Chapter 17 #2
Ryan kept his eyes on the porch as he traded spots. The door closed behind Thomas as Ryan lowered himself into the rocking chair. He took a sip from his drink. “So…my sister.”
Nick shoved his hand through his hair, stomach tight. “Yeah…”
“You two sure, uh, fell for each other fast.” Ryan stared straight ahead, his profile an identical, younger version of his father’s. “I thought it was just a holiday date.”
“It was pretty fast.” Nick licked his lips, still tasting Holly’s lingering lip gloss. He stopped rocking and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Listen, Ryan. Before you go off on me, there’s something you need to know.” Oh boy. Holly was going to kill him. But he liked her.
And this wasn’t fair anymore.
He blew out a breath. “Holly found out about our agreement.”
Ryan’s brows hiked up his forehead. “She did? When?”
“Like, right away. That’s why she went all crazy Cindy Lou Who on me. She was getting revenge because she thought I was only here as a favor to you, and not because I wanted to be.”
Ryan’s rocker stilled. “Yikes.”
“Yeah. It all came to a sort of chaotic head, and well, she finally confessed to me the other night.” Nick hesitated. He hated this part. Hated how he went along with it. And also hated how much he hadn’t hated living it out. “And then asked me to help get revenge on you.”
“What?” Ryan jerked to face Nick. The contents of his cup sloshed onto the porch.
“She wanted to teach you a lesson about matchmaking and meddling. She saw how you were acting about Axel and figured the best revenge would be to make you think we’d fallen madly in love.” Nick shook his head. “I couldn’t tell her no, man. I felt so guilty for hurting her.”
“What a mess.” Ryan scrubbed his hands down his jaw. “Let me get this straight. You two aren’t together?”
“No. It’s just been a show for your sake.” Nick snorted. “And the funniest part is, you haven’t even gotten mad about it. I think her plan sort of flopped.”
“Of course I’m not mad.” Ryan let out a laugh as he resumed rocking. “I was kind of thrilled, honestly.”
“ What? ” Now it was Nick’s turn to be shocked.
“I mean, yeah. Holly and my best friend? That’s obviously way different than a ‘gnarly’ surfer boy who can’t keep his webbed claws off my baby sister.” Ryan’s face screwed into a scowl and his glasses slipped on his nose. “Don’t get me started.”
“You didn’t act thrilled about it.” Nick tilted his head. “Honestly, you didn’t seem to have much reaction of any sort.”
“That was the goal.” Ryan shrugged. “I know my sister. If I got excited about you two, she’d switch gears. Get spooked or get stubborn—something like that. So I kept it cool.”
“Essentially, you were tricking us as we were tricking you.”
Ryan saluted him with his cup. “In a roundabout way.”
“Fair enough.” Nick stared out at Frosty, still lit in the middle of the yard. Disappointment weighed like Santa’s pack. The gig was up. No more reason to pretend-date Holly. No more excuse for craft projects or late-night talks or cookie baking or mistletoe kisses.
Unless…
Nick squinted. “I need a favor.”
“After you lied to me?” Ryan frowned.
He shot him a sideways look. “ We lied to Holly.”
“Okay, fair. What is it?”
“Can you keep playing along?” Nick waited a beat. “Maybe even act really mad, like her plan is working?”
“Ha.” Ryan tilted his head back and tossed the rest of his drink down the hatch. “This punch wasn’t spiked, but you must have found some eggnog.”
“Seriously. Ever since Holly stopped attacking me with Christmas, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her. I…like her.” Oh, brother. Nick sounded like a kid passing a note with a “Do you like me? Yes or No” check box.
Ryan sighed. “Well, that’s ironic.”
This entire season had been. “If you keep this going, I’ll have reason to keep getting to know her. We’ve really been connecting, and I think if she finds out you know the truth, she’ll withdraw again. Go back to feeling hurt and just surviving the holidays. I don’t want that for her.”
“Here’s a wild idea.” Ryan leaned forward, his eyes earnest behind his glasses. “ Talk to my sister. Tell her how you feel.”
Nick shook his head. “It’s too soon. She’d never believe me after all this.” He waved his hand around the farm, as if one could encompass the last week with a single gesture. “Why would she?”
The last few days under Operation: Jack & Sally had been so ideal. If Nick could just keep that going a little longer, get a bit more time with the real Holly before she vanished under another hurt, well, that might actually make for a great Christmas.
“Maybe you’re right.” Ryan settled into his chair. “I don’t know.”
“ I know.” Nick resumed rocking, matching his friend’s rhythm.
“But haven’t there been enough secrets?” Ryan asked.
Yes. Too many—more than Ryan even knew. Nick swallowed the knot in his throat and met Ryan’s eyes. “Just one more.”
Ryan shook his head. Sighed. Then nodded. “Fine. One more.”
Victory. Nick leaned into the rocker, unable to stop his smile. For now, at least, he and Holly could keep hating Christmas.
Together.