Until I Found You: A Second Chance Standalone Romance (Heart's Compass Book 3)

by Brooke O'Brien

  Fourteen

  Graham

  All I could think about after I got off the phone with Maverick was Halle. Was she okay? I just wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her.

  I tried calling her, only for the call to go straight to voice mail. She texted me back saying she was having a girls’ night and couldn’t talk but assured me she was alright. She had to know after the last time, it bothered me.

  Considering she hardly looked at me the entire way back from Chicago, much less spoke to me, I had a feeling she regretted the night in my hotel room.

  Today is Callum and Ellie’s wedding. It’s beautiful outside, making a perfect day for them. I spend most of the morning and early afternoon with Brannon, finishing the setup down at the pavilion overlooking the pond behind Callum and Ellie’s house. I understand now why they decided to get married here. It’s peaceful and intimate.

  When we’re finished there, we make the trip over to Callum’s parents’ place. When Callum decided to build his house, he ended up buying land from his mom and stepdad, Randy. They own several acres out here with a barn separating the two properties.

  Wanting to keep with the same private and intimate reception, they cleared out the barn and opted to use it as a makeshift dance floor. Brannon and I help set up tables around the outside with a table along the front for the bride and groom, and their wedding party. It’s almost surreal seeing the transformation.

  Once everything is set up and ready to go, I race home to shower quickly and change into my dress shirt and slacks before heading back to Callum’s house. The girls are still inside getting ready. The guys take over the oversized garage where Callum spends a lot of his time fixing up his dirt bike and truck.

  Cars are parked along the long gravel drive, leading up to their house. I watch as people mill around. Kinsley’s brother, Kolton, is stepping in as an usher helping seat people.

  Knocking lightly on the door, I hear the cheers from the guys as I peek my head inside as they all shout “Graham!”

  If I had to guess, they’ve been biding their time until it’s GO TIME by throwing back a few beers. Mason and Wes are standing off to the side, laughing about something as Callum and Brannon are near the front of the garage. Callum has an odd sense of peace on his face, and I’m not even surprised when I see him clutching a bottle of water.

  The nerves are evident on his face, but I admire that he’s not slinging back beers to cover them up.

  “How you feelin’, man? You ready?” I walk up to Callum, clapping him on the back.

  “Hell, yes,” he says, running his hands through his hair as he pulls his phone out of his pocket to check the time. “I’ve been ready. As much as I love you guys and all, I’m ready to get the fuck out of this garage and make that woman mine.”

  I laugh at his honesty.

  “People are starting to get here. It will be go-time before you know it.”

  We hear a knock on the door again, just as Hudson peers his head inside.

  “Hudson,” Callum greets him. Hudson may be Kinsley’s grandfather, but it’s no secret that since Ellie moved to Arbor Creek that he’s developed quite a bond to her.

  While I’m still getting to know Ellie after moving back home, Mason’s told me a lot about her and their relationship. It’s no secret that before she met Callum and moved here, she had a rough go at life. She’s the definition of strength, after all she’s been through.

  “How’s she doing?” Callum asks, folding Hudson into a hug.

  The time I’ve spent away has changed him some. The salt and pepper hair he once had is now covered with a steel gray. He’s still every bit the man I knew and remember growing up. Hudson was the kind of grandparent to Kinsley and Kolton that seemed like they were your grandparents, too. He may have slowed down some over the years, but he’s still every bit of the man he was then.

  “Oh, she’s doing good. I think she’s like you, ready to get this going. Ready to see you.” He smiles, reassuring Callum. “She looks beautiful, Callum.”

  The tears form in Hudson’s eyes and I feel like I’m interrupting a private moment that’s meant to stay between them two.

  Glancing over at Callum, he releases a slow breath as he runs his knuckle under his eye as he blinks away the tears.

  “I bet she does. I’m sure she’s already told you this, a few times if I had to guess,” Callum laughs, “but I just want to say thank you for being here today. I can’t tell you how much it means to her.”

