Page 136 of Tangled In Lies

I pass the hot tub we had a lot of fun in yesterday afterHolden retired for the night. Heat crawls up my neck, but I’m not mad. Phoenix keeps asking me about the books I’ve read, especially the spicy scenes, so who am I to say no to exploring some of my book fantasies in real life?

In an attempt to pause those memories for now, I keep walking. The wood of the patio seamlessly turns into warm sand under my toes. I love the feel of it. Up ahead, the man I was searching for is lounging on a chair with his phone in his hand. My steps are light as a feather, the sand swallowing all noise. It allows me to sneak up on him. To peek over his shoulder at a very familiar pop star on his screen. Just like last week when I caught him reading an article about her that he “stumbled upon by accident.” Interesting.

Since I don’t have a death wish, I slowly creep a few steps back before clearing my throat. “So you have a crush on Olivia Parker, huh?”

He bangs his head against the back of the chair and groans. “I’d be quiet about crushes if I were you, Miss ‘harder, Phoenix, harder,’ or I might come to some conclusions of my own.”

His voice is several octaves higher as he imitates me, or tries to at least, because there’s no way I sound anything like that. I hope.

There’s no doubt I’m beet red, my face flaming with embarrassment, but it’s Holden, so I still laugh and plop onto the lounge next to him. “You’re mean.”

“Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it, Princess. No pun intended.”

“Oh my God, stop it.” I smack his shoulder.

We both laugh.

Once I’ve calmed down, I point toward his phone. “She’sstarting her world tour in a few months. Since I now know you’re a fan too, does that mean you’re coming with me next year when she’s in New York?”

He shifts his focus back to the photo of Olivia still on the screen and huffs, which is pretty much like his version of no.

“Why not?” I pull up my legs and sit sideways to face him.

He scrubs a hand over his face, as if that would eliminate whatever he’s tied up about. “I knew her when we were younger, and let’s just say it didn’t exactly end well, okay?”

The look he gives me could extinguish a fire, but not in a good way. I know it’s not really directed at me personally, but I still cringe.

Then I gape at him for a solid minute until my brain reboots, mulling over what he just said. “Wait, wait. Back up for a second. You ‘knew’ Olivia Parker when you were younger, and it didn’t exactly end well?” I make air quotes aroundknewbecause it sounds like the word needs extra attention.

“Yes.”

“Aaaaaaand?” My brain still has a hard time catching up with the news. Holden,my Holden, knows my favorite singer.

“And nothing, Princess.”

I throw my hands in the air. “That’s all you’re going to say about this?”

“Yes.”

I grunt. “Why haven’t you said anything? You know how obsessed I am with her. I’ve been playing her songs all week.”

“I’m well aware of that. Thanks for that, by the way.” He sighs like I’m the reason for his frustration.

“Are you telling me you started thinking about her again because of me?”

He shrugs.

“Do you want to see her?”

He doesn’t say anything, and I feel like a dog with a bone.

Holden and Olivia Parker, who would have thought? But I can see it. They’d make a beautiful couple. Opposites attract and all.

I nod at him. “Let’s go together. I bet she’d love to see you.”

He gives me a pointed stare. “I wouldn’t bet my money on that, Princess.”

“Well, at least you’ll know then, right? Isn’t it better to fail at something than never try at all? What if she’s your soulmate? Everyone deserves a chance with their soulmate.”

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