Page 93 of Holly Ever After

Stepping inside, she looks around, her gaze slowly traveling across the open floor plan. The space stretches out, illuminated by the soft lighting: from the polished wooden floors to the tall beams in the high ceiling.

“You built this yourself?”

My emotions are a tangled mess. A part of me wants to pull her close, to lose myself in her once more. Another part is still furious at her recklessness earlier. It results in a non-committal grunt in response.

I guide her into the kitchen where I make her a sandwich. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the air as I set a cup down in front of her. She mutters a soft thanks before taking a careful sip.

“I’m not drunk, you know. I’m not going to vomit on your shoes or anything.”

With my back to her, I close my eyes and inhale a steadying breath, my heart ready to combust in my chest.

She has no fucking clue.

“Just eat,” I say, putting the plate down in front of her.

Finishing up, I pull a hoodie from one of the hooks by the entrance, tossing it her way. “Here, it'll help with the cold.”

She catches it mid-air, a small smile playing on her lips. As she slides the hoodie on, it drapes heavily around her, the fabric practically swallowing her. I didn't expect the sight of her in my clothes to affect me this much. Those days trapped in her cottage, it’s what I loved most. How she would get out of bed in the morning and grab my t-shirt to cover her nakedness. It's such a simple thing, but my fingers grip the counter's edge to prevent them from reaching out to her.

Her voice breaks the silence, the playful tone back. “It's almost Christmas.”

“And?”

She glances around, her eyes taking in the wood and minimal decor of the cabin. “You've got no Christmas decorations up.”

I shrug. “Never saw the point. It's just me here.”

“But you must have some?” she pushes.

“Yeah, they're in the storage closet,” I admit, but before she can take the conversation any further, I interject, “Look, I've still got work to do. You should get some rest.” I nod toward the hallway. “I’ll leave a change of clothes on the bed in the guest room for you.”

She simply nods, her eyes lingering on me for a moment too long. There's so much that remains unsaid between us. Words crowd at the back of my throat, a mess that I can't vocalize. She's always been this enigma, this force I never knew how to handle. With every other woman, it's been straightforward, predictable. But Holly? She's the only one who's ever made me feel this unsure, this scared.

The gravitational pull toward her terrifies me. It's like no matter where I am or what I'm doing, my senses are attuned to her presence. The way my gaze automatically finds hers across a crowded room. The way my heart stammers when she gifts me one of her dazzling smiles. The fear isn't that she's here now, but that even if she leaves, she'll still remain—an imprint on my soul.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I make my way to my home workshop, leaving her to the comfort of the cabin. But as I go, one nagging thought remains: if she smiles at me again, I'm well and truly fucked.

∞∞∞

Darkness envelops the cabin, save for the dim, warm lights from the Christmas tree Holly put up.

Of course she did.

As I pass by, I can't help but chuckle softly. Trust her to find a way to bring some festivity into this somber space.

There’s a Post-It note on the counter.

“Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.

It looks amazing though, right?

Right.

Anyway, goodnight, Sean.”

I stare at her handwriting for too long. Honestly, I just need the time to convince myself not to go upstairs and drag her out of bed so I can kiss her.

Sleep. I just need some sleep, but as soon as I'm beneath the sheets, sleep eludes me. There's this restless energy, an awareness that's impossible to shake. She's right down the hall—just a few steps away. The very thought sends my pulse racing.

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