Deep in Desire - Page 21

“Wow, Holly. That’s kind of a lot, right? And I can tell you’re not dealing,” Cam said when Holly finished. She leaned in a little closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. “You know, I’m always here if you ever need to talk more. Or, you know, we could take this to the showers and continue our conversation there.”

Holly’s jaw dropped in shock, and she vigorously shook her head. “Cam, do you just go about our business all day flirting with everyone you meet?”

Cam grinned. “Guilty as charged. But seriously, I know you’ve only been back in the States recently, so if you need a friend, I could be therefor you. Just platonically. I hear you. You’re falling head-over-heels in love with Ms. Debs, who, I have to admit, is quite the hottie, so I don’t blame you. She has the ass of a goddess.”

“That’s enough, Cam. Drop it.”

“Sorry. I’m always on the campaign trail, you see?”

“Really? You’re in politics?”

“I’m single-handedly trying to MAQA.”

“And that means what exactly?”

“Make American Queer Again. Okay, so it never was, but I won’t let that get in the way of a good joke, right?”

“It wasn’t that great a joke.”

“I think you’re just on a downer. You’re ruining my vibe, Hols. I pick up a lot of women at this gym. So push off, would you? I’ll catch you at the bar later. Or my offer still stands for the shower because I’m not the type to hold a grudge.”

Holly politely declined. “I’ll pass on the shower chat. Besides, this place has individual cubicles. It’s an expensive gym, remember?”

Cam laughed. “Alright, keep it real, Holly. Just know you’re not alone. If you don’t want to hang out, you’ll find plenty of people to talk to down at Indigo. Don’t be a stranger, right?”

Holly felt a bit lighter after talking to Cam. She also could see that Cam’s flirty, confident bravado was all just a front covering up some deep, underlying insecurities.

She got in her workout, pushing her body until her muscles burned and her mind was blank. But the clarity was fleeting. As soon as she left the gym, the weight of the situation crashed back down on her.

Back at her apartment, Holly decided to cook herself a meal, hoping the familiar routine would offer some comfort. She chopped vegetables with practiced precision, her mind wandering back to Deborah with every swipe of the blade. The pain in Deborah’s eyes and her fear and vulnerability haunted Holly.

As she moved a pan of oil to the stove, a sudden searing pain shot through her hand. She had misjudged and touched the hot pan. She hissed, pulling her hand back and running it under cold water. The pain was sharp and immediate, a blatant contrast to the inner turmoil she had been feeling.

And in that moment, she realized something. Physical pain was straightforward. It hurt, but it was easy to understand and easy to manage. Atworst, you took a trip to the hospital, right? Emotional pain, though, was a whole different story. She had lived a relatively easy life, shielded from deep emotional suffering. Her mom had always taken great care of her. But Deborah—Deborah had been through hell. Her divorce, the public scrutiny, the betrayal—those scars were sure to run deep, and all Holly was doing was adding to that suffering.

I’m such a shit. Why can’t I leave the woman alone? Maybe I’ve pushed her too hard?

Feeling a surge of determination, Holly knew she had to make things right. She needed to show Deborah that she understood and was willing to help her face her fears and insecurities.

Just then, her phone beeped. It was a Whatsup message from her mom.

CALL ME.

Jeez? Capitals? Boomer much?Holly thought to herself.

She decided it was better to call her than face her mother’s wrath later.

“Hi, Mom. How are things? You wanted me to call. Is it something urgent?”

Esme’s voice was thick with emotion. “Holly, honey, I’m so glad you called back so quickly.Thank you. It’s… it’s Nora. We had a huge fight. I’m talking HUGE. This never happens to us. Well, hardly ever, right? I can’t remember the last time we fought. She’s not like that. We only just got married. What hope do we have if we’re having huge fights this soon? Isn’t this supposed to be our honeymoon period? She hasn’t even got time to go on a honeymoon—but here she is, plenty of time to come at me now! It’s unbelievable.”

Holly’s heart sank. “What happened exactly? Slow down, Mom. You’re talking at a gazillion miles an hour right now.”

“It’s about you and Deborah,” Esme said, her voice breaking. “Nora is worried about how it might affect her business. There have been some funny calls from her clients this morning, and… she thinks your relationship might be the cause of it.”

Holly clenched her fist, trying to keep her anger in check. “Mom, that’s ridiculous. There’s just no way that can be true. You only found out about us yesterday. Our relationship has nothing to do with Nora’s business. How would her clients even know?”

“I have no idea.”