Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“This is me,” he said when the desk agent called for first class. He gave Holly a hug, and from the second his arms tightened around her, he felt like he was home. Everything that he once felt came rushing back. She released him and gathered her things.
“I should probably get in line.” Holly motioned to the lengthy line forming.
“It was great seeing you,” he said. “I’ll stop by the store and say hi.”
“Merry Christmas, Christian.”
“Merry Christmas, Holly.”
He watched as she went to the end of the line. She didn’t look back or meet his gaze. It was like he was out of her life, and she seemed to be okay with that. He wasn’t. Now that he’d seen her, spoken to her, he wanted more. Reluctantly, he boarded the plane and took his seat. Unfortunately, the plane was larger than he’d expected, and Holly wouldn’t walk by him on her way to her seat. Christian wouldn’t be able to see her again. He couldn’t live with knowing she was on the plane with him, and they weren’t together.
As soon as everyone was on board and the doors closed, Christian got up from his seat and walked down the aisle way until he spotted her. Holly sat next to the window and was again looking at her magazine.
“Excuse me,” he said to the man next to her. Holly looked up when she heard Christian’s voice. He smiled at her and then said to the man, “I’m in first class and I’d like to switch seats with you.”
The man didn’t hesitate. He stood, grabbed his things, and then followed Christian to his seat. “Thank you,” he said.
“Old girlfriend or someone you just met?” the man asked.
“A little bit of both,” Christian told him. He made his way back to his new seat and sat down next to Holly. She closed her magazine and looked at him.
“Gave up first class, huh?” she asked.
“To sit with you, yes.”
She gave him a slight nod and then slipped her magazine into her bag. He wanted her to talk, to tell him about her life, but he sensed something held her back and he had a good idea what that was.
“I’m divorced,” he blurted out, and her eyes widened. Yes, this was it. Skye and Holly hadn’t gotten along in high school, and he knew it was because of Skye. Her insecurities had been a cause of disagreement for them until they got to college and Holly wasn’t there. For the longest time, Christian had to hide his feelings about Holly from Skye. It took him a long time to get over Holly and the friendship he had lost, but after the hundredth unreturned call, he set his feelings for her aside and made a go of things with Skye.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Holly said.
“Are you?”
She said nothing. The flight attendant began the safety spiel and, as much as he wanted to continue talking to Holly about things, he figured he could wait until they taxied or were in the air. Holly would be stuck next to him for five hours and he didn’t think she could ignore him for that long. He’d give her a few minutes and then they were going to have the heart-to-heart they should’ve had years ago.
Once the announcements were over, Christian leaned over Holly to look out her window. He inhaled her perfume and instantly closed his eyes. The flowery scent was the same one she wore in high school. He lost count of the times he’d get a whiff while walking to class. He’d stop and look around for Holly, wondering where she was.
“Why didn't you come to my wedding?”
Holly glanced at him, and he saw trepidation in her eyes. He smiled, hoping to convey he’d understand whatever she told him.
“I think I had a shoot or something. I don’t really remember.”
“Don’t lie to me, Holly Saint. I know you better than anyone else.”
“Knew,” she corrected him. “You haven’t known me for quite some time.”
“So, tell me, what have I missed? Who is the Holly Saint of today?”
Holly looked at him like she wanted to punch him. He was pushy and intruding on her life—the life she shut him out of. She adjusted in her seat to face him. “I didn’t come to your wedding because of who you married. Skye was horrible to me in high school: a bully and a mean girl. She and her friends would gang up on me when you weren’t around, and honestly, I couldn’t take watching you marry her.”
“I’m sorry she was like that to you.”
Holly gave him a dismissive wave. “Water under the bridge,” she told him. “I’ve grown up a lot since then.”
“I can see that. What do you do?”
“I’m a freelance photographer, but I have contracts with most of the sports teams in Miami.”