Page 88 of Pucking my Enemy Boss

The line clicks off, but the tension lingers. This isn’t over. Not even close. And as much as I want to feel relieved, something tells me this won’t be the last I hear from him. He’s the kind of pest that doesn’t stay squashed.

Now I feel the need to be where Holly is. And it’s great that I know she’s at the gala hall with Lauren and Mia. Something tells me they’ll need some manpower so I call in the cavalry.

The phone rings twice before Ryan answers, groggy and clearly unimpressed. “Do you know it’s Saturday? My one day of sleep?”

“Get up, Ryan. Get Liam, too. We’re heading to the gala hall to help.”

There’s a beat of silence before a laugh bursts through the speaker. “Wait—this is about Holly, isn’t it? You’re dragging us to agala prepto impress her?”

“Just get there. And try not to ruin her day.”

By the time my car rolls onto the driveway that reveals the familiar Blizzards event hall looming ahead, anticipation is curling through my belly with each breath. My apology speech rings again and again in my head. Ryan and Liam are already there, both with grins that stretch from ear to ear.

“Dragged us out of bed for this?” Ryan snickers, eyes glinting with playful accusation.

Liam chimes in, brow arched. “Someone’s whipped.”

My laugh falls short, but there’s a shrug, a quick deflection. “Just returning a favor.”

The teasing fades as we enter, the hall alive with Holly’s touch, her careful attention in every detail—from the vibrant greenery to the garlands wound with precision. Holly’s voice,clear and direct, filters through the bustle, assigning tasks and managing each detail with effortless authority.

As we approach, Holly’s gaze lands on me, her expression instantly turning cold, then she turns away, refusing to even look my way as I walk in with Ryan and Liam in tow.

“Now I see why you want us here,” Ryan leans in with a smirk. “You had a big fight. She’s ignoring you, man.”

I brush him off, approaching Holly. “Need a hand?”

She barely glances up. “I’m good, thanks.”

The sting from her words is sharper than I expected, but I steel myself. “You sure? We brought extra manpower.”

A huff of exasperation escapes her, and she motions for Mia to take over before turning to me with a tight, forced smile. “Actually, Ethan, I think I’d prefer it if you left. I don’t need more … distractions.”

Ouch. The word slices through me, laced with more frustration than I’ve ever heard from her. Ryan and Liam exchange a quick, uncomfortable glance before Ryan clears his throat. “We’ll, uh, go help Lauren and Mia.”

They leave us standing there, in the middle of Christmas cheer and twinkling lights, both of us too stubborn to step down.

“You’re shutting me out.” It’s a struggle to keep my tone even, though every part of me feels like it’s being stretched to its breaking point. “I’m here to help, Holly. Why won’t you let me?”

“Help?” She laughs, a bitter sound that hurts more than I thought it would. “Ethan, you’re just making things harder.”

A cold weight settles in my chest as she walks away, disappearing into the crowd of helpers, leaving me standing there like an outsider in a place that suddenly feels colder than snow.

My feet are rooted to the ground as my eyes follow her. One second, she’s moving boxes of decorations with Mia and Lauren.The next, her face goes pale, her steps falter, and in the blink of an eye, she crumples to the ground.

The world narrows, every sound fading into a blur as I sprint forward, my heart pounding in my chest. “Holly!” The name rips from my throat, harsh and desperate, and I’m on my knees beside her, barely registering Mia’s frantic calls for an ambulance.

My hands shake as I lift her head, her face ghostly white. “Come on, Holly,” I whisper, brushing hair away from her forehead. “Stay with me.”

For the next three minutes, a flurry of voices surrounds me, panic reflected in every gaze around us. But my own vision narrows, each second blurring into another as I cradle her, the strength of my heartbeat matching the terror I feel.

The distant wail of the ambulance grows louder, but it doesn’t feel fast enough. Every second stretches into an eternity, and all I can think is,this can’t be happening. Not now, not to her.

The paramedics arrive, pulling her onto a stretcher, and I don’t even hesitate to climb into the ambulance after them, clutching her hand as if letting go would be the final, unforgivable mistake.

As the ambulance speeds toward the hospital, something shifts inside me. A realization, one that’s both terrifying and undeniable:I can’t lose her.I love her.More than I’ve ever allowed myself to admit. And as the lights blur past, I can’t shake the fear that I might have waited too long to tell her.

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