Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 57

57 Leave Her Alone

Trevor POV

I’m shocked when Clarice grabs my phone off the nightstand and answers it. I could have guessed

who it was before Clarice even started to speak. When she calls me her husband to Loretta, my eyes immediately flick toward Nick. I’m surprised to see him very clearly fighting the need to laugh. I thought he might be angry or upset hearing Clarice refer to me as her husband, but he’s not.

Clarice always had that way of making you feel secure in her love.

I’m glad he isn’t upset with her. It’s strange, but since the accident the sadness and regret that felt like it was drowning me seems to have faded. I’m still sorry for what I did, and I love Clarice, but it’s almost as if my heart knows she is no longer mine. “I’m sorry, Trevor, I shouldn’t have answered

your phone.”

“I’m not upset in the least. Actually, it was quite funny to watch you poke the b**ch. I wish it would stop her from bothering me, but I have a feeling it won’t, I was actually telling her I was done entertaining her calls right before the accident happened. I guess this is my punishment

for what I did to you.”

Something flashes in Clarice’s eyes but its gone as quickly as it came. “No, you don’t deserve to be harassed when you have made it clear it’s over Trevor,” she says. She hands me my phone and I immediately block Loretta’s number. “I appreciate everything you two have done for me. As soon as my parents get here, I swear I’ll get out of your hair.” “Actually, I’ve talked to mom and dad, and we will be putting you up at the Inn for at least a week. You really shouldn’t fly after hitting your head,” Clarice says, but I can tell she is lying.

She was never good at it, but the question is why. I thought she would want me as far away from her as possible. Before I can tell them it isn’t necessary, the door to the room opens and an older woman in a white coat steps into the room. A pang of disappointment that it’s not Dr. Moore has me wondering if I hit my head harder than I thought.

“Mr. Banister, I read Dr. Moore’s notes from last night and your study from this morning looked good. The nurse will be in shortly with your discharge papers. You’ll need to follow up with the orthopedic doctor to have the cast removed and try to take it easy for the next few days,” she says before turning to leave the room.

True to the doctor’s words, fifteen minutes later, a younger nurse who refuses to look in Clarice’s direction has me sign the papers and rushes out of my room. I raise an eyebrow at Clarice and she shrugs. “Oh, tell him please,” Nick says. She rolls her eyes before she looks back at me. “That nurse was the one here at the desk when we first arrived last night. She asked about my relationship to you and Nick spoke up, saying I was your wife. As soon as she heard that, she decided to flirt hard

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with Nick. I may have shot her down,” she says.

+25 Points

I look at Nick, knowing there is more than what she is saying. “She told her that I was her

boyfriend. The nurse didn’t know what to say. You should have seen the look on her face thinking

that Clarice had a husband and a boyfriend. Then she called the woman thirsty after I led her from the desk. It was priceless,” Nick says, and I laugh.

away

I can’t help but think again how weird it is that I don’t hate him. I actually feel like we could become

friends, which is a good thing because I don’t think he is going anywhere. If he ends up being Clarice’s forever, he will be in our child’s life. We will need to get along for their sake. “Alright, I don’t

know about you two, but I’m ready to get out of this place and get a cinnamon roll,” Clarice says as

she grabs the wheelchair the nurse left.

Nick chuckles and I turn myself in the bed. I’m just about to use the crutches they gave me when

Nick comes to stand on my bad side. “Let me help you into the chair,” he says. He helps me stand

and I turn taking a seat. “Thank you, Nick.” “That’s what family does, Trevor, and like it or not, that baby in Clarice’s belly makes us family,” he says. I nod and he rounds the chair. As we make our way down the hallway and through the hospital, I can’t help but look around hoping to spot Dr.

Moore.

