Page 22 of Merry Little Hate Notes

I smirked, knowing she had to be ticked off by my notes. If the dang woman would just reciprocate, she would discover I found her even more lovely than my mother did. I could have sworn yesterday she was going to write a note of her own after I left her one that saidsomething like,Why is your tinsel always in a tangle, Krispy Kringle?I’d noticed she kept the sticky notes my mother had given her in her bag. She was thinking about retaliating. I knew it.

“Anyone who doesn’t think you are the loveliest angel doesn’t have eyes or a brain.”

“Brainless.” Holly smiled at me, probably before she realized what she was doing. “That works.”

Mom laughed.

I didn’t mind her calling me brainless when she flashed me that smile of hers. I’d missed it.

Mom released Holly and took her hand. “Come with me. I have something for you. Bran, you come too.”

Holly made to protest, but Mom was smart and quick. She pulled Holly over to the elevators before she could say another word and pushed the up arrow. “Let’s head up to the executive level for a minute. Bertram would love to say hi to you.”

It was obvious she’d roped my dad into this quest of hers. Normally my parents stayed out of my love life. They’d always told me they would love whomever I loved. But apparently they meant,You love the woman we love—Holly. Mission accomplished. I’d been in love with her forever. Even if she was shooting daggers at me with her eyes like it was somehow my fault we were both being hauled up to the executive level. Maybe it was. I’m the one who convinced—fine, begged—my dad to let me work with Holly. This, in turn, brought out a side of my mother I had never known.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Mom pulled Holly in. I barely managed to make it in before Mom pushed the button to close the doors.

Mom strung her arm through Holly’s on the ride up. “How’s your dad doing, honey?”

Holly thought for a moment. “Better. A lot better,” she breathed out like she could hardly believe it. Or that she was afraid to believe it.

I couldn’t imagine what she’d been through. I wanted to take her in my arms and tell her how sorry I was for it all—that I never meant for our lives to turn out like this. I thought we would all grow up and follow our plans. I just assumed I would watch her become a lawyerand then fall in love and get married, all while I secretly hated the lucky guy. Or maybe I wouldn’t have been secret about it.

“I’m so happy to hear that.” Mom sounded as relieved as I felt. “You know we would love to see you and your dad at the neighborhood Christmas party in a few weeks. It falls on your birthday this year. We could make it a double celebration.” Mom beamed at the thought.

Holly paled while her terrified eyes widened. “Um,” she breathed out, unable to form words.

“Please think about it,” Mom added before Holly could utter anything else.

“I don’t know if I can,” Holly whimpered, so unlike herself. Her quiet confidence had vanished.

Mom put an arm around her while zeroing in on me. “It’s time for both of you to heal. You need each other for that.”

I cringed over Mom’s boldness. It was official—she was the worst wingman ever. A wingman is supposed to know when to speak up and when not to say anything at all. Mom couldn’t master either skill.

But to my surprise, Holly bit her lip and looked my way as if she wondered if my mom was right.

I so badly wanted to tell her I would do whatever it took to help heal her pain if only she’d let me in. But the elevator doors opened and Holly bolted out of them like her life depended on it.

Dad was there waiting for us as if staged, which I’m sure it was.

I wanted to know what had happened to my non-meddling, sane parents.

“Look at this—my three favorite people in the world.” Dad acted surprised to see us.

I shook my head, not believing him for a second.

“Come to my office for a minute and we’ll catch up,” he said, like he wasn’t currently living with two of us and hadn’t seen Holly just the other day.

Mom grabbed Holly’s hand like they were off to see the wizard and she wanted to skip down the yellow brick road. I followed like a brainless scarecrow along for the show while my dad walked next to me, nudging me with a big grin on his face. As if he were fooling anyone with his act.

While I appreciated their good intentions, it offended me they thought I needed this much help to woo a woman. I had a plan—one that included spending all day with Holly on Monday as we drove to Aspen to meet with Artemis’s CEO. Holly didn’t know yet that Blake had agreed to meet with us if we could make Monday work. I assured Blake we would. I’d planned to tell Holly first thing this morning, as it was a late development last night, but my parents were getting in the way.

As we walked toward Dad’s office, I couldn’t help but think someday this would all be mine—the corner office, the title, and the responsibility that came with it. Professionally, it was all I’d ever wanted. No matter how far and wide I’d run from my past, I knew this place would always be my future. I could smell the prestige and accomplishment along with the gourmet coffee bar. I wanted it all. And the woman in front of me doing her best to play along with my mother’s game she had no idea she was a pawn in it.

Dad’s administrative assistant, Carolyn, waved at us from her desk in the reception area before we entered his office. The executive level was the only floor with true office space. Dad’s spacious office was much like him: Modern, no nonsense, with all the latest technology. His only true indulgence was the golf simulator against the back wall.

“Would anyone like some coffee?” Dad offered.

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