Free Christmas Kisses by H.M. Ward

snow melts as the sun shines on the black roads. The plows cleared the parkways and she drives me home. I change and shower, putting on a clean outfit while she waits for me. I do the same for her, at her house, although I think her father wanted to skin me when Holly ran up th e stairs after saying she’d slept at my place last night.
    I feel awkward. Her family invites me to sit at the kitchen table while Holly showers and dresses.
    “So, did she meet you in college?” her mom asks. Her parents are younger than mine. Her mom has that mom haircut that’s short and curled.
    I shake my head, “I’ve known he r since high school. We had some of the same classes .”
    Her dad has massive arms. He looks like a military man. I’m pretty sure he could snap me in half. His meaty arms are folded tightly across his chest. He stands behind me, staring at my head, probably thinking of ways to rip it off my shoulders.
    Her mom nods and makes pleasantries. They offer me coffee and Christmas cookies. Holly’s parent ’ s house smells like a bakery. Briefly, I wonder what her dorm room smells like. I bet it smells like her, sweet and intoxicating.
    “What plans do you have today?” her Mom asks after offering me a cookie.
    I pop it into my mouth, surprised that it’s so light and buttery. “These are really good,” I say before I should. I’m still chewing, but her Mom beams. At least that’s one parent who doesn’t want to hit me over the head with a shovel. I swallow and answer, “Christmas shopping. Holly wanted to go to the mall.”
    “Go od luck with that,” her mom says and glances at Holly’s father . “He was there this morning, and said there was no place to park. They’d plowed and the snow piles took up a lot of the extra outfield parking. It’s a mess.”
    “You won’t get near the place.” He mutters. The man hasn’t moved. His lips barely opened when he spoke. He still wants to skin me. There’s nothing I can do about that. I only have a few days with Holly and I’m not going to be chased off by an overprotective parent.
    I shrug, “It’s what she wants.”
    Holly bounds down the stairs and heads into the kitchen. I swear to God, she’s trying to kill me. She’s wearing a ribbed red sweater that hugs her body and a short black skirt, black tights, and those slutty boots. If she tells me she’s wearing garters again, I’ll die.
    Her hair is still damp. She’s pulling it into a pony tail as she kisses her dad on the cheek. He visibly deflates. Holly says, “You remember Ryan, right? He helped me change the flat on my car last year. I couldn’t even find the jack.” Her dad’s eyes look me over again, but are still hard. Holly shakes her head and laughs , realizing what he r dad i s doing. “Leave him alone. He’s good to me. He’s always been good to me.”
    He r father looks at his daughter. “I just want you happy, kid.” He side hugs her and kisses her on the head. He leaves the room without looking back.
    She looks at her mom. “Why does he only do that when I am happy?”
    Her mom laughs it off, but I know why. It’s because in twelve days, we’ll both be miserable. It’s because he sees what’s coming and there’s no way to prevent it. On January 1 st , Holly will be dropped off at the airport, and take my heart with her.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER
     
     
    12
     
    HOLLY
     
    The mall sucks. It’s overflowing with crazy people. I lean into Ryan as he steers us through the crowds. After a few fast turns, he pulls us into a restaurant. We get a tiny booth toward the back. Ryan takes my packages and keeps them on his side. He’s practically falling on the floor.
    We order and I feel his foot brush against mine. I smile, rather evilly, and say, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
    “Why’s that?” he smirks and does it again. His foot brushes the inside of my ankle, tracing over the leather boots half way up my calf. God, I want his hands on me. It feels