Could I hack the media attention? All that negative press? If I’ve survived it once, maybe I could survive it again. After all, look at the prize I’d have at the end of it.
‘I’ll need to think about it.’ For all of about three seconds. No matter how terrified and utterly unprepared I am of the media shitstorm, letting Nate walk out of my life is even more terrifying. ‘Joking, I’m in.’
ChapterTwenty-Seven
HOLLY
15th December
‘What if your parents hate me?’ Panic weaves itself around my windpipe as I set the table at Savannah’s villa. Mr and Mrs Jackson are on their way over here as we speak.
Nate turns to me from where he’s seasoning two giant, juicy Tomahawk steaks in the kitchen and fires me anare you for real?look. ‘Sweetheart, they already love you.’
‘What are you talking about? They don’t even know me. Bar the fact they’ve clearly both seen my boobs.’ Heat flares up my neck even thinking about it.
Nate abandons the seasoning and strides across the room to hover behind me. Huge, strong hands snake around my waist as he pulls my back to his chest.
‘I’ve already told you, my parents are the polar opposite of yours. You are everything they would pick for me. Trust me.’ He nuzzles the top of my head. ‘Think of this objectively, as if this was a movie, and you’re the heroine. What Dan did to you already makes the audience feel for you. Throw in your immense likeability and the fact you live in the same country as the hero’s parents, and you have yourself a great setup.’
‘Huh. What if I flunk in act two?’ My head rolls back onto Nate’s right pec. It’s better than any fancy duck feather pillow.
‘Not possible with my parents, I’m afraid.’ He tsks. ‘But I’m not sure you’re fully prepared for the force of Frank and Penny Jackson.’
At that second, three heavy raps sound on the front door before it flies open with a crash. ‘Coooeeeee! Hope you’ve got some clothes on in there,’ a woman calls. Her jovial tone indicates the exact opposite.
‘It’s not like we haven’t seen it all before,’ a deeper voice calls, then chuckles.
I suck in a lungful of air. Nate places a kiss on the top of my head and struts towards the hallway.
‘Let yourselves in. Sure, make yourselves at home.’ His velvet voice is weighted with sarcasm.
Mr and Mrs Jackson tornado into the open-plan living area like two natural forces of destruction. His arms are laden with wine and chocolates; her arms reach out to her son, squeezing his cheeks before throwing herself at him.
‘It’s so good to see you, son,’ Mrs Jackson squeals like a fangirl.
Nate pats his mother’s back before relieving his father of his generous gifts. All eyes turn to me.
Nate struts across the floor. ‘Mam, Dad, this is Holly. I know you met briefly yesterday.’
Nate’s mother races across the room to envelop both of us in a warm, mama bear embrace that has my eyes welling with tears of gratitude and surprise. I only wish my own parents could be so sympathetic and understanding.
‘Holly, it’s so lovely to meet you properly. I’m sorry if we scared you off yesterday.’ Her arms fall as she scrutinises my face in a kind, searching manner.
‘I was just so mortified,’ I confess to Nate’s chest, as Mrs Jackson crushes us together.
‘Never be embarrassed around us, pet.’ Her thumb brushes a stray tear that escapes from my right eye. ‘We’re the embarrassing ones around here. Isn’t that right, Nate?’
‘Abso-fucking-lutely.’ He nods and takes a step back, allowing his mother to draw me into another hug. I barely know these people and already I feel like I’m one of them.
‘Drinks?’ Nate claps his hands together and nods at his father, motioning him to help.
Mrs Jackson’s arms slide over my back, and she clucks soothingly into my ear. ‘It’ll be alright, pet. Nate will make sure of it. He takes care of everyone. He can’t help himself. That video is gone from the interweb, as far as I can see, anyway. If you want me to take the heat off you, bring me to the nearest nightclub and video me in the same situation. That’ll give the bastards something to really laugh about.’ Her eyes crinkle as she grins.
For the first time since that damn video went viral, I’m able to laugh about it. Really laugh. A high-pitched, borderline hysterical giggle catches in my throat, threatening to choke me if I don’t let it free. Tears streak my cheeks again, but this time they’re not sad tears, they’re happy ones.
Nate’s here.
His family is amazing.