  Hudson rests his hand on Callum’s shoulder, squeezing it as he looks around at each of us. Mason and Wes have stopped their conversation, joining us.

  “Ellie is like a daughter to me. I wish more than anything it was her father who was here, walking her down the aisle. Since he can’t be, it is my honor to stand in for him and give her away.”

  Callum reaches forward and wraps Hudson in a hug. They exchange words and each of us give them their moment.

  When they step back, Hudson looks back around the room at all of us and laughs. “Golly, you boys clean up well. It won’t be too long before each of you are standing in Callum’s shoes.”

  He chuckles, looking around at us before he reaches out to shake Callum’s hand.

  “I’m going to get back to our girls. We have just a few minutes until it’s time for all of you to get out there.”

  “It’s good to have you home, son,” Hudson says, clapping his hand on my shoulder. He winks at me before he walks out the door.

  “I think that’s my cue to head out there too.”

  Callum, while he’s one of my good friends, has a closer relationship to Wes and Brannon. Growing up, they were his two best friends. It made sense for the two of them to stand next to him, along with his brother, Mason.

  I follow the guys out, leaving them to head down to the pavilion as I take a seat, waiting for the wedding to start. When the music starts, I turn in my seat. I watch as my friends walk down the aisle one at a time, the last of the group is Halle with her hand wrapped around Brannon’s forearm.

  She looks beautiful, like a dream, as she walks slowly down the aisle. She fights back a smile at something Brannon says to her, before she squeezes his arm. Her eyes are bright with the happiness radiating off her.

  The champagne color dress combined with her tan skin gives her the look like she’s glowing, and I can’t help but stare at her, even when her and Brannon separate and she takes her spot behind Kinsley.

  There’s hardly a dry eye in the room, as everyone watches Ellie walk down the aisle with Hudson by her side. This time Callum doesn’t even attempt to hide his emotions, as the tears stream down his face.

  As soon as she reaches him, he presses a kiss passionately against her lips. Hudson clears his throat, reminding him he’s not supposed to do that just yet, which earns him a few laughs and makes Ellie smile.

  You can feel the love between the two of them. The entire time, I’m unable to keep my eyes off Halle. It’s hard not to picture us up there, her standing before me looking like the angel she is, and I’m like Callum, unable to resist the urge to pull her into my arms and thank God for giving me her forever.

  Then, I remind myself that the future we had laid out before us was changed, and the only person to blame for it now is myself.

  We listen as the pastor talks about loving each other in the face of hard times. I look over at Halle and watch her as she glances down at her flowers, running her hand underneath her eye again, before she peeks over at me.

  She looks surprised when she finds me staring back at her, but this time she doesn’t look away.

  “I’m sorry,” I mouth to her.

  She gives me a sad smile, turning to look back at Callum and Ellie.

  We both watch as the pastor asks them to recite their vows. When he announces them as husband and wife, our eyes once again find each other’s. This time I hope the look on my face says everything I can’t say in that moment.

  Halle deserves better than anything
I could ever give her. She deserves someone who would give her the world. While I can’t give her all those things, I can promise her one thing. I will love her more than anyone ever possibly could.

  All these years, Halle never once gave up on me. When I walked away from her, she never turned her back on me. She never stopped loving me. She doesn’t have to say the words, I know it with everything in me.

  While I can’t go back and fix what I took away from her, from us, these past five years, I can promise her today and everyday forward that I’ll be the man she deserves.

  Until I found her, I never knew what loving someone meant. Now I need to prove to her that I’ll never let her go again.

  Fifteen

  Halle

  “Your vows today, Callum, they were so beautiful. And Ellie looks stunning and happy. This entire day, I’m just so happy for you both.”

  Our hips sway to the music, as we both glance over at her. Her hand is wrapped around Wes’s forearm, their other hand wrapped together, as they dance slowly to the music.

  Wes spins her before pulling her back into his arms. I’m not sure if it’s the move or something he said that leaves her blushing, as she glances over at Callum.

