AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That would be a story worth telling.
The first time I laid eyes on Holden, he was being dragged out of the principal’s office by his ear, courtesy of his mother. It was the day before our senior year of high school. I watched their exchange with open curiosity, and when he noticed, he winked.
Gross.
We didn’t exchange words until the following day when he accidentally bumped into me. I’m pretty sure the first words he heard out of my mouth were, “Who the fuck taught you to stand?”
Stellar first impressions, if you ask me.
I was a lonely teenage girl who’d unwittingly replaced my grief with anger, and he was cocky little shit.
That was almost six years ago, and it seems that not a lot has changed.
Holden opens the car door for me with a wicked smirk on his lips, and the first thing he says is, “I knew you’d show up.”
And I say, glaring at him as I get out of the car, “Yeah, well, you buy a girl a plane ticket, and she’s bound to feel obligated.”
As soon as I’m standing opposite him, I’m enveloped in his arms, wrapped in an embrace so strong he practically lifts me off the ground. I’m almost embarrassed by the loudness of my childish giggle. He loosens his hold, just slightly, when he says, “I’m kidding, by the way. You had me scared for a second.”
I crane my neck to look up at him, my palms flat on his stomach. “Scared of what?”
The driver hands Holden my luggage, and he takes it, saying a quick thank you before turning us toward his house. He keeps one arm around my shoulders as he leads us away, saying, “You never contacted me after I gave you the info, so I wasn’t sure how you felt about coming here.” He stops just outside the door and faces me. “I know it’s a long way to come for afirst date.”
There’s an uncertainty in the way he watches me, the way he smiles—almost as if unsure of what to do next. “I’ll be right back,” he says, entering the house.
The second the door’s closed between us, I take my first full breath since we pulled into the driveway. I’m nervous and scared, and about a million other emotions I’m too afraid to show. In the days since Holden sent me the flight details, I’ve gone back and forth on my decision more times than I can count. But, in the end, I was only fooling myself. I always knew I’d be here.
Always.
The door swings open, and I catch Holden shoving something in his pocket. I plaster on a smile, just as he says, “Let’s go. We’re going to miss the light.”
Eyes wide, I ask, “We’re going on the datenow?” I look down at my clothes: paisley-patterned blouse tucked into denim shorts. It’s far from date-worthy.
Holden sighs, stepping closer. “You’re perfect the way you are, Jamie.” And then he takes my hand, linking our fingers, as he leads me toward the four-wheeler. It’s been so long since we’ve held hands like this, I’d forgotten how small mine felt encased in his. How protected. It’s a gentle, innocent touch, so when the wave of affection floods my chest, I don’t expect it.
It feels like afirst.
A first date.
A first touch.
A first flutter of butterflies.
Holden
We ride on the four-wheeler toward our destination. Had Jamie come an hour earlier, we could’ve walked, but I want her to see everything in all its glory.
It doesn’t take long to get there, and when she realizes where we are, she squeals, “The secret garden!”
“Yep.” I hop off and help her down.
Hands clasped to her chest, she tips her chin upward and says, “You’re going to show me the secret garden?” Her smile is wide, blindingly bright. And the best part? That smile is all for me.
“I am,” I say, nodding as I take the key from my pocket. Relief swarms in my chest as she skips along beside me, her joy filling my heart with pride. I unlock the door and turn to her before pushing it open. “Close your eyes.”
She presses her eyes shut, her nose scrunching, shifting the few freckles there. Then, bouncing on her toes, she says, “I’m so giddy right now!”
I want to kiss her. So bad. For so long. But I know it would be selfish because I’d be taking it just for myself, and with Jamie, I’ve already taken enough. So, instead, I reach up, cover her eyes, and push back against the door, letting it creak open behind me. I guide her with a hand on her hip and take a few steps back before moving behind her, my hand still blocking her vision.
