Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 54

<54 Did You Feel That

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54 Did You Feel That

Clarice POV

As soon as we reach the Inn, Nick leads me into the utility closet. “You know we could just head to the apartment if you want to be alone with me. I wouldn’t say no.” He throws his head back and laughs before we appear in Chris and Anya’s living room. He presses a kiss to my nose. “I’ll keep that in mind for when we get back,” he says in my ear, and a shiver runs down my spine. I’m just about to press a kiss on his lips when I hear footsteps behind us. “Clarice, how are you feeling,” Anya asks from behind me.

I turn and rush toward her. I practically knock her over, wrapping her in my arms. “Thank you for saving him.” “You’re welcome sweetheart. Besides, I wasn’t going to let loony Loretta take him away from my granddaughter,” she says. “I can’t believe she did this. I mean she drove him off the road. Who does something that?” “Someone who is a spoiled nasty b**ch who isn’t getting her way. She thought once you walked away he was going to fall at her feet, but despite his stupidity, he was still smart enough to know she is nothing compared to you,” Anya says, cupping my cheeks.

“Thank you, but what do we do now? I mean she hit him and drove away. What if he had died? The doctor said that he was lucky he walked away with minor injuries, and we all know that’s only because of Chris. We can’t prove she did this, but she needs to be punished. Besides, what is she going to do when she figures out he wasn’t hurt or killed? She isn’t going to let this go.” I didn’t even realize tears were rolling down my cheeks until Chris reached out and wiped my tears. Nick wraps his arm around me. “I promise you, Clarice, that Loretta is going to get everything that is coming to her, and we don’t have to do a thing to punish her,” Anya says.

“Mom, what did you see,” Nick asks. “Let’s just say that the doctor you met today wasn’t by coincidence. Nature’s sister is playing matchmaker again with Clarice’s soon–to–be ex–husband,”

Anya says. Now I’m totally confused. “You are serious. Do you know who she is,” Nick asks. “Not a clue, but we both know that Fae don’t leave their brethren for no reason,” she says. “Can someone clue me in on what the hell is going on?”

Simone POV

I take a deep breath before knocking on the door to Trevor’s room. I’m shocked to find it empty

except for Trevor. Why the hell would his wife leave without at least hearing about his injuries? I

tamper down my anger on his behalf. When his eyes meet mine he smiles. I can tell he is still

feeling no pain with the shot I had the nurse give him. “The pretty doctor is back,” he says and I chuckle. “I have the results of your x–ray and scans. Did your wife leave?”

Sadness flashes in his eyes and my chest aches. “She isn’t my wife anymore. Well, legally she is

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54 Did You Feel That

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until the divorce is final, but she doesn’t love me anymore. She loves Nick now,” he says. My fists clench at my sides. What the hell kind of person does that? She’s lucky I can’t use my magic, or I’d teach her a lesson about hurting my destined. “That was pretty sh*tty of her to bring him here while you’re hurt.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I want to suck them back in.

A smile spreads across his face but fades just as quickly. “Clarice is an amazing woman. I am the one that hurt her, and she still showed up for me. Nick’s a good guy. I want to hate him but I can’t. Clarice deserves to be happy. I told her to go home and rest. She needs her sleep for the baby,” he

says.

I feel like my heart is being squeezed in my chest. I push the jealousy and sadness down. Despite our destiny, this man will never be mine. “Trevor, your leg is definitely broken. Fortunately, the break is clean, so the specialist will set it without surgery. The scan of your head is clean. Tomorrow we will repeat it to make sure it stays that way and, once you get your cast, we can discharge you.” Even talking about him leaving tomorrow has a wave of sadness washing over

1. me.

“Do you think that a person can redeem himself after they screw up,” he asks, like he didn’t hear a word I said. I move to the side of his bed against my better judgment. I place my hand on top of his and instantly realize it was a mistake. Warmth blooms under my hand and a zing travels up my arm. “Wow, what was that,” he asks, and I quickly pull my hand back. “Did you feel that,” he asks, looking up at me. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about?” “It felt like when you were a kid and rubbed your feet on the carpet” he says and I laugh.

I’ve never heard the bond described like that. “To answer your question, I believe a person can redeem themselves after a mistake, but that doesn’t mean the person that was wronged has to forgive them.” “She’ll forgive me because that’s who she is, but she’ll never take me back. I don’t blame her. What I did was awful. I don’t deserve her forgiveness. She is even going to let me go to her doctor’s appointments,” he says.

“So the baby she’s having is yours?” Why the hell did I ask him that? Just to torture myself more. He looks at me and nods. “Trevor, what did you do that made your wife so angry?” Simone what the hell are you doing? He isn’t yours. You shouldn’t be asking these questions. Besides, he is as high as a kite. “I cheated on her with her best friend,” he says. I pull my hand away like his words burned me. “It’s bad, I know. I hate myself. I’m such an a**hole. Who does that to a woman he loves? I wish I could have told the crazy b**ch to leave me alone, but I was weak and gave into lust,” he says.

I’m torn between wanting to comfort him and slapping him in the back of the head. I don’t have the right to do either. He isn’t mine. “You’re right about being lucky. Most women would have left and never looked back.” I take a step back needing to put space between us. Trevor offers me a sad smile before his eyes flutter closed. Before I can think better of it, I step forward and trace his

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features with my finger. He really is very handsome. I wonder if he would have made the mistakes if we were together. The bond is strong. I can feel it flowing between us, but he’s human.

I turn and leave the room. Don’t let yourself even think about him, Simone. It’s never going to happen. I make my way back to the break room and plop down on the uncomfortable couch. My eyes close and my mind conjures images of a future where Trevor is mine. Where my belly is round

with our child. It’s funny, but Clarice and Nick are with us and a pretty little girl that calls both Clarice and me mom as she runs through a big yard.

My eyes fly open, and I wonder what the hell is wrong with me. I take a deep breath and get back to my feet. Four more hours and my shift is over. Then I can go back to my empty apartment and forget about today. Forget about the man that will never be mine. Unfortunately the night seems to drag. I make one more set of rounds, leaving Trevor’s room for last. I knock lightly hoping he’s asleep, but no such luck. I step into the room and smile when I notice the bright green cast on his lower leg. “Nice color. Did you pick it?” “No, but Clarice is going to get a kick out of it. She loves Christmas and green is her favorite color,” he says.

I try not to let jealousy rear its ugly head. “I’m getting ready to pass you off to the oncoming physician. I just wanted to see how you were doing. Is the pain better?” “Much, thank you. I’m sorry for telling you all that stuff last night and calling you pretty,” he says. I raise my eyebrows and he chuckles nervously. “It’s not that you’re not pretty, I just shouldn’t have said it out loud,” he says. It’s fine, Trevor. I appreciate the compliment. You should be able to leave soon. Will someone be able to pick you up?” Why the hell did I just ask him that?

“Yes, Clarice and Nick should be here soon,” he says. “Good, take care of yourself and try not to

break any

more bones, Mr. Banister.” Before he can say anything else, I slip out of the room. It’s time to go home and drown myself in a tub of rocky road icecream. I grab my things from the break room and make my way through the hospital. With every step further from Trevor, my heartaches a little more. F**k why did I have to find him after all this time? You’ll forget him Simone, you have too.

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