AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please, she shows up everywhere you’re at within twenty minutes being there. Sounds pretty stalker-like to me.”
Holden rolls his eyes playfully. “Alright, yeah. She’s a stage five clinger.”
“I have her number in my phone. I can give it to you if you want.” Brandon offers.
Caleb laughs. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass. Holden’s sloppy seconds aren’t really appealing to me.”
Holden chokes on his drink at the same time I laugh loudly, slapping my hand over my mouth at the reflex. H and I share a look, being the only two in on the joke.
“What?” Jason looks confused. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing.” I try to dismiss him but it doesn’t work.
Caleb catches on before anyone else. “Wait a minute, the two of you…” He points to Holden and me. “Before we…”
I nod shyly while Holden looks smug. I’m surprised this didn’t come out sooner, knowing the pissing war they used to have when it came to me. Caleb sits there, gaping as everyone else figures it out.
“Weren’t you dating Bree when I took Kayleigh out?” He questions.
Holden nods and half shrugs. Meanwhile, Emily and Jo are looking at me – thinking the same thing. Emily is the first one to open her mouth.
“You two went out?”
“Hardly.” I answer. “We went on one date and then to a party.”
I can see the gears turning in Caleb’s head. “You disappeared that night. Where did you…” His expression turns to one mixed of anger and amusement.
Holden starts laughing. “My room.”
“You’re a little shit, Rivers.”
“Sorry, hun.” I say sweetly to Caleb. “If it makes you feel any better, I had a really nice time.”
He looks mad for half a second but it fades quickly. He turns his full attention to Holden. “If you liked her then, why didn’t you tell us? I wouldn’t have asked her out if I knew.”
“You didn’t tell them?” Brandon balks. “Christ, you couldn’t shut up about her to me. It was Kayleigh this, and Kayleigh that. Why won’t she talk to me? How do I make her stop hating me?”
“Alright.” Holden smacks a hand over his mouth. “That’s enough from you.”
“No but really.” Jason presses. ‘Why didn’t you tell us?”
Holden glances at me and then looks down at the sand. “I did. You just didn’t know it was her.” They both look confused until Holden clarifies. “Dorm chick.”
Realization washes over both of Caleb and Jason’s faces, yet I couldn’t be more confused. I watch my fiancé carefully, waiting for answers.
“She’s dorm chick!?” Caleb nearly shouts. “Holy shit, it all makes sense now.”
“Well, I’m glad it does to you.” I remark. “Anyone want to clear it up for the rest of us?”
Jason finds the humor in all of this and snickers. “Beginning of that year, Holden mentioned a girl he met at the dorms when he went to pick up Bree. He looked like a love-struck puppy whenever he talked about her. He said he didn’t know her name though.” He glances at Holden, who looks up at me.
“I was talking about you.” Holden finishes for him.
I can’t fight the smile that takes over my face as Josephine coos, making comments about how cute it is. I make grabby hands at him, and he comes closer – pressing his lips to mine in a soft kiss.
“I’m still stuck on the fact that you almost ended up with him.” Emily remarks about Caleb. We all laugh as he exaggeratedly winks at me.
Holden’s smile falls off his face. “I put a ring on it, Sutter. You missed your chance.”
