“This sounds like the same conversation I had with Bella this morning.”
“Because we’re your moms right now,” Cara adds jokingly.
“Call us mommy.”
“Roe!” we shout in unison, and she raises her hands in defeat. I don’t know what else to say, but it doesn’t matter, because the doorbell rings, filling the silence.
“Ooop! Okay, go have fun! Don’t overthink it. Call us afterward, okay?” Allie says.
I nod. “Bye. Love you all.”
“Love you!” they shout back before I hang up and head to the front door. Passing the freshly painted living room makes me feel good, like I can do hard things and try new things too.
Okay. I can do this. Cool, calm, and collected. I open the door, and be still my heart. Holden is standing on the other side, and I must not be imagining this after all, because, damn.
This is definitely a date.
20
WHAT FEEDS HER SOUL
Feelings by Lauv • Fallingforyou by The 1975
Holden
Natalie is beautiful;that doesn’t come as a surprise. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I was taken aback by both her beauty and her light. The more I get to know her, the more I see how it goes beyond the surface, which just adds to how incredible she is.
But this?
The way she’s looking at me with stars in her eyes, her hair softly falling in waves around her full cheeks, her green cardigan that slightly covers some of her curves accentuated by whatever contraption is on her body right now, has my throat going dry.
“Is this not appropriate?” she asks shyly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, suddenly self-conscious of her clothes, and I hate myself for it.
I shake my head. “No, you don’t. You—” I clear my throat “—fuck. Sorry. Ah. Mm. You look appropriate.”
Holden, what the fuck?
“I’m sorry. I’m going to try this again.”
I close the door in her face like I’m a middle schooler picking up a dance date and her father is watching from behind her.
I knock, and when she opens it, a giggle escaping her full lips, I lose words again.
She’s breathtaking.
“Hello, Natalie. You look incredible this morning. Per usual.”
“Why thank you, Mr. Beast. You don’t look so bad yourself.” Her cheeks turn that shade of red that’s been haunting my dreams. I’ll lose the battle if I dwell on it, breaking my vow to stay away.
“Ready, Beauty?”
She steps through the door, the subtle click filling the space as she shuts it behind her. We might walk to my car in silence, but the way her scent carries sparks something in my body. Like my skin can't help but respond to her nearness. Like my heart knows we need to be close. Letting me know how much I like her. A lot more than I thought.
My body reacts to the way her hair bounces slightly with every step she takes, my hands sweating, itching to touch her, my brain committing to memory her scent, her voice, the way she looks with that tight skirt hugging her ass. Her perfect ass.
I clear my throat, catch up to her to open the door, and in no time, we’re on our way.
“Where are we going?”
