“SURPRISE!” We all shout excitedly.
Holden smiles brightly, searching the room until his eyes land on me. He makes his way through the sea of people, thanking them for coming and saying he will be right back.
“You did all this?”
I shrug. “I had some help.”
He embraces me tightly, kissing my cheek. “Thank you, baby.”
“Are you surprised?” I pull away to see his expression.
“Yes.” He lies. I look at him knowingly and he cracks. “Okay, no. You and Brandon are worse than toddlers at lying, but I love it anyway.”
I chuckle, kissing him a few times before we’re interrupted by a few of his friends from high school. He grins happily as he keeps me at his side, introducing me as his fiancé to just about anyone who will listen. They all wish him a happy birthday and congratulate him on getting into the NHL.
It shouldn’t surprise me when I see Bianca walk in. They have a lot of the same friends, so her hearing about the party was practically inevitable. Still, the sight of her makes me cringe and I must remind myself of the talk I had with Emily. You have nothing to worry about.
I’M STANDING NEAR THE bar, getting another drink and joking with Emily and Jo, when Brandon comes over and groans loudly.
“That girl is worse than herpes.” He comments, glancing back at where Bianca managed to get Holden alone.
I watch them carefully, seeing her twirling her hair around her finger and trying her hardest to flirt with him. Josephine and Em glance back and forth between me and them, eyes wide like they’re wondering what’s going to happen. After a minute or so, I feel content and look away.
“Aren’t you going to go over there?” Jo asks as I take a sip of my drink.
“Nope.” I reply simply, looking down at my ring and smiling.
“Aww.” Emily coos. “Look at you being all grown up and trusting.”
I laugh, no longer paying any attention to the girl trying to achieve the impossible. “Yeah, well I figure he’s going to be away a lot. There are going to be tons of women throwing themselves at him. I know Holden. I may not trust them, but I do trust him. That’s all that matters.”
“With you only taking my advice once in your entire life, I’m glad it’s on this.”
Jo is still watching Holden, making a face whenever Bianca tries to make her cleavage more visible. “Ugh. It’s like she honestly believes he will sleep with her if she looks slutty enough.”
The three of us chuckle as she can’t look away. Holden is clearly uncomfortable, his eyes begging me for an out. I almost feel bad for him, but then I remember she’s in his life because of his own actions. So instead of rescuing him, I raise my eyebrows and my glass, then take a sip while his jaw drops.
Twenty minutes later, he finally manages to escape her. He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Thanks for helping me out, oh wait, you didn’t.” He jokes.
I lean my head back against his shoulder and giggle. “Oh, is that what you wanted?” I feign innocence. “I thought you were excited.”
“Mhm.” He mumbles. “I’m so sure.”
The two of us sway to the beat of the music, his body pressed against mine. I bring my hand up and hold onto the back of his neck, not missing the way Bianca glares at us from across the room. As I grind my ass into him, he moans softly against my skin.
JUST AS THE SUN goes down, Holden takes the microphone from the DJ. The booming sound of his voice over the speakers catches everyone’s attention.
“Hey, I’d just like a second of your time and then we can get back to the party.” He begins. People cheer and shout his name, causing him to let out a light laugh. “I just want to thank you all for coming and for wishing me a happy birthday. This next year is going to be a big one for me. I’m starting training with the Bruins in September, and I don’t know how much I’ll be able to come around after that. So, it’s nice to have you all here with me to celebrate. I’d especially like to thank my fiancé, Kayleigh, for throwing me such an amazing party. I’m the luckiest guy here and I love you.”
The place fills with awes and people whispering that they didn’t know Holden got engaged. I guess despite introducing me as his fiancé all night, some people never caught on. Someone who clearly didn’t know, is Bianca. As I wait for him to get back to where I’m standing, I see her glaring at me, angry tears filling her eyes.
“How was that?” Holden asks, pulling my focus back onto him. “Too cheesy?”
I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the sympathy I feel for a heartless witch. “It was perfect. You’re perfect.”
