Page 112 of The Promises We Were Never Meant To Keep

I flush, pivot, and scurry back into the kitchen.

I need to catch my breath and I need space to do it. Because I haven’t seen Holt since the flu hit my house hard. But I’m pretty sure seeing him now, that my vision of him in my shower is more than just a foggy dream. But a reality I really don’t want to face—especially without the armor of a nice outfit and makeup.

I don’t get much time to breathe before Holt is there. He hands me a coffee from Cherry’s, and there’s something in his eyes that makes me feel like we’ve come to a truce. There’s a ribbon of soft sewn into the edge of hard. But why?

And why can’t I remember what happened the night I was sick?

I should ask him, but I can’t seem to summon the courage.

“You feeling better?”

I smirk. “You can’t tell by the way I look, but yep.”

His eyes drag slowly down and then back up. He may as well have tossed a match. I’m burning up.

“You look good.” Oh, God, why is his voice all rumbly and deep like that?

And why does it make me burn hotter?

His eyes track the flush of pink as it climbs my neck and settles in my cheeks.

I attempt a distraction and take a sip of the coffee he brought. It’s my favorite.

How did he know?

“Mommy, Uncle Holt brought gooey cwasonts.” I still smile at how she says croissants. “Can I have one.” She bounces on her toes. “Pleeeease?”

I want to tell her she doesn’t need more energy. I say, “Maybe after dinner.”

She pushes out her bottom lip. “What are we having for dinner?”

I palm my forehead. “Urgh. I don’t know.”

“I can order in?” Holt offers, and my gaze swings to him because what in the actual twilight zone?

“I could go with pizza,” Owen says.

“Me too!” Mabel shrieks. I wince.

My doorbell rings again. For the second time, Duke loses his mind.

“Duke!” I snap at my yappy dog.

“Duke?” Holt’s head knocks back on his shoulders. He frowns. “The thing can hardly be called a dog, and you call it Duke?” I roll my eyes. Holt asks, “What do you call your cat?”

I stop midway to the door.

Owen mutters a, “Here we go again,” as he passes me on his way to the door. He thinks I’m trapped in the mirror again. Mabel bounces behind him.

I turn slowly to Holt. “How do you know I have a cat?”

Holt just smirks at me as he brings his coffee to his lips.

Dread expands in my belly. It wasn’t a dream.

I think he kissed my hair…

It was real.