Page 71 of Second Chance Husband

“No, I want you to take your time to forgive me. Figure out if you still love me. Because walking away to protect you before might’ve been noble in some eyes, but it was such a fucking mistake that I’ve been trying to make up for it ever since. And at the wedding? I was scared. But I was going to try to find a way to fix it. Even if it took me far too long to realize how. Even if I’m still trying to figure out how.”

As the power went back on again, and then turned back off, I saw Paisley’s face drain of color before she wrapped her arms in my coat.

“I kept telling myself that falling in love with you would be a mistake. That wanting to be with you would be a mistake. And I will forever hate my mother for what she did, hate Jacob for the same. But I don’t want to hate you anymore. I just want to figure out who we are. Without the labels, without the secrets. Without the fear that we’ll become our parents. Just love me, August. And trust me. That’s all I ask.”

I slid my thumbs along her cheeks, wiping away her tears.

“I will love you until the end of our days, Paisley Cassidy Renee.”

“Don’t full name me,” she teased. “But I love you. Even when it would’ve been easier for me not to, I loved you. Just help me trust you. That’s all I ask.”

“Every moment that we have together I will do my best so you can trust me again. Give me a second chance. A third chance. Give me all the chances. But let me be yours. I love you, Paisley. And I’m sorry for being scared. I’m sorry for walking away.”

“And I’m sorry for not fighting when I needed to. I love you, August. So let’s take that second chance. And let’s see what happens. When it’s just the two of us.”

“No exes, no mothers, no parents, no drama. Just you and me.”

“And no more running away.”

And then my mouth was on hers, and the power went back on again, as the storm raged, and I held the woman that I loved close.

“You know, I only brought one sleeping bag. The beds aren’t even made.”

“Are you telling me that I’m going to have to cuddle with you in a sleeping bag next to a fire all night?” she asked.

“I know it’ll be tough. But I’ll find ways to keep you warm.”

“You have so much groveling to do. So I guess you should probably start.”

“So first the generator? And then I’ll get on my knees.”

She raised a brow. “Oh, you’re going to be on your knees for a long while. Just saying. After all, I’m very bossy. Just ask anyone.”

“Whatever you say, ma’am.”

And as I kissed her again, and we laughed together, I knew that this was just one next step.

I had always loved her. Even when I told myself I couldn’t. That I shouldn’t.

And now I would spend the rest of my days promising her forever. And keeping that promise.

She was my first, my second, my always.

And it was about time that my heart, my soul, and my promises made that fact a forever. One second chance at a time.

Chapter Eighteen

Paisley

“Okay, are you ready for this?” Addison asked, as she worked on the train of my wedding dress.

My wedding dress.

As in, the dress I was wearing for my wedding.

My third wedding. Second to August.

There were already a few articles of that such, and I was a meme apparently in all the local circuits. But that was fine with me. They could all get their rocks off on my drama filled, soap opera wedding. Because in the end, I was about to marry the second chance husband of my lifetime, and the man who had groveled very well.

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