Page 155 of Holidating
“Anything you want, doll,” Cam says, a possessive hand on her back.
“But no girly shit,” says Rick, reinforcing her dislike of him. Cam is always the worst version of himself when he’s with Rick.
She threads her way through the bustling room toward the jukebox on the far wall. She digs three singles out of her pocketbook and feeds every one of them into the machine. Then she chooses three Taylor Swift songs. Because Rick won’t notice. And also fuck that guy.
“Shake It Off” comes on, and she smiles to herself.
But now she’s spent all her singles and still isn’t ready to go back to the bar. Taking her time, she circuits the big room, taking in the dartboard, where a cheerfully cutthroat game is underway, and then the pool table where a long, lean man is lining up a tricky shot, the cue balanced on the knuckles of one hand.
Her heart recognizes him before her brain catches up. “Damien,” she says suddenly.
The shot misfires. He turns awkwardly around. But when he sees who’s called his name, his face breaks into the most beautiful smile. “Nicky Nicole! Where’ve you been all this time?”
Her face heats. Because Damien.
“I never called,” she says clumsily.Although I think about you often.
Every time she’s standing in a bookstore, she thinks of running into him in Burlington, and the lovely hour they spent catching up over coffee. Like a little vacation. She’d felt refreshed and optimistic afterward.
“I noticed that.” He leans against the pool table and smiles. “Been busy?”
“I have,” she says, leaping on the excuse. “Got a new job, and it’s going really well.”
His expression lights up instantly. “Whoa, buddy,” he says, leaning forward. “Tell me everything. I’m losing this game anyway.” He makes a vague gesture toward the balls on the table.
“He forfeits!” says the guy he was playing against. “That’s unheard of. I can’t imagine what on Earth would make you do that. Oh wait, a woman.” The guy grins.
“Shut it, Benito,” Damien mumbles.
Nicolette recognizes the name. Benito is one of his younger siblings. She never forgets a detail when it comes to Damien. “Sorry,” she says.
Benito grins. “Don’t be sorry. This is very entertaining for me. They should serve popcorn here. I’m going to suggest it.”
“Let’s hear about this job,” Damien says, ignoring his brother. “Is it The One?”
“I think so. I’m working as the assistant to a literary agent. The salary is atrocious, but I’m basically paid to read books all day.”
His eyes widen. “Great scam, Overland.”
“I know, right? It’s a bit like diving for pearls. Most of what we’re sent is terrible, but every once in a while, I open up a shell and find a treasure.” And she loves it. Finally—a job she looks forward to every morning.
“Congratulations,” he says, his brown eyes gleaming. She can tell he understands that it’s a big deal to her. “You here with your family?”
She blinks. The joy of seeing Damien caused her to forget all about Cam. This is exactly why she never called Damien. She still has that business card. Both of them, actually—the one he gave her a decade ago and the one he gave her last year. But she can’t call. It wouldn’t be right. You can’t just go out for coffee with a man who’s always made your heart beat faster.
That’s not coffee, that’s yearning.
And now he’s asked her a question that she’s failing to answer. “Yup,” she says, several beats late. “I’m here with my husband. You’ve, uh, met him. And his friend.”
Damien nods. And then he swallows. “Well, you have a good night. Always great to see you.”
“You too,” she says, trying and failing to keep the wistfulness out of her voice.
Then she gives him one more smile. A good one. And goes back to Cam.
CHAPTER 10
SOUNDTRACK: LONELY SILENCE
