Page 26 of Holidate Pursuit

“You’re going to make me use my hand again?” I call out while she’s in the closet.

As she exits, Lucy pauses with a hand on her jutted hip and smirks. “Hate to break it to you, but that’s all you’ll be using while you’re here.”

“Come closer and say that again,” I challenge.

“Not a chance. See you in”—she looks at her bare wrist

—“twenty-five.” Then she walks into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

I roll onto my back and groan.

“You never did tell me how yesterday went.” Her hand covers her mouth to muffle the full bite of burger she just took, garbling her speech. We’ve been shopping for a few hours and decided to break for lunch.

I can’t keep from laughing. “Geez, didn’t your parents teach you manners?”

She swallows dramatically. “Oh please, they shoved them down my throat so much, I was done for.”

I chuckle at her response. “Good to know.” She’s the complete opposite of what you would expect to come from this family.

“Now spill, how’d it go?” she asks while stuffing a fry into her mouth.

“Well, your dad insisted I ride in his cart and continued to drill me about my business aspirations throughout the day. He asked about my intentions with you. I mean, I thought that was obvious, but it seems he was referring to getting my hands on your money. Which was interesting, since I didn’t know you had any.” I narrow my eyes in accusation.

“Hmm… yeah. I figured it was bound to come up eventually. He likes to hold that over my head.”

“It wouldn’t have anything to do with why you asked me to do this, would it?” The funny thing is it wouldn’t matter. I can tell she doesn’t have a pretentious bone in her body, but who wouldn’t want to ensure their trust fund is secure?

“No, it didn’t, I swear. I don’t care about any of it. I don’t want this lifestyle. I’d give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant I didn’t have to answer to them anymore. That’s why I asked you to do this. They shouldn’t be dictating who I can and can’t be with. Why do you think I moved across the country and took a job as a receptionist?”

I wouldn’t know because she’s never spoken about her family life. Not that I have any room to talk. I suppose we all have our hang-ups.

“Looks like they’re still doing a pretty good job of it regardless of your address.” She’s delusional if she thinks otherwise.

“I don’t care. I’m done with all that.” Delusional it is.

“Nice try.” I chuckle. “If that were true, I wouldn’t be here.”

Lucy

Damn him and his single eyebrow raise. He’s right, but he doesn’t have to be so smug about it. So instead of responding, I take another huge bite of burger and point to my mouth, indicating the inability to speak.See? I have manners.

“Lucy?” My name comes from an oddly familiar voice, and I snap my head to the right, mouth still full, to see my ex-boyfriend from high school.Oh my God.

My eyes widen as I gulp down the unfinished bite so I can speak. “Richard?”

“Holy shit. I thought that was you. Wow. It’s been like, what—eight years?” he asks, reaching me and holding his arms out for a hug.

I stand to do so, only to hear a distinctly loud throat clear behind me. I step back right away to see Justin standing, looking every bit his six foot four.

“Justin, this is Richard, an old friend from high school. Richard, this is Justin.”

“Her fiancé,” Justin adds, sizing Richard up.Crap.

“You’re engaged. That’s… great. Congratulations are in order, I guess,” Richard says as he leans forward for another hug, but Justin sticks his hand out to shake before he makes it.

“Nice to meet an old friend of Lucy’s. Sorry, she didn’t mention you. You went to school together?”Oh, he’s so sly.

Trying to prevent an answer, I laugh awkwardly to interrupt. “It’s crazy running into you like this. Are you home for the holidays?” I ask Richard, effectively changing the subject.

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