“Oh, typical St. Louis traffic. Come on, let’s get you two loaded up. I bet you’re hungry. I have food made at home.” Hollybends to grab her bag, but I shoo her away from it, freeing her hands to cozy up to her mom. May is a picture of sophistication, and Holly looks so much like her that there is no question of their blood-ties when standing beside one another. I wonder whose personality she takes after more. Jacob eyes me with approval as I hoist Holly’s belongings over my shoulder and pull the roller along with us. Make a good first impression–done. I believe I am off to a good start.To be determined.Inhaling deep, I follow my girl to the car.
The ride home takes about forty-five minutes with traffic to get us out of the area and across the Missouri river into the St. Charles area. The whole way, Jacob and May make small talk, asking tons of questions about Kittery, how Holly’s teaching is going, and if I’m excited about my new job starting Monday. Fingers weave with mine in the dark of the backseat, giving me a reassuring squeeze. The area is nice, and when we pull into Holly’s parents’ place, it screamshomey. The house, the neighborhood, all of it says, ‘Hey, come on over! I have pie,’ or ‘Come sit and have a beer with me.’ I wonder if this is how Holly and everyone on Ridge Lane feels being all close together. I’ll have to ask her.
“I’ll go warm up a few french dip sandwiches while you guys get settled in your rooms,” May announces as soon as Jacob flips on the foyer light and makes his way to the living room. He flicks on the TV, turning on a baseball game, then meanders after May.
“Follow me,” Holly pokes my arm, pulling her duffel off my shoulder before trekking up the stairs. I can’t help but be mesmerized by the roundness of her,damn you, Ron Burgundy,heart-shaped hiney. I snicker to myself, and Holly peers back over her shoulder.
“Do I have something on my butt?” She reaches behind, swiping at her pants as if that would help. It only makes hercheeks jiggle, confirming she’s wearing a thong.Dude, get it together. You’re letting your inner teenager run the show.
“Nope,” I say, following her down the hall into a greyish-blue guest room and dropping my things on the bed. I turn to follow her out across the hall to a dusty blush room with a floral quilt on the bed. This looks like a space she would fill and love.
“Nothing was on your butt.” I surprise her and push her back onto the bed and brace a hand beside her head, leaning over to kiss her before whispering in a hushed tone, “Your ass looked perfect walking up those stairs.”Kiss.“I was chuckling because, at the time, all I could hear in my head was how Ron Burgundy loved his love interest’s heart-shaped hiney. My younger self was having a heyday.”
A slight blush creeps along the bridge of her nose, blooming into her cheeks. I pepper soft kisses along a cheek to her jawline before hearing the sound of a tinkling bell hustling into the room. A hefty pounce on the bed has me looking up seconds later.
“Tigger!” Holly squeaks, reaching out a hand to rub at the huge peach cat, purring and making biscuits into the comforter near our heads. “Did you miss me? I can see you haven’t missed a meal since I’ve been gone. Who’s such a big boy?” she croons, scratching under his chin.
“That cat is ginormous,” I deadpan, watching amusedly as they interact and greet each other. Tigger walks closer and rubs his big head against Holly’s face, and I get a tail up my nose. Ipffftthe fur away from my mouth while Holly chuckles with delight. “I’d say he missed you.” Tigger turns curious eyes my way. “Hey, kitty, kitty.” I reach to pet him, letting him sniff my hand first. He looks less than enthused that another man is here to compete for his person’s attention. To make his point, he flops down right above Holly’s head on the bed like he’s her hat, nuzzles her hair, then eyes me before flicking his tail a time ortwo. Holly titters, reaching up to scratch his ears. The cat is gaga for her as he just lets his head melt into her hand.
“He’ll warm to you, don’t worry. He’s just possessive of me.”
“I’d say. That might make two of us, buddy.” I eye him back, not letting him see me as weak for one second. I get to take her with me when I leave. I press another kiss to her neck, savoring the way she smells like home for me, and get back to turning her into a puddle of goo. The sound of a foot on a stair tread leading this way catches my attention just as she is getting back into it. I freeze, then pull Holly up to a sitting position.Teenager sneaky skills still intact.
“Looks like playtime’s over.” I pout before smiling wickedly at my flushed girlfriend.Oh, shit! Girlfriend.My smile grows wider as I stand and turn to eye the pictures along the top of her dresser. There’s a cute one of her and Sydney at an amusement park. It looks to be a few years old, and the unmistakable tool standing beside her must be the ex.
“Sandwiches are ready!” May declares, popping her head into the room with a friendly smile. “Jaxon, I hope your room will be comfortable enough. It’s been some time since we’ve had visitors.”
“I am sure it will be great,” I answer, looking her way and smiling warmly. “Thank you for letting me stay. I would’ve been fine getting a hotel room too, but I appreciate it.”
May waves me off like that idea is absurd.
“Well, if there’s anything you need, I’m sure one of us can find it for you.”
“Thank you. I’m pretty sure that I’ve got everything I need.”
“Okay. Well, come downstairs before the food gets cold,” she replies, hustling back down the hall. I reach out a hand for Holly to snag and pull her up to my chest.
“Yeah, I haven’t been here in a while to move the pictures. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for having a life before I came along. It’s not like you’re pining over him.”
“No, there’s zero chance of any pining. You make me wonder what I ever saw in him.”
“That does my heart good to hear. You know you deserve the world, right?”
Holly blushes and stands on her tiptoes, silently asking for the kiss I so willingly bend to give her.
“Holly…” Holly’s dad calls from the bottom of the stairs with a warning tone. I pull away with a snicker.
“On our way, Dad!” she hollers in response.
“I suppose we’ll need to keep the door open if we’re up here?” I quirk my brows but totally get it. She titters back.
“It’d probably be a good idea. He might have questions for you this weekend.” Holly presses her lips together as she starts for the door. I try not to think too hard about that, or I might start sweating bullets.
???
Holly
