AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Are you going to tell us where we’re going?” Brandon asks while Holden looks too amused to care.
“The roof.” Emily and I answer in unison.
I unlock the door and the four of us walk outside and into the cold. I shiver immediately, and grab one of the blankets from Em. She takes one for herself, and passes the other ones to the guys. We walk over to the lawn chairs that were left up here from a few years ago, when Emily and I used the roof to sunbathe in the summer. I sit on one with Holden, and Emily and Brandon share the other.
“So, this is your hiding place.” Holden acknowledges. I nod and smile at Emily, remembering all the times we’ve spent up here – all the tears that have been spilt in this very spot.
“Is there a reason we’re out here now?” Brandon quips. “Not that it’s not nice, I’m just wondering why you chose fifteen-degree weather to come up here.”
“Wait for it.”
Within seconds, you can hear the people inside counting down from ten. As soon as it hits zero, and everyone shouts ‘Happy New Year’, fireworks shoot up into the sky – bursting above us. The view is magnificent.
“Happy New Year.” I whisper to Holden.
He smiles and kisses me softly. “Happy Anniversary.”
The two of us watch the fireworks, cuddled up together in each other’s arms and warm blankets. It isn’t until I glance at Emily that my jaw drops. Neither Em nor Brandon are watching the fireworks. Instead, they’re taking part in what looks like an intense make-out session. I quietly nudge Holden and nod over toward our friends. His eyebrows raise before he shrugs and grabs my face, bringing his mouth to mine and kissing me just as feverishly.
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL and getting into the swing of new classes makes the month of January pass by in a blink. After New Year’s, Emily and Brandon started dating. With her attending Yale, they’re a lot closer to each other than I originally realized. The way Emily talks about him to me, and Brandon talks about her to Holden – we’re both completely on board with it. They’re adorable together.
I’m currently packing an overnight bag. There’s a tasting at Skylar and Dawson’s wedding venue and they both want Bree and I to attend. Being as it’s an hour away and there will be alcohol, we’re spending the night in a hotel.
“I don’t want you to go.” Holden pouts.
I smile sadly. “It’s only one night babe. I’ll be home first thing tomorrow morning.”
“I know. I just miss you when you’re gone.”
“I miss you, too.”
Despite inviting him to come with us, there’s a party tonight at Kappa and him being the president – he needs to be there. A little more than a month ago, I probably would have been panicking at the thought of him being at a party without me. However, after my short talk with Brandon, I’ve experienced no issues with trusting him again.
THE FOOD AT THE venue is mouthwatering. After we’re finished, we hang out and talk as they provide unlimited drinks. I guess when you’re spending the amount Skylar’s parents are to have a wedding here, it’s the least they could do.
“The party looks like it’s getting intense.” Bree points out as she scrolls through her phone. “Have you talked to Holden?”
I pick up my phone and see that he still hasn’t answered my text from a half hour ago. “We were talking for a while, but he stopped answering.”
She looks up at me and studies my face. “That doesn’t freak you out?”
Shaking my head, I take a sip of my drink and swallow it down. “No. We’re in a good place. He’s probably just busy, or fell asleep.”
Dawson smiles, happy for my happiness, and Bree just nods. “Well, good. I’m glad.”
THE NEXT MORNING, WE all make our way back to campus. I’m slightly worried because I still haven’t heard from my boyfriend. Not that I think he’s cheating, but more concerned that something might have happened to him. Perhaps he got too drunk and is passed out on his bathroom floor. So, instead of bringing me back to my dorm, I have Dawson drop me off at Kappa.
“Text me to let me know he’s alright.” He requests.
“I will.”
I climb out of the car, walking up the driveway and into the house. The new guys are all cleaning up, but I don’t see Holden anywhere. Assuming he’s still sleeping, I go up the stairs and down the hallway to his bedroom.
“Babe?” I call out as I open the door, but what I see is not what I expected.
Laying in Holden’s bed isn’t my boyfriend, but Abby – half naked in nothing but his t-shirt.
Chapter 28
