I was falling for her, plain and simple. And, when this whole holiday was over and when we returned back home, I’d be sure she knew how badly I wanted to start a life with her. I wanted her in my life.

So as I held my breath waiting for her reply, her eyes bore into mine. “Say something, Holly.”

“I think I’m falling for you too,” she whispered.

The whole world crashed around me with happiness. My pulse quickened listening to her sweet soft voice, and I knew I’d found the one I was meant to.

My smile on my face couldn’t have gotten any bigger if I had tried. She flung onto me, and I kissed her with all the emotion I felt for her. I loved kissing her, I loved touching her. I wanted this.

We cuddled on the oversized pillow on the floor and gazed all around at the twinkling Christmas lights.

“When did you find time to do all of this?” she asked.

“The other day, Brandon helped me.”

She scooted closer to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Kissing her softly as my heart thumped in my chest.

“We should get headed back,” she said.

“No.” I didn’t want to leave just yet, I was enjoying myself with her. I pulled her alongside my body as she purred.

After a few more minutes of kissing, we decided to head back to the house. As we approached the back, a car sat in the driveway and Holly turned to me. “Who’s that?”

“I’m not sure, I think it may be George and his wife, Mable.”

She beamed to me as we stepped into the back door and the smell of the kitchen hit us all at once. I was so excited to have Holly on my arms and I never wanted to let her go.

As soon as we stepped into the living area, I was met with a set of eyes I never wanted to see. Fuck.

Sabrina sat with her mother on the couch, chatting away to Amy and Dan. Her long figure, blonde hair, and big smile intruded on my senses. I wanted to walk away, I wanted to leave.

I had never expected for Sabrina of all people to show up on Christmas day. Why would Abigail and Brandon invite her here?

She bounced off the couch and headed right for me. With her tanned arms, she snaked them around my neck and planted a firm kiss on my cheek.

I took her arms in my hand and pushed her away as Holly moved further away from me. Oh shit, Holly. I had never even explained who this wretched creature was.

Sabrina and Brandon had dated many years ago, and as a ploy to piss off my brother I had slept with Sabrina a few times. When Brandon caught us, that was pretty much the end of our friendship and kinship as brothers. It took me a long time to get Brandon to ever trust me again.

Well when Sabrina had caught wind that Vivian and I were no longer a couple, she began calling me- a lot.

Sabrina’s eyes glanced over Holly’s body and a scowl replaced her smile. “Who is this?” she asked with a shrill in her voice.

“Sabrina, this is my girlfriend Holly.”

Holly reached out her hand to shake Sabrina’s and as they shook hands I could see Sabrina’s temper flaring.

“You don’t have a girlfriend,” Sabrina said, chuckling.

“Uh, yes I do.” I wrapped an arm around Holly as I kissed her on the top of her head.

“Since when?” Sabrina laughed as she kept staring to Holly with a look of horror.

“For a little while now.”

“I called you a few days ago, do you remember, you were drunk.” Sabrina scooted closer to me, speaking in a hushed tone.

Holly stepped away from my body, and my heart was plummeting. This couldn’t be happening.

Everyone was in the kitchen, laughing and sipping on wine. The television blared with an old classic Christmas movie, but I was stuck alone, in the living room with Sabrina’s hands making their way up my chest and Holly retreating slowly.

“I don’t know what to tell you, I don’t remember.”

“Well, let me refresh your memory. You invited me here for Christmas, you told me we could rekindle our old flame.”

I shot my eyes to Holly as I noticed the look of pure disgust on her face. How drunk had I been?

“Excuse me,” Holly said before rushing upstairs.

I took off after her, as I called out her name. Sabrina had pissed me off, I don’t care how drunk I was I knew I would never want to touch her again, ever.

Holly slammed the door shut and I opened it right back up, stepping inside and taking a seat next to her on the bed.

“Holly, I’m sorry.”

“Who is she?”

I told her the whole story, I told her how I had stolen Sabrina away from my brother. I told her how I always treated everything like a game, and never cared about anyone’s feelings but my own. I told her I didn’t remember the conversation Sabrina was talking about, but that didn’t mean it never took place.

“I was lonely before I met you. My life had no meaning, I went to work, came home and got drunk every night. But, I don’t want that life anymore. I want you.”

She took a deep breath as she stared into my eyes. “Kevin, I think this was all a big mistake.”

When she said the words, I felt like a rock had crushed my chest. I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. “No, Holly please.”

“There’s so much we just don’t know about each other. I think you’re just like you said- lonely.”

I shook my head back and forth, this couldn’t be happening. Sure, she was partly right, I had been lonely for many months. But, being here with her, I felt more alive. I wanted her, I wanted to help her get her purse business up and running, and I had tons of ideas too.

She also inspired me to be a better person, a person who deserved love.

“That’s not true Holly, I want you.”

“I’m calling a cab to pick me up, I just can’t be here anymore,” she said.

“No, please. I don’t want to be with Sabrina,” I said.

“Do you think that’s why I’m upset?”

Wasn’t it? I wasn’t sure why she was upset, she said we didn’t know anything about one another, but I knew everything I needed to know. The rest we could learn over time.

“Isn’t it?”

She hung her head, shaking it from side to side as her hands grabbed at her chest. “It isn’t the reason, I just think this was all a mistake.”

I grabbed her arm, trying to convince her to stay when she pushed my arms away. “Please don’t leave like this Holly. I still need to pay you,” I said.

She grabbed her things, and stared into my eyes. “I don’t want your money.” She pushed past me and headed down the stairs as I chased after her. When she opened the front door, I followed. She had her phone to her ear and was calling the cab company.

“Let me take you home,” I pleaded.

“No, please let me leave. Please, Kevin.”

I stood there as she walked away and I didn’t know if I should run after her or let her go. Heading back into the house, everyone was waiting with questioning eyes.

“She left and I don’t want to talk about it,” I said as I made my way back upstairs.

I needed to get home, and packed my bags.

An hour later after saying goodbye to my family, I headed off down the road towards my apartment, towards my future, I had to get her back.