Love's Second Chance (Second Chances #1)(59)

“We know,” she whispered. “Merry Christmas, Ducky.”

“Merry Christmas, Twink.”

Once they left, I settled into the recliner by the bed and covered up with a blanket. That is how I slept for the past two weeks, curled up on the recliner, holding Galen’s hand on the bed. Christmas night was going to be no different. I hadn’t slept well since the accident, but sitting there exhausted and tired, I fell into a deep and dream-filled sleep.



“What are you doing, love?” Galen asks.

Turning around abruptly, I see Galen coming up behind me. “Oh my God, Galen!” I yell excitedly. Running to him, he catches me into his arms and I plant my lips fiercely onto his. He feels so real, so solid. “Are you really here?” I ask.

Galen laughs and takes my face into his hands. “Of course I’m here, why wouldn’t I be?”

I ran my hands over his face, his arms, and over his stomach. There were no bandages, no broken bones … nothing wrong at all. “You’re not real,” I cry.

“Babe, you’re not making any sense. I’m standing here right in front of you. You’re touching me and I’m touching you. How could I not be real?”

“This is a dream, Galen. I’ve wanted to dream about you for weeks, and now this is my chance … my chance to spend time with you.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. He smells like he always does and I breathe him in deeply. “Please come back to me, Galen.” The tears come harder and I grip onto him to keep me in the dream, with him.

“Don’t cry, my love. I will never leave you.”

“But you don’t know what’s happened,” I said sadly.

Galen lifts my chin and kisses me on the lips, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter. I promised you I would never leave you and I will always keep my promises to you.” He takes his hand and places it on my cheek. Lifting my hand, I intertwine my fingers with his to keep his hand in place and to savor any and all contact with him while he’s awake in my dream.

“I love you so much, Galen.”

He stares deep into my eyes and smiles. “And I love you.”



“Korinne, wake up.”

“No, I have to stay with Galen. I can’t leave him,” I said out loud with my eyes still closed. I wanted desperately to fall back into the dream. The fogginess had begun to clear and my eyes snapped open. “A dream, it was all a dream,” I whispered.

“Korinne.” The sound of my name stopped me cold. The voice was achingly familiar, and it was a voice I hadn’t heard in weeks.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I closed my eyes and asked, “Are you real?” I waited for a few seconds and then I heard the voice again. Surely I couldn’t be delusional?

“Let’s see. I’m in the hospital with two casts and some broken ribs. I only know that about the ribs because it hurts like hell trying to breathe. Although, I do feel a little messed up. It must be the pain meds.” The grip on my hand tightened and I gasped. My eyes shot to the bed, and there he was, a smiling and wide-awake Galen. I was up in a quick second and showered him in kisses, my hugs, and my love. “Maybe I should get hurt more often,” he mumbled against my lips.

“That’s not funny,” I argued. “I was so scared.”

“What happened to me?” he asked, sounding confused. “I remember the car and that’s about it.”

His voice sounded dry, so I poured him a cup of water. “Here, drink this,” I said while holding the cup for him.

“Thank you.”

“You were out for about three weeks. Hence, the Christmas tree,” I responded, pointing to the tree.

“How is my family?” he asked. I glanced at the clock and smiled. There was only thirty minutes left until midnight. I groaned and lowered my head, thinking about how my mother was definitely going to tease me. “What is it?”

“Well, first your family is fine. They actually left not too long ago. I’ve stayed here every night since you got out of intensive care. My mother, however, is never going to let me forget about this day.”

“Why is that?” he asked curiously.

“You see that tin over there?” I said, pointing to the red Santa tin on the table. “Well, that whole thing is full of your favorite Christmas snack from my mother.”

“That whole thing is full of peanut butter balls?” he asked in awe. His eyes were as wide as could be and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, well anyway, my mother tried to say that you would wake up if she made them for you. I actually tried bribing you with them.”

“Did you now?” he asked, trying to laugh, but grabbed his side, hissing in pain.

“Maybe you shouldn’t laugh?” I pointed out.

“Yeah, it’s a bad idea,” he ground out. “I’m curious though, how did you bribe me?”

I smiled and turned my head. “I said I would eat them all if you didn’t wake up.”

“You could have them all and I wouldn’t care right now. I may have been out for the count, but I know I missed you. I can feel it,” he admitted softly. “Oh, Kori, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have taken the bike out. I shouldn’t—”