Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 63

63 Telling Trevor

Trevor POV

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All through dinner I kept stealing glances at Simone. Why the hell do I feel so drawn to her? I can’t stop the feeling of guilt at wanting this woman. I haven’t felt this way since the first time I saw Clarice. Something about her drew me in all those years ago, but this feels even stronger. What the hell is wrong with me? Days ago, I was begging Clarice to forgive me, and now I’m sitting here wondering what it would feel like to have Simone in my arms.

To kiss her plump lips. To make her mine in every way possible. I shake the thoughts away, focusing back on the conversations that are happening around me. “Since we will be here for the holiday, I haven’t really had a chance to shop for Christmas. I’d like to do some shopping if anyone wants to join me tomorrow. Do you think the square will still have stands set up,” my mom asks. “Absolutely they will. Honestly, most of the stands are from stores in town. So we can always just go to the actual stores if there is something in particular you are looking for Alexia,” Chrissy says.

“Simone, will you be joining them for shopping?” “I wish I could, but unfortunately I have to work tonight, so I’ll probably be asleep when you are all shopping. I’m not off now until Christmas night,” she says. I hate the thought of not seeing her for two days. What am I going to do when I go back to California? “I really should get going. I need to shower, dress, and pack my lunch,” she says. “Don’t worry about the lunch. I’ll have Lacey pack you up some lasagna to go,” Nick says and she smiles.

I know it’s innocent, but I hate that she is smiling at him. I should be the only one she smiles at like that. You sound insane, Trevor. Simone stands, and I forget, trying to do the same. She giggles when I plop back down in my seat. “No need to be a gentleman while you’re hurt. I probably could get you a cam boot since the fracture wasn’t displaced. It will make it a little easier to get around. I can drop it off before work tomorrow,” she says.

“That would be great, Simone.” She places her hand on my forearm before she makes her way around the table. “I’ll walk you out,” Chris says. Memories of the day of my accident come flooding back, and I realize he is the man that helped me. How the hell did I not realize that earlier? He really does look like Santa Claus if he stayed away from the cookies and hit the weights. I chuckle to myself. “What are you thinking about that has you chuckling,” my

mom asks.

“Just how crazy it is that we are all here having dinner. I never thought it would happen again.” “Well, I, for one, am thrilled that my family keeps growing. Simone is lovely,” she says. “She definitely is,” I say, but not loud enough for everyone to hear. When I look up, Clarice is smirking at me. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m exhausted. I’m going to steal my

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<63 Telling Trevor

wife and hopefully tucker her out,” my dad says. “Really, dad, gross. No one wants to hear that.”

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He slaps me in the back of my head and the rest of the table bursts out laughing. It doesn’t take long for it to be just me, Nick, Clarice, Chrissy, and Jack. I’m just about to grab my crutches and head to my room when Clarice’s question stops me. “So what do you think about Simone, Trevor?” I look at her, wondering why she asking me this. “She seems nice,” I say slowly. “She is beautiful and smart. She is far more than nice,” Clarice says, almost seeming irritated by my answer.

“Let’s not beat around the bush. Trevor, do you like Simone,” Chrissy asks. My eyes go wide in shock at her question. I look between her and Clarice. “What the hell kind of question is that? First, I’m still married even if Clarice has moved on. Second, the woman I professed to still love is sitting at this table. Third, I cheated on her. Do you really think I am thinking about any woman that way right now?”

I know none of those things change what I’m feeling toward Simone, but that doesn’t make it right. “Wow, he has it bad,” Chrissy says. I reach for my crutches. “Trevor, don’t leave we need to really talk. Chrissy is teasing you a bit but you and I both know you like Simone. I’ve known you a long time. You watched her tonight the way you used to watch me,” she says. The guilt from earlier is back ten times worse.

She noticed, and now she is calling me out on it. I deserve to be called out after all I’ve done. When I finally look back at Clarice, she is smiling. Not a fake, I don’t want you to know I’m upset smile, but a genuine one. “Trevor, I have so much to tell you, but I need you to admit first that you feel something for Simone. I won’t be upset. I am happy for you,” she says. I look at the others around the table, and they are smiling too.

“Yes, I think she is beautiful and smart. I’ve been thinking about her since the day we left the hospital. I don’t understand why, but even now I hate that she is gone.” “Good, because it’s going to make what I’m about to tell you much easier to believe,” Clarice says.

Clarice POV

My whole body relaxes when he finally admits how he feels about Simone. I was so worried it would be one–sided and Simone would be heartbroken. After everything she has been through, she deserves a man that will love her. Now it’s just the matter of convincing him that supernatural beings exist.

“Trevor, I saw the moment you remembered my dad tonight. He is the one that saved you from the accident. Which wasn’t an accident, by the way, but we can talk about that later,” Nick says. Trevor looks thoroughly confused. “He was there, but what do you mean, he saved me? He pulled me out of the car after the crash,” he asks.

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<63 Telling Trevor

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“Trevor, my mother, saw the accident. She has visions. She told my dad, who is Santa Claus about the accident. He was able to get you out of the car before it flipped. I’m the next Santa Claus and Clarice will be Mrs. Claus. My mother is half elf and half human. Jack’s name isn’t just a coincidence. He really is Jack Frost, who controls the weather,” Nick says. “I am more than just a snow maker Kringle,” Jack says.

A myriad of emotions flash in Trevor’s eyes before he settles on anger. “I’m not sure what the hell the point of this is, but it isn’t funny. I know I screwed up, but messing with me isn’t necessary. I’m already sorry for what I did. Why make me say I like Simone and then make up all this bulls*t about Santa Claus,” he asks, reaching for his crutches again.

“Trevor, no one is trying to trick you or be cruel. Nick is telling the truth. Although he could have delivered it a little bit differently,” I say, glaring at Nick. “I’m sorry, Clarice, I was trying to rip off the bandaid,” he says. I nod and turn back toward Trevor. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.” Trevor’s eyes snap to mine and I see the moment he realizes I’m not lying.

“Clarice, I’m not sure what’s going on because I can tell you really believe what is being said, but Santa Claus isn’t real. Jack Frost isn’t real. They are fictional characters made up for children,” he says. Jack waves his hand and snow starts to fall all around us. Trevor almost falls off his chair. “What the hell is this? How,” he manages to ask, staring wide–eyed at Jack. “Magic, my friend. I am Jack Frost, and he really is going to be Santa Claus very soon,” Jack

says.

“Trevor, I know it’s hard to wrap your head around this, but I promise you everything that was just said is the truth. Not only that but the reason that you are feeling the way you are about Simone is that she is your destined. She is the one you were always meant to be with. She is a fairy. You two are meant to be together.” This time he really does fall off the chair. Hell, he scurries away from the table on his butt like its on fire. “I don’t know what the hell you’ve all gotten into, but I’m not drinking the egg nog to join you. None of this is real,” he says.

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