“You know, I was just trying to make sure you were okay. I wasn’t stalking you or anything.”
“I know. If you were truly a stalker, I would never let you see where I lived.”
Rolling my eyes, I find myself wandering the thousands of square feet, stumbling across his old records, an assortment of science fiction books and a heavily dusted photo album just waiting to be opened.
“I am going to make some food. Help yourself to my place,” he shouts abruptly, walking away toward the kitchen.
“Sounds good to me!” I yell.
The lineup of movie posters is perfectly placed in frames along the left-hand wall of the living room. An assortment of empty Coke bottles are scattered around, clearly indicating his dependence on caffeine. In the corner of my eye, I catch a small hole that sits unpatched beside the TV, left completely exposed.
As I move closer, I catch the edge of a picture frame tucked behind the window curtains, hidden from view. Holden looks young, clearly a teenager. He is standing next to his mom. The same nose. The same eyes. She is smiling brightly, while his whole body looks stiff next to hers.
Running a finger across the edge of the frame, I cock my head to the side, seeing my first real glimpse of him.
Chapter six
A Game of Fetch
My fingers tighten around my phone, unable to listen to anything being said to me. Even though I mentioned I am at work a few times, Aidan is still rambling at lighting speed.
I’ve somehow managed to get myself into Holden’s house and I’ve barely scratched the surface on how Blackburn Press would be a good fit for him.
Other competing agencies were probably jumping at the chance to snag him as a client. If we pulled off his comeback, we would be talked about for ages as the go- to public relations firm.
With my cellphone attached to my ear, I pace outside of the room where Holden has snuck away to. Aidan’s spirals are becoming more frequent. Increasingly erratic after every family function and phone call producing this anxiety-ridden version of himself.
“I am not even sure what set him off this time. Every networking event they need me at, I am there.”
His rapid breathing only gets worse as the call continues. I’m barely able to get a word in.
“He just wants you to pick a lane—” I murmur, peeking my head into Holden’s library where he is seated, focused on a piece of paper.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
With the paper in one hand and a fork in another, Holden bends his neck down slightly to grab a bite of his food. Spinning his fork in the lo mein before catching my eyes staring at him through the doorframe.
I quickly pop my head out of the frame, returning my attention to the call, catching the tail end of Aidan’s rant.
“Charlotte, are you even listening?”
“Sorry, I am a bit distracted at work. I want to listen to you. I’m just…”
Aidan gasps for a breath. “Now my mother is asking me to be a part of the board she is a part of. A group of old ladies, drinking tea in the afternoon. Just take my balls at that point.”
“They probably just want you to join the company instead of venturing out on your own,” I quickly say before biting my bottom lip to stifle my laugh about his last comment.
“I would just end up like my father if I did that.”
I can practically see him turning bright red behind the phone. Anytime his dad and mom are brought into the mix, he becomes the most shaken version of himself.
Back when we first met, he had the kind of magnetism you crave to be around, because being around him, he made you feel like you could have a taste of what he had naturally.
“They are giving me two years now…”
Translation: Figure out your shit or no money for you.
“Seems pointless to make it until you’re twenty-eight instead of thirty.”
