Page 23 of Holiday Hookup

I do get that. I also get that the situation is fucking insane. I shouldn’t be forced to do something I don’t want to do just because my record label wants some fucking money.

“I don’t care, Brent, I meant what I said in that hotel room. I don’t want this life anymore.”

God, how I wish I could go back to my younger self and warn him about this life and what it takes away. Yes, it gave me so much for a short amount of time, but at what cost?

“Dane. We signed that contract knowing full well what it meant. You can’t just walk away and there not be consequences.”

Fuck. I know he’s right, but the idea of leaving Nel and Jax to go back to LA only to record something I want nothing to do with sounds like my own living hell.

“What’s holding you back right now? Because I know you, and needing a break is one thing but up and quitting altogether?”

“I met someone.”

Realization crosses his features as he finally gets it. I tell him everything, from the night at the club, finding her again and asking her to live with me. He doesn’t say a thing, just takes sips of his coffee and listens.

“I’m falling hard, man,” I admit and that’s when he speaks.

“You really are going to quit, aren’t you?”

When I don’t say a word, he knows what that means. I will always love the memories we made, but there’s no way I can leave this life now that I’ve found it. I like the anonymity, the freedom, and the simplicity it brings. I’ve missed waking up in the morning and not dreading the day, and meeting Nel has given that back to me.

“I’ll figure something out,” I promise, even though at this moment I have no idea what that something is.

“You better, because as much as I love you and respect your decision, you are playing with all of our lives here, Dane. Frankie and I still love this life and so what you’re doing, although a good thing for you, fucks with our lives. Remember that.” And with that, he gets up, clasps his hand on my shoulder before leaving out the front door without another word.

Just as I’m about to leave, my phone dings, and when I see a message from Nellie, I smile.

NELLIE: Pizza and beer tonight? Jax is with Brian all weekend.

It’s the wink face that gets me off my ass, out the door, and back to the woman that has taken over every aspect of my life. I can lie and say she’s just a holiday hookup, but I’d be lying. That woman is changing my life whether she knows it or not.

Now it’s up to me to make sure that my past life doesn’t ruin the one I’m building, and that’s something I can’t let happen.

Chapter 17

It’s done. I can’t believe my apartment is actually done, but here I am standing in my kitchen, looking at the floor, and see no water, no damage, and no evidence that anything happened at all. I must have left the door open because Dane’s strong arms wrap around me as his chin rests on my shoulder.

“It looks good. I’m impressed.”

I turn to see this strange look on his face, one I can’t quite put my finger on.

“If it wasn’t done well, I would have lost my shit.”

I was pissed when they told me it would be ready today, Christmas Eve, knowing I wouldn’t be able to move back in for a few more days. I wasn’t going to make Jaxon move back in when he’s already excited to spend the night with Dane. “Are you sure it’s okay we stay an extra few nights?”

“You know you can stay even longer than that,” he mutters, kissing my neck and causing heat to travel through my entire body.

Over the past few days we’ve pretty much avoided this conversation, well to be fair I’ve avoided this conversation. But I guess I can’t avoid it much longer.

“Dane, you knew this was coming. I wasn’t going to stay with you forever.” Although the thought has crossed my mind. I know it’s not fair to Jaxon and to myself to uproot our entire lives for a man that, although has been very sweet, has only been in our lives for a few weeks.

I expect Dane to argue, tell me staying with him is better for us, but what I don’t expect is for him to lean down, take my lips and kiss me so passionately I forget where I’m standing.

“Where’s Jaxon?” he mutters against the sensitive part of my neck, and when I don’t answer right away, his teeth graze my skin, causing my fingers to dig into his arms.

“With his dad,” I whisper, my knees weakening as his hands find their way to my ass, lifting me off the ground and against the kitchen wall.

“So, we have the whole place to ourselves?”

---