The reason I’ve decided to stay in Ireland for Christmas isn’t just to spend time with my family. I’m hoping to spend the holidays with Holly too, if my parents don’t deter her for life before then.
Even the thought of seeing Sally-Ann or Niall doesn’t seem nearly as daunting.
Mam rambles on, her excitement palpable as her gaze roves upwards over the intricate detailed coving and the castle’s majestic, gilded interior. ‘This place is absolutely beautiful. The scenery on the west coast is stunning, but my goodness, is it remote? The coverage is terrible! And such a trek to get here. Do they even have running water in Ballybowen?’
When Holly’s gaze cautiously rises to meet mine, I motion for her to join us. She declines with a rapid shake of her head. I arch an unwavering eyebrow in question.
She mentioned she was shy, but I never believed her. Considering the events of the night we met, and every night in between, how could I?
‘Mam, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.’ I drop an arm over Mam’s shoulder and guide her towards Holly, whose porcelain skin is flushing redder than a radish. She slinks behind Macy’s voluptuous frame.
‘Holly, come on, don’t be shy now. Come and meet my parents.’
‘Oh.’ Mam practically squeals with glee, peering round Macy to catch a glimpse. ‘Is Holly your co-star?’
‘No, she’s my…’ Holly’s head peeps past the blonde ponytail sweeping over Macy’s shoulder, her startling blue eyes wide with horror. Before I can finish my sentence, Mam practically leaps over to her.
‘Oh my goodness. Holly Hazelwood?’ Her tone’s tinged with surprise, and strangely enough, sympathy.
I glance between them quizzically. ‘You know each other?’
Mam’s ogling Holly’s bust so unashamedly that I’m positive Holly must feel violated. My mother has always been ridiculously forward, but so obviously checking out my girlfriend’s assets is extreme, even for her.
Dad, on the other hand, is looking everywhere but at Holly, suddenly fascinated with his left foot. Specifically, on dragging it over the castle’s mosaic flooring.
‘Everyone knows Holly,’ Mam clucks, running a hand over Holly’s forearm in a gesture that’s way too intimate for comfort if Holly’s flinch is anything to go by.
‘They do?’ This is getting weirder by the second.
And I thought I was the celeb.
‘How have you been holding up, pet? Such an awful, unfortunate incident. I kept saying to Frank here.’ She kicks the foot that Dad is staring at, jolting him to look up. ‘I kept saying, imagine that could have been one of our girls. So awful for you. That boyfriend of yours should be strung up for violating your privacy like that.’
‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ Holly squeaks, as the tips of her ears burn brightly.
My heart hammers in my sternum and a jolt of adrenaline spurts through my insides. ‘No, I am.’
Okay, technically we haven’t put a label on us, but the end date has been removed so I guess that makes her my girlfriend by default.
My scalp prickles. ‘Now, will someone tell me what the fuck is actually going on?’
Macy scuttles away, readjusting her ponytail, leaving us huddled in a small circle.
‘Oh, you two are in a relationship.’ An ecstatic grin lifts Mam’s lined lips as she peers at Holly with newfound awe. ‘Is he satisfying your needs?’
Holly’s stunned eyes meet mine. A long beat passes before she offers a confused nod.
I close my eyes and count to five, draping an arm over her shoulder like one of those weighted comfort blankets. ‘I told you our families were very different.’
‘Good man.’ Dad slaps my back in ago on, my sonkind of gesture, before catching himself and brushing an imaginary piece of something from his shoulder.
‘Will somebody please tell me what’s going on?’ I turn my focus on Holly. ‘Who violated your privacy? Tell me what happened.’
‘You mean you haven’t seen it?’ Mam’s fingers fly to her lips.
‘Here, I’ll show you.’ Dad pulls his phone out from his pocket but before he can hand it over, Holly wails, ‘No, please, don’t show him.’
My chest is so tight it feels like it might explode.
