Page 54 of His Secret Santa
“Jamie Dayton?”
“Yes,” Angel said. “We talked with him out at the bar. Cole, Gabe, and I. He was furious with you at first. Holden told him everything tonight after they arrived here at the club.”
Lincoln frowned. “At first?”
“We explained your circumstances. He still isn’t happy with you, but he’s a kindhearted young man and understands things a little better now.” He smiled. “I don’t think he’ll be throwing any more punches your way.”
“Maybe he should.”
“No, he shouldn’t,” Angel said softly. “You made mistakes but you’re not beyond redemption. This is one thing I know plenty about. When things went down between Dane and me… I didn’t think I could ever forgive him. I even thought I hated him there for a while. But I didn’t, not even a little. I could’ve held onto the pain and let it fester until it destroyed me. But my love for Dane was stronger than the pain. It hurt more to imagine my life without him than to face up to the pain and put it to rest.”
Resting his head in his hands again, Lincoln whispered, “What if Holden can’t forgive me?”
Angel smiled and leaned over, sliding his arm around Lincoln’s shoulders. “My money is on forgiveness.”
“What do I do?” Lincoln asked brokenly. “How do I show him how sorry I am… and that I’ll never hurt him again?”
Angel sighed and touched his head to Lincoln’s brow. “Dig deep,” he whispered. “You’ll think of something.”
Chapter 16
“Jamie…” Holden rolled over on the bed and pushed his face into the pillow. “I don’t want to go, I already told you that.”
Jamie sat on the edge of the bed and nudged him. “Come on, you have to. It won’t be any fun without you.”
“Abby will be with you,” Holden mumbled into the pillow. “You’ll have more fun with her than me.”
“I want to have fun with both of you. And there’s no way I’m ringing in the new year without my best friend.”
Holden groaned; Jamie wouldn’t let up until he agreed to go to the New Year’s Eve party with him and Abby. But it was the last place Holden wanted to be. Their town threw the New Year’s Eve party every year—and every year, Lincoln was there with his friends. This year was no different and Holden didn’t want to see him.
“Come on.” Jamie shook him. “You’ve been hibernating in this room since your birthday. You need to get out, get some fresh air and do something. We’ve hardly done anything over winter break and school starts again in just a few days.”
Holden turned his head and lay his cheek on the pillow, staring at the digital clock on his nightstand; 8:50 p.m. “He’ll be there,” he whispered. “I don’t want to see him. I can’t.” Since the night at the club, Holden had told Jamie everything that happened in the VIP room, everything that was said. Shockingly, Jamie hadn’t immediately doubled down on his advice for Holden to forget Lincoln. He was sure if anyone encouraged him to walk away for good, it would be Jamie. But uncharacteristic of his friend, Jamie said very little about it over the days following their visit to the club.
“So, what if he is?” Jamie said quietly. “You don’t have to interact with him. And me and Abby won’t leave your side.”
“Even when you’re dancing?”
Jamie chuckled. “You can dance with us.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think so.”
“So, we won’t dance. That isn’t why we’re going.”
“Why are you going?” Holden asked. “It’s just a dumb party.” He turned his face into the pillow again. “And I’ve had my fill of parties… for a lifetime.”
“This will be a fun party. Nothing’s going to happen to you. No one is going to fuck with you—I guarantee it.”
Holden sighed. “I’m not worried about that. I just don’t… I don’t want to see him.”
“You can’t avoid it forever. Once we go back to school, he’ll be there. He’s in some of your classes. Why not go to the party and show him you’re fine?”
Because I’m not fine—not fine at all.
Holden rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. His head felt heavy like someone had filled it with concrete. And his body… weak. He could hardly bring himself to move around the house, much less go to a party.
“I don’t feel good,” he mumbled. “I don’t want to go out.”