What the hell is wrong with you, Trevor? A few days ago, you were begging your wife for forgiveness and to come back to you. Now you’re thinking about a woman you spent less than an hour with. I shake the thoughts away as the double doors that lead outside come into sight. Once we are in the truck, it takes us about thirty minutes to reach the Inn. I’m shocked to see Nick pull my bag from his truck. “We were able to get it from the rental car. They talked to the police but they will be reaching out to you for a statement about the accident too,” Clarice says. She hands me my crutches, and we make our way inside the Inn.

“What the hell is he doing here again,” Nick’s sister asks as she glares at me. “Chrissy, enough. We invited him to stay here. The room I asked you to prepare was for him. Whatever mistakes he made are in the past. He is part of our family now. He is your niece’s father, so you need to let go of your anger with him. He and Clarice have made peace so they can co–parent. He was in an accident, and he will be staying here for at least a week if not longer,” Nick says.

I’m not sure what I expect, but it isn’t for her to extend her hand out to me. I take it without hesitation. “I don’t think we formally met. I’m Nick’s sister Chrissy. I also consider Clarice my sister, so you better never hurt her again, or I will make what I did to Wh*retta look like child’s play,” she says, and I can’t stop the chuckle at the nickname. “I promise you that I will never do anything to hurt Clarice again. I just want to be the best father to our baby and a better man.”

It’s strange how comfortable I feel around these people despite our last meeting. A few minutes later, Clarice is showing me to a room on the second floor. It’s quaint and Christmasy if that’s a

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word. “Mom and dad will be here soon. We will all be having dinner together if you want to rest for

a while,” she says. “Thank you, Clarice. I’m not sure why you want me to stay, but I’m happy to

spend anytime I can with you, Nick, and his feisty sister.” “I’m glad, Trevor. I know it’s hard to

believe because of the pain you caused me, but I’m glad I haven’t lost at least one of my best friends, because that’s what we were first, Trevor,” she says.

Elaine POV

I step out of my room with a smirk on my face. Not only is my son home to help patch things up

with Nick, but Clarice’s best friend, Loretta, reached out to me. It seems Clarice married a man just

like dear old dad. I’m not surprised Loretta screwed her husband, but I’ll gladly help her make

Clarice suffer. I step into the kitchen and smile when I see my son sitting at the table. “Hi

sweetheart, I’m so glad your home.”

“Why do I feel like there is more to why you are so happy,” he asks. “Do you remember Clarice Martin?” His brow furrows and he nods slowly. “Well, the little witch is back in town because her

husband cheated on her. She ruined my chances at happiness when you two were kids, and now

I get a chance to return the favor.” “Excuse me,” he says, irritation in his voice. “The little b**ch

thinks she is better than everyone else and needs to be taken down a few pegs. I’m going to help

Loretta do it.”

“Loretta, her best friend from high school, who was clearly a sh**ty friend then and sounds worse

now,” he asks. “Yes, why do you sound so upset?” “I’m upset because you are still the same

woman mom you were when I was a kid. You never grew up. You’re angry that a teenage girl f**ked up your plans to steal her father. You were screwing a married man and acting like you were wronged. Do you know how embarrassing it was as a kid when people would call you a sh*t,” he says. “Sweetheart, I had no idea,” I start to say, and he cuts me off.

“Don’t call me that. I’m a grown man. I am only going to warn you once, that if you get involved in whatever plan that stupid conniving b**ch concocts, I will get on the next flight back to Nevada and never speak to you again. I came home because grandpa asked me to take over the bakery and smooth things over with Nick so you could continue to pay for this house. But mark my words, I will leave if you so much as breathe in Clarice Martin’s direction,” he says.

“Darwin, I am your mother. How can you say such a thing to me?” “Yes, you are, and I love you, but you are also a sh**ty person sometimes. Clarice was kind, bright, and pretty. She never had a cruel word to say to anyone when we were in school. I liked Clarice but after what you did, I couldn’t even ask her out. Now at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I suggest you tell Loretta you aren’t interested in her revenge plot, or I’ll wash my hands of the bakery and you,” he says. “Fine, I’ll leave her alone just don’t leave. I’ll do better, Darwin,” I say.