Page 128 of Valentine Nook
“For New Year’s,” I say, as cheerily as I’m able. “She has all the promo for this movie before then, and then she has the premiere.”
Miles leans forward, his hands steepled together. “Are you going to be walking the red carpet with her?”
“She hasn’t asked.”
I look at the three of them. A couple of minutes ago, they were all joking, laughing, and taking the piss out of Alex. Now they look sad. They’re all wearing an expression that reinforces my suspicions—that when Holiday says goodbye to me, it won’t be in a “see you in a month” way.
It’s going to be forever.
Her mood has changed in the past week. I want to attribute it to the stress of packing her things more quickly than she expected and instructing her assistant on what needs to becollected and what she’s taking on the plane with her, but I know it’s not. So many times, I stopped myself from saying she could get it when she returns, and that it’ll be waiting for her.
Call me chickenshit, but I haven’t wanted to hear her say she wouldn’t be returning.
“But the awards start in January, and she asked me to accompany her for those.”
Their collective sigh of relief does nothing for my anxiety.
“Something to look forward to then.” Hendricks smiles, always the optimist.
My time checking has become obsessive, but when I glance up, Holiday’s walking toward me, and this time, when people try to stop and talk, she ignores them.
“Hey, you’re not the Duke of Oxfordshire, are you?”
I turn in my chair, pull her onto my lap, and bury my nose in her neck. I don’t even care who’s watching. I need this.
“That depends,” I mumble. “Who’s asking?”
“Just a lil’ ole actress,” she replies, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and squeezing me until my soul aches and a barrel of tears pushes up my throat.
“Don’t go.”
When she stiffens, I know I didn’t keep the words in my head like I meant to, and just like that, she eases herself off my lap and moves closer to my sister, who swings an arm around her shoulders. It reminds me that I’m not the only one who doesn’t want Holiday to leave.
“Clem, you coming to the party? Holiday, what about you? Can’t you delay the plane for a couple of hours?”
Her mouth rolls together, and she smiles sadly at Miles. “Ah, I wish I could. But I have a meeting in the morning. The studio sent a plane to make sure I got back in time.”
“Boo,” he grumbles, standing to give her a hug. It’s the type of hug he gives Clementine, and that in itself is enough tobreak me. “You’ll always be the best neighbor I’ve ever had. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”
“Okay,” she replies quietly, easing out of his arms and into Hendricks’s.
My throat tightens further with each of my siblings she hugs.
There’s no “see you soon” or “you must visit us again” because everyone’s too wary of me and our situation.
I stand, waiting, and when she’s ready, she turns to me with her hand held out. We walk out of the ballroom in silence. No one stops us. No one asks for a selfie. People take one look at our faces and know it’s not a good time.
The car is waiting to drive us to the private airport just outside of London. Except when we step outside, it’s not the car I expect—the one withmydriver.
And it’s then I know.
Holiday turns and looks at me, big blue eyes glistening with tears.
“Holiday, what’s going on?”
“Just listen.” She holds her hand up. Her expression takes on a steeliness, and I find myself bracing. “It would never have worked. Long distance sucks.”
The lead weight hits the bottom of the lake. This can’t be happening.
