Page 116 of Pieces of Me

“Thanks,” I say. “I’m pretty fucking stoked myself.”

Maggie giggles. “You should be. You’re punching way above your weight.”

I bust out a laugh. “I can say the same for my dad.”

“Your dad’s a fuckingstallion,Hold—”

“Mags!” I cover my ears. “Stop it!”

“Sorry,” she laughs out. “That’s an inside joke between Jamie and me.”

“I—” I shake my head. “I don’t want to know.”

She settles her laugh to a simmering giggle before asking, “Have y’all made wedding plans yet?”

“Nah,” I answer, looking toward the barn. “It just happened a few hours ago, so…”

“Well, it’s very exciting,” she says, and I face her, looking in the eyes of a woman who’s been in my life for almost a decade now.

“How come you and Dad aren’t married?”

She shrugs, then smiles to one side. “Who says we’re not?”

I rear back, trying to read if she’s bullshitting or not. “You would’ve mentioned…” I trail off when a car pulls into the driveway, and the moment I realize who it is, I’m on my feet and moving toward it.

Mom steps out of the car but stands behind the door. “I just want to talk,” she rushes out.

Eyes narrowed in disbelieve, I yell, “I literallyjusttold you to give us time! And space! And you can’t even—”

“What’s going on?” Dad asks, coming out of the barn. Thankfully, Jamie’s isn’t with him.

“Nothing,” I mumble, glaring at my mom. “They were justleaving.”

Joseph gets out of the car and thinksnowis the perfect time to speak up. “She’s been a mess since you left, Holden. I think—”

I glare at him. “I really don’t give a shit what you think!”

“Holden!” Mom scolds. “Don’t talk to him like that!”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I shout. I’m so fucking close to exploding, and I don’t want to. Not here. Not with Jamie within earshot. “Just leave.Please. And I’ll talk to you later, but not right now.”

Mom’s on the verge of tears again, her face pinching with the force of holding it back. I don’twantto hurt her, but she has to understand my predicament. Shehasto. I see the moment it sinks in for her—when her shoulders drop in defeat and her features flatten. She looks between Dad and me, and then finally Maggie. “You told him, didn’t you?”

I face Maggie, my heart dropping to my feet. “You knew?”

“Jesus, Tammy,” Maggie scoffs. “Real nice of you to pin this on me.”

“Knew what?” Dad asks.

I shake my head, my mind racing, trying to make sense of everything.

“The night of Holden’s high school graduation,” Mom says, clearly talking to my dad, “your girlfriend was eavesdropping—”

“No,” Maggie cuts in, stepping in front of me as if somehow protecting me. “I walked into a room where you and Joseph were whispering, and I heard Jamie’s name. That’s all it was! And don’t you dare come to our home and try to lay blame—”

“Who’shome is it?” Joseph interrupts.

“I swear to God…” I step toward him, my hands fisted at my sides. “Shut your fucking mouth.”

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