“I’m not.” He kisses me. “But I try to be for you.”
I laugh. “Okay, that was cheesy.”
The rest of the night is filled with drinking and games of beer pong in the backyard. Jo is absolutely wasted, confusing Caleb for Jason even though they look nothing alike. Brandon watches her intently as a protective big brother does. Meanwhile, Holden and I are relatively sober and just enjoying the party.
“Hey, thanks for coming guys. I know you were all the way up in Maine, so you really didn’t have to.” Holden says to Jason and Caleb.
Caleb waves him off dismissively while Jason shakes his head. “No. Don’t thank me for coming. Thank me for listening to this asshole have a heart attack for the entire flight here.”
All of us laugh as Caleb scoffs. “It’s a big hunk of metal that soars through the air. Who wouldn’t be afraid of that?!”
“Normal people.” Jason answers.
“Jase!” Josephine slurs, falling into Caleb’s arms.
Jason rolls his eyes playfully as Caleb tosses her to him. “It’s for you.”
“Oh, oops.” She giggles.
Emily leans closely into my side. “I don’t get it. They have zero similarities.”
I shrug, not really knowing what to think of all this. She doesn’t drink often enough for me to have something to compare this to. Holden, however, agrees with Em, looking at Jo skeptically.
“We should all go to the beach tomorrow.” The hammered one announces, yelling it into Jason’s face. He must really like her, because his level of patience is unbelievable.
“Okay, good idea.”
She looks around at the rest of us and we enthusiastically nod along. She smiles proudly as she accomplishes her goal. I love her dearly, but she’s a sloppy drunk.
I’M STANDING IN THE driveway with Emily, waiting for Jo to finish saying goodbye to Jason so we can walk her back inside. Brandon and Holden were in the middle of a beer pong game when the guys said they were heading back to the hotel, so we left them in the back and promised to make sure Jo doesn’t get hit by a car.
“Kayleigh!” Bianca screams angrily, marching towards me.
I give Emily a look. “Look at that. She knows my name after all.” Bianca puts her hand on my shoulder and pulls harshly to turn me around. “What do you want, Bianca?”
“You stupid little bitch! That ring should be mine!”
“Excuse me?”
She crosses her arms and stands her ground. “I spent years being his shoulder to cry on, waiting for him to realize we’re meant for each other. No matter who he dated, he always came back to me. It was only a matter of time, but then you came along and ruined everything!”
The puffiness of her eyes tells me she’s been crying. Does the ice queen actually have a heart? “Look, I’m sorry, but that’s not my fault.”
“The hell it isn’t. What’s it going to take to make you go the fuck away? Money? How much do you want? Name your price.” She starts rummaging through her purse, looking for what I’m assuming is her checkbook.
I shake my head. “I don’t want your money.”
She closes her bag and steps closer. “Then let me put it this way. Break off the engagement. Leave him, leave this state, and never call him again, because if you do – I’ll absolutely ruin you.”
I laugh humorlessly. Emily is about to say someth
ing, when Josephine starts hurling in the bushes. I nod to her that I’m alright, and she steps aside to take care of the inebriated one.
“I’m not afraid of you. You think that because you waited around like a doormat, that gives you some sort of claim on Holden? You’re wrong. If he wanted to be with you, he would be, but he’s not. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but that’s life sometimes. Shit doesn’t always go the way you want it to.”
“You fucking cu–” She balls her fist and lifts it as if she’s going to punch me.
“Bianca!” Holden shouts, cutting her off and catching both of us off guard. Both our heads whip towards him. “You touch her and I swear to god I’ll never speak to you again.”
She drops her arm dejectedly before looking at me. “This isn’t over.” She mutters quietly, sparing one last glance at Holden and leaving.
He rushes over to where I’m standing, looking me up and down for injuries. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I’ll get her to leave us alone, I promise. I’ll get a restraining order if I have to.”
