Chapter Twelve
Mike
Exhaustion presses down on me like an unforgiving weight as I navigate the familiar route home on what should have been my day off.
At least I’ll be home in time for dinner, something that has been sparse this past week.
Since taking custody of Poppy, weekends, especially Sundays, have been off-limits. But the sudden departure of two rookies this week has thrown the department into chaos, leaving me with no choice but to shoulder the extra load. The overtime hours have stretched endlessly, a constant tug-of-war between duty and my number one priority—Poppy.
Thankfully, a few new recruits are set to start on Tuesday, promising a much-needed week off. Just in time for the holidays…
I let that thought trail off as I pull up to the house to find Hollis’ car parked in what’s become her usual spot. A renewed burst of energy courses through my veins, chasing away the fatigue.
With all the overtime I’ve had to take on, I no longer pick up Poppy from the store; instead, I meet them both here. Sometimes, Poppy is already tucked into bed by the time I get home, leaving just Hollis waiting up for me with a plate of whatever she’s cooked for dinner. When that happens, I usually skip the meal and have her instead, because anytime I can get Hollis under me, I take it.
Bringing her pleasure has become one of my favorite things to do in life. More than that though, I like coming home to her just like this. To have her in my house, in my surroundings, touching my things; it just makes sense. Feels right. As if it’s how it’s meant to be.
At least until it’s time for her to return home.
The dark reminder tightens my chest, constricting my breath. It’s something I try not to think about because there’s no use dwelling on something you have no control over.
Besides, we’re months away from that, and a lot can happen by then. Hell, who knows, maybe she will decide she likes Passion Falls so much she will move here. Maybe she will even decide she likes me enough to move here…
I scold myself for wishful thinking, something I know better than to do. I live in a reality where wishes don’t exist—only hard work and maybe some luck along the way. You choose your fate.
That thought has me shifting my attention to the mountain that overlooks our town, its heart-shaped peak mocking me as Hollis’ words echo like a drum.
What if it was the mountain that day? Maybe there’s some truth to the legend after all.
I meant what I said: I don’t believe in magic. But, I have to admit, the circumstances surrounding that first day are eerily coincidental…
Don’t go there, Cross.
Shaking my head, I climb out of the truck and head into the house. The faint sound of Christmas music greets my ears the moment I enter.
In the kitchen, I find Poppy and Hollis sliding freshly baked cookies off a baking sheet. They wear matching Christmas aprons which must be a recent purchase since I haven’t seen them before today.
I hang back for a moment and absorb the scene before me, enjoying the way Hollis’ ass looks in her skin-tight leggings. The bottom of her red sweater rests just above the slight curve, enticing me in every way. My palm twitches as I remember how that supple flesh sounds beneath my hand when I make her beg for my cock…
“Dang it,” Poppy’s voice yanks me from the thought. “The tip of my tree just broke off.”
“It’s okay,” Hollis assures her gently, her voice a soothing balm. “We’ll use some icing to fix it. No one will ever know.”
“We can also make sure Mike gets this one,” my sister adds with a snicker.
I suppress a grunt as Hollis’ laughter echoes through the kitchen. “Knowing your brother, I’m sure he won’t mind.”
She’s right, I won’t because a cookie is a fucking cookie, but nice to know my sister saves the broken shit for me.
Clearing my throat, I make myself known before walking into the kitchen.
Hollis’ head snaps up as I enter and the smile that takes over her face rights every wrong that has ever happened in my life. “Hey, you’re home early.”
“Yeah, quiet day.” My tone reveals just how affected I am by her presence because as my sister says, I’m a chump.
Poppy jumps off the chair she’s standing on and races over to me. Bending down, I scoop her up in my arms and am rewarded with a tight hug and kiss on the cheek. It makes that broken cookie completely meaningless.
“Hey, Mountie Mike,” she greets, flashing me a gapped-tooth smile.
“Hey, twerp.”
“Look what Hollis bought us when we went shopping today.” She points to the red and black checkered apron with a baby deer on it that says “little sister.”
My gaze shifts to a smiling Hollis, and notice her matching apron says “big sister.”
The symbols pack a powerful punch.
“Aren’t they great?” my sister says, her tone as bright as her smile.
“Yeah. I like them.”
