Page 31 of His Secret Santa

“She’s coming,” Holden whispered.

The cheerleader spotted them and smiled, slowing as she approached their table. “Hey, boys. Check it out.” She flicked her earrings. “They look great. I really love them. Thank you again.”

Holden nodded.

“Don’t forget, the party is tonight at Lincoln’s house. Seven o’clock. Hope to see you there.” She moved on to the restrooms.

The boys exchanged puzzled looks.

“Lincoln didn’t tell her he uninvited us?” Holden spoke low. “Why wouldn’t he?”

“I don’t know. That’s weird.” Jamie shrugged. “But who cares, right?” He grinned and tapped the card with his fingertip. “You have bigger and better prospects waiting for you.” His grin stretched. “Waiting with bells on.”

• • •

“What did you have to do yesterday?” McKenna asked. “You said you were late for something.”

The entire cheer squad was at Lincoln’s house, setting up for the party. He would’ve preferred some alone time for a while, but with McKenna, that was too much to hope for.

“I was just checking on a job,” he mumbled.

“A job? Why do you need a job? Your dad is loaded.”

“Maybe I want to work.”

“Why?”

Lincoln sighed. “Because I don’t want to sponge off my dad my whole life and… I like to work.”

“You won’t be sponging off him,” McKenna said. “You’ll be working with him. Why bother with some menial job? You still have the rest of your senior year, then college. And then a ready-made career with your dad. Your life is set. Why waste your time with a side job that surely doesn’t pay you what you’re worth?”

“Again,” Lincoln stressed, “I like to work. It isn’t about the money.”

McKenna laughed. “It’s always about the money, baby. Or at least, it should be.”

I see why my dad likes you so much, he thought sourly. You’re just like him.

“It isn’t for me.”

“You’re silly.” She kissed his mouth quick, unaware he didn’t kiss her back.

Lately, her kisses turned his stomach. Especially today. He didn’t feel well, emotionally. It was his own fault, but he didn’t know what to do about it. The plans he’d made were now precarious and threatened to crumble before him.

Jamie Dayton’s words plagued him… assaulted him. He hadn’t meant to hurt Holden Dunkel but feared he had—badly.

The rest of the day passed in agonizing slow motion, too much of it filled with McKenna and her brigade taking over his home. He made every effort to avoid them but failed for the most part.

By the time the party was in full swing, Lincoln was already exhausted. He played his part, as he was accustomed to doing, and made a show of enjoying himself. As his guests grew drunken, Lincoln considered slipping out and going for a drive just to get away from them. He hadn’t drunk as much as he made it look. Before he could execute his plan, McKenna latched onto him.

“Where are our special guests?” She held onto him for support as she swayed a bit on her feet. “I was sure they’d come. Especially the fag boy. He sure seemed pleased when I told him you invited him.” She laughed. “I can’t believe he isn’t here.”

“Maybe he isn’t as stupid as you think,” Lincoln muttered. “Why would he trust anything you said?”

“Because he wants to.” She smiled slyly. “Even if he thinks I might be lying, there will be that part of him—and you can guess which part—that will think, but what if she’s not lying? And that uncertainty will bring him here, I’m sure of it.”

Don’t bet on it.

“Come on,” Mckenna cooed and pressed against him. “Let’s go upstairs so I can give you your special birthday gift.”