51. She hates me
Fifty-One
SHE HATES ME
Luke
“Did you see?” Holly’s voice trembles as she peers at me with wide eyes. The look on her face puts me on edge instantly.
“See what?” I ask.
Holly’s computer screen is awake, open to the Huffman House website linked through a travel site. Her eyes dart to me and then back to the screen before she scrolls to the newest review.
Reviewed by: XoChloeXo
The food was fine, pretty good, actually, if you like comfort food rather than high-end meals.
The rooms were clean, and the beds were comfortable enough.
The town was a little boring, with little to do besides small-towny shops, one winery, and some biking trails.
Probably my favorite part of the whole experience was the sunset cruise that you can book for free if you’re staying at the bed-and-breakfast. Beware of the staff, though.
One staff member in particular I caught kissing another guest. It was disgusting, highly unprofessional, and made me feel very uncomfortable thinking he’d come and try to hit on me next.
Aside from that, it was a nice enough stay.
“Shit,” I mutter, reading over Holly’s shoulder. It’s been days. I’d hoped she’d let it go.
“What is she talking about?”
“Where’s Ma?” I ask, ignoring Holly’s question.
“In the kitchen, I think, preparing dinner. Luke, we’ve never gotten a review like this. I’m not sure what to do about it. Should I respond? I don’t even know what to say!” Holly is borderline frantic, her voice pitching higher with every word.
I grip her shoulders, holding her still and steady. “Don’t respond. Let me figure this one out.” I hold her there until she agrees and then head for the kitchen, bracing myself for whatever shitstorm is about to come my way next.
Liv
Holly: OMG guys, I’m freaking out
Viv: What happened?
Holly: One of our guests just left a review that was… not good. Is this going to ruin us?!
Viv marches into my office, eyes on her phone, and drops into the chair. “Shit. Pull it up. Let’s read it.”
I click around on my laptop until the travel site is up, and I’m on the reviews page.
“Looks like it’s that Chloe girl. The one from the boat cruise.” My eyes scan the review, hand covering my mouth. Viv comes around to peer over my shoulder.
“That little cu—”
“This is because she caught Luke kissing me.” I plant my face in my hands and groan. I told Viv all about that, and we agreed—the girl was a stage-five clinger. It never occurred to me she’d do something like this though.
Holly: Luke went to talk to our mom. I’m so stressed out.
“Are you going to tell her?” Viv looks up from her phone.
“Should I?” I stand, suddenly restless.
“Liv, she’s our friend. I think she deserves to know. Especially now.” Viv sits on the loveseat by the window, curling one leg under her.
“Ugh, I hate when you’re right.” I release a breath and pace, fingers flying across the screen, telling her everything.
Her text bubble appears, disappears, then reappears. It disappears once more and doesn’t return for minutes.
“Is she going to hate me?” I ask Viv, pausing my steps.
“I hope not.”
The phone chimes. My heart is thrashing wildly, my pulse hammering in my ears.
Holly: OMG
“She hates me.”
“Chill. Just give her a minute.”
Holly: So are you two like a thing?
Me: No, it’s nothing like that…
Holly: Oh.
Turns out, Holly isn’t upset at all. She’s glad Luke finally broke free from the slump he was in after Samantha left. She tells us how Luke’s been in a terrible mood the last couple of days and suspects it’s because he might have developed some feelings, even though she has nothing to base that on.
It helps to know Holly isn’t angry about our secrecy, or that it resulted in this review, but the knot in my stomach makes me feel nauseous. It is partially my fault this happened. I’m tempted to text Luke, curious about how they plan to handle it, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Once that door opens, I’m not sure I’ll be able to shut it again.