Page 128 of Holly Jolly July

You’ve been through a lot. We all have. But sometimes change is necessary. Maybe you need to let go, start over somewhere else, somewhere that doesn’t hold so many memories.

JAMES

It’s been a rough time, but—

BUSINESSWOMAN 1

You need to move on, James. For your

sake as well as for all of our

businesses. It’s time.

Chapter 22

Mariah

When we get to the cabin all I want to do is get out of my tight clothes and into my comfies, curl up with Ellie on the couch, and watch a Christmas movie (what has she done to me?). Afterward, when I’ve soaked up as much of my time with Ellie as I can, we can talk about all the things we’ve left unsaid. But not more than one minute after we walk through the door, her phone rings.

She holds it up to show me the caller ID, even though we both know who it is. Ellie looks at it for a moment, then lifts a finger toward the ignore button.

“Wait,” I say, stopping her.

She hesitates, looking at me.

If not for all the wine and Ellie’s convincing, I’d never have agreed to pranking Jax. I’d seen the red flags and known what I was getting in to. I’d proven to myself I could bag the cool, hot guy from my past and leave it at that. I’d started to catch feelings, sure, and yes, it hurt when I was fooled by him like a naive teenager, but I could have let it go and moved on with my life. Though I have to admit, pranking Jax was cathartic, like I was finally getting revenge on all the other liars and cheats I’d encountered in my life.

But Ellie is innocent in this. She’s too sweet, sincere, and trusting for men like Jax. He led her on, let her believe he could be everything she’d ever hoped for and wanted just to get her into bed. And Ellie is justoneof the women he did this to. How many others have to suffer because of his lying schemes?

“Answer it,” I say.

“But it’s our last night together.”

“I think we should see it through.”

Ellie sets her jaw. “I was hoping you might say that. If we can spare just one person from heartbreak then it will have been worth it.” She squeezes my hand before answering the phone, putting it on speaker so we can both hear. “Hey.”

“Hey! You ready if I come over now? I’m just leaving Abbotsford, so it’d be about twenty minutes.”

“Sounds great.”

“Good. It will be a night you won’t forget.”

“Yeah, I’m sure it will be. For both of us.” She hangs up the phone without saying goodbye. “I hope twenty minutes is enough time. I only have like two ideas.”

A sinister grin spreads over my face. “Lucky for you I came up with a plan.”

Her eyes dance with mischief. “Oh really? Then let’s teach this fuckboy his final lesson. Together.”

Twenty-two minutes later the doorbell rings. I’m at my station, ready to go. Ellie gives me one final look, nervously shaking out her arms. I return her gaze with a self-assured nod. She exhales slowly, like,this better work, then leaves the kitchen to her station in the bathroom, tiptoeing and ducking past the dangerous parts.

“Come on in!” Ellie shouts.

The door opens slowly, Jax’s head peeking through. “Hello?”

“In the bedroom!” Ellie calls.

I watch from my hiding spot as an eager grin lights up his face. He takes a step in and shuts the door, setting off the first trap.

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