by Howe, Olivia
Shit. This evening was spiraling out of control, and it wasn’t even time for dinner. I didn’t want to spend the holidays back at my childhood home. The past two years had been a whirlwind of events. First starting with meeting Allison, I took pity on her and offered her a job at my mother’s house. I thought her and I could have made something work. Hell, I was attracted to her, who wouldn’t be. My brother shouldn't have been that's for damn sure, after he had made a play for her and taken her from me, I was enraged. To make matters worse, my mother passed away- right as I was dealing with my heart being crushed.
After I realized how much Luke and Allison actually did care for each other, I let the past go. I met Vivian, my ex-girlfriend, and thought she was a god-send for me.
Right after Allison and Luke were married and had my precious niece, Skye, things with Vivian weren't as heavenly as I wanted them to be. Sure I cared about her, but she and I couldn’t be more wrong for each other than cats and dogs. We broke up only a few months ago, and now Luke and Allison invited me to a Christmas celebration at their house, my old childhood farmhouse.
I wanted to see them, and missed my niece Skye tremendously, but I hated the feeling of failure whenever I was around them. They were both so happy in love, and I just hated that my love life never seemed to measure up.
My little brother, Luke, wouldn’t give up with the phone calls as he tried for the third time this week to convince me to come home for the holidays. It was Skye’s first Christmas and Luke and Allison wanted it to be spent with close family.
After saying “no” to Luke a million times on the phone, I thought he had given up. But, I never counted on him pulling out his secret weapon, Allison.
When she called me, she cried about not being with family for the holidays, or some other bullshit reason and I finally relented.
Going home for the holidays was not in my plan. Since Vivian and I broke up my nights were spent drinking whiskey, and watching old reruns of Nick At Night.
I worked my days in downtown Huntsville, Alabama as a lawyer for a corporate attorney. Getting this job a few months ago had been a dream, and now with the holidays approaching, I finally earned some much needed time off.
I entered my apartment building and saw the feisty blonde who lived down the hallway from my apartment as she stood near the mailbox. I couldn’t remember where our hatred for each other started, but it was fierce.
Once I saw her kissing a man outside the mailboxes and as I tried to get my mail, he pushed me out of the way so he could keep sucking face with her. She was pretty, sure, but her attitude over the past few years was something I didn’t like dealing with. Another time I had a packaged delivered to her mailbox instead, it took her a month to get it to me. She was a certifiable bitch with her long blonde hair and perky body. I’m sure she was hit on all the time by men, so she had an arrogance about her, or maybe she was just born that way.
I put my key in the lock and opened my mailbox. Out of the corner of my eye I could tell she was staring at me. Turning in her direction, I smirked at her. “See anything you like, darling?”
She huffed, turning her nose up at me and stomped off to her apartment. Bitch.
I sat in my chair in my one-story apartment overlooking a lake as I contemplated this whole holiday debacle. How fun would it be to sit around and watch Luke and Allison make googly eyes at each other all winter long?
Sure, I’d only be there for a week, but I just didn’t want to go alone. Part of me was half-tempted to call Vivian to rekindle our tragic relationship, but that affair was like a Greek tragedy. The way things ended I wouldn’t be surprised if she ever wanted to see me again, which was fine because she made me sick.
If I could just find a friend to come with me, maybe act like a date or girlfriend then I wouldn’t receive the pitying looks from Luke and Allison. The idea was preposterous, although doable. Yes, all I needed was a good friend who would come with me, but who?
I went over my options as I quickly turned down each girl I knew. The list was already small and included mainly people from my office. Sylvia could be a possibility and as I reached for the phone out of my pocket, I grabbed a glass to pour myself more whiskey.
“Hey Sylvia,” I said after she picked up on the second ring.
“Hi, Gavin.” I could hear her smiling through the phone and felt it was a good sign.
“Was wondering what you’re up to the week of Christmas.”
“What the week that starts tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I’m heading to my family’s house and would love if you would join me for the week.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked, laughing.
“No.”
“Gavin, that isn’t much notice, and besides I’m heading out of town to see my own family. I leave early in the morning.”
“Cancel it. Come with me instead.” I was getting desperate.
“Are you drunk?”
“No,” I scoffed. She hung up and after a few more calls, and a few more rejections I decided to call it a night. I would never find anyone and I just needed to face my fact and realize I wouldn’t be having a fabulous Christmas, no I would be having a down right shitty one.
Chapter Two
HOLLY
“This is the fifth time I have been here this week, Ms. Mathis. You owe fifteen hundred dollars for rent, and it needs to be paid after the holiday.” Mrs. Grande wrinkled her nose with disgust at me as I stood in the doorway of my apartment.
“I’ll have the money by January first. You can count on it,” I lied.
She scowled, then turned around and left. As I watched her portly figure retreating down the hall, I had the urge to throw something at her. My neighbor from down the hall stared at me as I closed the door to my apartment. He was a handsome fellow, but from the little interaction we had I knew he was a jerk. And, jerk was being kind. His dark brown hair, and brown eyes were not lost on me, but I’d always hated him.
