“Listen, if I can get away, I’m going to try and come over tonight.”
“I’ll wait up.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know, but I want to.”
Because time is ticking away. If it means staying up a few extra hours to be with Hunter, I’ll take it.
Because all the time in the world with him won’t be enough.
Chapter Eighteen
HUNTER
NO GOOD DAY
Ihate the sinking feeling that settles in my stomach as Ollie and I leave his house. It’s Christmas Day. The end of thisrealfake relationship. Ollie needs someone who can give him the time that I can’t. And…what if I’m not built to be with someone and screw this whole thing up?
Maybe because it’s your best friend?
I push the thought away because that’s the one reason I don’t want anything to happen to the two of us. These feelings keep washing through me, and they are not fun. Today is supposed to be a fun and joyful day. Not stressing about ending things with Ollie.
With the one person who I might actually love.
Nope, not going to think about that at all.
“You okay over there?” Ollie asks, reaching across the console and resting a warm hand on my forearm.
“Mentally preparing myself for whatever my mom has planned for us today,” I say.
“She’s not that bad. I like Karen.”
“It’s because you didn’t grow up with her.”
“I don’t know when you think I magically showed up in your life,” Ollie starts, “but I’ve known your mom as long as I’ve been alive.”
“Yeah, but she’s notyourmom. Big difference. Do you remember how she used to try and embarrass me in high school when I wouldn’t say goodbye to her after dropping me off?”
“In her defense, you were too cool for yourself in high school. She was trying to bring you down a peg or two.”
“Wow,” I say. “The truth comes out.”
“You did just fine.”
“Please. Only because we were friends.”
Even back then, Ollie was my closest friend. I had friends from all different groups, but he was always the one I wanted to do everything with. Ollie was—is—the most important person in my life.
So why am I letting him go at the end of the day?
“We’re here.”
The drive is so automatic, I don’t even realize I’m pulling into my mom’s driveway until Ollie is hopping out of the parked truck.
Mom’s waiting at the door in a pair of plaid pajamas covered in Christmas trees and a Santa hat on her head.
“Morning, Santa.” I snicker, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
