Conleigh
Waking up, I’m sore as hell. Stiff and achy between my thighs but I feel on top of the world. Holden’s arms were wrapped around me, holding me securely to him when I woke. He went out with Wren to get breakfast. I don’t want this to end but in the back of my mind I do worry about telling Ezra. I know I probably shouldn’t care how he feels considering he was cheating on me, but Holden is talking about kicking him out and telling him we are together. I don’t even know what that means. Does he mean we are an official couple now even though he is technically married to someone else? Does that make me the other woman and no better than Judy? I know it really doesn’t; the situations are different. Holden hasn’t been with Reese in years and I believe him. I’ve been around him plenty over the past two years and he’s never mentioned her, and she hasn’t lived here as far as I know. There isn’t anything here of hers. No trace that they were ever a couple. Not even a photograph that I can find.
Bailey is still asleep, and under Holden’s orders, I am making room for my stuff in his room. I may be snooping a little too. I mean, this is crazy. We’ve fucked like rabbits but do we really know each other? But I guess that is what you are supposed to do in a relationship, learn about each other every day and build a life together. It all just feels so fast and sudden. Is Holden doing this because he loves me and wants to be with me or because he has something to prove to Ezra or himself?
I’m not having doubts exactly but I feel like I should be taking precautions to protect myself. I don’t think Holden intends on hurting me but what if he does? Then what? The unknown future scares me.
I go to clean out the nightstand to put my birth control pills in it when I realize I haven’t been taking them. With all the stress this past week, I’ve missed my pills. I can’t believe I didn’t take them. I usually do it first thing every morning before I even go to the bathroom. I try not to freak out and make a mental note to call my doctor. In the back of the drawer though, I see my missing sock crumpled up and I don’t know whether to be grossed out or laugh. I pull it out and it’s stiff. I toss it to the floor. He really jerked off with my sock.
He’s crazy. But he’s crazy for me.
A light tap sounds on the opened door. Turning around, I see Bailey scrubbing the sleep from her eyes.
“Hey, good morning sleep head.”
“Whatcha doing?” She questions on a yawn, stretching her arms over her head.
I take in a breath. Telling my best friend that I am moving into Holden’s room is good practice for confronting Ezra. “I’m moving in with Holden,” I confide.
Her eyes bulge. “You’re doing what?”
“I’m going to be with Holden.”
She leans against the doorframe. “I get that.” She smirks but then her lips turn down. “Don’t you think it’s too soon to be jumping across the hall to his bed. I mean, don’t get mad at me, but shouldn’t you take some time and let it sink in that you ended a two-year relationship. Does Ezra even know?”
I shake my head. A sinking feeling forms in the pit of my stomach. I know some of what she says is true, but being with Holden feels right. Moving in with him and being in his arms makes me happy. “I love him.”
“You love him! Jesus, Conleigh. How in the hell do you go from fucking him to loving him in a matter of a couple of days? It just seems rushed and not thought out.”
“I just do, okay?”
“I think you’re making a mistake. But you’re my best friend and I will support your choices even if I think you are being dumb.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“At least I’m honest,” she says, shrugging her shoulders in an apologetic fashion.
“That you are my friend, that you are.” She smiles. “So, you going to help me or what?”
“After I go to the bathroom I’m at your disposal.”
“Good. You can tell me about you and Wren while you’re at it.”
She groans and flips me the bird as she goes to the bathroom.
When she gets out though, the guys are back and we can’t gossip and compare notes about the James brothers. Wren has a bag of food in his hands whereas Holden is lugging in a stack of boxes and packing tape.
“What’s all this?” I ask.
“We’re having a packing party.”
“A packing party?” I repeat confused.
“Yup. Told you when Ezra gets back from his trip I want him out and Wren needs a room so we’ll get your stuff separated and Ezra won’t have to worry about packing his shit up because it will be done for him.”
“Okay.” I don’t argue. Why would I? It’s time to let Ezra go and start anew.
The four of us work diligently and within five hours, my stuff is all put away in Holden’s room and Ezra’s things are boxed and stacked along a wall in the dining room. It all feels so final. I run my fingers along the boxes, staring at them almost as if I am looking at a casket. No one has died but saying goodbye to the past two years with Ezra nearly feels as though there has been a death.
Bailey is out with Wren picking out furniture for his room. Apparently, he doesn’t have anything other than a bag of clothes. Living on the road for five years doesn’t leave time for accumulating much material possessions.
Holden is down in his shop getting the chest he made for Waylon and Missy’s daughter ready. I am going with him to deliver it. Holden closed the bar for today. Said he wanted to spend the day with me and that it wouldn’t kill the business to shut down for one day. I overheard him and Wren talking about the renovations they want to make. I guess Wren is going to be Holden’s partner or something. I think it’s a smart move. The place could use a facelift and relaunch.
I’m putting my shoes on when there is a knock at the front door. I don’t think to check to see who it is. It could be Bailey and Wren. When I open the door though I am met with my mother’s daggered glare.
“Ezra told me you were here.” She pinches her eyes as I move away from the door to invite her in even though I desperately want to tell her to leave. “I received word from my lawyer. Your father is being released from prison.”
“You could’ve called to tell me.”
“Well, I felt this conversation should be held in person. I came to tell you that should you decide to continue to see him and have a relationship with him that you should know I will no longer welcome you into my home unless you go forward and marry Ezra. He tells me that you are working through things and I can only hope he talks some sense into you and you realize that consorting with your convict father will only bring you down and hurt Ezra’s career.”
“Goodbye, mother.” There are no tears from me. They wouldn’t penetrate her icy heart. I don’t bother to correct her and tell her I will never marry Ezra and I sure as hell plan on seeing my father whenever in the hell I feel like it. He may have killed someone but at least he’s honest and doesn’t manipulate the people he claims to love.
“Just think about what I have said,” she tells me, disappearing down the stairs as quickly as she appeared.
Grabbing my purse, I lock the door behind me. Holden is already waiting for me in the cab of his truck.