Page 53 of It Happened Duo
“Rex, I missed you, but I don’t know. I can’t stop thinking about you and wondering what might havehappened if things were different, if we were different. But we can’t go backwards.”
“We are different now, sweetness;I’mdifferent now. I believe everything that happened changed me for the better. Please, give us a chance to try again.” I fingered her locks, but a tickle in my throat caused me to cough again.
“We shouldn’t be talking so much, aggravating your cough. Come on, back to bed.” She sat on the edge and patted it. “I’m wondering if we should take you to the urgent care today?”
“I’m fine. I weathered the storm to get back to you. You’re all the medicine I need.” I got back in bed and pulled her to me before she escaped. We settled in, but she was quiet and I could feel her shutting down. I couldn’t rest, needing to keep going, to explain, to plead, to grovel, whatever it took to get her back.
I lifted on my elbow to see her face. “So much has happened. Things I need for you know.” I broke down and told her about Marlena and my personal hell of the past two months.
Her brow creased as if angry. “I wish you would have reached out and told me what was going on. We could have battled her together, gone to the police, tried to explain.”
“It’s done now. I’d do it all again, put myself through hell, if it meant protecting you. Thankfully, Mom came to my rescue, and I didn’t have to go through with marrying her. What about you and the show? Do you enjoy working there?”
“Stanley told me you’re the one who recommended me.”
“Ah, I told him not to.”
“I guess I should thank you for the opportunity.”
“Hey, no, all I did was put your name in front of him and show him your social media posts.Youdid the rest, charming him, and everyone who watches that show, with your sunshine. You’re so good at it. I can’t tear my eyes away?—”
“You’ve watched it?”
I brushed the back of my hand on her cheek. “Every single episode, a dozen times each, and I think I can recite your recipes from memory now.”
She relaxed into a chuckle and shared with me all about her TV work and her plans for the deli, her eyes lighting up with the passion she had for it all.
“For the record, I need for you to know that my old feelings about the deli are gone. The building means nothing to me and I threw away the plans to remodel. Instead of the past when I think about that place, I see you, sweetness, all your sunshiny ways, making people happy with your food, and killing them with kindness.” I chuckled, and she joined me. “You cured me. You’re all I want.”
“I’m busier than ever, now, though, Rex.”
I squeezed her to me. “Maybe you won’t have time for me anymore, then.”
She peered up at me. “I used to think, in order to achieve my goals and work hard, I couldn’t make room for a man or love. But now…I realize it’s all about balancing the areas of my life in order to feel totally fulfilled.”
“Love…?” I ran my fingers through her hair anddown her jaw, lifting her chin so our eyes locked so she’d know I was serious. “I do love you, Chelsea. Why do you think I risked so much coming to Holly Creek? The entire journey here, I had no idea what you’d do when I found you. You could have slammed the door in my face and left me out to freeze to death, and I would have gladly died of a broken heart if you had. Because at least I tried to get to you and make one last appeal for you to take me back. I’m a broken man who loves you.”
“There’s always been something between us too strong to understand. I thought we were over, that there was no way you could redeem yourself after that night on the roof, but now you happened upon my doorstep on Christmas Eve, of all days.” A shadow of worry and doubt crossed her eyes still. “I want so badly for you to be the best present I’ve ever had.”
“No,you’rethe bestI’veever had. I love you, Chelsea. Please forgive me. I’ll do whatever it takes to be the man you need. Fuck, you have no idea how much I want to buy your love, to offer you the world, my money, my possessions if you’d just take me back. But now I know there’s only one thing I can give you that’ll mean the most to you. My heart. And you have it; it’s yours, but will you take it? Take me back? Give me another chance?”
I sweated what seemed an eternity for her reply as she searched my eyes. My heart ached for her as if she reached in and twisted it just to see how strong I was in my resolve to be better for her.
28
BELIEVE AGAIN
REX
The tensionbetween us weighed heavily in the small bed of Chelsea’s room. Finally, after waiting next to her for what felt like an eternity, a warm curve of lips appeared across her face. “I love you, too, Rex,” she whispered.
“Oh, sweetness. We can try again? I know we’ll get it right this time.”
“Yes. Again. But don’t break my heart a second time,” she warned.
A sigh of relief left me, and I gathered her in my arms. “I won’t. Thank you, baby. Christmas used to be myleastfavorite holiday after Dad passed away. Now, it’ll always be the day I found my way back to you.”
We held each other close, my heart surging with hope again. I vowed to spend each day proving my love for her.
