She tipped her head side to side. “We need to get out of the way.”
“You’re not in the way, Hollie. I promise.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I recall you working past ten o’clock the past few nights. I would say you’re plenty busy without us slowing you down.”
“I like slowing down when you’re involved.” Part of me cringed because that sounded like a lame pick-up line. But, the other part was glad I said it. Since I’d met Hollie, I took minor chances with my words, just to see what would happen.
Her reaction was always the same: shy and uncertain, but reciprocating. She didn’t know how to take me, but her twisting lips andsmall smile said everything I needed to know—she liked my attention. And that was the reason I hadn’t stopped yet.
She tipped her chin toward the ground, a bit of color rising to her cheeks. “I—I honestly need to check the roast.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Did you sayroast?”
Her shy laugh broke some of the tension. “Yes. And potatoes, carrots, and salad. I’ll stick some in your fridge for later.”
I died a little at those words, but smiled and thanked her. Then my phone rang, the sound cutting through the pastures. I pulled it out of my pocket to see Tag’s name on the ID.
“It’s Tag,” I said.
Hollie’s eyes went wide and she bit her bottom lip, worry etching into her forehead. I held my breath as I swiped, hoping for good news. “Hey, Tag.”
His voice rasped. “Hey, Jesse.”
I heard Tag’s tears through the phone, loud and clear. My knees felt weak as dread barrelled through my gut. I gripped the phone harder, willing Cooper to live for Tag’s sake. Bracing myself, I asked, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything’s alright.”
“What’s going on?”
“Cooper woke up.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Hollie
Eighteen Years Old
Our fingers were entwined so tightly that my nails began to pulse from the lack of blood flow. But I couldn’t let go—nerves kept me clinging to him. Based on how my last conversation with my parents went, I wasn’t too confident that Garrett would be well received as my boyfriend. They didn’t like that he was a bit older than me, and Mom just wanted to make my life hell in every way possible.
My parents should’ve been immediately on board, based on the fact that his niece was a good friend and she had a wonderful family. But they couldn’t think of anything but our eight year age gap.
Garrett was my future, and the sooner my parents made peace with that, the better.
I jammed the up button on the elevator with my free hand.
He smiled down on me. “Everything’s gonna be okay. You’ll see.”
He was so handsome—with his cropped blond hair, clean-shaven face, and piercing blue eyes. I smiled back. “I know.”
“No matter what happens, I’m not going anywhere.”
The elevator doors popped open and I yanked him inside. When they shut, I slipped my hands up his chest and went to my tiptoes. Our kiss was quick, dizzying. I opened my mouth and Garrett immediately filled it, his tongue heavy and hungry. His hands went straight to my ass.
As usual, he got too excited, and started taking things a little far. One hand sneaked up the front of my shirt while the other one sought purchase down the back of my jeans. Garrett walked me backward until we hit the wall of the elevator and he ground his hips into me.
I broke the kiss and pushed him off, laughing. “Garrett!”
He backed away with a guilty smile on his face.
