Page 2 of Back to December
If I don’t tell him, he’ll just discover it like everyone else tomorrow morning.
And Holden Lockwood is too important for me to keep my news a secret. I think telling him might break both our hearts, though.
He eases himself into a sitting position in front of me, stroking my cheek with his knuckles. Holden isn’t exactly a small guy, but he’s surprisingly gentle. At least with me.
“Tell me about it.”
“Ella ruined our plans for tonight.” I wince.
Mom is always blaming my stepsister for anything that goes wrong, and I hate that my default is to do the same. Iknowshe’s not to blame—not when she spent part of her afternoon in the neighbor’s pumpkin patch after she got into it with Mom.
Panic and heartbreak and confusion are all at war within me. It’s discombobulating. Which is why it’s easiest to blame her when my universe is crumbling around me.
But Holden doesn’t scold me like our neighbor Luke, like I probably deserve.
“How did she do that?” he asks.
“She and Mom got into it, and Mom canceled our after-party for Midnight on the Hollow.”
Our after-party is the biggest social event of the year in this tiny town, at least in my world. And after whatever happened with Ella, Mom said, “We’re moving, and it would be a complete waste.”
So it only makes sense that she had something to do with it, even though my heart says she’s probably just as shattered as I am. She’s spent her whole life here.
I don’t know if she’s got anyone she’s losing other than her best friend, Gaby, from next door. Luke is her older brother, and I know he’s got feelings for her. I saw it on his face when he yelled at me earlier.
We aren’t as close as we used to be. Maybe he kissed her, and her heart is breaking like mine. And I’m over blaming her for my misfortune.
I’m a terrible person, and she deserves better than all of us.
“Come back to me, La,” he murmurs, slowly waving a hand in front of my face to bring me back to attention. “Tell me why you think your life is over and why you think your stepsister is the reason for it.”
“I went to talk to her after Mom cancelled our plans, and then Luke yelled at me.”
He raises an eyebrow. “What does Luke have to do with Ella? I’m trying to follow you here. I really am.”
But I’m not making any sense.
“I know.” I clench my fists and let out a frustrated growl.
Emotions arenotmy strong point. Mom has pummeled it into me that Mitchell women don’t get upset, don’t cry,don’t show weakness of any kind. Vulnerability only leads to disappointment and heartbreak.
“Do I need to go speak to Luke?” Holden asks.
That pulls me slightly out of my spiral, and I smile at the imagery in my mind. Luke works hard on his family’s farm and played football for a couple of years before he quit. The two of them would be a surprising match-up. While I admire Holden’s nobility, it wouldn’t be fair.
“No. Maybe saying he yelled is an over-exaggeration.”
Holden nods, then reaches out to put his hand on my knee.
“Did you do something to deserve it?”
“No. But I might have if he hadn’t stepped in,” I answer honestly.
He physically stepped between me and Ella, like a knight protecting a princess.
Then, he used his ability to cut through my crap and a stern voice to point out that I’ve been aterriblestepsister lately. I hate that he can see that. Even more so that he called me out on it.
But knowing I’m about to be torn away from her before I can fix anything is making me spiral. I love Ella as much as Bridget. She’s always accepted me for who I am, flaws and all.
