Page 78 of Texting My Secret Santa

Brianna nods. “It’s all over the place. What’s the word?”

“Viral,” I mutter. “I better check my phone. I bet Dan has seen this!”

“Me too,” Asher mumbles.

We rush upstairs. I grab my phone. “I have got four missed calls from him.”

“I’ve got three,” Asher says, looking up from his phone.

“Who’s going to do the honors?” I say. “He’s my brother. It should be me.”

“I can take the brunt,” he replies, looking away.

“If you call him, you’ll make it all seem your fault and take all the blame.”

“We’ve already discussed this,” he says. “It’s better if he hates me. It’s better if he thinks I took advantage of you.”

“But you didn’t. I won’t lie to him. We’ve done enough of that already.”

Asher sighs. “Call him, then, Snowflake.”

I sit on the bed, presscall, and try to stop the nerves from taking hold.

“Hello, Holly,” Dan says formally.

“Hey, Dan. I guess you’ve seen the video?”

“Who hasn’t?” He doesn’t sound as angry as yesterday, but he’s not exactly chipper. “It’s all over the place. Everybody is sending it to each other. You, of all people, know what marketing is like. You can do all the planning you want. Some things are just destined to take off.”

“We didn’t plan this.”

“I know. How could you? You didn’t know that kid was going to upload it.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper. “Dan, I’m so sorry.”

“Are you?” he asks. “Sorry, I mean? Sorry implies you wish you didn’t do it. Is that how you feel? Do you wish you hadn’t been with Asher? Is that how he feels? Wait, let’s not do this over the phone. I want to see both of you.”

I’m shocked, not sure whether to smile or be afraid. “You do?”

“Yeah. I have to. It’s the only way any of this will make sense. Come home.”

He hangs up before I can utter a word.

Asher looks at me impatiently. “What’s the damage?”

“He wants to see us both,” I say. “I’m not sure how he’s feeling. He seems less angry than yesterday. Or maybe he’s just hiding it better.”

“We better go,” Asher says. “We don’t want to keep him waiting, but Holly?—”

I grab Asher’s shirt and pull him in for a kiss. “Don’t tell me you want to take the blame. We’ve already agreed.”

He sighs. “You’re too stubborn for me.”

“That’s why you love me.”

It just slips out—big mistake. He lets me go and turns away.

“I’m so?—”

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