I roll my eyes. “Is that why he fired you?”
“Fired me? He didn’t fire me. I’m on vacation this week.” By the expression on her face, I can see she’s confused, and that Ezra lied to me. Not that it really matters.
“Thank you, Judy.”
“Thank you,” she sneers as Bailey exits the stall.
“Yeah, you did me a favor. He’s all yours don’t worry. I don’t want him. I have a real man now.”
Bailey looks at me like who the hell is this, and I shake my head and toss my paper towel in the trash.
What a joke, I think to myself as I step out of the bathroom. I can’t reach the table to get back in Holden’s arms fast enough. I should have known Ezra was full of shit. I feel stupid. I shouldn’t but I do. I can’t believe I almost fell for his lines again.
Running into Judy only further cements that I am doing the right thing by choosing Holden.
When I get back to my man, he’s ready to leave and the feeling is mutual. I’m ready to take him to bed. Bailey and Wren have other plans and we agree to call each other tomorrow.
————
We’re almost home when Holden detours to the grocery store. “I have a hankering for chocolate ice cream,” he tells me.
“A hankering? Who talks like that?”
“I do. Come on.”
Rolling my eyes, I follow him inside. He’s like a kid let loose for the first time. He has a buggy full of junk; whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce, and waffle cone bowls. The only thing remotely good for you are the strawberries and bananas he picked up.
“I’m going to make you the best sundae you’ve ever had.”
“Is that so. What if I don’t like ice cream,” I tease him.
“Then I will smear it all over your body and lick it off.” He grins at me as if he is imagining doing just that.
“Then I really hate ice cream.” I smirk.
“Is that a challenge?”
“Absolutely. Now take me home.”
Holden is trying to get through the self-check-out so fast he nearly smashes the bananas. I can’t help but laugh at him. I can’t remember the last time I felt this good and happy. I never imagined we would be doing normal couple shit. I guess I don’t know what I expected out of this man, but I am pleasantly surprised. He holds my hand every chance he gets. I know everything is new and exciting, but I get the feeling he’d be holding my hand as much even if we’d been together ten years.
He puts the bags on the passenger side so that I am forced to sit next to him, not that I hadn’t planned on it. When we get home the living room light is on. I can see it shining through the blinds. I don’t see Ezra’s car though, so maybe we left it on. I don’t say anything to Holden. I ignore my gut feeling that shit is about to go down and help him pack the bags up the stairs.
When Holden opens the door, Ezra is sitting on the couch waiting for us. I didn’t think he was coming back until tomorrow or the day after. His hands are clenched in his hair. His eyes look wild with anger.
I breeze past him to the kitchen to put the groceries away. I don’t want to do this right now. Does he know about me and Holden? Has he seen my clothes in his room? What’s going through his head right now? A hand on my shoulder nearly scares the piss out of me. I jump at the contact, but a calm wave washes over me when I feel Holden’s beard at my ear.
“It’s time,” his voice grits like sandpaper.
I nod and sag back against his chest. I know it is. The only thing motivating me right now is having Holden by my side. Knowing that I have him when this is over is reassuring.
“We do this together.” He squeezes my hand and spins me around.
My head snuggles into his chest and my arms go around his waist.
“Okay,” I settle.
With my hand in Holden’s, I return to the living room to confront Ezra.