Capri: Can you chat?
She FaceTimes me, where I say my happy holidays to her husband and kids.
“I’m worried about you.”
I look at Capri’s sweet face, love for my cousin filling me. Our mothers are two of four sisters who made sure their childrenwere close. We all ran around like a pack of feral dogs whenever the moms got together.
Capri and my cousin Levi are a few years older than me, both only children who grew up in the same neighborhood. It made sense that she moved to the same small Texas town where Levi settled, Indigo Hills. She’s married now to a billionaire rancher who dotes on their three children almost as much as he does her.
“There’s nothing to be worried about. I already heard this from Mom earlier.”
Capri looks at me, blinking with guilt.
“Wait, are you guys texting about me?”
“We wouldn’t be texting about you if we weren’t worried.” Her eyes bore into me from 1,600 miles away.
“I hate secret text chains. I’m gonna kill my family.”
Capri shakes her head. “Don’t. You just don’t seem to be yourself lately, Atlanta. You have always been family first. The last few times we’ve seen you or talked to you, it’s like your light is dimming a little bit.”
“And you’re the one who was elected to tell me, huh?”
“Well, yes.”
“I appreciate it. I really do. And I’m okay. I’m just trying to figure some things out.” I fiddle with the stem of my wine glass. “I’m getting the promotion.”
“Oh, that is so great! That stubborn bosshole finally came to his senses.”
The knot in the pit of my stomach returns. “Yep. Yes. My new position begins January 1st.”
Capri is beaming. “I am so proud of you, hon. I’ve got to run, but we’ll talk soon. And if you get any time off at Christmas, instead of going to Dallas, think about coming out here. We’d love to have you.”
“I’ll think about it. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
I hang up, hating the way I got this promotion. The shame of it settles over me like an invisible cloak that only I can see, but I know it’s there, bristling against my skin with every movement I make. There’s only one thing I can do, which is to talk to Holden about it. Or I shake off the feelings of shame, refusing to let that settle onto me because I deserve this promotion, and Holden promised it to me months ago. He’s just finally giving me what he already promised. And that can’t be bad, right?
Chapter 7
Holden
I’m sitting inside the gym at the community center, waiting for Atlanta to arrive. We’re going to discuss Operation Christmas Curse and then climb. I wouldn’t call it a date, but try to tell my dick that. He’s been on high alert ever since she agreed to do this with me.
The gym has a rock-wall area with both bouldering and rope climbing. I train here at least twice a week to keep my skills up. It’s a great stress reliever and something that I do with Carter on the regular. At the beginning of November, we went ice climbing on Hope Peak with another trip planned in the new year.
Nothing bad has happened since the office flood, although my lights did flicker on and off twice. First when I didn’t answer my PA’s call, and second, when I let my sister’s text message go unread for about an hour. Funny how returning both of those stopped the flickering immediately. Since then, I’ve responded to calls and texts and emails timely.
Atlanta approaches, and her curvy self just about sets me on fire. Her red waves are pulled on the top of her head, her cheeks flushed from the cold. She’s in all black, a bomber jacket over a sexy sports bra and yoga pants. She owns her curvy body, and I am all for that.
I just wish she’d own it on top of me.
“So, I’ve been thinking about your first deed.” Atlanta looks at me, her beautiful hazel eyes bright. “What you need to do is involve that elderly couple down the street from you.”
I’d thought about that myself. “I can’t take back the letter I sent to the homeowner association.” Man, I really a complete ass.
“No, but what you can do is help them with some honey-dos around the house. Or maybe you can build them a new yard display.”
