Page 8 of Forbidden Romeo

My throat plummets down to my stomach and Holden’s terrified gaze finds mine. I shake my head, mouth gaping. I didn’t know Mallory knew anything. I’ve never talked to her about anything that happened between us; never confided in her. How could she know?

“If I’ve forgiven Holden, then you can, too?—”

But Mallory doesn’t seem to hear me. Face red with anger, she points an accusing finger in Holden’s face. “My sister and I may have our differences, but she is still my sister. And you’re going to have to do a hell of a lot more to prove yourself than just show up at a funeral and throw your money at a situation like some kind of fake hero.”

“You’re right,” Holden says, pausing to look at my mom. “The offer does still stand to buy the pub and help. But I did fuck up with Katherine back in college. I’ve felt guilty every minute of every day since and I thank whatever God will have me that she’s decided to give me this second chance. I will prove to her how sorry I am… and I’ll prove it to you, too if I’m given the opportunity.”

A silent tear trails down Mallory’s flushed cheek and she’s rendered silent.

“How did you know?” I whisper.

She licked her lips, blinking as she glances at me. “I came to see your show at the Kennedy Center. I was going to surprise you… but I saw the whole thing.” She pauses, turning her icy glare back to Holden. “I know everything.”

CHAPTER 4

Holden

Five years ago…

My feet cemented to the floor as Katherine stared at me, pain and shock spilled over her already serious expression, plunging her mouth into a frown.

As her gaze darted from Meg to me, her grip on the potted peace lilies in her hands tightened, the tensed muscles in her neck corded and taut.

Then as quickly as I saw it, her frown was replaced almost immediately with concern for me. “Are you okay?” Katherine asked. Without hesitating, she rushed to my side, taking my other hand.

Her voice.

Katherine’s voice.

Sure, she’d texted me all week that I was gone, but I hadn’t heard her melodic voice in days. It might as well have been weeks.

But as soon as I saw her, the world around me went fuzzy. Spinning.

“You came,” I said, taking a step toward her.

“Of course I came.”

From behind Katherine, a flash of red curls came into view. Jill. “We drove down with Duncan.”

I blinked, trying to focus against the dizzying spin of the room.

“Holden,” Katherine said, only now her voice sounded like it was in an echo chamber. “You don’t look good.”

She squeezed my hand, which now felt like it had pins and needles running through it. One hand, held by Kate. My other hand was still grasped by Meg.

What the hell was my life right now?

Kate held me tightly, saying, “Breathe with me, Holden. In, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four.”

I did as she said, breathing in and out slowly.

“Good,” she said. “Now hold it at the top of your breath. In, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four.”

I closed my eyes, allowing the sound of her voice to roll through me like a southern summer rain storm; fast and beating.

The spinning slowed. The pins and needles faded.

Until eventually, I was back in my kitchen. At my mother’s funeral.

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