Why did I throw everything away for a woman that stroked my ego when my wife never did anything but lift me up? I don’t know when it happened, but I find myself sitting in the shower with my back to the wall. You have to pull yourself together, Trevor. Clarice may divorce you, but she will always be in your life. Even the thought feels like

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<44 Don’t Call Me Ma’am

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a knife in my heart. We are having a child and I need to be the best version of myself, even if it’s just to co–parent by her side.

I reach up and wipe my cheeks. When I stand this time, I say a silent prayer for strength to get through the mess I’ve created. I wash myself quickly and slip on a large robe that is hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Just as I step into the room, a knock sounds on the door and I freeze. No, it has to be the hotel staff with my stuff. I make my way to the door but don’t open it. I look through the peephole but no one is there.

Hell no, am I taking the chance it’s her. I’ll sleep in the robe and figure out how to get my clothes tomorrow. Hell I’ll go buy all new clothes if I have to. I make my way over to the bed and grab my phone. I push my mother’s contact and the phone rings twice before she answers. “Mom, I made it to the hotel.” “Good, now, get some sleep. I know you have to be exhausted,” she says. Knowing that I haven’t lost my parents because of my astronomical mistake makes me feel less alone at this moment.

“I love you mom. Thank you for not just writing me off. I know I have a lot to atone for and I promise you I’ll do everything in my power to make this right for Clarice and the baby.” “| know you will, Trevor. We are not defined by our mistakes. We are defined by how we handle our mistakes. I have no doubt you will do what is best for Clarice and my grandbaby. I love you, Trevor.”

“Mom, do you think you could talk to Clarice about sitting down for a real discussion on how we move forward? If she wants the divorce as much as it kills me I’ll give it to her. I’d like to be able to be there for her appointments but if she doesn’t want me to I’ll accept it.”

There is a long pause before she speaks again. “That is the Trevor I raised. Get some sleep. I love you. I’ll talk to Clarice,” she says. I’m just about to place the phone back on the nightstand when it rings. As soon as I see the name, I send it to voicemail. She calls three more times and I debate about turning it off, but I don’t want my parents to be unable to reach me. I scroll to her contact intending to reblock her number when the phone rings again, but it isn’t her number.

I debate about answering, but since I use my phone for work, I accept the call. “Trevor,” I say, and regret it. “Why the hell aren’t you answering my calls, Trevor. Where the hell are you? You actually moved rooms to avoid me. Tell me where the f**k you are right now,” she practically screams. “No, I made myself perfectly clear, Loretta. There is no us. I love my wife even if she will never take me back. You were a mistake. A mistake I will not be repeating. Now I’m hanging up and I’ll be screening my calls going forward. Have a good life Loretta.” I smile as she continues to scream as I disconnect the call. I shoot my dad a text telling him I love him before I spread out on my bed.

Loretta POV

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I’m almost asleep when the sound of the room door startles me. The water has gone cool and I quickly stand. A shiver of excitement travels down my spine at the prospect of finally seeing Trevor. I quickly dry off and decide against the robe. I know once Trevor sees me naked again he’ll remember just how good we are together. Now that Clarice refuses to take him back, I can have him all to myself. I grip the door handle and take a steadying breath.

pull it open and step out into the room. I scream and try to cover myself when a man who can’t be more than eighteen is standing with Trevor’s bag in his hand. I quickly reach for the blanket covering the bed and wrap it around me. “Who are you and what the hell do you think you are doing?” “Nate, I work at the hotel. My boss told me to come to this room and get the bags. I didn’t know anyone was in here. I’m so sorry,” he says.

“Why are you taking my boyfriend’s bag? Where the hell is he?” “I’m sorry, ma’am, I don’t know anything but what my boss told me,” he says. “Did you just call me ma’am? Do I look old to you?” “No, of course not. I’m just trying to be respectful,” he says. “Well, don’t. Find out where you need to take the bag. I have to talk to my boyfriend.” “I’m just supposed to bring it back to the desk, miss,” he says, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Fine, I’ll follow you down. This is ridiculous.”

I rush into the bathroom and throw my clothes back on. When I’m done, I step back into the room and I swear Nate hasn’t moved a muscle. “Lead the way,” I say, pointing toward the door. When we reach the lobby, he heads straight for an older woman seated behind the desk. “Nate, what’s going on,” she asks, motioning to me. “What’s going on is he came into my boyfriend’s room and took his bag while I was naked? What I want to know is why and where the hell is he?”

“Ma’am, I am not at liberty to discuss another patron’s whereabouts with you,” she says. “I am not another patron. I am his girlfriend. Now tell me where he is.” “I apologize, ma’am, but I can’t do that,” she says. I notice the little pr*ck standing next to me fighting a smile. “Why exactly can’t you tell me where the man I came here with is?” “Mr. Banister gave very strict instructions about his privacy, and you are not registered as an occupant in his room. So ma’am I will not be giving you any information on where he is,” she says smugly.

I fight the urge to scream and turn without a word. I make my way back toward the elevator and

go to each floor. I don’t care if I have to knock on every damn door. I am finding Trevor tonight. By the time I make it back to my room, I was propositioned five times and screamed at three. I can’t believe he would do this to me. As soon as I’m back in my room, I grab my phone off the bed.

I call him repeatedly but, of course, that ba**ard refuses to answer. I smirk and grab the hotel phone. I dial his number and he finally picks up. I can’t believe the words that are coming out of his mouth. I knew he would be upset about Clarice, but to say I was a mistake. He told me he loved me, and now he wants to call me a mistake. When the line goes dead, I fight the

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urge to pitch my phone at the wall.

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Breathe Loretta, he is angry. He didn’t mean it. He loves you. You felt it every time you were with him. You need to give him time to come to terms with the fact that his marriage is over. I’m not giving up. As far as Clarice goes, she will need to forgive me because I’m going to be in their lives when Trevor finally realizes I’m the one that won’t leave him.

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