Page 131 of Your Second Chance
Luna and I answered at the same time.
I shot her a glare while she burst out laughing, ruffling Scarlette’s curls. “Kidding. That word is only reserved for when Mom and Ollie...”
“Luna Pier?—”
“Shhh.” She clapped her hands over Scarlette’s ears with exaggerated theatrics. “Baby ears.”
“I’m not a baby,” Scarlette shouted indignantly, squirming out of Luna’s grasp before turning to me with wide, determined eyes. “Mum, can I be excused to go play with my toys?”
I smiled, shaking my head at the whirlwind of chaos around me. “Go ahead, sweetheart.”
Scarlette bolted from the table, her laughter echoing down the hall as she disappeared into the living room.
The doorbell rang, cutting through the comfortable hum of the house. All of us froze, exchanging curious glances. Luna raised an eyebrow, but I was already standing, wiping my hands on a dish towel as I headed to answer it.
The moment I opened the door, my breath caught. A dozen bags sat neatly on the porch, and then I sawhim,bent over, grabbing another from the back of a car service.
Mine.
I didn’t think. I didn’t care about the freezing cold or the snow crunching under my toes. I ran down the steps, my heart pounding, the icy wind biting at my cheeks.
He straightened in time, his arms full of luggage, his face breaking into the smile that always felt like coming home. His hair was longer, tousled in the wind, and his face was freshly shaved, his skin glowing against the cold.
I didn’t stop. I leaped into his arms, wrapping myself around him, burying my face into his neck. The scent of him—familiar and warm—filled my senses, and tears pricked my eyes.
“I love you,” I murmured, trembling as I clung to him. “I missed you.”
“I love you too, love,” he whispered into my ear as he tightened his arms around me.
He tilted his head, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was everything I’d been aching for. It was slow, deliberate, like we had all the time in the world, our breath mingling in the cold air. His hands cradled my face as if I were something fragile.
When we finally pulled apart, we were laughing, my cheeks flushed—not just from the cold, but from the sheer joy of having him here. He didn’t set me down, not until he carried me up the steps toward the warmth of the house.
I only let him drop me when Scarlette came barreling toward us, her little voice ringing through the hallway.
“My Ollie,” she screamed, launching herself into his arms as soon as I stepped aside.
He caught her effortlessly, spinning her in a circle as she giggled uncontrollably. “My Scarlette,” he said, his voice full of love as he kissed her forehead.
“You surprised us,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion as I took in the sight of them together.
Ollie grinned at me over Scarlette’s shoulder, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “That was the plan,” he said, his accent warm and teasing. “Merry Christmas, love.”
“You’re finally here.”
His brow furrowed. “I knew it was a?—”
“Oh thank God,” I cried and launched myself at him again, wrapping my arms around him as he held Scarlette.
“Look at you, Oll.” Luna stepped in slightly to take him in, a grin spreading across her face. “You’re looking good.”
I pried myself off Ollie and scooted to the side, making room for Luna to dive into the hug.
She wrapped her arms around him tightly. “Missed you,” she murmured, her voice unusually soft. “No one was around to help me put this one in her place.”
“You did that plenty.” I shot her a mock glare.
When we finally broke apart, Ollie chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as Scarlette jumped down from his arms.
