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CHAPTER 34: Peter Knows
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2025-12-31 20:38:24
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The Holidate Pact CHAPTER 42: The Tournament (Day Two - The Watching)
**SLOANE**Seven AM. I haven't slept. I've been watching it spread across the ceiling for hours.His text sits on my phone screen. *I love you. I'm just not ready yet.*I read it at two AM. Typed three different responses. Deleted them all.What could I say? I'm not ready either.But I love him. God, I love him.I shower. The water pressure is weak. Everything in this hotel feels temporary. Wrong.Coffee from the lobby tastes burnt. I drink it anyway.I'm going to the tournament.The decision is easy. Staying away would be impossible.The golf course is already crowded when I arrive at ten. Families spread blankets on the grass. Vendors sell hot dogs and beer.I find a spot in the back. Sunglasses on. Baseball cap pulled low.The practice green is visible from here. Jackson's there. White polo. Navy pants. Putting.He looks tired. Dark circles even from this distance. But his movements are sharp. Focused.My fault. All my fault.His tee time is eleven twenty-three.I stay in the back
The Holidate Pact CHAPTER 41: The Tournament (Day One - The Spiral)
**JACKSON**The alarm screams at six AM. My head feels like someone took a hammer to it.Whiskey. Too much whiskey.I grab my phone. Seventeen notifications. All from Sloane.I swipe them away without reading. Can't. Not yet.The shower water runs too hot. I don't adjust it. Let it burn. Maybe the pain will clear my head.It doesn't.Coffee in the hotel restaurant tastes like dirt. I force it down anyway.Mike slides into the booth across from me. Takes one look at my face."You look like shit.""Feel like shit.""The fight?"I stare at him. "How did you know?""Mate. The whole hotel heard you."Perfect. Great. Just what I need."Want to talk about it?""No."He signals the waitress. Orders eggs. Toast. Orange juice. I can barely look at food."You need to eat something. Practice round in an hour.""I'm fine.""You're not fine."I drink more coffee. My hands shake slightly. Mike notices. Says nothing.The practice range is crowded. Other players warming up. The sound of clubs hitting
The Holidate Pact CHAPTER 40: The Breaking Point
**JACKSON**June 15th. Three weeks since Memorial Day. Everything is perfect.Which means I should've known something was about to break."Milwaukee tournament," I tell Sloane over breakfast. "Four days. Starts Thursday."She looks up from her laptop. "Prize money?""Fifty thousand."Her eyes widen. "Jackson. That's huge.""Regional qualifier. But yeah. Could change things.""I'm coming with you.""You have work.""I work remotely, remember?" She closes the laptop. "Besides this is important."I reach across the table. Lace our fingers together. Her skin is warm from holding her coffee mug."What did I do to deserve you?""Made a fake dating pact with a stranger from a Target returns line.""Best decision ever."She smiles. That soft smile that makes my chest tight.We start packing that night. My apartment. With my mother gone, we have the place to ourselves.Sloane folds my tournament shirts. I pack my golf shoes. The TV plays some cooking show neither of us is watching.My phone ri
The Holidate Pact CHAPTER 39: Memorial Day Weekend
**SLOANE** My mother called on Friday morning. "We're having a cookout. Monday. The whole family. You and Jackson should come." Her voice was still slightly stiff. But warmer than last week. "Are you sure?" "I'm sure. It's time." My eyes stung. "We'll be there." "Good. And Sloane?" "Yeah, Mom?" "I'm glad you're happy. Even if I'm still processing... everything." "I know. Thank you." Monday morning, Jackson paced my kitchen. Checked his phone three times in five minutes. "This is different," he said. "How?" "Before, I was performing. Now I'm just me." "And you're worried they won't like the real you?" "Maybe." I cupped his face. Made him look at me. "The real you is the best you. They'll see that." "You're biased." "Extremely." We arrived at two PM. My parents' backyard was already full. Peter manning the grill. Jennifer chasing the kids. Susan on her second beer. Various cousins sprawled on lawn chairs. Caroline sat with my mother on the patio. They were laughing
The Holidate Pact CHAPTER 38: The Aftermath
**SLOANE** One week later, life was surprisingly normal. Jackson stayed over three nights a week. I stayed at his twice. We didn't call it moving in, but there was a drawer at each other's places now. His toothbrush by my sink. My coffee mug in his cabinet. His sweatpants folded in my dresser. My hair ties scattered across his bathroom counter. Small invasions that felt like home. My mother still wasn't fully speaking to me. But she was thawing. She'd invited us to brunch next Sunday. Progress. My father called Jackson for golf. Actual golf. Not interrogation disguised as golf. Peter and Jennifer had us over for dinner. The kids climbed all over Jackson, showing him their toys, demanding he play referee in their games. Susan sent drunk texts of support at two AM. Typical. Caroline decided to stay another month. Rented a small apartment in Lincoln Park. "I like Chicago," she announced over coffee. "And I'm not done getting to know Sloane." We had tea every Wednesday. My idea.
The Holidate Pact CHAPTER 37: Charlotte's Final Move
**SLOANE** Forty-seven missed calls. I stared at my phone screen, still half-asleep. Seven AM on Friday morning. Mom (12 calls). Susan (8 calls). Various aunts and cousins. Even my father. He never called. One voicemail from my mother. Her voice tight. Controlled. "Sloane Elizabeth. Call me. NOW." My stomach dropped. I called Jackson. He answered on the first ring. "Something's wrong," I said. "What?" "My whole family's been calling. My mom sounds..." I couldn't finish. "I'm coming over." He was there in twenty minutes. Hair wet. Still in yesterday's shirt. I called my mother back with shaking hands. Put it on speaker. "Mom? What's wrong?" "Is it true?" "Is what true?" "That you and Jackson have been lying to us? That the whole relationship is FAKE?" The world tilted. "Who told you that?" "Does it matter? IS IT TRUE?" I couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. Jackson took the phone. "Mrs. Holbrook, we can explain." "I don't want explanations. I want the truth." "We'll
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