Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
I sit down on the couch, and even though there’s a half of a cushion between us, my heart still feels like it’s galloping in my chest. This man is something else. “No, I mean, yeah, thanks for dinner and feeding all Cole’s friends, but I’m talking about what you did for Cole. I’m not sure what you did, but you made a difference in him.”
Holden scoots to the edge of the couch, excited. “Yeah, he pitched lights out. I was super—”
I raise my hand up to stop him. “Yeah, he pitched well, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I can see a difference in him since he’s been here. There’s a confidence in him and well, he’s a good kid. He’s always been a good kid, but he’s standing up for himself now, and well, thank you.”
Holden tries to blow it off. “I didn’t do—”
I laugh, because I can’t help it. “Don’t say you didn’t do anything. You working with him means everything. I know you should be focusing on your health and your game, but you took time out for my kid. I just, I want you to know I appreciate it… more than you’ll ever know.”
He’s listening to me now, and he nods his head. “I know you do, but I’ll be honest with you, Cat. He’s a good kid. That’s all you. All I did was help him with his game.”
I wish he could see the difference he’s making. It’s not just his game he’s helped him with. It’s always been hard for Cole that he doesn’t have a male figure in his life. I try to do it all and play both roles, but it’s not the same. “It’s more than that. And I mean, your whole family, the way they all showed up tonight for Cole.”
I stop because I know if I continue, I’m going to cry.
Holden is nodding his head, smiling. “Yeah, my family is pretty awesome.”
“Tell me about them. I know Gabe is your biological brother. Tell me how the rest of you all met.”
“We were all in the same foster home. King, Ledger, Dom, Gabe, and I had been in multiple homes through the years. I was eleven and Gabe was ten when we got placed in the same home as King, Ledger, and Dom. They sort of just took us in. We worked the system and we knew that we wouldn’t be separated after that. We took care of each other.”
“And Chrissy?”
“Uh, we were there a few years before Chrissy came to live with us. She was eight, I think. She ended up in a house full of boys, which is pretty wild when you think about it. Anything could have happened to her.”
He’s thinking about it, and the fear is plain on his face. I reach over and put my hand in his. “But nothing happened to her, Holden.”
He squeezes my hand. “Yeah, we all took care of her. We protected her. She was almost adopted twice but messed it up both times. She didn’t want to leave us.”
“Wow,” I exclaim with surprise.
Holden’s nodding, like he’s lost in memory. “Yeah, at the time, we wondered if she’d be better off in a home with a mom and a dad, but she was not having it. She ran away, and Gabe is the one that found her. She wouldn’t come back until he promised her that he wouldn’t let anyone take her from us.” He laughs. “It was a lot of work and a bunch of shenanigans, but we kept our promise to her.”
I should let go of his hand, but I don’t. “Yeah, I think it worked out. Chrissy’s an amazing woman.”
He nods, but I see the regret on his face.
I tap his hand and then release it. “Hey! Where’d you go? What are you thinking about?”
He shakes his head and then looks at me. I try to hide the fact I’m attracted to him, but I can’t help but wonder if he knows. He slides toward me. He’s not touching me, but he might as well be. He’s so close I can feel the heat radiating off of him. “I need to talk to you about something.”
I pull back, surprised. I’m not sure what he’s about to say, but I mentally try to prepare myself for it. Is he going to tell me he’s having pain? Is he going to say he’s found someone else to do his therapy?
I take a deep breath. “Sure. What is it?”
His voice is husky, and he’s looking at my lips. “I like you.”
I wish I could say I have a normal reaction, but I don’t. My heart does a little flip. My palms get sweaty, and I feel like I can’t catch my breath. I need to be cool about this because even though I feel the same way too, I know nothing can happen between us. “Uh, well, I like you too, Holden, but…”