Page 43 of A Second Chance Christmas Kiss

“I can’t believe he did that, and it wasn’t true.” He took me into his arms again. Gently, he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “When I showed up at your wedding, I was convinced that you couldn’t marry someone else, not when I felt the way I did about you.”

My pulse raced. “I convinced myself that you never loved me. That somehow, I was always going to lose you.”

“I was so confused. I didn’t understand how I could feel …” He stuck a fist to his chest. “I didn’t understand how I could be so in love with you, but you were over me. I didn’t understand how you could be marrying another man when I knew I’d never get over you.”

Emotion bubbled inside me. “I don’t think I ever thought it was possible to be together. That day, I remember not really believing you were there. In the church. Trying to break up my wedding.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”

Charles pulled me against him and kissed my head. “It’s okay. It’s okay. We’re together now.”

Chapter Eighteen

Charles

I couldn’t believe that I was holding Melody in my arms, but I was grateful for it. “Do you want to walk down to the beach? We can be crazy people and take our shoes off and go into the cold water.”

She smiled. “I would love that. But I am not a crazy person.”

I smiled and chatted with her as we went down the stairs and out of the lighthouse. I felt young and free and happy for the first time in a long time. It wasn’t that I had been sad before, but I hadn’t been happy. I think my baseline had just become so-so.

“What are you thinking?”

“Who says I’m thinking?” I asked, pulling her closer and gently kissing her lips.

She laughed and pulled back. “Hey, you can’t kiss me all the time.”

I started walking again, but quickly kissed her cheek. “Then when can I?”

“Well, I guess you can sometimes.”

I paused and kissed her other cheek. “I’ll take sometimes.”

She frowned at me. “You always had a particular look when you were really thinking about something. I just saw it on yourface. Do I need to remind you that we have known each other since we were eight?”

We got to the water and paused to pull off our shoes. “Fine,” I grunted with pretended exasperation. “I was thinking that this is the first time I’ve been really happy in a long time.” It felt good to confide that to her.

She stood and then wrapped her arms around my waist.

There was no way she could know how good this felt. I sighed and put both of my arms around her shoulders. Her hair was loose, and I took the opportunity to run my hands through it. “Feels good.”

She smiled up at me. “You used to always love to run your hands through my hair.”

I nodded. “Your hair was always my kryptonite.”

“I feel happy too. And it has been a long time since I’ve been this happy.” She turned and stared at the ocean. “Shall we get in?”

I didn’t want to let her go, but I couldn’t deny this woman anything she wanted. “Sure.”

I bent and rolled up my pant legs. She did the same. Then we grasped each other’s hands and walked out into the ocean.

“Brr,” I said with an exaggerated shiver.

A look of amusement washed over her face. “You big sissy.”

I had to laugh. “You always called me that when you busted me on something. If I were the punishing type, I would splash you.”

Her eyes widened, and she giggled. “You wouldn’t!”

“I won’t tonight. Only because I have a few more manners than my eighteen-year-old self.”

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