Page 11 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
He’d also never experienced having another man sit on his suitcase before.
Ryan grunted as he wrestled with the zipper on Nick’s black Samsonite. “Dude. You forgot to bring the kitchen sink.” He had come over from the office to drop off Nick’s forgotten charger before they left the next day and had somehow ended up on the floor in Nick’s room, fighting his luggage.
“You said you’ve been working out.” Nick grinned as he placed a discarded hanger back onto the closet rod. His oil diffuser wafted cedarwood across the room. “Prove it.”
“Benching two hundred and closing this monster are two very different exercises.” Ryan’s face flushed as he tried again. He bounced a little on the hard-shell top, his glasses slipping down his nose.
“If you manage to get it shut, I won’t tell Lydia your max is actually one seventy-five.”
“You’re a good man.” Ryanoomphedagain as the zipper edged another inch along its track. His dark hair fell over his forehead. “It’s getting there. Though now I’m wondering if you actuallydidpack a sink.”
Nick straightened the box on the closet shelf that contained his belts. “Since you refused to give me any kind of agenda, I had to pack options. Dressy, casual, warm, comfortable…”
“Some people combine those categories.” Ryan let out a strained chuckle. “But I can’t be too annoyed. You sound like Lydia—she’s nothing if not prepared.”
Speaking of being prepared. “You did talk to your sister today, right?” Nick pushed through the remaining items hanging in his closet—not that there were many—to make sure he hadn’t overlooked something crucial. His focus might be on impressing Ryan’s parents, but in the back of his mind, a tiny part of him feltnotentirely unhappy to see Holly again. “I definitely don’t want her blindsided that I’m showing up. Though I’m not sure that telling her the day before we leave isn’t still blindsiding.”
“I told her. I knew that last minute would be better, in case she protested.” Ryan huffed as he adjusted positions on the suitcase.
“And did she? Protest?” Not that it mattered. It didn’t. Nick shook his head. All this project planning and investment seeking had left him more mentally drained than he’d realized. Leaving his charger at work proved it.
So did hoping Holly wanted him to be her date.
But that was just because if she refused, he wouldn’t have an excuse to check out the property and talk further with the Sinclairs.
Not because he’d be disappointed.
“No, she was cool with it.” Thankfully Ryan seemed oblivious to Nick’s mind scramble. “And I appreciate this favor, man. My sister clearly needs a win.”
Nick refolded a pair of socks. “I’m not sure a holiday date with me fits that bill, but you’re welcome.”
“If you knew the extent of this block party my parents host, you’d understand.” Ryan sighed. “My mom makes the North Pole appear un-festive.”
Something else to look forward to. Nick shoved his empty hangers toward the end of the rod. He could put aside his personal preferences for the greater good of this investment with the Sinclairs. One holiday party would be well worth the strides toward his dream—toward making a difference.
Then he could go back to eating ramen alone on Christmas.
“Just make sure Holly doesn’t find out I had to talk you into it.” Ryan sat upright on the suitcase. “I sort of made it sound like you couldn’t wait.”
Oy.Nick shook a hanger at Ryan. “I no longer feel guilty making you try to zip that thing.”
Ryan smirked. “It would hardly cheer her up or build her confidence if she knows you’re essentially just trying to get face time with my parents.”
“Come on, that’s not theonlyreason I’m coming.” Just the main one.
Guilt tapped at Nick’s shoulder. But his ultimate intentions were to help teenagers—nothing purer than that, right? Besides, if Ryan had asked him to double date with Holly next time she came through town, he’d have accepted.
Probably.
If he was further along in his dream building, anyway.
“Trust me, Holly knowing as little as possible is the onlyway,” Ryan said, waving his hand dismissively through the air. “Big brothers are allowed to meddle for our siblings’ own good. This is how we do things.”
“As long as you know what you’re doing.” The last thing Nick needed this holiday season was for anyone to get their feelings hurt—especially if Holly was as nice as he remembered.
“She’ll never know. She’ll have fun with you, then go home confident and ready to get a killer new job and put herself back on the dating market after that E-Love disaster.” Ryan shuddered.
Nick went still. “E-Love disaster?”
