Page 129 of Valentine Nook
“Holiday—”
“Lando, we both knew this had an end date. Why don’t we just call it what it was—an incredible summer? Let’s not ruin it.”
“We’re not going to ruin it. Why would that happen?”
Her features harden along with her tone, and I briefly wonder if she’s practiced this. “Because I’m telling you that’s whatalwayshappens. The time difference alone is enough to kill it. You’re getting up as I go to bed.”
I’m still holding her hand, and I pull her into me. “Holiday,we’ll figure it out. I promise. We can get through a little time difference.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. When I’m working, I’m completely immersed in what I do. I don’t have time to worry about when we’re going to be together next. We’ll end up resenting the hell out of each other in a matter of months.”
I shake my head. “We’re stronger than that, and you know it. I’ll be by your side for the awards.”
She doesn’t look at me when she replies. “I think it’s better if I do them alone.”
“Holiday, come on. ..” My tone is pleading, whiny almost, but I can’t help it.
With a sigh, she places her hand on my chest, palm above my heart where I know she can feel it beating wildly. I wonder if she realizes that these days it only beats for her.
Rising on her tiptoes, she presses her lips to mine. Letting go of her hand, I hold her face and kiss her like I want to strip the red off until her mouth is the one I’m familiar with.
It’s hard, needy, and fraught with everything we need to say to each other but can’t. But mostly, it’s sad. Desperately sad.
And when I taste the saltiness of her tears, my heart totally breaks.
“I love you,” I tell her for the first time, one last attempt at getting her to change her mind and come back to me. “Holiday, please, we said we’d figure it out, and we will. The time difference can’t be the reason we don’t stay together.”
She doesn’t reply but leans into the car and pulls out a box. A fucking box. That her things are in this car, and she planned it all without me realizing it, is a final twist of the knife.
“Wait until I’m gone. Okay?”
I’m numb, barely noticing her placing it in my hands. I’m too focused on her face, committing it all to memory—the color of her eyes, the perfect heart shape of her lips, the determination in the jut of her chin.
It’s what brings all my anger to the surface. Holiday has made her mind up, and I don’t get a say.Again.
“You’re not even going to give us a chance? This is bullshit. Please, Holiday, don’t do this to us.”
She slides into the car, gathering her gown around her, and when she’s done, she pulls the door closed. Her palm presses against the window, and it’s the last thing I’m left with as the car sets off.
I stand and watch until they pull into traffic.
I don’t bother going back in. I can’t face the looks of pity on my brothers’ faces—or the tears I know Clementine is crying—because they’ll set off my own.
Instead, I get in my waiting car and request my driver to take me back to Valentine Nook. As a finalfuck you, we pass four buses with her advert on the way out of London, taunting me with the perfect body I know every inch of.
I’m still holding the box she handed me, and I notice an envelope tucked neatly under the ribbon for the first time.
The laugh I let out is dry and full of scorn. Of course it’s addressed to Thunder.
Dear Thunder,
I so enjoyed getting to know you and Sunday. I’m sorry that I won’t be around to visit again.
Look after your dad, tell him he’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and I love him.
Your friend,
Holiday x
