Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
HUNTER
NO GOOD DAY
Ihate the sinking feeling that settles in my stomach as Ollie and I leave his house. It’s Christmas Day. The end of this real fake relationship. Ollie needs someone who can give him the time that I can’t. And…what if I’m not built to be with someone and screw this whole thing up?
Maybe because it’s your best friend?
I push the thought away because that’s the one reason I don’t want anything to happen to the two of us. These feelings keep washing through me, and they are not fun. Today is supposed to be a fun and joyful day. Not stressing about ending things with Ollie.
With the one person who I might actually love.
Nope, not going to think about that at all.
“You okay over there?” Ollie asks, reaching across the console and resting a warm hand on my forearm.
“Mentally preparing myself for whatever my mom has planned for us today,” I say.
“She’s not that bad. I like Karen.”
“It’s because you didn’t grow up with her.”
“I don’t know when you think I magically showed up in your life,” Ollie starts, “but I’ve known your mom as long as I’ve been alive.”
“Yeah, but she’s not your mom. Big difference. Do you remember how she used to try and embarrass me in high school when I wouldn’t say goodbye to her after dropping me off?”
“In her defense, you were too cool for yourself in high school. She was trying to bring you down a peg or two.”
“Wow,” I say. “The truth comes out.”
“You did just fine.”
“Please. Only because we were friends.”
Even back then, Ollie was my closest friend. I had friends from all different groups, but he was always the one I wanted to do everything with. Ollie was—is—the most important person in my life.
So why am I letting him go at the end of the day?
“We’re here.”
The drive is so automatic, I don’t even realize I’m pulling into my mom’s driveway until Ollie is hopping out of the parked truck.
Mom’s waiting at the door in a pair of plaid pajamas covered in Christmas trees and a Santa hat on her head.
“Morning, Santa.” I snicker, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
“Merry Christmas, boys.”
“Merry Christmas, Mom.”
“Merry Christmas, Karen. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Please. I would never let you spend the day alone now that your parents have gone off to the West Coast.” I smile at her, handing off the bag of presents as she reaches for them. “Now, would you like to open gifts first, or do breakfast? I have a pitcher of mimosas ready.”
“How about some mimosas and presents?” I ask, toeing off my boots and shrugging out of my coat.
“I like that plan,” Ollie agrees, hanging up his coat and scarf.
I toss my jacket on the bench and get the side-eye from my mom. The one that wonders why I can’t be more like Ollie.
“I’m surprised Ollie hasn’t rubbed off on you more.”
I can’t answer, because Ollie does for me.
“No matter how long I’ve known Hunter, that is the one thing he won’t change. It’s okay—I love him just the way he is.”
He presses a kiss to my cheek and follows my mom into the kitchen.
Does he realize what he just said? That he loves me just the way I am?
Fuck. So much for trying to keep a lid on my feelings today. By the time I’m coming into the kitchen, I’m being shooed back into the living room, a drink getting shoved in my hand.
“I have presents for both of you that I want you to open at the same time.”
The logs crack with the flames in the fireplace, spreading warmth through the living room. Snow is hanging on after the blizzard last week.
It’s the perfect cozy morning.
Sipping on the mimosa, I smile when I realize it’s pretty much straight champagne with a splash of orange juice. Just how my mom likes them.
“What’d you get us?” Ollie asks, setting his glass down and taking his box. “I wasn’t expecting anything.”
She waves him off as he neatly opens his package. “I was not going to let you go home empty-handed. I’m glad these arrived in time. I was worried.”
I’m tearing into my package next to Ollie and bark out a laugh at the sight that greets me.
“Oh my God, Mom.” I cringe as I pull them out. “I can’t believe you did this.”
It’s a pair of red striped pajamas covered in candy canes and little Ollie faces that have Santa hats on them.
“Look at Ollie’s.” She claps, her face exuberant.
“These are wonderful, Karen,” he says. “I love them.”
His are exactly like mine, except they have my face on them.
