Holiday Second Chance Romance

6 I'm Not Giving Up

Trevor POV

My head is pounding, and my mouth feels like I ate sand paper. I roll over and reach for Clarice, but her side of the bed is completely cold. The events of yesterday come rushing back with the force of a tidal wave. F**k I scream before I rush to the bathroom and empty my stomach.

When I'm finally done, I get up and quickly brush my teeth. I called Clarice a hundred times last night before I went to my office here in the house to try to numb myself with a bottle of bourbon. I have no idea where my wife is. My beautiful, perfect wife left without even giving me a chance to explain or beg her not to leave me.

How could she just leave? We have been together since college. We have been married for the last five years. Our marriage is amazing. We hardly fight and our s*x life is off the charts. My wife wants me as much as I want her. This whole thing with Loretta was truly for both of us. I realize now I should have talked to her the minute that Loretta told me about her feelings for us. She has been a part of our lives for so long it just made sense.

I knew that Clarice and Loretta had experimented in college. I mean it was just a kiss, but she loves her. They have been inseparable since they were children. I thought it could be more and so did Loretta. Why the f**k didn't I talk to my wife first? I can't lose Clarice. I make my way downstairs to my office and swipe the phone from my desk. I pray she has called or texted even if it's to tell me she hates me. I tap the screen and my heart sinks. I dial her number again, but the call goes right to voicemail.

I send her a text pleading for her to call me. What the hell am I supposed to do now? A knock on the door has me nearly tripping over my own feet. I know she wouldn't knock, but that doesn't stop me from hoping as I run to the door. I throw it open and my heart sinks. Loretta stands on the other side with her arms wrapped around herself. Her eyes are red rimmed and puffy. Before I can stop her, she throws herself at me. I immediately step out of her hold.

Hurt flashes in her eyes, but I can't bring myself to care right now. The only thing that matters is finding Clarice. "Trevor, please don't shut me out. You and Clarice are my family," she says. "Do you understand that Clarice is gone? She left because of us. You heard her yesterday. She doesn't want to share me. I told you from the beginning that if Clarice wasn't on board with this, it couldn't happen." "But you still slept with me. You care about me. I can't lose you. I've been in love with you since college, Trevor," she says.

"Enough, I love my wife. I told you that if I had to choose it wouldn't be you." "I love Clarice too. We just have to find her and convince her that we can all be happy together," she says. "Loretta, my priority right now is to find my wife and beg her to come home. I can't lose her or my child." Her eyes get big. "Clarice is pregnant," she whispers. "I think she is. I think that she planned to tell me yesterday before we hurt my wife."

"So that's it. I lose my best friend and you. I lose my family. You said you loved me Trevor. You said it right in front of Clarice. She knows how you feel about me," she says. Anger bubbles up inside me. "I also made it clear that she was the one that I couldn't live without. I do care for you, Loretta, but Clarice is my world. I can't lose her." She sobs just as my phone rings. My heart races at the aspect of finally talking to my wife.

My shoulders sag when I see mom on the screen. I put the phone to my ear. "Hey mom, what's up?" "Where are you? I can't get a hold of Clarice. I'm worried something might be wrong," she says. I look toward the ceiling and close my eyes. I'm not ready to tell her what the hell is going on yet. Honestly, I'm praying I'll never have to tell her. "She is probably just writing and forgot to turn her phone on mom. You know how she is when she gets in the zone. I will try to get a hold of her to make sure she is alright."

"Fine, but tell her to call me. I miss her. She canceled our weekly lunch date today," she says. "You heard from her today," I ask, trying to keep the pain from my voice. "Yes, earlier this morning she texted me that something had come up, but now she isn't answering," she says. "I'll check on her mom, but I'm sure she is fine." "Alright sweetheart, love you" she says. "I love you too mom."

"Your mom is going to be upset when she finds out that Clarice left. She loves her." I had forgotten that Loretta was even standing there. I glare at her. "You need to leave Loretta. I've taken the day off to try and find my wife." "Let me help you. I can call my cousin. He is a PI. He might be able to help us find her," she says. "Fine, you can help, but you can't stay here to do it. I need to make amends and being alone with you isn't a good idea right now." "Fine, but I'm not giving up on us. I love you and Clarice. We were meant to be a family," she says.

Loretta POV

As soon as I make it to my car, the tears continue to roll down my cheeks. I never expected Clarice to leave. I knew she might be upset about me being with Trevor, but I knew she would never cheat on him. I needed to get him on board with our relationship so she wouldn't feel guilty for being with me. I do love Trevor, but I've been in love with Clarice for far longer. She is my person. She is beautiful. She has the best heart. She has always made me feel special.

I pull out of the driveway and immediately call Patrick. "Patrick, I need your help." "What's wrong Loretta? You sound like you've been crying," he says. "My best friend, Clarice, is mad at me. She is also mad at her husband. She is gone, Patrick. Can you help me find her? Trevor thinks she is pregnant, and she isn't in contact with her family. We are both really worried about her." "Do I want to know why she is mad at both of you," he asks.

"There was a misunderstanding. We both just need to talk to her. You know how important she is to me, Patrick. I would never do anything to hurt her." "Alright, give me a few hours. I'll see what I can find out," he says. The rest of the drive home my chest aches. Where the hell would she go? She wouldn't go home. She loves her mother, but she can't stand watching her be the dutiful wife to a man that doesn't respect her.

I still remember the first time we caught her father cheating on her mother. We were on our way home from school in tenth grade. We just turned the corner onto main street when we stopped dead in our tracks. There, not even ten feet from us, was Clarice's dad and Clement Brooker's mom. She was a single mom who apparently didn't care about screwing around with a married man. When he finally noticed us, he took a step back, but it was too late. We had seen them and Clarice was destroyed.

She was a daddy's girl up until that moment. We ran as he screamed Clarice's name. As soon as we reached the house, I remember wincing because he was sitting on the front porch. He told me to go home, but Clarice told me later he pleaded with her not to say anything to her mother. She refused because Clarice loves her mom. That was the end of her relationship with her father. Bile rises in my throat. Clarice never forgave her father.