Page 28 of Unsteady in Love

“Do you want me to come back? I can if you need me. I hate thinking of you there all alone with nothing to do. I’m sure Josh would be happy to come visit you. He said your car was totaled, so you’re going to need to get a new one. Have Josh take you.”

“You’re right. It would probably make Holden happy when I talk to him, and eventually, I’m going to want to go somewhere.”

“Hey, Prue, do it for you. You can’t do everything for Holden, you know?” She sounded too serious.

“I know,” I answered her quietly. “Thank you for calling and checking up on me. You know you don’t have to. There are worse things out there than being bored.”

“If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you. You know that, right?” she asked softly.

“I know. You don’t need to be worried about me, Alex. Some days are still hard, but I knew for a long time my dad wasn’t going to be around for forever. He fought his best fight, and I’ll always miss him, but I know he’s in a better place. He’s not in any pain anymore, and that’s all I can ask for.”

“I still miss my dad, and he’s been gone for more than ten years,” she said quietly.

Alex rarely spoke about her father, but when she did, I could hear how much she missed him. We both had grown up without our mothers in our lives, so our fathers had been everything to us. Alex’s mom was a deadbeat who had never been around, and mine had died before I turned two.

“I’ll call Josh and see if he’ll take me to go look at cars. Do you care if I steal him away from you?”

“Luke might care. I think he’s now more Luke’s friend than he is mine. I swear Luke stealing all of my friends. Maybe you can come to Hawaii with Josh for the wedding.”

“Alex,” I warned.

“As friends. I would never suggest…” she stammered.

“No, I know. I want to come to your wedding, but I’m not sure about flying there. I’ve never been on a plane before.”

“Well,” she laughed, “you don’t really have any other option. I’ll understand if you can’t make it though, so don’t worry about hurting my feelings.”

“Thanks, Alex.” I smiled. Alex was the best kind of friend I could ask for. “I’m going to try to make it.”

Do Dee Do Blup Blup Blup Do Dee Do Blup Blup Blup

“Shit, Alex, I’ve got to go. That’s Holden.” I ran into the kitchen where my laptop was sitting.

“Tell him I said hi. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

“Bye.” I got off the phone with a little more pep in my step.

18

PRUE

“Hello,”I answered a little out of breath from my race to my laptop.

“Prue, are you alright?” Holden questioned, brows furrowed with worry.

“I’m perfect now.” I smiled so big I thought my cheeks might split in two.

“Yes, you are.” He grinned back at me. “I missed seeing your beautiful face these past few days.”

A burst of laughter escaped. “Now I know you’re shitting me. I’ve looked in the mirror.”

“Scrapes and bruises and all, you’re still beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I blushed, unused to the compliment. “How have you been? I don’t mean to be rude, but you look a little tired.”

There was no hiding the dark circles that marred Holden’s handsome face.

“I was worried about you,” he answered in a clipped tone, his mouth in a firm line.

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