Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
I grumbled to myself and ran my hand over my face. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Hey, if you don’t want to follow through with it, then don’t. But that means you’ll have to break sweet Holly’s heart by telling her you won’t attend the holiday with her.”
Mano was being a jerk because he knew that I couldn’t do that to Holly. The way she leaped into my arms was enough to signal that she was ecstatic about me going with her. Truthfully, I didn’t even know why Holly was leaping into my arms. All I knew was that she was hugging me, and I had the biggest desire not to let her go. If Holly were going to fall into my arms, I would hold her close to me no matter what.
“So, are we playing the fake boyfriend angle?” Holly asked me as she sat on the barstool at Mano’s. The restaurant closed about an hour ago, but she stayed as I cleaned up so we could discuss in detail what the five days with her family would look like. I’d never been to a Midwest small town before. I could only imagine what that was like.
“We are playing any angle you’d like to play. I’m just here to be what you need me to be,” I told her.
She smiled. I’d never wanted to kiss a pair of lips more than hers at that very moment. Whenever she smiled, I felt drunk. Dizzy. Happy. Holly’s smile made me happy. Most things about her made me happy, and that was a big deal seeing how I couldn’t even recall the last time happiness existed in my world outside of Mano.
“You’re okay being my fake boyfriend?” she questioned.
I was okay with being her real boyfriend, but that was neither here nor there.
“Sure.” I shrugged, trying to seem calm about it all.
“Good. I told my mom I was bringing my boyfriend with me.”
I smirked. “Then why are we having this conversation?”
“Because I’m ridiculous.” She pulled her hair into a messy bun and relaxed her arms across the bar. “Have I told you how much I’m thankful for you? For doing this for me.”
“You have told me that repeatedly, but it’s not a problem. I would’ve spent the holiday alone, anyway.” She frowned, and I shook my head. “I like my alone time.”
“Do you?”
I did.
Before her.
I patted my hand against hers. “I have your Christmas present already.”
She sat straighter. “What? You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I did. But I need to give it to you tonight before we head to your parents in a few days.”
Holly raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
I walked to one of the drawers on the bar and pulled out a menu. I sat it in front of her as her eyes widened. “You made a specialty cocktail menu?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I figured you gave me enough crap about it that I should go ahead and do it.”
As her eyes darted across the menu of six cocktails, I watched her stare glass over. “They are all named after characters from my books.”
“Certain characters in some of your books have their specialty drinks, so I figured I’d try to recreate them. They turned out pretty good. Though some of them were trash, I had to tweak them a bit—”
“Wait, what?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
“You’ve read my books?”
Oh, right. Holly didn’t know about my newfound addiction. “A few.”
“How many are a few?”
“Thirty-eight.”
She gasped. “Kai!”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“It is. Oh, my goodness. Do you hate them? Are you hate-reading my books?”
I snickered and shook my head. “No, I’m not.”
“Why is it so nerve-wracking knowing that you read my books?”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. You are a remarkable author.”
“Remarkable,” she breathed out. “That’s a very nice word choice.”
I leaned in toward her. “Holly, I need you not to make the next thing I say weird, okay?”
She leaned in closer toward me and whispered. “I’m a master at making things weird, Kai.”
“That’s true, you are, but I will say it regardless. You’re my favorite author.”
She sat back with her mouth agape. “It’s like you’re trying to make me cry.”
“Don’t cry. Just look at the specialty drinks. The last one is my favorite.”
Her eyes moved to the bottom of the list. “The Holly?” Her cheeks rose and blushed over. “Named after me?”
“Named after you.” I pulled out two glasses and began creating The Holly for us both. “Blackberry jam, prosecco, vodka, rosemary, and a splash of lime. It’s sweet, strong, and a bit sassy, adding character to everyone who encounters it. Like you.”
She released a low breath. “Like me?”
I placed a drink in front of her. “Like you.”
She raised it and smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks, but I didn’t call her out on the crying. Holly was a woman who felt a lot of things at all times. I was a man who felt little until she came into my world.