  “Thank you.” He smiles, as he stares back at her. You can feel how much it means to him seeing her happiness, her laughter.

  Everything about their love just fills me with so much hope that someday I’ll find what they have found together.

  “She means the world to me. I can’t imagine my life without her now, you know. I’m the luckiest bastard in the world.” Callum’s soft laugh reaches his eyes as he steals a glance at his new bride.

  Ellie rests her cheek against Wes’s shoulder as she smiles back at Callum. He winks at her, just before he whistles at his friend to get his attention.

  “I don’t mind you dancing with my girl and all, but can you maybe put a little distance between the two of you?”

  Callum grins and plays off that he’s joking, but we all know there’s a little bit of truth to his comments. Ellie rolls her eyes playfully as she blows him a kiss, just as Brannon approaches, asking to cut in.

  “Does she have any idea where you’re planning to take her yet? I’m surprised you’ve managed to keep it a secret for this long.”

  Callum chuckles. “If she has any idea, she hasn’t let on. She likes to try to guess, but so far, it’s remained a secret. It’s the first time I’ve ever kept anything from her. When I see her face, it will all be worth it.”

  When Callum proposed to Ellie, she told him yes but made him promise to keep the wedding small. She’s not at all into things being big and flashy. That’s what I love about her. She holds so much value in the people close to her. Callum, on the other hand, wanted to share with the world Ellie was going to be his wife. When she explained to him it wasn’t important to her and would mean more for their family and close friends to be there, he couldn’t deny giving her everything she wanted.

  Ellie didn’t have a lot of family. I think the thought of planning a wedding brought on the reminder of the people who would be absent on her big day.

  I think Callum’s one of few men in history to completely plan the wedding. Ellie helped with some of it, like dress shopping and certain décor pieces. The rest was all him. Ellie had been through enough leading up to their engagement. He knew the trial proceedings putting away the man who hurt her, affected Ellie deeply. He didn’t want to add any stress to what he wanted to be the happiest time of their life.

  Looking around the old rustic barn, I’m just in awe of what they accomplished. It looks like something you’d see featured in a country living magazine.

  The sound of a throat clearing behind us draws my attention back to the present, to Graham standing in front of us.

  “Do you mind if I cut in?” Graham asks, looking from me to Callum.

  “Who am I to stand in the way of you dancing with Callum on his big day,” I joke, taking a step back, sweeping my hand in front of me.

  I want to laugh at the look on his face, as his eyes narrow at me.

  “Get over here.” Graham gives a flirtatious growl, and I can’t help the giggle that escapes.

  “Alright, alright. Kinsley, looks like it’s your turn.” I smile, looking over my shoulder to where Kinsley stands talking to Brea, waiting in line for their turn at dollar dances.

  Graham’s arms wrap around me, nearly taking all the air right out of me. The feel of his broad chest and the smell of his woodsy scent makes me dizzy.

  The song changes, playing to Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy” as I press my cheek against his arm. I close my eyes, focusing on the steady beat of my heart trying to take my mind off Graham and the way my stomach flutters being in his arms again.

  Graham tilts his head forward, pressing his face into the crook of my neck. His warm breath feathers over my collarbone, and for a moment, I swear I feel his lips brush against my skin. Goose bumps break out over my body, forcing me to squeeze my eyes closed tighter as I force myself to breathe.

  I shiver as he traces his lips up the column of my neck near my ear. His warm breath makes my heart stop beating and I hold my breath, waiting for what he’s about to do next.

  “You look so beautiful, Halle.”

  His hands clench my waist tighter, holding me to him. He leans back, wrapping his hand along the side of my face, brushing my hair back in the process.

  “Look at me,” he whispers, as I slowly open my eyes to stare up at him.

  His wall is down. All his emotions are laid out before me. I don’t know what to do, what to say. So, I do what’s best for the both of us, and for once, I just shut up. I wait for him to say whatever it is he’s been wanting to say, while praying in the process he doesn’t crush me.

