Page 48 of The Holiday Hookup List
It takes every ounce of my self-control—and Fern’s hand on my arm—to keep from following them.
Fern watches them go, her brow pinched. “They need to have it out. This has been a long time coming.”
I grunt. “Does it have to be now?”
She sighs. “Now or never.”
But despite leaving the room, their voices carry. Mulholland seems incapable of speaking in a normal volume, something I vaguely remember from school. Valencia’s voice is strained but louder than usual.
“What the fuck, V? You used to hate that guy.”
“I neverhatedhim, and that was a long time—”
“So, what? Is he your new boyfriend?”
“I’m . . . I’m seeing him.”
“Seeinghim?” Mulholland’s voice drips with scornful disbelief. “Fucking him, you mean.”
All the assembled relatives suck in a collective breath, but before anyone can speak, there’s the sound of a slap. I lunge for the hall but Fern grabs me and yanks me back. Mr. Mulholland—Patrick—is already on his way.
Mulholland sounds flabbergasted. “I can’t believe you smacked me!”
“You deserved it.” Valencia’s reply is angrier than I’ve ever heard her. “Who Ifuckis none of your goddamned business.”
“It is when you fuck him inmyapartment and bring him tomyparents’ house!”
Patrick barks, “Apologize to her,now.”
But it’s Valencia’s voice that comes through loud and clear. “Fuck you, Everett. I gave you nine years of my life, and what did you do? You cheated on me and then said it wasmyfault.You havenosay in what I do with my life, who I do it with, or where.”
There’s a gasp, and I see Heather clutching the front of her ugly Christmas sweater. I guess the cheating thing wasn’t common knowledge. I certainly didn’t know.
It makes me hate the guy even more.
Next to me, Fern knocks a phone out of her teenage cousin’s hand. “If you live stream this, I will end you.”
There’s a pause from the hallway, and Mulholland’s voice borders on contrite. “Look, V—”
“No, you don’t get to say anything else to me.” Valencia’s words cut like a knife. “I’d hoped we could be civil for the sake of your family, whom I love very much, but apparently I was wrong. Goodbye, Everett. And go to hell!”
I want to applaud. That’s the love of my life, standing up for herself and telling that jerkwad where to stick it, but when Valencia reappears with tears streaming down her face, everything in me goes cold.
“I’m sorry, everyone.” She dashes at her eyes. “I never meant for ...”
Heather is at her side in an instant, and I’m only a second behind her. I’m vibrating with the need to take Valencia in my arms and spirit her away, but Heather is embracing her, and I don’t want to interrupt.
“Don’t apologize, honey. You’re family. And sometimes families have ups and downs.” Heather pulls back to look Valencia in the eye. “I’ll always be here for you. You know that, don’t you?”
“It’s really nice to hear it.” Valencia’s whisper is high and tight. She’s holding on by a thread. I have to get her out of here.
I’m already stepping forward when Heather turns to me. “Take care of her, won’t you?”
I nod solemnly. “I will, ma’am.”
Fern is waiting at the door with our coats. We’re on our way out when Mulholland reappears, his cheek red and his mouth twisted in anger.
“One more month, V,” he shouts. “And then you better get your skank ass out of my apartment!”
