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He shakes his head. “No. It’s not that at all.”
I narrow my eyes curiously, trying to figure him out. “T
hen why does it seem like somethings off with you?”
He smiles softly at me, bringing his hand to my cheek and placing a short kiss on my lips. “I’m just trying not to scare you away.”
Okay. If he didn’t have me worried before, he does now. “What? How would you be scaring me away?”
“I want you to come home with me for Thanksgiving.”
Chapter Sixteen
I open and close my mouth repeatedly, trying to find the right words. Out of all the things that could have been on his mind, this was not something I expected. My anxiety begins to build, my heart rate quickening and my breathing becoming labored.
“Say something.” He whispers. “Please.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I-I don’t know what to say.” I answer.
“Well, you could say you’ll come with me.”
The panic attack is looming in the back of my mind, just waiting until it’s strong enough to cripple me. If I don’t speak now, this could get ugly.
“But we’re not even dating, and I don’t like Thanksgiving. There’s so much food and your family will be there, and what if they don’t like me? I don’t even like me. I just, I-I don’t…”
“Woah, Kayleigh, Babe, relax.” Holden says, effectively cutting off my rant. “You don’t have to, it was only an idea.”
Just like that, he manages to calm the monster inside of me. It’s not entirely gone, but a rush of relief runs through my body and I manage to catch my breath.
“I’d like you to come with me, but you don’t have to.” He continues. “Just think about it, yeah?”
I nod, not trusting my voice. I guess considering it couldn’t hurt. He leans forward and kisses me softly before lying on his back and pulling me toward him. I go willingly, laying my head on his chest and letting the sound of his heartbeat lull me to sleep.
DAWSON STARES AT ME intently. I reach forward, pushing his jaw up and closing his mouth – only for it to fall back down when I remove my hand. I chuckle, going back to emptying the wet coffee grinds into the trash.
“You’re an interesting woman.” He says playfully.
I ponder his words for a moment before shrugging. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He laughs, throwing the towel he was using to dry the mugs at me. I catch it with ease and place it down on the counter. We’re getting ready to close the coffee shop for the week. Since everyone is going home for the holiday, the owner sees no point in staying open.
“You really don’t know if you’re going to go?!” Dawson asks again in disbelief.
I roll my eyes. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Absolutely not.”
I sigh, turning around and pulling myself up to sit on the counter. I’ve been trying to avoid thinking about this all day. Holden needs an answer by the time I get back, because if I’m going, he needs to book my plane ticket. Still, I don’t know what to do.
“I don’t even understand why he wants me there.” I murmur frustratedly.
He scoffs. “Oh, come on, you’re not that dense.” When I look at him blankly, he continues. “Kayleigh, he’s crazy about you.”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t want to go there.”
“Why not?!”
“Because!” I nearly shout before taking a deep breath, changing my tone. “I don’t want to. We’re just friends.”
