AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nathan
Holly slams the door shut behind her. For a moment, I stand in stunned silence. Then I steal a glance at Hudson. His eyes are full of emotion, mostly hurt and anger. Hudson is level-headed in most situations, but I can sense that this time I’ve gone too far. His sister is the line and I’ve crossed it. At worst, there may be no going back, at best I know he’s disappointed. But I’d take either of those a thousand times over the look of complete devastation that had been in Holly’s eyes as she left.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
Hudson cuts me off. “You should be sorry. You are like a brother to me. To think, you of all people are sneaking around behind my back with my sister. I’ve seen the way you’ve blown up relationships in the past. I’m not going to let you do that to Holly. You need to stay away from her.”
His words are dripping with hurt and I can tell that it isn’t a request that I leave his sister alone. I love Hudson, but he’s just asked me to do the one thing I’m not capable of doing.
I take a deep breath. “I’d do anything for you, you know that. Do you think I’d risk our friendship for anything less than the real deal when your family is the only family I’ve got left? There’s no way. But you’re asking me to do the one thing that isn’t possible. I can’t leave her alone. It’s not an option for me anymore.”
Hudson clenches his hand into a fist and slams it down on the armrest of the chair he’s sitting in. He looks like he’s about to throw a punch. If he does, I’m going to have to be okay with that, because I know I deserve it. But going forward, I’m going to speak with nothing but complete honesty, even when it hurts.
Hudson squeezes his eyes shut. When he opens them again, the look on his face goes from angry to something more like disappointment. “When my dad died, I made a promise to keep her safe. I’ve been there to see all the girls who’ve wanted to be with you. I remember the ones who you couldn’t bother to call back and the ones who got the worst of you. I can’t let that happen, not to Holly. She’s too good. She deserves the whole world.” He presses his hands to his temples.
“You have to listen. I understand what you’re saying. Believe it or not, we’re saying the same thing. I want the best for Holly, too. She isn’t like the other girls who’ve come along the way. None of them ever made sense in the long run because they weren’t her. I know I should’ve told you about this sooner and if I could go back, I’d include you from day one. But I can’t do that. All I can do is look forward and I’m telling you she’s all I can see. I love her.” The words hang heavy in the air, surprising even me.
“You love Holly,” Hudson repeats, and I can’t tell if he’s questioning my words or they are as unbelievable to him as they once would’ve been to me.
But now that they’re spoken, I know they’re undeniably true. I love Holly with all my heart in a way I never thought possible for me. She’s the shock of red and green in a blue Christmas. I never dared to let myself imagine being a part of a family like the Sinclairs, because it’d hurt too much if it didn’t happen. But I’m all in with Holly and I’ll do whatever I need to make sure she understands that she is my whole world.
“Remember, I lost a parent too. I know that pain. When my mom died, I thought I’d never feel at home again. But your sister came into my world out of nowhere and she gave that back to me. I promise you that if she forgives me, I’m in this for life. I’ll treat her like she’s my whole world because she is. Besides, you have to face it, she’s an adult now. She’s twenty-three, and it’s a miracle no one snapped her up already. If it isn’t me, it will be someone else.”
Hudson’s eyes wrinkle at the corners. I take his slight nod as a sign of victory and let out a deep breath. I know my friend. He might not be ready to forgive me right this second, but he’s going to get there. In this situation, it’s the most I can hope for.
I grab two cold beers out of the refrigerator. When I pop the lids off and hand one to him, Hudson takes a cautious sip.
“What kind of wild world are we living in where I’m single and you are dating my sister? It doesn’t make any sense.” He shakes his head, but there’s no bite to his words.
“If you ask me, it’s the only thing that makes sense. I know I’m pushing my luck, but I’m going, to be honest with you. Celeste wasn’t it for you. She’s not a good person. She’s the worst. She’s always thinking of herself and putting you through it. I think someone will come along and suddenly everything will make sense. Just like Holly and me.”
He turns our video game back on. It’s a tiny piece of normalcy that feels like a relief. Holly is for sure mad at me, but the truth is out, and on top of that, my jawline is still intact. I take the wins where I can. We play in silence, letting our new realities swirl in the room and then settle in around us.
“It’s a bad day, man. A real bad day,” Hudson says without looking away from the screen.
“That it is. Cheers to bad days that turn into good nights.” I raise my beer to his and we take sips off the top of our bottles. “I know it isn’t your favorite idea but thank you for trying to get on board with me and Holly.”
Hudson lets out a throaty laugh. “I’m coming around to the idea. But I’m not the Sinclair sibling you need to worry about getting on board with at this point. I don’t think Holly would touch you with a ten-foot pole right now.”
A humorless chuckle escapes me. “Don’t I know it?” I shake my head at my stupidity.
“What are you gonna do?” Hudson asks.
My chest tightens. “Ugh, whatever it takes. I have a thought. It’s a sort of Hail Mary, last-ditch effort, Christmas miracle kind of thing. I have no idea if it’ll work, but if I’m going to have a chance, I’m going to need your help.”
“It’s too late for my relationship, but I can help save yours. Tell me what you need man, I’ll be there.” Hudson looks at me, giving me a nod that communicates so much more than words.
With our friendship back on track, I set my sights on winning Holly back.
Eleven
Holly
By the time I open my eyes the next morning, Mom’s already up and the smell of coffee pulls me toward the kitchen. I walk into the kitchen in my red flannel onesie. It’s an upgrade from the black sweats, but that isn’t saying much. My hair is a wild mess of curls atop my head and I’ve traded my contact lenses for my rectangular glasses with the thick black frame.
I didn’t get any sleep. Instead, I sat up, mindlessly scrolling social media and replaying the scene from last night over and over in my brain. I don’t know if I’m madder at my brother, or at Nathan. But both of them let me down last night.
I grab a mug with too-cheery reindeer painted on the side of it and pour myself a cup of black coffee. I skip the cream and sugar because it’s just that kind of day.
