Page 31 of Holly Freakin' Hughes

Iwas on the ledge, ready to dive off, ready to tell her everything. Her facecontorted into one of genuine interest as her eyebrows raised with curiosity.

“Well,you’re certainly not a struggling one.” The gears turned in her head, trying tofit together the pieces. I wanted her to miraculously know who I was. I wanted herto suddenly exclaim that I was that guy that wrote those books. “So, what kindof writer are you?”

Ilaughed at that, ignoring the panicked churning of my stomach. “Sounds like youalready have your answer.”

Openingmy door, I went to her side. She climbed out without my help, too deep inthought to pay attention to the hand I had lent her.

“Well,what do you write?”

“Books,”I teased, resting my back against her van.

“Whatbooks?”

Iwas close,soclose. I stood at that ledge, ready to take the plunge,but I made the mistake of looking down at those uncertain, rocky cliffs. I sawmyself dead, floating at the water’s surface, and I took a step backward,recoiling with terror.

“I’lltell you one day,” I said, hoping that would be good enough. She cocked herhip, visibly annoyed by my answer. “I promise,” I emphasized, hoping she couldtell that I meant it, and I did.

“Isbeing a mystery part of your charm, too?” she asked, the hint of a smileplaying on her lips.

“Well,is it working?” I asked, and she rolled her eyes and reached out to pull meinto a hug. My arms wrapped around her shoulders, and I added, “I’ll take thatas a yes.”

Withher face pressed into the hollow of my chest and her arms around my waist, shesighed happily. A few moments passed with my chin sitting atop her head,looking out into the open spaces of the parking lot. I sat on the edge of beingdisappointed with myself, angry with my weakness, but the scent of her hair andthe soft expansion of her chest against my middle left me hovering in a placeof peaceful elation.

“CanI ask one more question?” she asked.

“Hmm,”I replied, floating in thedazeof tranquility withher in my arms.

“What’syour last name?”

Ipaused, my sense of serenity drifting away with the autumn wind that nipped atthe naked flesh of my arms, and I bit my lower lip in consideration of thequestion. It was almost too personal for comfort, but if she knew, she couldfeel free to Google my name and find everything out for herself, and it wouldbe all out in the open. Whether that would be a good thing or not, I couldleave up to fate, and I decided to bite.

“Davis,”I said, and asked for hers.

Ifelt her smile against my chest. “Hughes,” she said.

Itwas a silly thing; how learning even just a small fact about someone could makeyou feel closer to them, and I found myself smiling along with her.HollyHughes, I thought, feeling that I couldn’t have made up a better name forher myself. Endearing with a touch of quirky sadness, like the heroine in a romanticcomedy.

AndI wished on the nearly-invisible Long Island suburban stars that I could be herhappy ending.

Tomy disappointment, she pulled away and began to take the jacket off. I insistedthat she didn’t have to, if she needed it for warmth, but she assured me shewould be fine once she got the heat going in the van.

Aboutto open the door, she turned to me and thanked me again for making her nightbetter. There was a moment of looking down at her in the dim light, and I feltthe shove to kiss her hard on the mouth and claim her as mine. Of course, Ididn’t, but I did lean down and felt my lips against her cheek, inhaling thescent of her hair deeply to accompany me during the lonely night ahead.

“Goodnight, Hollyfreakin’ Hughes.”

Ilove you.

CHAPTERELEVEN

HOLLY

Brandon Davis.

Ismiled, despite feeling mildly freaked out that he called me Hollyfreakin’ Hughes. That was my thing, and it took a moment toconvince myself that he wasn’t in fact living in my brain.

Brandonfreakin’ Davis. Mind reader.

Whata bizarre turn of events, I thought, as I drove back to Liz’s house. I mean, Ihad set out that night to see James, and I ended up at a diner with Brandon. Ihadn’t admitted it to him, but I had gone to the bookstore with the purpose offinding him, not knowing where else to look. I had been in desperate need of acomfort that--let’s face it—I wasn’t going to get from anyone else. Liz wouldhave hugged me and busied herself with something else, Esther would have toldme to get back on the horse and find some handsome man to take my mind off ofit, and Anna would have continued watching some dancing vegetable on TV.

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