The Relationship Pact(63)

Of me.

“Hollis won an award for Lincoln Landry’s charity,” she says, standing tall. “Isn’t that amazing?”

Howard looks at me with a raised brow. “Is that right?”

“It’s no big deal,” I tell him, trying to gloss over the whole thing. “I—”

“The hell it isn’t,” Howard says, cutting me off. “I know those Landry boys, and they don’t do anything half-assed. If they say you’re deserving of something, then you are. What’s it for?”

I bite my bottom lip and wish I could just disappear. I don’t want this kind of attention. It feels as though it cheapens it—as though it cheapens me.

“It’s just for some volunteer work. It’s not a big deal. Honest,” I say, reaching for Larissa.

It’s an automatic reaction. Before I can catch myself, she stands next to me and wraps her arm around my waist. Instantly, my nerves calm. I think Howard notices.

He grins. “I’m gonna tell you what—I don’t know where my daughter found you, but she needs to spend more time there, and away from those rats my ex-wife hooks her up with.”

“Daddy!”

Howard blows out a breath. “It’s the truth, Larissa. I love you, and I know your mother is doing what she thinks is best, but she’s out of her damn mind if she thinks you should be with a guy like Sebastian Townsend.”

“Your daughter should definitely listen to her dad,” I tell him, gripping Larissa’s waist.

Howard looks amused. “You’ve met him, I assume?”

“I about knocked his head off yesterday.”

His laugh is loud and boisterous, and now I know where Larissa gets that from. He’s incredibly genuine, which shouldn’t surprise me.

“I mean, I don’t know Sebastian that well,” I say, “but he has no business being around her.” I nod my head to Larissa. “He is not a good guy.”

“He’s a bastard. That’s what he is, and I couldn’t be happier that she’s not with him anymore.” Howard takes a drink. “I like you. You’re the first one I’ve liked in a long time.”

Larissa laughs. “Who else did you like?”

He thinks. “You’re right. Hollis is the first.”

His compliment feels good. He’s complimenting me—not my route or the way I caught a pass or my smile. I can’t wipe the smile off my face.

“I’m going to get another drink,” he says, resting his hand on my shoulder as he walks by. “Nice to meet you, Hollis. Hope to see you around.”

“Likewise, sir,” I say.

As soon as he’s out of earshot, Larissa spins around to face me.

“Oh, my gosh,” she gushes. “You just charmed my dad!”

“So?”

“So? So that’s … impossible.”

I look at him over my shoulder. He stands next to a man who heavily resembles him and I’m guessing that’s her uncle Rodney.

“It wasn’t that hard,” I say, turning back around. “Really.”

Her face is lit up like the icicle lights dripping from everything nailed down.

“Let’s go find my aunt Siggy.” She reaches up and runs her hand through her hair.

I can’t help but notice the bracelet I bought her on her wrist. That feels just as good as Howard’s niceties.

“Let’s go find her,” I say.





Twenty-One





Larissa





“Where are you going?” Boone asks. “Fifteen minutes until the ball drops.”

He points at a big projection screen hung in the dining room where the news is covering Times Square.

It’s a tradition in the Mason family to all watch the ball drop together. It’s something you just can’t miss. And I don’t want to miss it except I can’t find my man.

“Have you seen Hollis?” I ask him. “I haven’t seen him in a half hour or so.”

Boone smiles. “The last time I saw him, he was sitting at the piano upstairs with Coy.”

“Really?”

He nods.

I make my way to the stairs. After avoiding a spilled drink, I finally make it to the top. Despite the music playing overhead, I can hear the faint notes of a piano coming from the library.

I pad down the hallway and peek around the corner. And, just as Boone said, Coy and Hollis sit at Siggy’s baby grand piano.

“What about this?” Coy says. He presses the keys in quick succession and sings a refrain that isn’t quite finished.

“Hey,” I say once he stops playing. “It’s almost ball drop time.”

Hollis’s eyes find mine. They’re so alert and … happy.

My heart fills, and I give him a smile. When it’s returned, I want to run to him and wrap myself around him.

“Your boy here has a great ear,” Coy says. “I’ve been fucking around with this melody for a month now, and Hollis just sat down and fixed it up in ten minutes.” He looks at Hollis. “What the fuck, man?”

Hollis shrugs it off like he does everything.

I march across the room and rest my arms over his shoulders. “He’s pretty great,” I say, setting my chin on top of his head.