“And guess what else?” Her eyes sparkle with renewed excitement.
“What?” I ask, feeling a smirk form.
“She bought me a dress to wear for Christmas Eve at Ellie’s.”
That grin drops like an anchor, my attention snapping to Hollis, who suddenly avoids my gaze.
She knows damn well how I feel about her buying Poppy things. The aprons are one thing, but buying her clothing is another.
“She did, did she?” I finally say, doing my best to keep my thoughts out of my voice.
“Yep,” my sister confirms brightly, oblivious to the sudden tension. “Put me down, and I’ll go try it on for you.” She pushes against my chest, prompting me to set her back on her feet. “We’ll make it a fashion show!”
“Great idea!” Hollis exclaims, clasping her hands together. “I’ll help you.”
She attempts to escape, but I snag her arm before she can get too far.
“How about you hang back for a moment?”
She winces, knowing she’s in shit.
“I’ll call you when I’m ready,” Poppy tells her, continuing up the stairs.
Once her bedroom door closes, I turn to Hollis, my disapproval evident in every line of my face.
“Before you say anything, it was on sale,” she rushes to say.
“How much?” I ask, striving to keep my tone controlled.
She flicks a hand through the air. “Cheap. Very cheap.”
My jaw tightens at the apparent brush-off. “How much, Hollis?”
She licks those pretty pink lips, getting more nervous by the second. “I don’t remember exactly because I bought other things too, but the shoes were on sale as well and—”
“Shoes too?” I growl, cutting her off.
“Yes, and a bow and a handbag, but—”
I silence whatever else she is about to say with my mouth, unable to resist the temptation of her sweet lips and generosity towards my sister.
She meets my ferocity with a soft moan, her arms wrapping around my neck.
Drawing her closer, I lift her into my arms, her feet dangling just inches above the floor. Her slim body fits against mine like a missing piece, the impact of our connection dissolving my frustration in an instant.
If I were to ever believe in magic, it would be this right here.
Eventually, I lower her onto her feet and pull back to find her lips swollen and eyes clouded with desire. It’s an image I sear into memory, keeping it locked away forever.
“Does this mean you’re not mad at me?” she asks, confused. “Because if you are, and this is the reaction I am going to get, then I’m going to piss you off more often, Cross,” she teases.
I smother a smirk, despite how cute I think she is. “This means you’re going to let me pay you for the dress and then you’re going to make it up to me later when I have you underneath me screaming my name.”
She doesn’t take the bait as I hoped. “I don’t want your money, Mike.”
“And I don’t want you to pay for things that are my responsibility,” I counter firmly. “You know this.”
“I didn’t buy her this dress because you failed at responsibility. I bought it because I love her too, and I wanted to give it to her as a gift. Please don’t take that away from me.”
Well, fuck. How am I supposed to deny that request? Especially when she looks up at me all soft and sweet, innocent and hot…
“You’re a pain in my ass, you know that?”
Her smile returns, making those pretty green eyes sparkle. “I’ll make it up to you later when I’m screaming your name,” she says, echoing my own words back at me.
Just as I consider hauling her into the bathroom for a quickie, my sister’s voice rings out from upstairs, thwarting that plan. “I need help with my zipper, please.”
“Coming!” Hollis calls back before flashing me one last smile. “Schedule me in for later, Cross.”
She’s already penciled in. Every night, all night, for as long as she will have me.
As she disappears up the stairs, I snag a beer from the fridge and steal a cookie, making sure to take the broken one.
It doesn’t take long before Hollis returns at the bottom of the stairs, holding Poppy’s pink hairbrush like a microphone. “Please welcome our next model, the fabulous and incomparable, Poppy Cross!”
My sister descends the stairs in a flurry of rose gold sparkle. She pauses at the last step, striking a pose before strutting into the kitchen.
“Poppy dazzles in a one-of-a-kind rose gold ensemble from The Bay,” Hollis continues, eliciting a smirk from me. “The stunning headpiece and matching handbag create an unforgettable look, while the dove white strappy heels add an extra touch of elegance, making this the perfect Christmas dinner outfit.”
Poppy finishes the show with a lift of her foot, showing off the heel of her shoe before taking a bow. “So, what do you think?”
