City to Sticks

Chapter Thirteen

13—Holly P.O.V.

Sending Shawna packing was like closing the chapter to my old life and, honestly, it had felt good. I had friends here, real friends, who cared about me. Jake, Sage, Granger, Davis, and I had begun to hang out regularly. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and now we were preparing for graduation. Sage was sad, because none of us would be attending school with her next year, as she had another year left. I was trying not to think about what next fall would bring. I'd applied to a couple colleges, but I was scared. What if I went away to college? What would happen to Jake and me? I knew that he wasn't like Kyle. Jake wouldn't cheat on me the second I was away. So instead of stressing about what my future held, I was in denial. I was refusing to think about it.

"Holly come down here please!" Mom hollered.

I hopped off the bed, smiling, thinking that Jake was here, but I froze upon entering the living room. My dad sat on the sofa, with his slutty secretary plastered to his side. Seriously? He hadn't so much as called since mom and I left, then he just shows up and with her? I glared, "What are you doing here?"

Dad appeared surprised, "You're graduating today. Why wouldn't I be here?"

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe because I haven't heard from you since I left Chicago." I snapped.

Dad stammered to explain, "Well, Sheila and I—"

"Who the hell is Sheila?" I snapped.

Dad's secretary raised her hand, "That would be me."

I glared at her, "I don't give a damn." Then turned my glare back to dad, "What does this woman have to do with you not contacting your daughter for months?"

Gramps chuckled, while mom and Grams remained quiet, thankfully not reprimanding me for being disrespectful. Respect was earned and dad killed any I had for him the second he cheated on my mom. Dad sighed, "Holly, calm down, and please don't treat Sheila with any disrespect. She's going to be your step-mother."

I choked, "What?"

Dad nodded, "We're getting married and..."

"Just tell her!" Mom snapped.

"Sheila is pregnant." Dad blurted.

I blinked several times and even pinched myself in the arm, waiting for myself to wake up. Nothing was working. Dad was still sitting there, expecting, what? Congratulations? Sheila was still sitting there looking smug, with her hand placed over her stomach. I wanted to throw up. I shook my head and whispered, "What did mom and I do to deserve this? Why did you suddenly decide that you wanted to replace us?"

"My son will not replace you." Dad said.

My eyes widened, "It's a boy?" I shook my head and headed for the door, "You know what? It doesn't even matter. You say that I haven't been replaced, but I haven't seen or heard from you in months. Go home, dad. Enjoy your new life, with your new wife and son. I don't need you in my life anymore. Just please, when you decide to cheat on Sheila and look for your next upgrade, lock the door to your office this time, so your son doesn't have to walk in on what I saw. Mom, I'll see you at the school."

I walked out of the house, ignoring my father's shouts for me to come back. I was so angry, in that moment, that I never wanted to see him again. How could he do this? Why would he think it would be ok to show up here, after all this time, and with a pregnant fiancée? Jake was just pulling up as I stormed out, thank God. He took one look at me and opened the passenger door. I hopped in and Jake tore out of there. We didn't speak until he'd parked at the waterfall. Our days were getting hot now, so the waterfall was flowing freely.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Jake asked, cautiously.

I sighed, "My dad is here. He hasn't talked to me in months. Then he shows up here like he has the right to attend my graduation. He brought his whore, who just so happens to be his pregnant fiancée now."

"Wow." Was all Jake said and I didn't blame him. What could you say to that?

Suddenly feeling restless and antsy, I crawled across the cab of the truck and straddled Jake. I pulled my shirt off, over my head and begged, "Distract me."

Jake's eyes widened, "Uh, Holly, I..."

"Do you have a condom?" I asked and he nodded. I frowned, "Then what is the problem?"

"Holly, I don't want our first time to be because you're trying to forget about your dad being a jerk."

I sagged against him, buried my face in his chest, and cried. I cried because I was being stupid right now. I had been trying not to think about my dad for months. Tried not to wonder what he'd been up to. Tried not to wonder why he hadn't bothered to contact me. Now that I knew, I wish I didn't. He was starting a new life with Sheila. Mom and I were nothing but a distant memory for him. I had no doubt that the only reason he came today, was to tell me about his new life. He didn't care that it was my graduation day. He didn't care that, on a day when it should be about me, he'd made it about him and his new life. Now, here I was, throwing myself at my boyfriend, who loved me enough to tell me no.

I squeezed Jake tighter and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Jake kissed the top of my head and held me close, "You have nothing to be sorry about, Babe. Your dad is a jerk and he doesn't know what he's giving up. You're amazing. If he can't realize that and isn't willing to make time for you then screw him. You've got me. You've got Sage and the boys. You've got your mom and your grandparents."

I snorted, "Sometimes I think Grams barely tolerates me and Gramps just goes along with whatever Grams says."

Jake pushed me back a little, so he could cup my face, "You're kidding me, right? Your Grandparents love you. Do you know who named their farm? Your Grams did. Do you know why she named it Triple-H?"

I shook my head, "No, I've never asked."

"Maybe you should. Hal, Hester, Holly...ring a bell? I think you might know someone named Holly." Jake teased.

My eyes widened, "My Grandparents included me in the name of their farm, but why? I didn't even live here then and when I did come to visit, which was rare, I was a horrible kid!"

Jake shrugged, "They love you unconditionally, just as I do."

I sighed and kissed him, softly, before crawling back onto the seat next to him. I blushed, "I suppose I should put my shirt back on and we should head to the school. We are graduating today, after all."

Jake started his truck, but didn't immediately pull away, "Holly...will you promise to throw yourself at me another time? A time when you're not upset about anything. If you do, I promise not to turn you away a second time."

"Deal." I tell him with a flirty grin.