Chapter 27 #2
“What do you mean?” I ask finally.
“The two of you. Seems you’ve got some explaining to do,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I—uh—we.” Holiday stops talking. “We’re just…”
“Figuring things out,” I finish.
“You know the whole town’s talking about you, right? After what happened at the wedding, it’s pretty obvious.”
“We know,” Holiday says.
“So, what’s the plan? You hooking up? Dating? Because if you get together and then break up, I’m going to be fucking pissed,” Sammy says. “I can’t deal with you two being at each other’s throats.”
“We’re figuring things out,” I repeat myself. “Without any pressure.”
“And while Dominic is in town, I think it’s best we don’t give him any more ammunition to make things complicated,” Holiday says.
Sammy’s expression hardens. “What did he say to you? What did he want?”
“He wants me back,” Holiday explains.
“That’s not happening,” Sammy says, and I can see the same frustration on his face as I did the night he told me about Dominic.
“I’m just going to say this. If you two are going to do this, go all in.
No games. No bullshit. You either commit to each other or you don’t, but I’m not going to watch you hurt each other again. ”
The words hit me harder than I expect. We destroyed each other and everyone around us felt the fallout.
“We’re not playing games,” I say. “We just want to get through the contest without drama. After that, we’ll be public about it.”
Holiday clears her throat. “I think that’s for the best. I want to avoid drama and more articles being written about me. This is overshadowing my career, again. I’m growing exhausted by it all,” she says.
Sammy considers this. “I get it. Dominic’s a judge. Keep it low-key until after the contest.” He points at both of us. “But after that? No more hiding.”
“You support us being together?” Holiday directly asks him.
“I always have,” he tells her. “As weird as it is, you two were always meant to be together. Anyone with eyes can see that.” Sammy’s expression softens. “If Dominic tries anything—and I mean anything—you tell me. Lucas isn’t the only one who’ll protect you.”
“Thanks, Sammy,” Holiday says, moving to her brother and hugging him.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all emotional on me.” He squeezes her.
“And what if I told you I gave Lucas my virginity?” she asks, and my mouth twitches.
Sammy’s jaw tightens as he looks between us. “What the fuck?”
The silence draws on.
“Yeah, I thought I might go ahead and rip that Band-Aid off since we’re here together,” Holiday says, her arms still around her brother.
Sammy slowly turns his head to look at me. His expression is unreadable, but I can see the calculation happening behind his eyes.
“What the fuck, Lucas,” he says, pointing at me.
“Yeah, so about that,” I confirm, not moving.
He releases Holiday and takes a step toward me. Then another. His hands ball into fists at his sides.
I don’t move, just wait for whatever’s coming.
Sammy gets right in my face, close enough that I can see the vein pulsing in his temple. He draws his fist back like he’s about to punch me.
I don’t even blink.
His fist stops an inch from my face. We stare at each other for a long moment.
Then Sammy drops his hand and steps back, shaking his head. “That explains a lot.”
“What does?” Holiday asks.
“Why you were both so fucking weird when I got home from camp.” Sammy runs his hand through his hair. “Why you”—he points at me—“couldn’t move on. And why you”—he points at Holiday—“always asked about Lucas when you were engaged to someone else.”
Holiday touches the silver star at her throat instinctively.
“You were both each other’s…first?” Sammy looks at me.
“Yeah,” I say.
Sammy takes a step back. “I’m shook.”
“Sammy—” Holiday starts.
“No, I want to know. When did this happen?”
“Fourth of July,” I tell him.
Sammy stares at me. “So, all that talk about some tourist was a fucking lie?”
“Look. I made him promise not to tell anyone. Not even you,” Holiday says. “So, if you’re pissed at someone—”
“Bros before hoes,” Sammy says.
Holiday scoffs. “I am not a ho! What the hell!”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I offer. “It’s weird to talk about with you.”
Sammy shakes his head, and I can tell he’s actually shocked. “This is why you were both a mess. It wasn’t a crush.”
“No,” Holiday confirms. “It was honestly the best summer of my life.”
Sammy looks at his sister. “How could you leave and forget that happened?”
“I didn’t forget anything,” Holiday says, her voice breaking slightly. “I thought about Lucas every single day.”
“But you still stayed away for fifteen years. You still got engaged to someone else.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “Rehashing old shit does no one any good. But now you know. Consider yourself the third person on the planet who’s aware.”
Sammy is quiet before he sighs deeply.
“Okay,” he says. “This explains everything.”
“Are you mad?” Holiday asks quietly.
“Mad?” Sammy considers. “No. I’m pissed at both of you for not choosing one another.”
“Sammy—” I start, but he interrupts me.
“Just don’t fuck it up this time,” he says.
“Don’t plan on it,” I tell him.
“Good.” Sammy heads for the door, then pauses with his hand on the handle. He turns back. “One more thing.”
We both look at him.
“This means we get back to how we used to be. The three musketeers?”
Holiday grins. “You want that?”
“You know I do. I miss hanging out with you two without all the weird tension and drama.” He shrugs. “You’re both my best friends. I want my family back.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” Holiday says.
“Me too.” I give him a smile.
“Good.” Sammy grins. “And Holiday? Maybe don’t ever tell Mom and Dad about the virginity thing. I don’t need that image in my head, and neither do they.”
He leaves and I hear his truck start up outside.
Holiday and I just stand there, staring at each other.
“Well,” she says finally. “That went better than expected.”
“Did you really just tell your brother about that?”
“I didn’t mean to blurt it out, but it felt good to get it off my chest.” She’s smirking. “Did you see his face?”
“I thought he was actually going to fuck me up.”
“He wouldn’t have.”
“You don’t know that.”
She walks over and wraps her arms around my waist. “Was hot that you didn’t flinch.”
“Why would I?”
“Most guys would have.”
“Not sure why I have to keep reminding you, but I’m not like most guys.” I kiss the top of her head. “And I’m not afraid of your brother.”
She looks up at me. “Because you could kick his ass.”
“You’re damn right about that,” I say with a laugh.
She runs her fingers through the back of my hair as she looks up at me. “The three of us were inseparable back then.”
“We were. I’d like to have that back, HoHo.”
“So would I.”
She steals a kiss. “Well, now that the ice cream is completely melted, maybe we should clean up this mess and try again later?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
We quickly clean up, then Holiday locks up the bakery.
“In two weeks, we tell the world,” she says with a yawn.
“I can’t wait.” I pull her close one more time. “Go home, Peaches. Get some sleep.”
“I’d rather go home with you,” she whispers.
“Meet me at my house,” I tell her.
“Is that a pity invite?”
“Hell no,” I tell her, opening her car door.
“Just making sure,” she says, climbing inside. “I’m going to go home and take a shower first.”
“Maybe we should conserve water?”
“Great idea. Love that you’re thinking about the planet.” She shoots me a wink as I close her door.
Holiday backs out of her parking spot, and her taillights disappear into the dark.
I’m looking forward to two weeks of stolen moments. Two weeks of being careful around Dominic.
But at least now we have Sammy on our side.
This is a start. Maybe we really can get back what we lost all those years ago. Not just each other, but the friendship that made us who we were.
Long live the three musketeers.