I sigh, remembering the heartbreaking feeling that ripped through me when I thought I may lose him forever. Waiting for the doctor to come out and tell us if he was alright was the longest wait of my life. If she feels anything like that, her outrageous behavior is justified.
“I’m fine.” I tell him calmly. “She’s just hurt. I get it. I would be too if I lost you.”
He puts his hand on the side of my face and softens. “That’s never going to happen.”
“I know, but it’s happening to her. She’s allowed to be upset about it.”
Looking at me in disbelief, he shakes his head. “How are you so caring?”
I don’t reply. Instead, I just accept his embrace and rest my head against his chest, feeling a pang of sadness for his psychotic ex.
Chapter 10
Isit on the beach, basking in the sun rays while being surrounded by some of my favorite people. Happiness may come in many forms, but this is absolute bliss. Emily and Jo sit in chairs to my left and right, while Holden, Brandon, Caleb, and Jason are all in front of us. For some reason, the guys prefer lounging on towels.
“What about her?” Jason says to Caleb, nodding his head towards a girl walking down to the water.
“Eh.” Caleb scrunches up his nose. “Not really my type.”
“You mean hot. Hot isn’t your type?”
“Ay!” Jo scowls. “Watch it, you.”
Jason chuckles, blowing her a kiss. Suddenly, I realize what’s going on and do a double take.
“Wait a second, what are you doing?” I ask the two idiots.
“Trying to find Caleb a girl.” Jason answers as if it’s obvious.
My eyebrows furrow. “I thought you were dating Jacki.”
“Nope.” Caleb replies, popping the p for emphasis. “She broke up with me. Something about wanting to be single for the summer.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry.”
He shrugs carelessly. “Don’t be. I wasn’t really all that into her anyway.”
I look at Holden to find he’s staring at Caleb, an unreadable expression on his face. Before I can figure out why, Emily nudges me.
“You could always hook him up with Bianca.” She jokes, causing Holden, Jo, and I to laugh.
“Who is Bianca?” Caleb wonders.
Brandon snorts. “Holden’s stalker.”
“She’s not my stalker.”
“Please, she shows up everywhere you’re at within twenty minutes being there. Sounds pretty stalker-like to me.”
Holden rolls his eyes playfully. “Alright, yeah. She’s a stage five clinger.”
“I have her number in my phone. I can give it to you if you want.” Brandon offers.
Caleb laughs. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass. Holden’s sloppy seconds aren’t really appealing to me.”
Holden chokes on his drink at the same time I laugh loudly, slapping my hand over my mouth at the reflex. H and I share a look, being the only two in on the joke.
“What?” Jason looks confused. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing.” I try to dismiss him but it doesn’t work.
Caleb catches on before anyone else. “Wait a minute, the two of you…” He points to Holden and me. “Before we…”
I nod shyly while Holden looks smug. I’m surprised this didn’t come out sooner, knowing the pissing war they used to have when it came to me. Caleb sits there, gaping as everyone else figures it out.
“Weren’t you dating Bree when I took Kayleigh out?” He questions.
Holden nods and half shrugs. Meanwhile, Emily and Jo are looking at me – thinking the same thing. Emily is the first one to open her mouth.
“You two went out?”
“Hardly.” I answer. “We went on one date and then to a party.”
I can see the gears turning in Caleb’s head. “You disappeared that night. Where did you…” His expression turns to one mixed of anger and amusement.
Holden starts laughing. “My room.”
“You’re a little shit, Rivers.”
“Sorry, hun.” I say sweetly to Caleb. “If it makes you feel any better, I had a really nice time.”
He looks mad for half a second but it fades quickly. He turns his full attention to Holden. “If you liked her then, why didn’t you tell us? I wouldn’t have asked her out if I knew.”
“You didn’t tell them?” Brandon balks. “Christ, you couldn’t shut up about her to me. It was Kayleigh this, and Kayleigh that. Why won’t she talk to me? How do I make her stop hating me?”
“Alright.” Holden smacks a hand over his mouth. “That’s enough from you.”
