Page 88 of Revived

“Yeah. And I was actually on my way to Cash’s house when my mom texted me.”

I sit back into the cushions, trying not to show too much excitement. “Really?”

“Yes. Listen…” He starts, taking a deep breath before continuing. “I’m so sorry, Rachel.”

“You’ve said that. What exactly are you sorry for?” I’m dying to hear words that will take away this ache I’ve had in my chest for weeks. But I also know that Luke needs to say the right thing for that to happen.

“First, I’m sorry for firing you and kicking you out of my house.”

“Okay…”

He moves closer, reaching for my hand, intertwining our fingers together. “Second, I’m sorry for not being honest with Hannah’s parents about my desire to move on, or the fact that I already had.”

“But you said you weren’t ready, Luke. How do I know that now you are?”

“I’m hoping that you’ll trust me. And I’m hoping that this shows you how serious I am.” He turns to grab a white photo album from the coffee table, similar to the one Grayson and I made for Hannah.

“What is this?”

Luke’s lips tip up as he flicks his chin at me. “Open it.”

Holding my breath, I lift the cover and gasp as I see the picture of me, Luke, and Grayson at his birthday party, huddled around him before we sang and blew out the candles on his birthday cake. Above that in Luke’s elegant handwriting are the words, Our Second Chance.

“Luke…”

“Keep turning.”

I glance up at him before my tears build too much and then continue to flip through the pages, fighting the urge to crumble as I stare at the story unfolding. Pictures of our trip to the aquarium, selfies of Grayson and me at the park that I sent to Luke while he was at work, and dozens of other memories built over the past six months flood the pages, until suddenly they stop.

One lonely picture of Grayson and Luke sits on the last full page with many empty pages still stacked behind it, both of them frowning into the camera with pouty lips.

“This was the other night when Grayson and I were putting this together.”

“He helped?” I look up at him again.

“Yup. He said this should be the last picture where we’re sad, because after this, we can all be a family and be happy again.” He closes the album, sets it on the coffee table once more, and then pulls me into his lap. “You are our future, Rachel. I will always love Hannah, that will never change. But I know now that I’ve been lucky enough to get two chances at love, and I’d be a fool to let you go. It’s time for us to make new memories together, ones that represent this second chance I’m hoping you’ll give me.”

As I struggle to breathe, I let Luke’s words twirl through my mind. “You really hurt me, Luke.”

“I know. And I can’t apologize enough. I’m so sorry, Rachel. But I was scared—afraid to let myself surrender to the idea of loving someone as much as I loved Hannah. But I can’t help it,” he pauses before taking a deep breath and locking his dark chocolate eyes on mine.

“I’m in love with you, Rachel. I love your smile, your laugh, the way you’ve helped me feel lighter since you entered my life. I love the way you love my son, and how you take care of us so unconditionally. I love seeing you in the kitchen in the morning when your hair is a mess and there are lines on your face from your pillow.” His eyes flick down to my mouth before he speaks again. “I love your lips, the sounds you make when I’m kissing you and touching you. I’m in love with you, and I know now that it’s okay for me to say that, to feel it. I just needed some validation to accept it.”

“And was that what you were searching for while we were apart?” I cup his face in my hand, admiring the sharp lines of his jaw, his thick and dark hair I can’t wait to run my fingers through again, waiting until I can kiss him.

“Yeah. And I got it, in more ways than one.”

“I heard Cash got pretty angry with you.”

That makes Luke chuckle. “Cash is super protective of you, and yes, he said some things that I needed to hear.”

“I don’t want to replace her, Luke. I don’t want you or anyone else to constantly compare me to her. That’s my biggest fear I’ve realized in all of this.”

“You’re not replacing her and I don’t want to compare you either, because you are honoring her just by worrying about that. But you are our future, Rachel. That’s why we made this album. It’s time to build our life together, our story. My son loves you too and wants us to be a family.”

I blink away tears before I gently press my lips to his. “I’ve missed you both so much.”

“Is that a yes then?”

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