Page 18 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
I step closer to the office. The doors are open. I see them both standing in front of his desk. Hollis must have seen me out of the corner of his eye because his head turns my way. A smile pulls across his lips. I can’t help but return it. It quickly turns into a mouth drop as I watch Kindred pick up a glass of water from off his desk and then throw it in his face.
“Kindred.” He cocks his head to the side, staring at her.
“I don’t know. Felt like I should do that if we’re breaking up.” Kindred suppresses a laugh. “I may have also really wanted to throw a glass of water in someone’s face to see how it would feel. I may never get the opportunity again, so I took it.” She shrugs.
“I knew it was weird you were carrying around a glass of tap water.” Hollis walks over to the sofa, grabbing a throw blanket to wipe his face.
"Now, that's settled." Kindred claps her hands together. "You need to check over the Dever request. They have a new offer."
"I'll get on that." Hollis's tone is flat. Watching the two of them, they appear more like brother and sister than a couple. But then what do I know? I've never had a sibling or a boyfriend.
“I’m headed to the office, then.” Kindred makes her way toward me. “So you’re sticking around, I hear.”
“Yes, I’m so—” Kindred cuts me off before I can apologize.
“We should go to the bakery later. The place is to die for. I can show you around New Hope.”
“Oh,” This was not how I thought any of this would go. “Okay.”
“Did Hollis give you my number yesterday?”
“No, it slipped my mind.”
“I’ll make sure it gets into her phone,” Hollis says. “And I can show her around town.”
“Why do you get to do it? I’m from here.”
“I’m the mayor.”
“Watch it, or you won’t be come next election.” Hollis rolls his eyes at her. “See, all bark and no bite. Don’t be scared to push his buttons.” With those parting words of advice, Kindred is heading out the door, her heels clicking on the wood flooring. How does she run around in heels all day in the snow?
“I’m sorry about your breakup.”
Hollis waves it off. “The relationship never should have started. Neither of our hearts were in it.”
“But you were engaged.”
“Not really. No ring.” This is strange, but again, what do I know about dating? “Let me get a new shirt, and I’ll make us breakfast.” Hollis steps closer. “I was getting worried.” He picks up the end of my braid, stroking it. “Think the baby will have your hair color?”
“Maybe.” The baby could have his.
“All right, I’ll be right back.” Hollis surprises me when he kisses the top of my head before heading up the stairs.
“What in holy candy canes is going on?” I mutter to myself. It’s really hard to come up with a plan when everything can change on a dime around here.
What’s most confusing is Kindred. She’s so freaking nice and sweet to me. I guess that would make sense if neither one was into the relationship. They both must be really over it. There is no way I could be that chill about it.
Hollis comes jogging down the stairs. His buttoned-up shirt is replaced with a dark green sweater. He’s still in slacks, but this is a much more relaxed look.
“I should have asked last night if you have any allergies.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Are you sure everything is okay?” When Hollis doesn’t respond quickly, I shift on my feet. I know something is off.
“No.” He sighs. This is it. I’m going to get a crazy bomb dropped on me. Hollis has been too good to be true. “Kindred and I were never together.” My brows rise. I don’t get it, but he keeps going. “My mother is always trying to set me up, so I was sure this party planner would be one of her ways to do that, so Kindred agreed to fake date me so that the planner didn’t get any ideas.”
I feel both a huge sense of relief at his confession but also a wave of guilt because he now knows that I kinda-sorta scooted around the truth about being the party planner. I didn’t outwardly lie, but I did play along.
I glance down at my feet. “You know.” He keeps saying "the party planner" and not referring to me.
