Page 57 of Holly Freakin' Hughes

Crossingthe threshold of my bedroom, I kicked off my boots and put my parents onspeakerphone, freeing my hands to get undressed for bed. I sighed withirritation, listening to the two of them argue about who I did or didn’t haveto spend holidays with.

“Youknow,” I chimed in, “you can always come up here for Christmas next year.”There was a break in their bickering, and I shook my head with a smile.

“Well,I guess we could do that,” Dad mused, and then mentioned, “We could meet yourgirlfriend’s family.”

“Oh!That’s right!” Mom exclaimed. “You could have brought her down here forthisChristmas, though …”

Ipulled the sweater over my head, static collecting through my hair as I sighedagain at the mention of her. I hoped I wouldn’t have to tell them on Christmasthat the whole thing was a farce.

“We’llsee where it goes, guys. It’s still early, you know?” I pulled off the red poloI had worn under the sweater, leaving my skin exposed to the cold air of thebedroom.

Itwas Mom’s turn to sigh. “I know, but I’m just so excited that you’re seeingsomeone. She must be really special to get your attention.”

“Andkeepit,” Dad chimed in with a chuckle from somewhere in the background,and I had to laugh.

“Yeah,she is,” I agreed, undoing the buckle of my belt and sliding it through theloops of my pants with the soft hum of leather against cotton. I worked at thebutton and zipper as Mom asked how work was. It was a question I had alwaysdespised, and I often wondered if Michelangelo had been hounded much whilepainting the Sistine Chapel. “It’s good. Slow, but you know ...”

“Hey,what if you came down here for a while? Just for a vacation to clear your head?With the new girlfriend, I bet you’ve got your share of distractions going onup there and maybe that’s getting in the way of your work,” Dad suggested, andI heard mumbles come through the speaker, and then he added, “Or you couldbring her down if you wanted.Okay,Carole?”

Ismirked at myself in the mirror, amused at how right he was without evenrealizing it. The offer was attractive. I could see myself on their condo’sbalcony with laptop resting comfortably on my knees, the ocean breeze gentlywhipping my hair away from my face and a glass of Scotch by my side toaccompany the view of the Atlantic.

Butthen I remembered, she wasn’t happy. How could I leave when there was stillhope?

“Tempting,Dad. I’ll think about it, okay?” I climbed under the flannel comforter. “I’mexhausted, guys. It’s been a long night.”

Dadsighed with a detected hint of disappointment. “Alright, kiddo. We’ll talk toyou soon. Give our love to Holly, okay?”

Myhead hit the pillow as my eyes watered at the sobering remark. Anemotion-ridden huff passed through my lips and I looked to the empty spacebeside me, as though she had laid there a thousand times before and wassupposed to be there then.

“Yeah,I will,” I croaked, my voice breaking. “Love you, guys. Merry Christmas.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

HOLLY

New Years’ Eve was neveraholiday I made a big deal out of, but Stephenhad always made it a point to find a party for us to attend. I would havealways preferred to spend the night stuck at home with a bottle of wine and agood old movie, but I always went along with his plans and dolled myself up tospend the night with him.

Itonly hit me then that Anthony had always been at those parties. I laughed tomyself at how pissed it must have made him to watch Stephen kiss me atmidnight, not him.

Well,I guess he’s finally getting his wish.

Ihad been excited that day to finally spend the New Year doing nothing. Liz wastaking Anna over to our parents’ house to bang pots and pans, and although Ihad been invited, I cordially declined with a bigol’“hell no.” I was going to enjoy my night alone with Camille, plug inBreakfastat Tiffany’s, and snuggle up with Mr. and Mrs. Pinot.

Afterhanding Anna Giraffe and her sippy cup, she waited for Jessie to begin herstory while I proceeded to open my book to the spot held by my bookmark, eagerto find out if the voluptuous Clementine was going to finally get hergun-toting cowboy Heathcliff to take her for a hayride.

Ihad drowned out Jessie’s cheery voice and dove headfirst into the long-awaitedraunchy chapter, only glancing up periodically to make sure Anna was stillsitting in front of me. My loins were on fire, completely unaware that itwasn’t the most ideal setting to be getting so hot and bothered.

Herhand slid over his rippled abdominal muscles, her fingers inching their waycloser and closer to the pulsating length of his ...

“Heythere, beautiful,” a voice floated into my ear before a kiss was planted on mycheek. I jumped at the sudden interruption and turned to find Ben on one kneebeside me. The dimpled smile was the last thing I expected to see in what hadbecome a sacred place to me, and my first reaction was immediate annoyance.

“Whatare you doing here?” I hissed at him through my teeth while glancing around tosee if anybody was looking over at us. Too distracted by Ben being there, Iclosed my book without remembering to put the bookmark back in. “Goddammit,” Igrumbled, glaring down at the oiled-and-tanned skin of the lusty couple incowboy hats on the cover.

Ben’ssmile wiped away instantly and was replaced with a look of defensive shock.“Well, I got out of work early, so I thought I’d come here to surprise you.”

Iknew I should have thought the gesture was sweet. The company should have beenwelcomed, and probably would have been had I not been a lousy person, butbecause that’s exactly what I was, I could only stare at him with bewildermentplastered on my face while he pouted.

“Ben,”I said, blinking rapidly, trying to form my words wisely. “I’m working here,and you can’t just come in, and … and …” And what? I had nothing.

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