I gaze down at my little sister’s smile that radiates pure happiness and know she deserves every bit of it. “I think you look beautiful.”
She twirls at the compliment. “Thank you. And look, I got matching lip gloss too,” she adds, pulling a sparkly tube from her purse.
I shoot Hollis a dark look, liking how she left that little detail out.
She shrugs unapologetically. “What can I say? Accessories are important.”
I grunt at that response, but before I can argue, her cell phone rings from the table.
She uses the opportunity for escape, a cheeky smile taking over her face. “Saved by the bell.” Grabbing her phone, she checks the screen before answering. “Shane, hey. What’s up?”
I recognize the name of her cousin who owns the store.
“Hold on, I can’t hear you.” Covering her ear, she heads into the living room for privacy.
“Are you upset about the dress?” Poppy asks, a hint of concern lacing her small voice.
“No, I’m not upset,” I answer truthfully. “I take it you thanked her?”
“Of course, many times,” she assures me.
I figured she did because one thing my sister is not is ungrateful. She appreciates everything, even things kids her age shouldn’t have to—like having a roof over her head and a safe place to sleep.
“It really does look good on you,” I tell her again, chucking her under the chin. “You’ll be the prettiest one on Christmas Eve.”
Next to Hollis, of course, but I figure that goes without saying.
“Thanks, Mike.” Smiling, she gives me an affectionate punch in the arm. “Wait until you see the dress we bought for Hollis.” She fans her face, indicating just how hot the dress is.
“Yeah?” I muse, intrigued. “What does it look like?”
Not that it matters. She could wear a garbage bag and still be a fucking knockout, but I still find myself curious, hoping it’s something easy to remove.
Before any details can be shared, Hollis walks back into the kitchen, her face ashen and eyes vacant, as if she’s just seen a ghost.
It instantly puts me on alert. Setting my beer down, I straighten, concern gripping my chest like an iron fist. “What’s wrong?”
Poppy whirls around at my expression, the same worry etched on her face.
“That was my cousin, Shane,” she explains, a slight tremble in her voice. “He sold the store.”
My stomach drops out from under me, hollowing from the inside out.
Poppy gasps, the small breath sharp and painful. “He did?”
Hollis nods, swallowing hard.
“That’s sad,” my sister adds on a whisper, making the biggest fucking understatement of the century.
“It is, isn’t it?” Hollis’ voice is just as soft, laced with a calm that mocks the chaos storming inside me.
Poppy runs up to her, wrapping her arms around her waist in a desperate embrace.
Meanwhile, I’m rooted to my spot, paralyzed by fear. Unable to move or breathe.
This wasn’t supposed to happen yet. We’re supposed to have more time. I’m supposed to have more time.
“I thought he wasn’t selling until spring?” I finally manage, my voice strained with everything I’m feeling in this moment.
“I thought so too, but apparently, he’s at dinner with a client looking for an international investment. Shane mentioned the store, and the client made an offer on the spot.”
Her explanation feels like a knife twisting in my gut. She talks about it so casually, as if the entire world isn’t collapsing around us, as if my insides aren’t being shredded.
“Is the new owner going to keep it the way it is?” Poppy worries out loud, peering up at Hollis.
“I don’t know,” she answers, her eyes clouded with the same uncertainty. “I hope so.”
She hopes so? Seriously? Our lives are just hanging in the fucking balance here, and she doesn’t know?
“You didn’t think to ask?” My voice slices through the air, a raw blend of anger and desperation.
She tenses at my sharp tone, her posture turning defensive. “I couldn’t. He was still out with the client when he called.”
Of course, he was. I’m sure he was fucking thrilled to give her the good news. After all, he’s making bank. Who the hell cares about anyone or anything else?
The anger that thought brings on overshadows the fear and desperation pumping through me. “Go upstairs, Poppy,” I order, feeling my composure unraveling by the second.
My sister hesitates, her gaze shifting between Hollis and me with obvious trepidation.
Hollis gives her a reassuring smile and a nod that she listens to, as if it trumps the order I just gave and that just pisses me off even more.
I should have never let this happen.
I manage to hold it together until Poppy disappears upstairs.
“What’s going on with you?” Hollis asks, both hurt and confusion coloring her tone. “Why are you upset with me?”
