Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87181 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Or stepped in it,” Holly joked. She took off her shoes and combed her hair behind, knowing dang well it was my foot that made that indent into the pizza. “Rumor has it you two were playing Mario Kart?” she said, shifting the topic.
“Yeah! Want to race me? Kai cheats, but I bet you could beat him if you tried.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt I could beat him. I know I can,” Holly confidently stated.
I puffed out my chest. “Is that a challenge?”
“No, it’s a fact.”
“Game on, Holly Jolly. Game on.”
KAI
I woke the next morning with Holly resting peacefully in my arms. I couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year. The light of day was shining through the window, but all I wanted to do was stay snuggled up against her. She wiggled closer to me, making me her big spoon. Without thought, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer.
“Good morning,” she yawned, keeping her eyes shut.
“Good morning. I’m glad to see you’re still here. For a second, I thought I made up the fact that you slept over,” I whispered against Holly’s bare shoulder, kissing it gently.
“Not going anywhere until you kick me out.”
I wrapped my legs around her, tucking her against my body. “You should’ve never told me that because now you’re mine forever.”
Forever.
I liked the sound of that.
“So, does last night mark us becoming an official relationship?” she asked.
“I think it does. What a way to ring in the new year.”
“Hey.” She sat up a little and looked me in the eyes. “Thanks for not letting me run away from this.”
“Thanks for choosing to stay.”
Before she could reply, someone buzzed our apartment.
“I got it!” Mano shouted.
With the arrival of unexpected guests, Holly and I climbed out of bed and tossed on clothes. As we walked out of the bedroom, I felt my gut drop as I saw my parents again standing at my door.
“What are you two doing here? Shouldn’t you be on a plane?” I asked.
Mom looked timid. “We were supposed to, but we had a change of heart.” Her eyes fell on Holly. “Hello. Sorry if we are interrupting. And you are?”
“Holly,” she stated.
“My girlfriend,” I finished.
Holly’s eyes widened as a smile fell to her lips. “Your girlfriend?”
I grinned back. “My girlfriend.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Holly. I’m Lani, and this is Keanu, my husband. We are Kai and Mano’s parents.”
“Oh, wow. Hi.” Holly looked at me. “Your parents are here.”
“My parents are here.” I scratched at my chin. “I’m not certain why they are here, though.”
“To talk,” my father said. His brows were low, and he crossed his arms across his chest. “We’re here to talk. In private, we were hoping.”
“Of course, yes. I need to get to work, anyway. Come bother me later?” Holly asked me.
“Without a doubt.”
She kissed my cheek before walking past Mom and Dad. “It was nice meeting you both, Lani and Keanu. Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, too, Holly,” Mom said.
As Holly left, the three of Mano and us stood in the open space quietly. Dad turned to Mano. “We were hoping to talk to Kai completely alone, Mano.”
Mano groaned. “Are you serious? But it was just getting good.”
“Your room, now, Mano,” Mom and I said in unison.
Mano grumbled and dragged his feet to his bedroom. “Okay, but just to be clear, my ear is going to be pressed to the door this whole time.”
I wouldn’t expect anything else from him. After he shut the door, I gestured toward the dining room table for my parents to take a seat. I was on high alert, uncertain how the conversation would go between us. Knowing my parents, it could’ve gone left quickly.
I cautiously took a seat and waited for them to start the conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Dad started. “For how we were when you were a kid. I tried not to think about it for a long time, as those were very dark ages in my life, but I wasn’t the father you needed or deserved. And as time passed, I didn’t appreciate when you brought those things up after I changed my ways because it didn’t seem fair that I had to relive what I’d done to you.”
“Imagine what it was like actually living it,” I commented.
“Exactly. I can’t, but as your mother and I sat at the airport, waiting for our flight, I realized how selfish I was. My not apologizing to you was my pride getting in the way. You had a shit childhood, and there’s nothing I can say or do to make that right. The time has passed, and you’re grown now, but I want to apologize for any damage I’ve caused.”
“Me too,” Mom cut in. “You deserved more from us, son, and we couldn’t give it to you.”
“That’s quite the change of heart in less than twenty-four hours,” I said, wary of their sincerity.