Hollis is done with hanging around the bar on Valentine’s Day. He’s going to stay in -- alone -- and watch some movies. At least, that’s the plan. But his coworker’s half-brother’s cousin, better known as Ryan, is new in town. And although the lunch they shared was more levels of awkward than a house of cards, fate must want them to become friends, because on his way home after picking up his Valentine’s Day dinner, Hollis runs into Ryan again. The nice thing to do is to invite him up for dinner -- who wants to be alone in a new city on Valentine’s Day, right? The night leads to a dinner offer in return, a night bowling, a dinner party. When Ryan is relaxed, he’s a lot of fun, but he’s also a lot of work, facing off panic and anxiety in waves. But that isn’t a problem, because friends are there for each other. And they are, after all, friends. Just friends. Right?

Holding Hands

He realized he hadn’t said anything, when Ryan looked up at him, shy, terrified, and curious. “Hollis?”


“Sorry. Um, I doubt they’re staring because you’re a bad dancer, Ry.”


A furrowed brow. “Then why would they?”


“I don’t know, but I’ll tell you if I figure it out.” Hollis didn’tknow, but he could guess. Probably something to do with slim hips, broad shoulders, and a very nice cut of suit. Of course, he’d never seen Ryan dance; the man could be a giraffe on roller skates. When had Ryan danced, in public, with people who’d tell him why they were staring? High school? Nah, Ryan wouldn’t have gone to those. More fancy events like this? But why would he have danced if it wasn’t required? As badly as Hollis wanted to know, he shoved down those questions and asked the more pertinent one: “So just dinner and rubbing elbows?”


“That’s it. And I mean, you don’t have to doanything.”


“I mean, just because you’re my date, there’s no obligations.”


Chapter 15