I’m sorta trying out a couple of styles in this chapter, so be patient with me! Thanks!

~Sinny

Puzzle and I were tentative with how we felt about each other for a while. There was so much history between us. He was my brother’s imaginary friend, and I’d been in and out of love with him ever since I was a teenager. He took me to prom, we had our first kisses together. But I broke his heart, and I know it was a stupid mistake. I don’t know why I did it. I was young and dumb and the way I felt about him was so confusing and huge that I didn’t want to feel it. So when a simpler love came about, I wanted so badly to believe in that instead. I hurt him. I feel terrible for that and I always will in a way.

So we kept it slow.

I taught Evan to walk, and got a job at the arena, trying to make the team notice me. Puzzle was still in bars.

We were struggling for money.

We were trying.

But maybe we just couldn’t make it.

***

As soon as she got in through the front door, Holly made a beeline for the couch. She’d just pulled a double shift, and was tired as hell. Puzle came down the stairs from the tiny bedroom/nursery they had, with a wailing Evan in his arms.

“Jesus, there you are. It’s 6, I’m nearly late for Happy hour at the Prosper Room!” He was bouncing Evan up an down, trying to make him stop crying. She stood up and grabbed the child, going over to the coffee table and grabbing a dummy. He stopped crying nearly instantly when it was in his mouth, and nestled his head into her hair.

“I needed to take another shift.” She told him.

“What, why? I’m making money, it’s fine!” He responded, grabbing his coat and going to get his shoes. Holly stayed silent. Noticing this, Puzzle abandoned the search for his shoes, and came over to her.

“What’s wrong, Hol?” He asked, touching her cheek. She turned her head away. “What? What is it?”

Holly’s lips were drawn in a straight line. She sighed. “No, Puzzle. We aren’t fine.”

“We have food, we make rent, it’s fine!” Puzzle responded. He looked hurt. She hated this, but it needed to be said.

“We aren’t! Puzzle, we’re a family of three living in a studio apartment! Evan’s nearly a child! What are we going to do when he needs a bed, huh? Put that at the end of the room, too? We can’t do this!” She was nearly in tears. “Puzzle, I think we made a mistake coming here. We had a full house back on the island, with my parents and my brother and Robbie close by to help us if we needed it. We came here for you. But I don’t think we can stay.” Her eyes clenched shut so she wouldn’t have to look at his face.

“I think I might have to leave. You’re happy here, and you’d be fine on your own. But we can’t support ourselves and Evan. You don’t have to look after us anymore.”

Silence gripped the room.

She heard the door open and close.

Puzzle was gone.

She opened her eyes to the silly, empty, tiny apartment.

She sat down on their cheap sofa.

She stroked Evan’s blonde curls until the pain dissolved into a dull ache.

***

The days passed without much interaction. She went to work, and Puzzle often stayed out all night. Just like Silas did.

Another relationship ending?

Possibly.

She hated this.

After a week, she was ready to book a flight home, when Puzzle came to her. He told her to come with Evan for a trip. Maybe a goodbye? She tried to build up a wall around her heart, so she wouldn’t cry when he said those words.

She loved him. She did. But she had to think of her baby.

They got on a bus, and then walked for a while. Evan was getting tired and cranky, and so was she.

“Puzzle, for goodness sake, just tell me what we’re doing and get it over with!” She snapped.

He frowned.

“Just around this corner.” He said.

They rounded the corner, to find a small neighborhood built on the cliffs. She turned to him, confused. he smiled and kept walking, before standing outside a house.

“I’ve been working my ass off.” He laughed. “Nearly did some terrible things, did a lot of dumpster diving, and then a miracle happened. Dad…well, your dad phoned.” He smiled. “And he knew something was wrong. So he gave me a loan. And that was what pulled it together, really. I;d made enough to make a down payment.” He smiled.

“What are you saying?” Holly asked.

“Well, the apartment isn’t our apartment anymore. All of our stuff is being packed as we speak and this, my darling, is our house.” He said.

“We have a house.” Holly said.

“We have a house.” Puzzle said.

“We have a house?” Holly asked.

“We have a house!” Puzzle grinned.

“Oh my God we have a house!” Holly screamed. She pulled Puzzle to her, making sure Evan was in her other arm, and kissed him.

They went in, where a few pieces of new furniture were sitting. Puzzle took Evan from her and put him on the floor with his toy.

“Only for a bit. Come outside.” He said.

Holly didn’t ask a single question. She just followed.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you, through thick and thin, even when I shouldn’t have. And I’ve wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my whole life. Holly, you’re the be all and end all for me. I’ll never stop being here for you, no matter what. I want everything from you, selfishly, madly, totally. I want your heart to only beat for me, and for your footsteps to always be by mine.”

“Will you marry me?”

“Oh God!” Holly exclaimed. She was crying heavily. And not very prettily. “Even though I’m a terrible, terrible person?”

“Even if you were the worst.”

“Even though I shouted at you?”

“Baby, even if you scream at me.”

“Even though I’m already divorced with a child?”

“Holly. I know all this. I still love you. But this snow is freezing my kneecaps. Will you marry me?” He asked again.

“Of course I’ll marry you! I love you!” Holly exclaimed, bending down to kiss him.