I stared at her. “Are you serious? He acted like I’d just run off a cliff or something.”
“Well,” Noah said, exchanging a glance with Hope, “knowing Holden, he probably thought you would.”
I threw my hands up in exasperation. “Yeah, butwhy?I’m not a kid! And it wasn’t that dangerous, was it? I mean, what’s the big deal about riding a horse? He made it sound like I was about to get eaten by wolves or something.”
Noah choked on his water, and Hope had to smack his back a couple of times as he coughed. “Okay, maybe that’s not far from the truth,” he said, still catching his breath. “But seriously, Holden’s... complicated.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, that’s an understatement. Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s bossy, controlling, and acts like I’m gonna break if I do anything outside of his perfect little plan. What’s his deal? Why is healways like this? One minute, he’s nice-ish, and the next, he’s ordering me around like he owns me.”
Noah and Hope shared another look before Noah finally spoke. “That’s just how Holden is. He’s... protective. Like, to a fault. It’s his way of showing he cares.”
I snorted. “Yeah, well, someone needs to give him the memo that he needs a new way. I felt like a kid getting scolded for running with scissors. Seriously, what gives?”
Hope smiled softly, leaning forward. “Mylo, you’ve gotta understand, Holden’s not used to... letting people in. Especially people he cares about. It’s probably freaking him out more than it’s freaking you out.”
I blinked at her, confused. “Wait, what? He doesn’t even talk to me unless he has to. How is that him caring?”
Noah shook his head, laughing under his breath. “You have no idea, do you? Trust me, if he didn’t care, you’d know it. Holden’s like that with people he’s trying to protect. It’s just... his way.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but then I stopped. That didn’t make any sense. He barely looked at me most days. And when he did, it was like he was always trying to figure out a new way to avoid me.
“Protect me from what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “Because it sure doesn’t feel like protection. It feels like he’s just keeping me in the dark about something.”
Hope’s smile softened, and she reached across the table, squeezing my hand gently. “He’s trying, Mylo. Trust me. Holden’s got his reasons for acting the way he does. You just have to be patient with him.”
I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. “I’m so tired of being patient. One minute, he’s decent, and the next, he’s Mr. Commanding Alpha, barking orders like I’m supposed to salute and say ‘yes, sir.’ It’s driving me nuts!”
And they were so wrong—he definitely didn’t care about me. But I didn’t feel the need to argue that point.
Noah and Hope burst into laughter, and despite my frustration, I couldn’t help but smile. “Sorry,” I muttered. “I shouldn’t be talking about your family like that.”
Noah waved me off, still chuckling. “You’re family too, Mylo. Don’t forget that.”
I paused, the words sinking in deeper than he could ever know.Family.I didn’t think I’d ever felt that way... not even with Chuck. So hearing Noah say it like it was a fact... it meant more than I could put into words.
“Thanks,” I said quietly, glancing between the two of them. “I just... I don’t get it. I thought we were good today. And then he flips out on me like I’ve done something wrong. It’s like he hates me or something.”
Hope exchanged a look with Noah—it was that thing couples did, communicating without words—that just served to highlight how alone I was. Then she turned back to me. “Maybe he’s scared.”
I frowned. “Scared? Of what?”
“Of you,” she said simply, shrugging. “Of getting too close.”
I stared at her, my mind whirling. Holden, scared of me? That literally made no sense. The guy was six-four, built like a mountain, and could probably crush me with a look. But the way Hope said it, like she knew something I didn’t, made me pause.
Could he actually care enough to be worried?
“That doesn’t explain why he’s so bossy,” I muttered, earning another laugh from Noah.
“Yeah, well, bossiness is kind of in his DNA,” Noah said with a grin. “Just hang in there. Holden might be rough around the edges, but... he’s worth it.”
I wasn’t so sure about that—or if it even mattered to me. Or if it would make any difference in my life.
Yes, it does!I ignored that voice.
I nodded anyway, trying to push down the lingering frustration. Holden might be complicated, but I wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet, anyway.
And I wasn’t exactly willing to examine too closely why that was.
