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“Guess I gotta kiss you, huh?” he said with a laugh.
She glanced up at the doorway where the mistletoe still hung and shrugged. “Rules are rules.” She turned her face, and he pressed a soft kiss to her scarred cheek, sending goosebumps down her chin.
“I’ll take care of that,” Aimee said, jumping and snatching the mistletoe from the doorway. “Looks like we’ll have no more kissing visitors.”
14
Holly
Holly frowned as Aimee dumped the mistletoe in the trash. It had been the start of her relationship with Eric, the thing that helped them wake up and finally see each other as more than just friends. When Aimee wasn’t looking, she was going to swipe it from the trash and keep it forever.
“I’m heading to the bookstore,” Eric said. “Anyone need to tag along?” He smiled in Holly’s direction.
“Me,” all three girls said.
“I thought you already went, Aimee?” Diane said, laughing.
“I have nothing else to do, and I haven’t seen you guys for days. I can’t believe you all hung out during the break. I would’ve come, but I was keeping my nieces and nephews out of trouble.”
“Should we call Cameron and Justin then?” Diane asked, opening their door wider and looking out.
“Oh, right,” Aimee said, smiling. “I heard you two are official.”
Diane’s face reddened, but she smiled.
“I’ll send them a text,” Eric said. “Let’s eat lunch at the student center.”
Holly smiled, relieved that her bank account was once again full. She’d have to be more careful, only using her meal plan once or twice a day to maintain her funds for the rest of the semester and through her internship. Even though she wouldn’t be enrolled in classes, she hoped to find an internship opportunity around the school, stay at the apartment, and have the benefits of a student.
When no one was looking, Eric sent a wink her direction and held up his hands to give her an air hug. She giggled at how silly he looked, and Aimee spun around catching him in the act.
“Aw, do you want a hug, Eric?”
Before either of them could protest, Aimee held him tightly around the waist and squeezed. His arms stayed stationary in the air, and when she didn’t back away, he patted her back with one hand.
“Sorry,” he mouthed to Holly.
She shrugged and plastered on a smile. They knew it would be uncomfortable at first, but sparing her friend’s feelings was important to Holly.
Aimee walked beside Eric on the way to the bookstore, and Holly kept a safe distance on the opposite side. It wasn’t ideal, and already Holly missed his reassuring presence, but it wasn’t the end of the world.
After three hours of avoiding him at the bookstore, at lunch, and even back at the apartment where the guys lingered and played games with them, Holly was ready to throw in the towel.
“I’m going to go for a walk on campus,” she said, standing up from the couch to stretch. She slipped on her shoes by the door and glanced behind her to where Eric was playing a card game with Aimee and Justin. A stab of disappointment that he hadn’t looked her way in hours pitted itself in her stomach as she grabbed her jacket and scarf in the hallway closet and said goodbye.
“See you,” Eric and Diane called.
Hmph! She marched her way through campus, avoiding the icy patches. It was silly to be mad. He was doing exactly what she’d asked and doing it well. Too well.
“Holly, wait up.”
She spun around to see Eric sprinting up the path, a ball cap on his head. She bit back a smile. “What are you doing?”
“I told everyone I needed to go talk to a professor.”
He hugged her tightly for a long minute then kept only one arm around her. “Well, I mean, you are my professor of love.”
She gave his chest a playful slap and laughed. “Funny.”