  “I’m sorry,” he says, pausing for a moment to take a deep breath. He looks somewhere behind me, his eyes become distant. He’s lost in thought before snapping out of it, falling back on mine.

  “I’m sorry for not walking you out to your car at Brodie’s like I wanted to, for not being with you at Hudson’s when Krate approached you again. I’m sorry for…”

  I can feel the weight of this bearing down on him. This isn’t just about the present, but so much more.

  Pressing my hand to his chest, I want to tell him it’s okay, he doesn’t have to bring it up, but the words are out of his mouth before I can.

  “I’m sorry I left you, Halle. I’m sorry I feared losing you too. I thought I was doing right by you, letting you go. After we lost Gage, I felt like I failed him. I couldn’t bear the thought of failing you. It would kill me if something ever happened to you, Halle. Do you understand me?”

  His thumb traces along the curve of my cheek and I realize then he’s catching my tears, wiping them away.

  “I hate to see you cry. You’re too beautiful to be crying.”

  Rubbing my hand over his forearm, I whisper a soft “hey” urging him to look at me.

  “It’s okay. I’m okay, I promise.”

  He nods his head but keeps his gaze down.

  “I’d give you my heart, beating in my chest, if it meant protecting yours.”

  Wrapping my hands around his neck, I pull him closer to me. His heart is hammering in his chest, pulsing like a drum, as I press my lips against his neck.

  “Graham, it’s okay. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

  It takes him a moment, but I can hear the breath he’s holding ease out of him as his arms tighten around me. We stand like this for a while, in the middle of the dance floor, holding each other. Even with our close friends here with us, dancing around us, it’s like nothing else exists.

  When the song changes to something with a faster pace, Graham leans back away from me as he cups his hands on the sides of my face.

  “Will you come somewhere with me?”

  I simply nod my head, when on the inside I’m screaming, “Yes, you big idiot. I’d go anywhere with you.”

  He eases his
hand down my arm, wrapping our fingers together as he leads me off the makeshift dance floor and out to the door at the back of the barn.

  Callum’s mom and stepfather own the property, but Callum and Ellie’s house is visible as it sits in the distance. There’s a small creek in the back separating the two. We used to come down here all the time when we were younger.

  It’s getting late now. The sun has long since gone down. The lanterns lining the outside of the barn give us enough light to lead our way. Other than that, it’s just us and the moon shining bright overhead. Graham and I don’t speak to each other as we walk, but I am taken by surprise when a few yards away there’s a blanket laid out on the ground.

  “Will you sit here with me and just let me hold you again?”

  I swear, he’s stolen my heart again.

  “Of course,” I say, as he unbuttons the front of his jacket, laying it on the ground. He adjusts his dress pants, as he sits down leaving his legs open for me to sit between.

  I lower myself, pressing my back against his chest. His arms envelope me in a hug, holding me close to him. He rests his chin on my shoulder, pressing his lips in a line from my shoulder up to my neck.

  “Maverick told me what happened, what Krate said to you outside of Hudson’s the other night. I wish you would’ve called me.”

  “Graham—” I say, stopping him. I’m frustrated and don’t want to talk about this again.

  “No, listen. I’m sorry, I just need to say this and then we’ll put it to rest.”

  Letting out a sigh, I ease back against him and let him get this off his chest. No matter what I say, he won’t let it go until he does.

  “I wish you would’ve called me and told me what happened. After that night at Brodie’s, I thought I made it clear if he does it again, I want to know about it.”

  “You think I didn’t think about calling you a hundred times? I tried, Graham, I tried.”

  “You tried?” he asks, confused. “I didn’t have a missed call from you.”

  “I’m not talking about just last night, I’m talking about over the past five years. I tried calling you. I tried reaching out to you, checking in to see how you were doing. In the beginning, I did tell myself you were hurting after losing Gage, but the more I tried to talk to you, for you to only deny me, I just gave up. So, forgive me for not racing to you when something happens and for thinking you’d be there for me. I’ve tried that before, and it didn’t get me anywhere.”