Page 151 of A Very Merry Enemy
“Stop.” The word comes out harsher than I mean it to, but I need her to hear this. “Holiday Patterson, I think you’re the bravest person I’ve ever met. You’re smart. Beautiful. You came home and you rebuilt your life. You didn’t let Dominic destroy you, even though he tried.” I lean my forehead against hers, breathing her in. “I love you.”
The words slip out before I can stop them, hanging in the air between us like something fragile and vital.
Her breath catches. “What?”
My heart is racing now, pounding so hard I’m sure she can hear it. But I’ve said it and can’t take it back. I don’t want to, anyway.
“I love you,” I repeat, and saying it again feels like jumping off a cliff, but this time I have a parachute. “I’ve loved you since we were kids. I loved you when you left for Paris, even though I was so angry I could barely see straight. I loved you when youcame back, and I pretended I hated you. I love you right now, sitting in your childhood bedroom, telling me about the worst parts of your past.” I pull back just enough to look her in the eyes. “I love all of you, Holiday. The good parts and the messy parts and the parts you think are too broken to love. All of it. All of you. I always have, and I always will.”
She’s really crying now, her whole body shaking with sobs, and I pull her against my chest. She wraps her arms around me and holds on like I’m the only thing keeping her from drowning. Her fingers curl into my shirt, and I can feel her tears soaking through the fabric.
“I love you, too,” she whispers against my chest, so quiet I almost miss it. “I’ve been trying not to say it because I thought it was too soon, because I was scared you’d think I was moving too fast. But I can’t hold it back anymore.” She tilts her head to look at me. “I love you, Lucas. I never stopped. Not once. Not ever.”
Something inside me splits open.
All the years of hurt and resentment and anger toward her just drain away like water through a broken dam, leaving nothing but this—her in my arms, both of us finally saying what we should have said over a decade ago.
I kiss her, pouring everything into it that I can’t put into words.
I give her my love and my gratitude that she trusted me enough to tell me the truth. She kisses me back just as desperately, her hands sliding up to tangle in my hair.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard. She rests her forehead against mine.
“What do I do about this?” she asks. “About the videos?”
“You need to talk to a lawyer. What he’s threatening is illegal. He can’t just release that stuff without consequences.”
“I told him that. I threatened to press charges and expose evidence that he stole my recipes for his Michelin star.” A ghost of a smile crosses her face. “I called his bluff.”
Pride swells in my chest again. “That’s my girl. But we needto be smart about this going forward. Document everything. Save all his texts and emails. If he shows up here again, you call the sheriff. You don’t talk to him, you don’t engage. Tell your parents, too.”
She nods, some of the tension finally leaving her shoulders. “Okay. What about the contest?”
“We go in there Saturday and we destroy the competition.” I tuck loose hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. “We show him and everyone else what you’re capable of because I think that’s what he’s ultimately scared of. Everyone finding out the truth.” I pull her close again, breathing in the vanilla scent of her shampoo. “You’re not alone anymore, Holiday. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
She looks up at me and more tears come. “You climbed the lattice.”
“Yeah.”
“You took the golf cart through the woods like we used to.”
“Seemed faster.”
“You came because I asked you to.” Her voice cracks on the words and fresh tears spill over. “You didn’t ask questions or tell me to wait until morning. You just showed up.”
“Of course, I did.” I wipe away her tears with my thumbs, trying to memorize her face. “Holiday, you could call me at three in the morning from the other side of the world and I’d find a way to get to you. That’s what you do when you love someone. I will always show up for you. Always.”
She kisses me again, and it’s full of relief and love. When we break apart, she’s smiling through her tears.
“Stay tonight?” she whispers. “Please? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Your parents?—”
“Will never know. Once they finish their show, they’ll sleep like the dead. Besides, we can lock ourselves in.” She glances at her closed bedroom door, then back at me. “I just need youhere. I need to know you’re real, that you meant everything you just said.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
We lie down together on her narrow twin bed, the springs creaking under our combined weight. It’s too small for both of us and we have to press close together just to fit, but I don’t mind. Holiday snuggles against my side with her head on my chest, right over my heart. I wrap my arms around her like I can shield her from everything that’s trying to hurt her.
