CHAPTER 22
Holden
Parker keeps checking her watch. I’ve told her a few times we could cancel. I don’t want to, but I will. We can have Christmas with my parents tomorrow. I hate that this is stressing her out.
“It’s about that time. We should head out.”
“Are you sure?” I ask her.
“Yes.”
“I’ll go start the truck.” With a gentle squeeze of her shoulders, I stand from the chair I’m sitting in and move to the foyer to start the truck. We finished dinner about an hour ago, and it was delicious. I’ve had a good day today getting to know her family, even when her father glares at me.
At the front door, I dig my keys out of my pocket and hit the remote start. The lights on my truck turn on and illuminate the driveway. Satisfied that it’s started, I turn to go say goodbye but freeze with Easton steps into the foyer.
“You’re not good enough for my duchess,” he says bluntly.
I nod. “I happen to agree with you. However, I know with 100 percent certainty
that no one will care for her like I do.”
“You can’t know that.”
“You see, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m not going to stand here and tell you that I’m in love with her. She deserves that declaration before you or anyone else.”
“She’s my little girl.”
I nod again. “I understand that. I know that she’s your duchess, but sir, what you fail to realize is that she’s my queen.” I hear a gasp come from the hallway, and I know that Parker and potentially the rest of her family are listening in on this conversation.
Easton looks like I slapped him across the face. “Your queen?”
“Yes, sir. We can agree that I’m not good enough for her, but I’ll make sure every damn day that I’m making choices that might get me there.”
“You barely know her.”
“I know enough. I know that she was scared as hell to come here today, to spend Christmas with her family for fear of your reaction to us dating. I know that she has to be able to zone out when she studies and block out the world. I know that she loves pumpkin spice lattes and that she gets so lost when she studies that she forgets to eat. I know that she’s loyal to those she cares about and that she knows how to be silly and have fun. I know that she loves you very much.” He closes his eyes and nods, but I’m not done. “And I know that she might be your little girl, but she’s the woman who wormed her way inside my chest and wrapped herself around my soul.”
“H-Holden?”
I turn to see Parker standing in the doorway. Her mom and sisters are surrounding her. There are tears in her eyes, but the smile that tilts her lips tells me they’re happy tears. I’m caught off guard when she rushes toward me. I barely have time to brace myself when she launches herself at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. The next thing I know, her lips are on mine.
It takes control that I didn’t know that I possessed to kiss her slowly, aware her family is watching us. When she pulls back, her watery smile hits me deep in my feels. “I’m ready to go.”
“Okay, baby,” I reply softly. Setting her on her feet, I make sure she has her balance before I move my attention to her mom and sisters. “Thank you for having me. Brunch and dinner were delicious. And thank you for the cologne, the sweatshirt, and the lounge pants,” I tell them. “Merry Christmas. Mr. Monroe, thank you for having me.”
Easton nods. “Drive safe.”
I help Parker into her coat and take the bags of gifts her mother hands me. “Merry Christmas to you too.” She smiles and links her arm through her husband’s.
Hand in hand, Parker and I make our way to my truck. I open the door for her and wait for her to get buckled in before closing the door. After loading the bags into the back seat, I hustle around to my side.
Once I’m behind the wheel, I turn to look at her. It’s dark outside, but I can still make out her features from the lights in the dash. “You ready?”
“Holden.” She reaches over and places her hand on my arm. “Thank you for what you said in there.”
“I meant it. Every word.” She swallows hard. “I understand that he has a hard time letting go, but that’s just it. I’m not going to let go, so he’s going to have to get used to me being around.”
“You have a way with words, Holden Bailey.”
“Only with you.” I give her a smile and put the truck in reverse. We have one more family Christmas to get through, and then I get her all to myself. After the shit show of me squaring off with her father, I just need to hold her.
“Okay, so it’s your parents and your aunt Lottie and uncle Lee. Who else am I meeting?”
“That’s it for tonight. We always just do something small. Aunt Lottie and Uncle Lee never had kids, and this just turned into a tradition for us.”
“Okay. So four, that’s not too bad.”
“Hey.” I wait for her to look at me. “They’re going to love you. I promise.” I slide my hand around her waist and knock on the door.
My aunt Lottie opens the door, and her smile is bright. “Holden!” She steps back and motions for us to come in. “Let me take your coats. You must be Parker. It’s so nice to meet you. Merry Christmas,” Aunt Lottie rambles on.
My mom appears in the doorway and wraps her arms around me in a hug while Aunt Lottie takes our coats.
“Mom, this is Parker, my girlfriend. Parker, this is my mom, Ashley.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Parker says and chuckles when my mom pulls her into a hug as well.
“We’ve heard so much about you. I’m so glad that you could join us. Merry Christmas,” Mom tells her.
“Aunt Lottie, this is Parker,” I introduce properly when she comes back into the room.
“So nice to meet you, sweetheart.” She, too, gives my girl a hug. “Come on in. Are you hungry?”
“No, ma’am. But thank you,” Parker declines politely.
“Depends. Did you make your peanut butter cookies with the peanut butter cups in the center?” I ask.
“You know I did.”
“Then, yes, I’m starving,” I say, and all three of the women laugh.
“You go introduce your girlfriend, and I’ll grab you a few from the kitchen.” Aunt Lottie motions for us to head into the living room, where I know I’ll find my dad and my uncle Lee kicked back on opposite ends of the reclining couch with full bellies, shooting the shit, just like every year.
My arm slides around her waist again, and I press my lips to her temple. Together, we make our way into the living room, and just as I suspected, Dad and Uncle Lee are sitting on the couch, feet propped up, and I wouldn’t put it past them to have their pants unbuckled under their shirts.
“Tighten up, fellas. There’s a lady in your presence,” I call out, making them laugh. My dad is the first to stand and greet us.
“Merry Christmas, son,” he says, hugging me before moving to Parker. “You must be Parker. It’s so nice to finally meet you,” he says, pulling her into a hug just as tight as the one he gave me.