“You don’t have to wear them today, but you could always wear them tonight, or even tomorrow around the house if you want to. But definitely next year, you both have to wear them over.”
“Does that mean you’re getting us a new set every year?” Ollie asks.
That same sinking feeling in my gut returns. One that swirls with the alcohol now.
Next year we won’t be dating. I don’t want to look back at this Christmas and think of how much fun this day was only to be back in the friend zone with Ollie.
I don’t know if I can handle that.
I suck down half of my mimosa, but it doesn’t help quell these raging thoughts.
They stay with me as Mom oohs and aahs over the glass planter Ollie got her that changes color in different light.
She puts on the new sweater I bought her and does a mini fashion show with it and the new sequined skirt she purchased for New Year’s Eve.
If my mom notices a change in my attitude during breakfast, she doesn’t say anything. Ollie throws me the occasional look, but I ignore him, chomping on my bacon with a vigorous bite.
“Are you sure I can’t send you home with anything else?” Mom asks Ollie, shoving another full container into his awaiting hands.
“This will feed me for a week. I promise, I’m good. Thank you.”
She pecks his cheek before giving me one. “Thank you for bringing Ollie. I had a wonderful time with both of you. It’s nice to see you so happy.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
She waves us off as I help Ollie to the truck along the snowy sidewalk. Neither of us is overly talkative on the drive home. He is just as lost in his thoughts as I am.
By the time I’m pulling up to his house, I don’t know if I should get out. “Want me to walk you to the door?”
Ollie shakes his head. “I’m okay. Bye, Hunter.”
“Bye—”
The door is shut before I can even finish saying anything. My eyes track him going into his house. Shutting the door and turning on the lights.
Fuck.
I don’t want to leave. I don’t want this thing to end between the two of us.
Why does it have to?
Because I don’t do relationships? Well, not since I found my boyfriend cheating on me. What if this is the right one and I screw everything up by letting him go?
Fuck that.
Turning off my truck, I jump out and run to the front door. Except I find a slippery spot and go careening not into solid wood, but straight into Ollie, who had opened the door again.
“Ouch.” He whines, rubbing his forehead where our heads smacked together from falling on the floor.
“Are you okay?” I inspect his face, not seeing any damage.
“I think so. Did you forget something?”
“Remember what we said?” I ask.
He gives me a small nod, still rubbing at his head. “Only until Christmas.”
“Only Christmas. But, who dumps people right after Christmas? That’s just mean.”
“So this isn’t you coming to dump me then?” Ollie asks.
“No.”
“You’re going to wait until New Year’s then?”
I shake my head. “That would be a terrible way to start a new year. And Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. That would be pretty shitty too.”
“What you’re saying is there is no good day to dump someone?” Hope sparks in his eyes.
“I mean, I don’t know of a good day. Do you?” I ask.
“I think they’re all terrible when you’re in love with someone.”
“Do you know you said that earlier?”
“I might have realized it after the fact. But I really couldn’t take it back in front of your mom.”
“Did you mean it?”
Ollie tips his chin up, brushing his lips against mine. “Yes.”
“Good. Because I really fucking love you.”
“I love you too. You and me in a real relationship.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I really like the sound of that.”
“It doesn’t make you all growly and grumpy?”
I shake my head. “Fuck, no. Getting to be in love with you, Ollie? Best fucking thing in the world.”
Ollie flips us so my back is on the hardwood floor with his mouth on mine. I don’t care that it’s uncomfortable. Ollie’s warm kisses are worth any amount of pain.
Until a shudder racks his body.
“As much as I love this, Hunter, I’m cold.”
“You mean you don’t want to make out on the floor in your doorway?”
“Wouldn’t having sex in the bedroom be much better?”
“I’ve turned you into a monster.”
He smiles at me. “One that you’ll have to deal with forever.”
“Damn. What a hardship.”
“However will you deal?”
Pulling him up, I sweep Ollie into my arms and kick the door shut.
“I have a feeling I’ll find a way.”