Page 6 of Wrapped Up in Holly

“I don’t hate it.” He stuck his wrist out. “Here. Put it on me.”

“You swear you don’t hate it?”

He offered me his crooked half-smile, like I was so silly. I loved that smile. “I swear.”

“You won’t take it off? Ever?”

He shook his head. “I won’t ever take it off.”

I accepted his answer and tied it around his wrist. “There. Friends forever.”

He pursed his lips again, his eyebrows going all pinchy.

“Evan.”

“What?”

“You hate it.” When I started to undo it, he clamped his hand over mine, flattening my fingers against the woven bracelet around his wrist.

“I don’t hate it. I just hate…” He turned away from me, his knee bouncing.

“What?”

“I…”

“What?” I wanted to scream it. “Tell me.”

He licked his lips and faced me. “I like you.”

My jaw dropped. My heart leapt out of my throat. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster.

But he’s face reddened when I didn’t answer immediately, and I started to shrink away. “It’s… I…” He blinked a few times, clearly embarrassed. “Sorry, I made it weird. Forget?—”

“Evan.”

He grimaced, not quite meeting my gaze.

“I like you too,” I said.

His expression changed, his frown flipping, his eyes brightening. “You do?”

I nodded. “I was afraid to tell you.”

“Iwas afraid to tellyou,” he said, and we both laughed for a moment before abruptly stopping. Because we both noticed our hands were still tangled together.

We’d always hugged and high fived. Touching each other had been no big deal.

But now it was.

Because Evan Hart liked me.

And I liked him.

He released his right hand from on top of mine and rotated his left up on his thigh, so our palms were touching. Then he linked our fingers together. His skin was hot and a little sweaty, and it was the best thing ever. He was the first boy I’d ever held hands with.

And I smiled at him.

And he smiled at me.

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