Page 85 of A Very Merry Enemy
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Lucas.”
“You’d get this look on your face like I’d just given you the best gift in the world, even if it was flour and butter and a platonic sleepover at my grandma’s.” I keep my eyes on the road because if I look at her right now, I might say something I can’t take back. “You’d smile like I hung the moon.”
The silence stretches between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s heavy with words and old feelings we’ve only danced around.
“I loved your surprises,” she says quietly. “I knew they came from a good place. Can’t say that about anyone else who’s surprised me in the last decade.”
“So that means you’re in?” We pull into Mawmaw’s driveway that’s lined with cars. I kill the engine.
“Are you peer pressuring me?”
“Absolutely.” I smirk.
“Better be worth it,” she says, but does a terrible job of holding back her excitement.
“Isn’t it always?” I park and go around to open Holiday’s door before she can do it herself.
“Quit being so polite,” she says, taking my hand as she steps down.
“Hell no. My mama taught me manners.”
She looks up at me, and her eyes look impossibly blue. Her lips part like she’s going to say something more, but Jake’s voice cuts through the night, interrupting us.
“Hey, lovebirds! You coming inside, or should we start without you?”
“We’re coming,” I say over my shoulder, then turn back to Holiday. “Ready?”
“No. But it is what it is.” Holiday’s cheeks turn bright red, and we head toward the house.
Inside is the chaos I expected. The first thing Mawmaw does when she sees Holiday is pull her into a tight hug.
“Oh, sweetheart, look at you! Haven’t changed a bit.” She holds Holiday at arm’s length and beams. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, Lucas?”
“Yeah, Mawmaw. She does.”
Holiday’s eyes widen with aHelp melook, but all I can do is chuckle. There is no saving her. My mom swoops in next, hugging Holiday and asking questions about the bakery. Then Emma and Claire both shower her with compliments. Hudson makes some comment about how we look good together and earns an elbow from Holiday. Jake just grins knowingly at both of us.
I watch Holiday light up around my family, like she used to, like she’s craving genuine conversations and appreciation. I think about her ex and clench my fists, thinking about what I’ll do when I meet him. Because now it’s inevitable that I will.
We settle around Mawmaw’s massive dining table that can fit twenty people. Holiday ends up next to me, close enough that our arms brush every time she reaches for something. It’s almost too much.
My dad launches into a story about what a kid asked for Christmas.
“He said a billion dollars,” Dad says. “I remember the days when remote control cars were in.”
Hudson makes comments under his breath that have a very pregnant Emma shooting him warning looks. Jake and Claire are wrapped up in wedding plan conversations with my mom. Colby is drawing in a notebook while refusing to eat broccoli.
And I can’t stop glancing at Holiday as she listens to Mawmaw like every word matters. She’s adorable without even trying.
I’m so completely fucked.
“Lucas, honey, for the third time, could you please pass the potatoes?” my mom asks.
“Oh, sure,” I say, realizing I’m too distracted.
It’s just hard for me to believe any of this is real, after wishing for this for so long. I grab the bowl and pass it, catching Emma’s knowing gaze from across the table.