“Because you shouldn’t have said anything,” I snap. “Especially when you didn’t bother asking any questions.”
“I told you I didn’t have a chance. I’m supposed to call him later tonight. I’ll ask him then.”
“And then what, Hollis?” I demand, craving an answer yet dreading the silence that might follow.
“I don’t know, Mike,” she snaps, rubbing her temples. “You’re not the only one caught off guard by this.”
I grunt. “Could have fooled me.”
She lifts her head, a flash of anger mixing with the hurt. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
My remaining composure shatters. “It means you don’t just fucking waltz in here all calm and drop a bomb like that on my sister without answering any of her questions!” I bellow, my roar fueled by the emotions threatening to choke me.
“Because I don’t have any!” she yells back, her anger and frustration crashing into mine like a tidal wave. “Why aren’t you understanding this?”
I get the urge to ask her the same damn thing. How does she not get the wreckage this causes for my sister…for me? Why couldn’t she wait before ripping the fucking world out from under us?
“Look,” she says, breaking the angry silence, her voice a little calmer. “All Shane told me was he had the buyer with him, and they wanted me to get them the reports as soon as possible. That’s it. That’s the only reason why I didn’t ask more question right then.”
“Then I guess you better go home and get to it.”
She flinches as if I’ve slapped her, the pain in her eyes hitting like a painful blow to the chest.
I shove it aside and keep a tight hold of my anger, knowing it’s better than the alternative.
“So, that’s it, Mike?” she chokes out, her face contorted with pain and anger. “That’s all you have to say to me?
I shrug. “Not much else to say, is there?”
It’s a lie. There’s a lot I want to say. Plead for her to stay, to tell her that I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, that if she gives me a chance, I could make her love this place more than California…but I don’t, because I know it wouldn’t be fair, that it would only delay the inevitable.
She shakes her head at my silence, disbelief reflected in the hurt in her eyes. “I guess not.” Gathering her jacket and bag, she moves for the door.
My breathing deepens as desperation claws at my throat. I take a step toward her but quickly stop myself. My head and heart are at war, locked in a brutal battle.
Hollis, however, never looks back. She hurries out the front door, leaving my world in shambles.
The pain burns like a slow fire, searing through my organs, especially the one in my chest.
“No, wait! Stop!” Poppy’s frantic voice crashes through my turmoil. She races down the stairs, panic wild in her eyes as tears helplessly stream down her face. “What are you doing? Why aren’t you stopping her?” She pushes me out of the way and runs to the door, flinging it open. “Hollis, wait! Don’t go. Please!”
It’s too late. She’s already gone.
The dagger lodged in my chest twists like a cruel blade, each turn more excruciating than the last.
My sister slams the door shut and whirls around to face me, her grief-stricken expression twisting in anger. Her tiny fists clench at her sides before she rushes over and pummels them against me. “What’s wrong with you?” she screams through her pain. “Why did you let her go? Why didn’t you tell her to stay?”
“Stop it, Poppy,” I choke out the warning, grabbing her wrists to stop the tiny blows.
“No! This is all your fault.” She continues to fight and kick me, her anguish fueling every strike.
“I said stop it, goddamnit,” I bellow, pinning her arms at her sides. “She isn’t ours to keep. She never was.”
“She could have been,” she sobs, ripping away from me. “She could have stayed, and we could have finally had a real family.”
Her words pierce through the fog of pain, each one a fresh wound. “What the hell are you talking about? You have a real family. We are a family.”
“No, Mike. We aren’t,” she cries. “It’s just you and me. Brother and sister. That’s not a real family.” Devastation is in every syllable she breathes, inflicting its wrath upon me. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this. She was supposed to stay, but you ruined it because you’re too scared to admit the truth.”
I want to deny it, to tell her she’s wrong, but it would be a lie. I am scared, scared of the rejection that would inevitably come. I’m helpless against her despair and my own.
Without another word, she spins away from me in a flurry of sparkles and runs up the stairs back to her room, slamming her door for good measure. Punctuating the words she just spoke.
It’s just you and me. Brother and sister. That’s not a real family.
Those words resound like a distant thunderclap, resonating through the hollowed emptiness of my chest. The world around me shatters yet again, leaving me within its ruins. Each fragment a reminder of what could have been, suffocating me with my own regret.