Page 35 of His Secret Santa
“Go?” McKeena was at his side, arm around him again. “You can’t go. You just got here. Besides, you haven’t even wished the birthday boy happy birthday. Can’t be rude, not after he invited you to his party.”
Holden sniffed, his throat constricting as the scene in the parking lot flashed through his head. “He… didn’t invite me.”
“What? Of course, he did.”
Holden looked at her, eyes bleary. “He told me he didn’t,” he whispered shakily. “He told me not come to the party.”
“He what?” Mckenna snorted and shook her head. “He didn’t mean it. He was probably just trying to save face because you’re… well, you. But I swear, he told me he wanted you here.”
She was lying—of course, she was lying—but still, Holden wanted to believe her, even when he knew for a fact it wasn’t true.
The cheerleader leaned close, her lips brushing his ear. “He’s your secret Santa,” she whispered. “Did you know that? Bet you didn’t know that. That’s really why he invited you—this is his gift to you, because he knows you got a hard-on for him.”
Holden jerked back, heart pounding. “I-I don’t…”
McKenna laughed. “It’s okay, baby. I don’t care. He can’t get it up, anyway, so what good is he to me?”
Troy jumped on the bandwagon. “Yeah, we weren’t supposed to tell you he was your secret Santa. He wanted to do that himself. So, pretend like you’re surprised, okay, bro?”
Holden’s head was spinning. Lincoln was his secret Santa? Or was that just another lie, like everything else? If it was true, then… Lincoln never intended to give him anything. And that hurt worse than some random person ignoring him.
Backing away, Holden struggled to keep it together. “I… I’m gonna go. I-I have to get home.” He turned and someone grabbed his arm.
“Whoa, bro,” Troy said. “Didn’t you hear what we said? Lincoln is your secret Santa, and his real gift is upstairs. Don’t be a rude little bitch and leave before he gives it to you.”
The shift in his tone scared Holden.
“Yeah.” McKenna took hold of his other arm, dark glee in her eyes. “We all know how much you want him to give it to you.” Other cheerleaders and football players had gathered around, and they all cackled at her implication.
“Please… just let me go,” Holden whispered, genuinely frightened.
“Not yet.”
Panic gripped Holden when Troy and one of his buddies hauled him up the stairs.
Oh God! Oh God! What would they do to him? Hate and alcohol don’t mix, that’s what Jamie had said… or something to that effect. No one knew he was here—not even Jamie.
“Please let me go,” Holden choked.
The jocks ignored him and dragged him down the hall, halting outside a door.
“This is your gift!” Troy howled and Holden’s clothes were stripped from his body.
“No!” Holden cried, fighting their rough hands. “Don’t! Please! Let me go!”
Holden was abruptly thrust through the door where he fell to the floor. The door slammed closed behind him as he scrambled to his feet—and froze in shock and horror.
On the bed, lay the quarterback, shirtless—and staring straight back at him.
Chapter 10
What the fuck?!
Lincoln froze, convinced he was asleep and dreaming. How could it be anything else? Holden Dunkel—in his room? And—naked?!
The surreal sensation exploded, propelling him into a state of reality when the other boy abruptly broke from his own paralysis and whirled around, beating on the door, screaming and crying to be let out.
Even then, Lincoln couldn’t wrap his mind around what was happening. He grabbed his shirt and quickly pulled it on. Holden glanced over his shoulder, his face streaked with tears and eyes red and puffy. He abandoned the door and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. His heavy, muffled sobs pushed through into the bedroom.