Chapter Twenty-Four

Mark

“ W e’re here,” Holly announces as we pull up to the cabin.

I step out of the car, the crisp, cold air hitting my skin as soon as I do. I blow out a breath, taking in the sight around me. The cabin is fucking huge, nestled between tall pine trees, covered in snow. It looks like something straight out of a Christmas card. Strings of lights wrapped around the porch, wreath hanging on the door, and snow covering every inch of this place. It makes me realize why Holly was so excited about it.

“Who owns this place?” I ask, impressed by the sight in front of me.

“We do, baby,” Olivia says, beaming as she links arms with her husband.

“And I’m a part contributor,” Holly chimes in, lifting her chin proudly.

Henry smirks at me, arching his brow. “Technically it’s my family’s, but Holly pays for the electricity while we stay here.”

“So, I guess that means I own it too,” Holly says with a grin, leaning against the car .

I glance back at Henry, who just shrugs, looking amused.

“Did you bring the turkey, honey?” Olivia asks Henry, rubbing her swollen belly.

“Yes, and it was heavy as fuck. If the baby’s anywhere near that size, I feel sorry for you,” Henry replies with a groan as he lifts a cooler out of the trunk.

“Not helping,” Olivia shoots back, rolling her eyes.

“I know,” he says, grinning.

They walk ahead of us, and I stay back, helping Holly with her suitcase, my lips twitching at the sight of her buried under a thick coat, scarf, gloves, hat, and ear muffs. I don’t think there’s a single item of clothing that she hasn’t got on.

“You got it?” I ask her, handing her the suitcase, trying to tug it on the snow, my brows dipping when it barely budges.

“Yes. I’ve got it. Give it.”

I shake my head. “Don’t worry. I’ll take it inside.”

“What?” she yells behind me as I carry on walking. “But I brought two suitcases.”

“Trust me,” I say with a grunt as I carry the two large suitcases, dragging them through the snow, my small duffle bag swung across my chest. “I know.”

I hear a soft chuckle behind me and I have the urge to stop and turn around just to see that smile on her face. But I shake my head as I let out hard breath after hard breath and walk through the thick blanket of snow, following Henry and Olivia until we’re finally at the cabin .

“Home sweet home,” Holly says, a soft smile playing on her lips when the door opens, Henry and Olivia heading inside.

I let out a breath, a little winded from carrying the bags, and arch a brow down at Holly, or a small face that resembles Holly buried under clothes. “This is home to you?” I ask, watching her closely.

She shrugs, her smile fading a little. “When I was in foster care, I tried not to get attached to anything or anyone because I knew it wouldn’t last. But this place… we come here every year, and it’s always the same. Same tree—fake, by the way, ugh—same snow-covered roof. I like it. It’s tradition.”

“You love traditions, don’t you?” I ask her, already knowing the answer.

“Yeah,” she says with a chuckle that burns my insides despite the cold air hitting my face. “I hope my future husband likes them too because it’d be extremely hard to have to change.” She heaves out a breath. “I like when things stay the same.”

I could get into tradition. The thought pops into my head without any hesitation. I like when things stay the same. I like routine. I like not being surprised. The only big change in my life was… her, and I couldn’t fucking be happier about it. But she’s not talking about me. She’s talking about Ryan. The thought makes my chest tighten, and I clear my throat, my lips settling into a thin line as I look down at her pretty face, flushed from the cold. “I’m sure Ryan likes tradition just fine. ”

Holly looks up at me, her expression uncertain. “Yeah,” she sighs. “You want to go see your room?” she asks, changing the subject.

“I have a room?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Why? Did you want to sleep with me?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows playfully.

“That’s not what I meant,” I say quickly, feeling my face heat up.

She laughs. “I know. I know. You’re repulsed by me.”

“Not what I meant, either,” I reply, narrowing my eyes down at her. Repulsed? Jesus. She should fucking read my mind.

“It’s just an empty guest room we never use,” she says. “But it’s yours now.”

My brows shoot up. “Is this trip going to be more than a one-time thing?” I ask.

“If you want,” she says, her voice hopeful. “I’d like to think you’d come here next year with us as well.”

Next year . She’ll probably be dating that guy. And the idea of coming back here next year, only to watch her with Ryan, cuddling by the fire, kissing under the mistletoe. And he’ll probably end up marrying her because… why wouldn’t he want to marry her? She’s fucking amazing. I don’t think I could bear to watch them together.

“Maybe,” I say, noncommittal. I don’t plan on coming back next year. Who knows if she’ll even remember me a month from now?

We head inside, the warmth of the place hitting me first as I follow Holly into what I assume will be my room for the next three days. I drop the suitcases on the ground as Holly rounds the bed and flops onto it, stretching out with a satisfied sigh. The bed is huge. Must be a king-size, and she looks so fucking tiny compared to it.

“You enjoying yourself?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe.

“Of course your bed would be better than mine,” she grumbles, sitting up on her elbows.

I chuckle softly, watching her eyebrows knit together in an adorable frown. “You want to swap?”

“Or I could just stay here with you instead,” she says with a teasing smile.

I narrow my eyes at her. “You kick in your sleep, don’t you?” I ask trying to deflect the tension that’s suddenly thick in the room.

“What?” she asks, confusion taking over her features.

“You’re trying to punish me by kicking or screaming. Do you scream?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“No,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I just want to stay here.”

I hum, trying to ignore the way my heart thumps against my chest. I swear it wasn’t working before I met her because it’s never done that before, and yet she walks into my life and the bastard won’t stop banging against my chest. “Don’t think your boyfriend would like that,” I tell her, my jaw clenching at the thought.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” she says quietly.

“Not yet,” I murmur. “But he will be.”

She watches me for a while and then sits up on the bed. “I’m only kidding,” she says with a shrug, avoiding my gaze. “I don’t want to sleep next to you. You probably snore anyway.”

“I don’t,” I lie. I totally snore.

“Do you want to go sledding?” she asks suddenly, changing the subject.

“Now?” I ask, looking out the window at the dark sky.

She shakes her head. “Tomorrow,” she says, lying back on my bed. “I’m too tired right now,” she mumbles, closing her eyes.

I let out a scoff. No shit. She wouldn’t shut up the whole drive here. Six hours in a car with three loud, lively people singing along to Christmas songs the whole drive and playing car games would have been unbearable if I wasn’t itching to spend some time with Holly. Even if I had to listen to her awful singing.

I watch as she twists onto her side and places both of her palms together, propping them under her head. My lips twitch at the sight as I approach her.

“You sleeping in my bed, Bambi?” I ask, unable to help myself.

She curls up, closing her eyes, letting out a sweet, soft sound that makes a chill creep up my spine. “I love when you call me that,” she murmurs sleepily.

I chuckle once again, not bothering to wake her up. This bed is big for the both of us, so I quickly pull my coat off and head toward Holly, lifting her up to get her under the covers.

I lie down beside her, letting out a contented sigh. My heart is thumping in my chest, and I don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending I don’t have feelings for her.

“Sleep well, sweetheart,” I whisper, leaning over to kiss her forehead. Her skin is warm under my lips, and I break out into a smile as she mumbles something. I turn around, closing my eyes, knowing that there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with her in this moment.