Page 62 of Texting My Secret Santa

Me:I won’t freak, Snowflake.

Holly:You have to PROMISE.

She’s serious. Whatever it is, it’s bad. After misleading her about the Secret Santa thing, I don’t want to lie to her again.

Me:I can’t make that promise. With you, I can’t control how I feel. You’ve melted my cold heart.

Holly:You’re so romantic.

Me:You’re the first person who’s ever told me that.

Holly:That makes it more special. I shouldn’t tell you this.

Me:But you’re going to,I reply.If you’re having nightmares about it, you need to speak with someone. I’m here for you.

Holly:As a friend,she texts.As my brother’s buddy, right?

I grind my teeth. Surely, she knows I’ll never be just her brother’s buddy again, but I need to exercise some discipline.

Me:I’ll do my best to keep it that way. That’s the best I can offer.

Holly:For Dan’s sake, she texts.

Holly:Derek texted me and demanded that I meet him tomorrow, well, technically today. He’s blackmailing me for a naked photo of me. I told him I’d only let him look at a Polaroid because I didn’t trust him with a digital copy. I bought myself some time, but I’m unsure what to do. I need to get my hands on his phone.

I’m on my feet instantly, standing at the window, staring across the city and wishing Derek was here. Or maybe that’d be a bad thing. I don’t want to catch a homicide charge.

Who the fuck does he think he is?

I leave the bedroom and knock on her door.

“Asher …”

“Open up,” I growl.

“We can’t?—”

“Open the door, Snowflake, or I’m kicking it down.”

She opens it a moment later, her hair a wild mess, her eyes red from crying, looking beautiful and heartbroken at the same time. I wrap my arms around her as gently as I can. Even now—always—the instinct to go further grips me. She’s wearing PJ bottoms with holes, showing tempting glimpses of her thighs.

“I’m not going to let him hurt you,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. “I’m not going to let him blackmail you. I will not let him intimidate you. Tomorrow, I’ll be there.”

She digs her fingernails into my side. “Is that a good idea?”

“If he’s making demands like this, the sick fuck could be capable of anything. You’re not meeting him alone. That’s just not happening. So either we tell Dan, or I’m coming with you.”

“We can’t tell Dan,” she whispers.

“Then it’s settled. Lie down, Snowflake. I’m staying with you.”

“Is that a good idea?”

“Don’t worry. I can be civilized,” I mutter.

“Canyou? Because I mean it. We have to be good.”

“You don’t want to be alone.”

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