Page 8 of Endless December (Sleepless November Saga 2)

"Hold on." I breathe. "What did he tell you?"

Caleb shrugs. "Not much. Just that he was being a tool. He fucked up and you broke up with him for it."

Oh, my god. He's taking the fall, instead of telling the truth. He's making himself seem like the bad guy when I was a total bitch. All he's ever done is care and try to protect me.

Shit. I fucked up.

I turn my head toward Dawson, tears building in my eyes. It only takes him a couple seconds to figure out what's going through my mind. He reaches in his pocket, taking out his keys and handing them to me.

"Go." He says, nodding toward the door.

I smile, wondering what I would do without him. "Thank you." Standing up, I speed walk toward the door.

"I'm so lost." Jason murmurs, but I don't stop.

Dawson can handle them. I need to go find Holden.

Chapter 4

Ijump into Dawson's car, putting the key in the ignition and starting it. I check for traffic before quickly pulling out onto the road. I'm not even sure what I'm going to say. All I can think about is how much I messed up.

Pulling up to the frat house, I realize I got here in record timing. I rush in the door, immediately running up the stairs and into what I thought was Holden's room.

"Uh, can I help you?" A guy, who I think's name is Riley, asks – looking at me as if I'm crazy.

"Isn't this Holden's room?" I look around and notice I'm in the right room, but his stuff is gone.

"Ah." He chuckles, nodding in understanding. "He's in the master bedroom. It's down the hall. Last door on the right."

I thank him, quickly exiting the room and heading toward his directions. I reach the correct room, and before second guessing myself, I barge in. Holden is sitting on his bed with earbuds in. When he sees me, he pulls them out immediately.

"Kayleigh?" He gets up, coming toward me and looking me over. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"You took the fall for me." I breathe. "You said that you were the reason we broke up."

A tear escapes and slides down my cheek. Holden sighs. "Come here."

He opens his arms and steps closer. I go willingly, instantly loving the feeling of being close to him again. He rubs up and down my back, pressing a light kiss to the top of my head. The butterflies erupt in my stomach for the first time in months.

We stand there for a few minutes, enjoying the closeness we've both been missing all summer. Neither of us pull away until someone clears their throat.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?"

I turn my head to find Holden's girlfriend standing in the doorway. I can tell from the look on her face, she's not happy. I partially expect Holden to come up with an excuse, but he doesn't.

"Abby, this is Kayleigh. Kayleigh, Abby."

I fake the best smile I can manage, feeling insanely uncomfortable. "It's nice to meet you."

"Yeah, you too." She mumbles, blowing me off and turning her attention back to Holden. "Are we still going to lunch?"

He looks to me and then back at her. I focus my eyes on the floor. I really should have thought this through before showing up at his house. Now he's going to pick her over me and I'm going to be left heartbroken.

"No, Kayleigh and I have some things we need to talk about. Rain check?" He replies, taking both of us by surprise. She laughs dryly before giving me a dirty look and walking out the door.

I look up at Holden to find him staring right back at me. The tension between us isn't exactly awkward, but it's not the comfort that I'm used to. Still, he manages to make me feel things in a way that no one else can. Three months away from each other and he can still render me speechless.

"Want to sit?" He asks, gesturing towards the bed.

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