Page 69 of Tangled in Vows

There’s so much I want to ask, so much I want to say, but all that comes out of my mouth is: “Awesome.”

He winks at me. “I know. We’ll have the best time together. Want me to show you your surprise?”

“Archer!” Holden growls deep in his throat, the threat loud and clear as he approaches his friend.

Archer cackles and holds up his hands, but the mischievous gleam in his eyes is undeniable. “Relax, Hold. I was only joking. You can show it to her.”

But Holden doesn’t relax. He pretty much jumps Archer and tackles him to the grass. They hiss insults at each other, much to Stormy’s delight. She jumps around the pile the two men created, barking up a storm.

A traitorous laugh escapes my lips. I just can’t help it. Although they’re grown-ass men, they’re acting like children right now, and somehow, I find that refreshing.

These guys don’t worry about what’s right or wrong, appropriate or not, or what someone might think of them. They’re unabashedly them.

Maybe something else to think about as well.

Before I can follow that thought, the two guys separate and stare at me from their spots on the grass.

Archer puts a hand on his chest, right over his heart. “Aww, did you hear that laugh? Even though she’s a world-famous singer, she still loves to watch fights. I knew our Olivia still wants it dirty.”

Holden smacks the back of Archer’s head, but Archer barely flinches. He probably knew this was coming but did it anyway.

I want to yell, “Yes, I do. And I missed it so much,” but I don’t.

They stand, shoving each other a few more times for good measure.

Seeing them this way cracks something open inside me: a yearning to be wild and reckless like these two men are. To not care about what anyone else thinks about me. In the last few years, my team has structured, organized, and approved everything in my life. Leaving almost no room for surprises or spontaneity. And I know that’s usually necessary for a career of my caliber. I’ve seen plenty of times how quickly an image, or even a whole career, can be diminished otherwise.

But I also can’t deny how much I’ve missed this. Archer was right; I’m still into watching fights. Well, in theory I am. I’ve mostly avoided them because they remind me too much of Holden and all the times I watched his matches. After his disappearance, I avoided all activities or places that reminded me of him. Then, I gave myself to my job, following orders and building my career. Adapting. The same way I had to with my aunt. I pushed down my wild side as much as possible and stuck to the good-girl image the record company wanted to run with.

Archer’s phone rings, pulling all of us out of this strange time-warp moment.

One look at his phone, and his whole demeanor changes to something more serious. “Work is calling. I’ll catch you guys later.”

That leaves only Holden and me. And Stormy, of course, who’s still jumping around like someone just gifted her the largest bone in history. Holden gets up and throws the ball she found somewhere in the yard.

She flies across the grass, and I smile. I love seeing her this happy. That alone would make moving here absolutely worth it.I can deal with my issues for her. She might only be a dog to some, but to me, she’s my fur baby.

“Sooooo.” Holden draws out the word as if it has a million syllables. “Surprise and all that. Do you want to go inside?”

Chapter 22

Holden

Day 779 without you: I can’t remember the sound of your laugh anymore. That scares me more than anything in this place.

Iwatch Olivia like a hawk as we walk through the house, not wanting to miss her reactions. The house is almost five thousand square feet, so we have quite some ground to cover. Despite its size, I still wanted it to be welcoming and cozy. The interior designer mentioned something about modern yet rustic. I had no idea what she was talking about, but she showed me some pictures, and I was instantly hooked. It’s a perfect balance of sleek, contemporary designs and warm, natural elements—lots of wood and leather—softened by plants and emerald and teal decorations.

Olivia hasn’t said anything, but if the soft smile and wide eyes are any indicators, I think she approves. Stormy seems happy too, sniffing everything she comes across, and her tail hasn’t stopped wagging once.

After I showed her the top three floors—the second and third floors mainly consist of bedrooms—we headed to the basement.I showed her around the family room, with a large sectional couch, the oversized media room, a state-of-the-art gym, and a sauna.

We walk toward the last two rooms she hasn’t seen yet. My main office is on the left, and Olivia’s surprise is opposite it. I could have done it anywhere in the house, but I wanted it close to where I spend a lot of my time.

My pulse speeds up with every step we take. What if she doesn’t like it? What if she thinks I not only overstepped but was also incredibly presumptuous?

Both are valid points.

Fuck.

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