Page 74 of Healed Hearts

Holden’s giggle brings a smile to my face. “Now, I’m going to say this slowly for you, Julian,” Beck continues. “You’veseenHold, right? I mean, obviously you have. Now, imagine that you’re face to face with the man you’ve loved forever, for the first time inyears, and then you’ve got Holden busting into the room, looking likethat. All cute little doe eyes and edgy eyeliner, and glossy lips talking about how special the man you love is, as if you don’t already know.”

Roman smirks, and Holden giggles again. “I thought the jealousy alone would take me out. Once I realized how stupid I was being, it was all good. To be honest, I never truly disliked him. It was basically an inferiority complex. Now I can’t imagine life without him.” He shrugs, sitting back in his seat.

I laugh. “Yeah, I could see how that would set you off. I’m not sure I’d react any differently.”

“Now, it’s like his personal mission to give me shit,” Holden says, pushing his empty plate away from him.

“You give him shit too, Hold,” Roman says.

Holden smirks, shrugging. “Oh, well.”

“I love how close you guys are.” I consider leaving it at that, but they’re so open with each other—so honest and real—thatit makes me feel like I can be too. “I had a lot of friends before Maya died—that’s Wren’s mom. But no one likes to have a grieving single dad around. So, over time, they kind of faded away. Seems like you guys band together instead of falling apart.”

Holden takes my hand under the table and gently brushes his thumb over the back of it.

“Well, you’re one of us now,” Roman says, and Beck grins, nodding his head in agreement.

“Thanks,” I manage to choke out. Who gets emotional at a lighthearted double-date? This guy, I guess. I clear my throat, trying to shove down the ball stuck in it.

“Well,” Beck says. “You guys wanna go for a walk or something?”

I nod, thankful for the subject change. “Yeah, I’m good with that. Darlin’?”

“Sounds good to me. What about you, Ro?”

“I’m good with whatever.”

Beck waves down our server and Holden snatches the check before I have a chance to, handing it and his card back to him. “I could have gotten that,” I murmur.

“You did last time.”

After the food is paid for, the four of us walk out into the cool evening. The sun hasn’t quite set yet, but it’s getting close. Holden grabs my hand as we walk down the street.

“So, what date did you—” His voice cuts off as he freezes beside me.

I stop, turning to him. He’s staring at an older man across the street, who is staring right back at him. “Who’s that?” I ask.

Holden doesn’t respond, but now he’s caught the attention of Roman and Beck, who have circled back around to us. “Hold?” Roman questions, concern in his voice.

“That’s Motel Guy,” Holden whispers, voice shaky.

“Motel Guy?” Beck and I ask in unison, but Roman’s face pales.

“What the fuck is Motel Guy doing here?” he asks aloud, though I’m not sure that he’s expecting an answer.

“I’m gonna go give him a piece of my mind,” Holden says, tugging his hand from mine.

Roman shakes his head. “Hold, that’s not a good idea.” But he either doesn’t hear him or he doesn’t care because he’s walking across the street.

Roman glances at him before muttering, “Fuck,” under his breath and taking off after him. Beck and I share a glance. Whoever Motel Guy is, he’s as lost as I am.

“Holden!” Roman shouts, trying to catch up to him.

Beck reacts to the fear in Roman’s voice and takes off, and I waste no time going after him.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Holden

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