Where would I find that kind of money?
I snuggled down on my couch, and went over my options of how I could come up with the money in that short amount of time.
Once I realized I wouldn’t be selling my body, or harvesting my eggs I finally relented It was time to bite the bullet and call my mother to ask for the money. As I picked up the phone to make the dreaded call to my mother who never had time for me once she married the anti-christ of my stepfather, there was a knock at the door.
When I opened the door, there was my neighbor. He stood tall, towering over me. His muscles were constricted behind his deep chocolate colored shirt, making his eyes that much deeper. His eyebrow raised as he glanced down my body taking in my sweatpants and ratty t-shirt with my pink sweater covering it all. He smelled of whiskey or some other type of alcohol I couldn’t identify and as I gaped at him, he leaned in closer.
“Hey there, umm,” he started.
“Holly. Holly Mathis.”
“Holly. Nice to meet you finally. I’m Gavin I live down the hall.”
I knew who he was and knew exactly where he lived, but it still didn’t mean I knew why he was here.
“What are you doing here? Do you need to borrow something?” It was a little past dinner time, but different people ate at different hours, so most likely he needed sugar, or flour. `
“No, I was wondering, uhh, can I come in?”
My eyes widened and little warning bells went off in my head, but then I took a closer look at him. His brandy-colored eyes were desperate and I knew the look well. I’d become a master of desperation since I moved here from Georgia. I’d only been here a few years and in that time I’d managed to lose three jobs and date a few assholes along the way.
“Umm, sure.” I stepped aside and led him into my living room. I wrapped the sweater I wore tighter around my body as he stalked closer to the couch and took a seat.
“I know you’re probably wondering why I stopped by,” he started.
“That is exactly what I’m wondering.” I moved closer to the living area and took a seat on the chair facing the couch. My blonde hair was up in a bun, and I knew I looked a mess.
“Well, what do you have planned for the holidays?”
I closed my eyes as I pictured selling my body on the street corner which probably wouldn’t make me much money because of the fact it was December and freezing cold, I knew I would never go through with it.
“Nothing. Would you like something to drink? I was just about to warm some tea up.” I rose from the chair and headed into the kitchen. After I put the kettle on the stove, I walked back into the cozy living room. There was a fire in the fireplace and it let off a soft glow. It was chilly outside, and the warmness from the fire was heavenly.
“Now where were we?” Gavin asked.
“You asked me if I had holiday plans,” I reminded him.
“Right, this is going to sound crazy.”
With his words I tightened up as I listened to him.
“Go on.”
“I’m heading to my family’s farm house about an hour from here,” he paused.
Of course, he probably had a pet he needed me to watch while he was away. My body relaxed as he continued, “Let’s just say the past few years have been tough on me, and I can’t show up alone. I need someone to go with me. Someone to pretend to be my girlfriend.”
This time not only did my eyes widen, they damn near popped out of my head. “Excuse me?”
“I know it’s insane, but we would just have to act like a couple for a few days and then we could come back home and be done with it all.”
“Insane isn’t the word, ludicrous might be a better word for what you’re asking.”
The tea kettle started to whistle and I jumped up from my seat to head into the kitchen. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts. I didn’t have time to be traipsing all over Alabama acting like Gavin’s girlfriend. I made two cups of tea, and placed it on a tray with sugar, honey, and milk.
“Tea?” I asked as I walked into the living area. I placed the tray down as I made a cup of tea for myself. After taking a quick sip, I placed my cup down as I returned my attention back to Gavin. “As fun as it sounds I’m sorry I won’t be able to accompany you.”
He made a cup of tea and then took a sip. Leaning himself into the couch he laughed.
“What are you laughing at?” I scowled.
“You’re like an eighty year old woman, with your tea and old lady slippers.”
I glanced down to my slippers, taking in the faded flower pattern and narrowed my eyes. “I think you should leave.” I stood from my chair and walked closer to the door.
Gavin chased after me. “Wait. I’m sorry. Please consider my idea.”
“No, I don’t like you. I don’t want to act like anything with you. No one would believe us anyway.”
I opened the front door and tried to push him out. He wedged his foot in the door as I tried to close it on him. Anger rustled inside me as he pleaded with me.
“I can pay you,” he shouted.
I froze. Money? My eyes focused on Gavin’s dark, brown eyes. “How much?”
“One hundred dollars,” he said between the door and frame.
“Bye, Gavin.” I tried pushing the door harder, hoping the pressure would hurt his foot and get him to move it.
“Okay, fine. More. Five hundred dollars.” His hand was wedged between the door and frame and was slowly losing the battle of being able to keep it open. He was bigger than me, but I leaned my whole body against the door as he tried harder. “A thousand dollars. Two thousand. Name your price, please.”
The desperation in his voice was evident, but I stopped pushing when the price rose. He pushed the door open and stood before me.
