AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She rubbed at her chest, surprised at how much her heart hurt at the impending loss of two men she’d known for only a few short days and couldn’t decide between. “I don’t expect you to believe me, of course. You’ve already made your mind up about me, so I think it’s best if I just leave.”
She took a step away from Jaxon and Nick, immediately missing their warmth and support. A giant wave of sadness rolled over her at what might have been.
But it was better this way.
She was nothing more than a transient moment in their lives. Their enduring friendship was more important than a bit of fun on her part.
“Holly, no,” Jaxon implored, catching hold of her arm.
She pulled away gently, giving him a wobbly smile but shaking her head firmly. “It’s better this way. I don’t want to come between you. I’ll go and pack.”
Holly rushed off to her room, ignoring the raised voices she left behind her. Checking her phone was fully charged, she called a taxi to pick her up. The way she was feeling, she didn’t trust the strength of her conviction and knew if she got a lift with either Nick or Jaxon, there was a chance they would talk her out of leaving. So she just needed to make this as quick and painless as possible for all of them.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The atmosphere was tense when she returned to the kitchen. She’d loitered in her room for as long as possible, not coming out until the taxi arrived so she could make a quick getaway.
And, as an added bonus, Nick had fixed her luggage, a simple job of replacing the broken caster with a new one, so at least she was able to move it without having to ask for help.
“Holly, you don’t have to do this,” Jaxon argued, hurrying over to her as she made her way to the front door.
“Jaxon’s right,” Nick agreed. “We don’t want you to go.”
Holly shook her head. “I should never have stayed. As Kris said, I’m just a stray, and while I’ll be forever grateful for your hospitality, I’ve clearly outstayed my welcome.”
Kris snorted from the other side of the room, earning himself a scowl from the other two men.
“Ignore Kris, he’s just a grumpy old bear.” As was his way, Jaxon tried to make light of it.
“Look, I can’t do this. I’m sorry things got so out of hand, but I’ll always be glad our paths crossed.” With that, she pressed a quick, chaste kiss to each of their cheeks, pulled open the heavy wooden door, and hurried over to the waiting taxi.
The driver helped stow her luggage, and Holly gave them both a brief wave as they stood on the doorstep, watching her go. Then, she resolutely turned to the front and refused to look back, ignoring the pain in her chest.
It was impossible to be so deeply committed after such a short amount of time. She was just feeling the disillusionment of this entire vacation debacle.
The sooner she got back to reality, the better. At least she’d have almost two uninterrupted weeks to look for a new job. Right now, Holly would happily take even the smallest win.
“Where to, ma’am?” The driver asked when they were underway.
Holly dragged her fingers through her hair. “What’s the closest airport?” she asked. “One that also offers vehicle rental.” She already knew there were no available seats for either the coach, shuttle, or train. She’d googled ticket options while she’d been in her room. This was her only hope.
“That would be Pangborn. But that’s a forty-five-minute drive in good weather. It’ll take longer today, and I don’t have the time to make what will turn into a two-hour round trip.”
Holly looked out of the window. She hadn’t taken much notice of the weather, but now she noticed the heavy, dark clouds that hung ominously in the sky, holding the promise of more snow, and the freezing fog that cut visibility to a minimum. It pretty much reflected her mood right now.
“Please,” Holly begged. “I’ll cover whatever you expect to earn in those two hours, but I really need to get there.”
The driver narrowed his eyes at her in the rear-view mirror, and she could almost see the cogs turning in his head.” It’s Christmastime,” the man said, scratching his stubbled chin. “With tips, I’d be looking at two hundred dollars in that amount of time.”
Freaking con man. Holly closed her phone where she’d googled a cost calculator, which had come back at less than seventy-five dollars. She bit her lip to avoid saying that out loud. With everything full, she didn’t have a choice, and he probably knew it. She needed this guy.
“Done,” she said from between gritted teeth and ignored his triumphant smile. Just another way this ill-advised break was kicking her in the teeth.
They’d only been driving for about fifteen minutes when the taxi driver started cursing under his breath.
“Is there a problem?” she asked, wondering if he was going to try and stiff her for an additional fee.
“The engine’s overheating,” he replied shortly, pulling over to the side of the road.
