Page 84 of Holly Ever After

“I’m just confused. Last I heard, Adam was in town trying to win you back. What happened there?”

I knew I would need to have this conversation sooner or later. I just preferred later. “Why can’t this family accept that me and Adam are finished?”

“But why? You were ready to walk down the aisle to him. It was overnight and everything finished, and you decided you were moving home. There was no explanation.”

“What’s got you all defensive for Adam? You never even liked him.”

“You’re right. But you did. You loved him, so I chose to accept it.”

A hard lump lodges in my throat, and no matter how hard I fight to swallow around it, nothing works.

“Holly?” he pleads, his voice booming.

“He cheated on me.” I suck in a breath like I haven’t inhaled pure air in months. It feels oddly satisfying to say it out loud.

Mark simply blinks at me, his face slowly morphing from shock to something more lethal. “Excuse me?”

I’ve started. No point in stopping now. “I forgave him the first time. He promised he would stop. That it was a one-time thing. He was nervous about the wedding. He was under pressure at work. There are more excuses I can’t think of right now, but he used all of them. I became his entire world for a while. But every time he left, I would get this knot in my stomach, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe until he was back again. He would hug me, and I would instinctively wait for the scent of another woman’s perfume. And then the same warning signs came back. He stayed late at work. Lipstick on the collar. All the cliches, they were there, and he didn’t even try to hide it. I was expected to be the good wife and put up with it. After all, I was the woman he was coming home to. But I couldn’t do it. He was doing it long before he was caught, and long after. There were so many women.” I throw my hands out. “You’re right. I chose him. I was willing to spend the rest of my life with him, and only him. Only he wasn’t willing to do the same for me.”

I’m surprised that my eyes are dry when I finish. Maybe I’m cried out.

“Holly,” he breathes out, his hands balling to fists before he runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“No, you’re not.” I shake my head. “Besides, Sean got there first. He broke his nose.”

Mark nods, not surprised.

“Whatever it was between me and Sean is finished. I won’t let it get between your friendship. I know he’s like a brother to you.”

“And you’re my sister,” he cuts me off before I can continue, his voice softer.

“I’m sorry,” I repeat.

“You have feelings for him.”

It’s not a question, and my heart thunders in my chest so hard I stumble back. “No.”

“Don’t lie to me. You never could so don’t try now.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore. I don’t need your protection.”

“No, you’re not a little girl. But you’re my little sister, and I will always look out for you first. I’ve taken pride in that job since Mom and Dad brought you home from the hospital almost twenty-eight years ago. Don’t take it away from me now.”

A stray tear falls, and I let it.

Thankfully, he softens at the sight of it and pulls me into his arms. “You’re my best friend,” he mumbles against my head.

I look up at him. “What about Sean?”

“Okay, you’re my best female friend.”

“Rachel?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Don’t ever tell her I said that. She’ll have my balls.” I hold back a laugh. “You’re my favorite sister.”

“I’m your only sister.”

“Exactly, so best friend is built in. It’s been me and you since day one. And I do love Sean. He’s my brother. I won’t choose sides. You’ve made it clear that you’re both adults, so you both need to figure it out.” He looks down at his ruined clothes. “In a more civilized way than we did.”

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