Chapter 42 My Wife
My Wife
Mateo
Holly amazes me. The way she handled the situation with her parents has me in awe. It took everything in me to not say a word, to let Holly fight her own battle. How I wish I could punch her father in the face for letting his wife be mean to Holly.
How could they hurt Holly like that? How could they even think any form of manipulation was okay?
Heat boils in my chest. I need to find the ugly face that belongs to Axel Rodney Miles.
His name is going to be my new fake swear word.
I spot him next to the drinks—as if he needs more alcohol in his system.
Wow, I really need to get out of here and let off some steam.
I lead Holly to Rodney and stop a foot away from him. He looks up and sneers at me before making eye contact with Holly. He starts to speak, but Holly beats him to the punch.
“Rodney, your mentorship of me is terminated immediately. I quit being a PR manager. I never want to see your conniving, manipulating face ever again. You disgust me. Don’t contact me ever again.”
Before I can do anything, she pulls her arm from mine, spins, and walks away. I don’t waste a second following her through the crowd. I trail behind her, letting her have a dramatic exit, which she totally deserves after that awesomeness.
I feel like shouting at the crowd, “Ladies and gentleman, that is MY WIFE!”
I don’t, because I am trying to control my impulses, but I do a little fist pump to celebrate Holly’s independence from the toxic people in her life.
Holly stops at the valet’s desk, giving me the second I need to catch up to her. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and pull her against my chest. She buries her face in my shirt and I hold her as her shaking limbs still.
“You were amazing in there, Holly,” I can’t help but tell her. “I’m so proud of you. You showed them what true elegance and culture is. You stood up for yourself and were the better woman. I’ve never been more proud to call you my wife.”
Holly sniffs and blinks up at me, mascara smudged around her beautiful-as-ever eyes. “Do you still want to be my husband after seeing who your in-laws are?”
I shake my head and kiss her forehead. “I didn’t see my in-laws in there. I saw a couple who has no relationship with a child they birthed. My real in-laws are Momma T and Stanley.”
Holly’s lips twitch, a brief smile on her face. “They do feel more like parents than my own do.”
I brush a hair that’s fallen out of her chignon behind her ear. “It’s settled. They’re my in-laws.”
She smiles and squeezes my waist, resting her head on my chest again.
I draw lazy circles on her back as I hold her close.
“Holly, you did an amazing job of standing up for yourself and speaking your mind. I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to make sure you don’t have to see those people ever again.
I will follow you anywhere and spend every day treasuring you and who you are. ”
Holly lifts her head, her ocean eyes filled with love. I lean down, my lips brushing hers for a moment. I pull away and admire her soft smile. Her eyelashes flutter open. “Take me home, Mateo.”
I kiss her forehead. “I will.”
She shakes her head, another curl of hair falling from her up-do. “No. Not my house. Take me home to Bolt.”
My eyes widen. Is she saying what I think she’s saying?
“You want to go to Bolt?”
She nods and bounces on her toes. “Yes. Let’s go back to my house, pack up everything, and drive to Bolt.”
I laugh, entertained by her enthusiasm but also questioning this sudden decision. “Um, I don’t think everything will fit in my truck and your car.”
She smirks. “Good thing I can pay for movers.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Holly, are you sure about this? I know you said you quit while we were inside, but are you sure? You know you’re really good at your job, right?”
The valet drives up in our car before she can answer.
Holly smiles up at me. “Hold that thought. Let’s chat more at the house,” Holly says as she slips into the passenger seat.
“We will be finishing this conversation in a few minutes, right?” I ask as I get in the driver’s side and pull away from the curb.
Holly reaches out for my hand and squeezes it. “Yes, we will definitely be finishing this conversation.”
I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “As you wish.”