“Gavin, I…I…”
“Say yes, please. I’m desperate. We don’t even have to share a room. There are two rooms upstairs and you’ll have one and me the other. Twenty-five hundred.”
Chapter Three
GAVIN
Her blue eyes pierced through my bullshit and lies. In my defense, I wasn’t always a piece of shit, I think the past few years took everything out of me. I was tired of women’s troubles, and just wanted to fake it for the holidays and then get back home and wallow in my self-pity.
I stood outside her apartment as she gawked at me. I couldn’t believe I stooped this low to ask the one person I hated more than anyone to pretend to be my girlfriend. Not only did I ask her, I was willing to pay her.
It felt like hours passed as she stood open-mouthed staring, judging me with her stare. As if she were better than me, trying her hardest to find some semblance of normalcy in my actions. Maybe I was wrong in asking her, but in my mind I needed this, I needed to not go home and feel like the worst kind of failure. Desperate times, desperate measures and all that craziness. I was very desperate.
“You going to say something, darling?”
“No sharing a room? And, if we are going to pretend to be a couple, you cannot call me darling. Understood?”
“Whatever you say, sugar.” I grinned, crossing my arms.
“The name's Holly, stick with Holly.” She scrunched her brow, in a cute fashion and I couldn’t turn away from her.
“Fine I’ll be by to pick you up tomorrow morning,” I said, relieved I finally found someone to play the part.
***
The next morning bright and early, I packed a few things and made my way out the door. After sobering up a bit from last night’s whiskey, I realized I may have thought of the stupidest idea ever. Was I really going to go through with bringing Holly to my childhood home?
The crazy idea was already implemented and as I stood outside Holly’s apartment door, I realized for the first time how shitty my life really was. I had a great job, but everything else was lacking.
I knocked and waited. Then knocked again. No answer. Is this girl standing me up?
Minutes later, a very groggy Holly emerged with a small duffle bag.
“How long are we staying?” she asked.
“Just a week, we'll leave the day after Christmas.”
Her button nose scrunched as she stared up to me. She flung her bag over her shoulder as she locked her door.
I grabbed the bag from her. “Ready, sweetheart.”
“It’s Holly, remember?”
“Sorry, I just figured we should have cute nicknames for each other.”
“Uhh, no.”
“I remember your boyfriend a while back called you sweet lips. Would you like me to call you that? Whatever happened to him?”
“He drained my bank account and skipped town about three months ago.”
We were almost to the door leading out to the parking lot and I stopped. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m over it.”
We opened the door leading outside as a cold burst of wind snapped around us. She pulled at her coat and we rushed to my car sitting in the lot. After I let her into the front, and placed the bags in the truck I hopped inside of my Audi.
“Maybe we should lay down some ground rules,” she said as I started the car.
“What do you have in mind?” I pulled out of the spot and headed off down the road. Holly’s blue eyes caught mine for a second as I turned onto the interstate.
“Well, for starters. No kissing, or making out of any kind.”
“That won’t be a problem.” For some reason her making it her first rule hurt. I didn’t want to kiss her, but it just reminded me of her bitchy behavior.
She sat quiet for a moment as she watched the passing trees along the road. After a few minutes of wondering if she had anymore rules, I faced her briefly. “Is that it?”
“No touching, and maybe we should come up with a back story.”
“Ooh a back story, good idea. We’re neighbors and after weeks of flirting, you just couldn’t take it anymore and asked me out. Sound good?” I asked.<
br />
She flicked her blonde hair over her shoulders as she sat up straighter in the car. “Hardly the case, you asked me out because you were drawn to my beauty.”
I let out a burst of laughter and then realized she was serious. Fucking please.
Chapter Four
HOLLY
His laughter caught me off guard. I didn’t like how he said it wouldn’t be a problem not kissing me. Not like I wanted his lips on me, but still. He was being a jerk, and I felt our pretend relationship was doomed before it even started.
“Who all will be there? Maybe you should start with that.” I said.
“It will be my brother, Luke and his wife, Allison and their daughter, Skye.” He continued driving, glancing briefly at me.
“What about your parents? Won’t they be joining us?”
The mood shifted in the car and for the first time I saw the light disappear from his eyes. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said…,” I stuttered, knowing his parents were most likely in heaven.
“It’s okay. My mother died two summers ago, and my father died a few years before.”
We were both silent for a few miles before Gavin turned off the interstate. We had only been in the car for a little while, and I knew we weren’t near our destination yet. He pulled into a fast food chain and turned to me. “Hungry?”
“Sure.”
He parked the car, and we rushed inside trying to escape the cold. We walked to the counter and he ordered an egg sandwich. Then he turned to me. “For you?”
I didn’t have any money to be wasting on a sandwich and must have stood a moment too long deciding how I would decline when he smiled.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this. You don’t have to pay for anything this week, and when we return home, you’ll get your money.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I ordered a sausage biscuit. This week wouldn’t be so bad. I was thirty years old with no job, no family for the holidays, and to top it off a pretend boyfriend. Yep, not bad at all.
***