The Rules of Dating My Best Friend's Sister(103)

Holden nodded. “Do you think it was a mistake that we got together? I basically wormed my way between you two and broke you up.”

I shook my head. “You didn’t worm your way into anything. I wanted what happened between us as much as you did, maybe more. I’ll always love Warren in some way. He was very good to me and a big part of my life for a long time, but being with you made me realize something important was missing.” The moment had become really sad and heavy, so I tried to lighten the mood. “You know, like good sex, for one.”

Holden nodded. “At least I’m good for something.”

“I’m teasing, Holden. Yes, sex with you has been great, but it was more than that.”

“Yeah…”

This time it was me who chugged my wine. I’d been meandering around with small questions because I was afraid to ask the big one. But I needed to know.

“What will happen between us once I’m back in Philly?”

Holden shook his head. “I don’t know. Why don’t we just play it by ear?”

It felt like my insides were being torn up, yet I forced a smile. “Okay. That sounds good.”

A minute later, Holden thumbed toward his apartment. “I’m wiped from traveling. I should probably get some sleep.”

“Oh. Yeah. Of course.”

I hated to end this conversation, yet I climbed to my feet when Holden did and opened my window. “Goodnight. I hope you get some sleep.”

“You, too. Goodnight, sweetheart.”

Halfway through the window, I panicked and froze. “Wait! Holden?”

He paused with one leg already inside. “Yeah?”

“I’m going to leave on Sunday. Do you think we can spend tomorrow night together, since it will be my last night here?”

“I’d like that.”

“Me, too.”

Miraculously, I managed to keep it together as I climbed back inside and brushed my teeth. But as I crawled into bed and pulled up the covers, all of my emotions hit me at once. And I started to cry.

And cry.

And cry.





CHAPTER 29


Holden



“Hey, stranger.” Billie smiled.

“What’s up, Mrs. Lennon?” I looked over at Deek, the tattoo artist whose chair was across from hers, and lifted my chin. “What’s up, man?”

He was currently working on a skull tattoo for a guy who would’ve been scary without a head full of tats.

Deek lifted his chin. “’Sup, rock star?”

“Where’ve you been?” Billie asked. “Oh wait. I know exactly where you’ve been. Doing the dirty with lovely little Lala.” She took one look at my face and turned off her machine. She set the needle in her hand down in its holder. “Oh, no. What happened?”

I shrugged. “Nothing. I just came down to ask you for a recommendation for a special restaurant.”

She squinted. “What’s the occasion?”

“Lala’s last night in town. She decided to go back up to Philly early, to be near her mom. She leaves tomorrow.”

“Shit.” Billie took a rag and wiped the excess ink from the arm of the guy she was working on. “I’ll be done in five minutes. You want to go get some ice cream? I’ve been craving peanut butter chunk since I woke up.”

It wasn’t like I had anything better to do. “Sure.”

Fifteen minutes later, we were down the block at an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Billie licked her lips as the kid behind the counter scooped two heaping mounds of the flavor she’d ordered onto a cone. She rubbed her pregnant belly as she waited.

“How you feeling?” I asked.

“Pretty good, considering I haven’t slept through the night in a month.” She patted her stomach. “This little guy has taken up residence on my bladder. I don’t drink or eat three hours before bed, yet I still get up at least twice to pee. Last night, Colby was snoring, and it pissed me off, so I kicked him and accidentally woke him up.”

I raised a brow. “Accidentally?”

“Well, yeah. I only meant to bruise him a little. Not wake him.”

I chuckled. “I gotta tell you, I love that a five-foot-nothing little lady is getting even for the shit he did to me when we were kids. He’s a year older, so he used to kick my ass back when we were six and seven, just for fun.”

Billie motioned to one of the tables inside the ice cream store. “Why don’t we sit? I don’t have another client for a half hour.”

“Okay.” I took my strawberry shake and sat across from her as she went to town on her cone.

“So talk to me,” she said between licks. “What’s going on with you and Lala? I thought you were having a great time.”

“We were. But that’s all it was for her—a good time.” I shook my head. “I guess I’m finally getting a taste of my own medicine, after being a love-’em-and-leave-’em guy for the last decade.”

“You have real feelings for her though, right?”

I raked a hand through my hair. “I’m in love with her. I think I have been for most of my life.”

Billie put her hand over her heart. “Oh my God. Don’t say things like that. Because aside from being a pee machine, I’m also super emotional. I think I might cry.”