“No but really.” Jason presses. ‘Why didn’t you tell us?”
Holden glances at me and then looks down at the sand. “I did. You just didn’t know it was her.” They both look confused until Holden clarifies. “Dorm chick.”
Realization washes over both of Caleb and Jason’s faces, yet I couldn’t be more confused. I watch my fiancé carefully, waiting for answers.
“She’s dorm chick!?” Caleb nearly shouts. “Holy shit, it all makes sense now.”
“Well, I’m glad it does to you.” I remark. “Anyone want to clear it up for the rest of us?”
Jason finds the humor in all of this and snickers. “Beginning of that year, Holden mentioned a girl he met at the dorms when he went to pick up Bree. He looked like a love-struck puppy whenever he talked about her. He said he didn’t know her name though.” He glances at Holden, who looks up at me.
“I was talking about you.” Holden finishes for him.
I can’t fight the smile that takes over my face as Josephine coos, making comments about how cute it is. I make grabby hands at him, and he comes closer – pressing his lips to mine in a soft kiss.
“I’m still stuck on the fact that you almost ended up with him.” Emily remarks about Caleb. We all laugh as he exaggeratedly winks at me.
Holden’s smile falls off his face. “I put a ring on it, Sutter. You missed your chance.”
“You stole my chance is more like it.” He mumbles jokingly, and I don’t miss the sour look on Jo’s face.
WE ARRIVE IN THE Bahamas around six in the evening. The whole place is gorgeous, full of palm trees and teal, crystal clear water. Emily and I look around, completely in awe of everything. Holden and Brandon, however, are used to it. Apparently, they’ve been here three other times before this. Brandon mentions that it’s his mom’s favorite place.
Our hotel room is a giant suite. It has two bedrooms that each have their own bathroom. We let Brandon and Emily take the master, being as this trip is her birthday present. Besides, Holden and I are so sickeningly attached, we don’t need the extra space.
We put our stuff down and change into something more comfortable before heading out to the bar. Even though we’re all exhausted from traveling, the night is still young and we don’t want to spend it in the suite. I lean against Holden in the elevator, feeling clingy s
ince the beach yesterday. Knowing he had such strong feelings about me while I treated him like he was Satan in the flesh, it’s shocking to me. It’s like every time I think I know it all, I find out something new that makes me love him even more.
The four of us are sitting at a table having a few drinks and talking when Emily mentions having to go to the bathroom. She kisses Brandon quickly and walks off to her destination. He watches as she leaves and then sighs happily.
“Mark my words. One day, I’m going to marry that girl.”
My breath hitches as Holden lights up. “Seriously?” We both ask in unison.
He nods. “She’s incredible. She’s smart, and funny, and caring. I’m falling in love with her more every day.”
“I’m happy for you, man.” Holden tells him, patting him on the shoulder.
I try to remain calm, but internally, I’m freaking out. I never thought, when they hooked up at my house on New Year’s, that it would become something serious. Since I’ve met Brandon, I’ve really gotten to know him – by talking to him myself and hearing the things Holden says about him. I honestly couldn’t have picked anyone better to end up with my best friend. I am so excited for their future together.
THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON, WE’RE hanging out by the pool. Holden and I share a lounge chair. He’s lying behind me as I sit between his legs. Brandon and Emily are in the water, splashing each other and playing around like two kids in love. It’s endearing to watch.
“Are we that obnoxious?” Holden jokes, sitting up and wrapping his arms around my waist.
I chuckle. “Honestly? I think we’re worse.”
He leans forward and kisses my cheek. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
A few minutes later, they come back to the chairs and wrap towels around their dripping wet bodies. Emily runs her fingers through her hair, trying to work out the tangles without a brush, while Brandon shakes his head vigorously. Water flies, landing on Holden and me. We both gasp from the cold hitting our sun-heated skin and Bran laughs.
Seamless Forever (Sleepless November Saga Book 3) Page 7
