Insta holiday, p.1
Insta Holiday, page 1
INSTA HOLIDAY
ELLA GOODE
CONTENTS
Summary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Also by Ella Goode
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Tyson Carter has known Rory Carlson is the one for him since, well, forever. All through high school with every score, he hoped to impress her into his bed. Nothing worked. Rory has remained stubbornly resistant to his Carter charms but Tyson didn’t win all those championships through luck. He can be just as strong-willed as she.
Rory Carlson has two younger brothers, a household full of debt, and a derelict mother. She doesn’t have time for rich kid Tyson Carter who, despite all his sports achievements, has decided to be an influencer. It doesn’t matter to her that he has hundreds of thousands of followers. Does that put food on the table? Tyson is gorgeous, handsome and smart, but she needs someone she can rely on.
In this insta world, she wants something permanent. During this holiday season, can Tyson convince her that forever after is possible with him?
CHAPTER 1
TYSON
“I wish it would snow.” Rory Carlson sighs, looking up at the sky.
“I’ll make it snow for you.”
Rory spins around and points a finger in my face. “Tyson Carter, if you don’t stop following me, I swear to God, I’m going to do….” Rory stomps her foot in frustration because there’s not much she can do to me. I’m a god, little g, here in Edison. I was Edison High’s star quarterback, winning the state championship three times in a row, and in Texas that means you can kill someone and get away with it. Me following around Rory Carlson in her battered Jeep as she makes deliveries for different businesses in town is not going to raise even one eyebrow.
“Just keeping you safe,” I drawl. Rory looks especially good today in her skinny jeans and white T-shirt with the faded Wonder Woman logo. Her eyes are shiny and bright, which tells me she got a good sleep last night, which is rare for her. During the week, she delivers for the hardware store, the café, and the grocery store. She waits tables at the café Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, she cooks at home, preparing enough food for the week for her family. At some point, she’s going to drop from exhaustion, and so I need to be there to catch her.
“I’m eighteen now, not seven, and do not need anyone—particularly you, Tyson Carter—to keep me safe.”
I don’t roll my eyes, but I want to. “And that incident with the meth head a month ago was what? A welcome encounter?”
She scowls. “It was an accident. Harry wouldn’t have hurt me if he wasn’t high. He thought I was an intruder and was trying to protect his home.”
“I agree, but he was high, and he’s an addict, so the chance that he’ll be high and violent in the future is greater than zero.”
“You’re being dumb.”
I shrug. “Maybe.”
“And lazy.”
“Lazy?”
“Yes! All you do is follow me around or hang out with Sterling Justice. Don’t you have ambitions?”
“Sure. You.”
She throws up her hands like this is a completely unreasonable statement. “That’s not an ambition.”
“Rory, we both know I’ve got money.” I don’t know why she’s upset about the fact that I’m spending my days watching her instead of the stock market.
“Your parents have money,” she corrects. She wrenches open the door of her Jeep and climbs in. “That’s not going to last forever.”
“Pretty sure it will.” My dad runs over the books with me once a month and has since I was fifteen. Not because he expects me to take over. Nope. He wanted me to know that all I had to do in high school was excel at sports. My state trophies, my individual awards, all sit on a shelf behind his desk. I think he polishes them nightly.
“You don’t know that. Besides, I want someone who can keep up with me, someone who has the same kind of drive.” She guns her engine. “And that someone does not follow others around and post dumb videos on social media. I’m going home now. Don’t follow me, and stop posting stuff about our non-existent relationship! We are not dating!” She peels out of the hardware store parking lot without a look behind her. I lift my phone and take a video.
“I know that.” So does everyone who follows me. After blurring out the license plate, I post the edited video with an update. “That feeling when your crush leaves you in the dust. Literally.”
I get twenty thousand views within the first few seconds of posting it. I don’t know why, but the internet is keen about my one-sided romance. My follower count increases every day. I’m going to hit three hundred thousand soon.
“Was that Rory Carlson?” a voice asks.
I look over my shoulder to see Cane Justice ambling over. His boot heels make a soft clicking noise against the asphalt. “Yup.” I turn my phone screen toward him.
A long, low whistle glides from between his teeth. “She wants nothing to do with you. I like the touch of her giving you the finger.”
“I felt like that was important to keep in—for authenticity’s sake.” I tuck my phone away.
“Sterling come to town with you? I haven’t seen much of him lately.”
“He’s busy with the princess. Her dad’s moving into the ranch.”
“Yeah, I know.
“It’s getting to be a full house. Good thing Sterling and Maria are going off to college. Gives us some time to get a house built for them.”
My best friend has fallen for a real-life princess. At first he thought the dad was going to object to the relationship, but it turns out that the Justice Ranch is exactly what old Prince Harold needed. The Justice house is bursting at the seams with three of the Justice cousins getting hitched.
Because misery loves company, I ask, “How’s Astor these days?”
Cane’s sober face turns dark. “You know how it is.”
“Guess we can be single together.”
“You ever ask your followers what you should do?” Cane jerks his head toward my phone.
“Regarding Rory? Nah, but they give me free advice all the time. Do you want me to ask about your situation?”
He hesitates and then shakes his head. “No. No one can solve my problem unless you know how to bring a horse back from the dead.”
“Probably someone knows, but it’ll come back mad and haunted and eat up the entire town until there’s nothing left but empty corpses and shit.”
Cane snorts. “Tyson, Halloween is over. It’s Christmas time.” He points to the main street where the wreaths and lights got hung last week. “Can’t you see?”
“Zombies don’t care about the holidays. Every day is an eating day for them.” I snap my fingers. “That’s actually some good content. I’ll see what the followers think. Why don’t you walk like the undead for me and I’ll post it.”
Cane obliges because what else does he have to do? Like me, all his time is spent waiting for his woman to join him by his side. It’s not really living, though. You can’t really live unless you have your soulmate next to you, but I can—and will—be patient. At some point, Rory will figure out that I’m the man for her. It might not be today or tomorrow, but it’ll happen. No doubt in my mind.
CHAPTER 2
RORY
He’s driving me insane. But even worse, he’s actually wearing me down. From the very start I’ve had no idea what to do with Tyson Carter. Growing up in somewhat of a small town, everyone knows Tyson. He graduated last year, but still he lingers around Edison.
He could have gone off to any college he wanted. Not only because of his skill on the football field but also his family name. But I guess when you don’t have to worry about money, you can do whatever your heart desires. I don’t have that privilege.
Needless to say, he’s still in Edison making social media videos and becoming more famous with each day that passes. The girls online swoon over him, and all the boys want to be him. The recent comments on his posts are all about how he stays in Edison because of me. That thought had never once occurred to me. I still find that hard to believe, but with each passing day I start to think maybe it is actually true. And I’m not sure what to do with that.
I pull out my phone when I park outside of my next delivery and do what I always tell myself I’m not going to do. I check to see if Tyson posted again. He has. It’s a video of me from a few minutes ago. I notice that the likes and comments are rolling in already. Lately he’s been posting more and more that pertains to me.
I glare at the one from Jessica saying she's more than willing to be Tyson’s girl. That he wouldn’t have to ask her twice or chase her. I shouldn’t care, but I can’t help but be pissy about it. I don’t want Tyson, but no one else should have him either. It’s a ridiculous way of thinking, but it’s all in my head, and no one will ever have to know.
I scream when an unexpected knock sounds at my window. Astor holds her hands up, mouthing the word sorry. She takes a step back so I can open the door.
“Didn
“I was playing with my phone. Sorry. I’ve got your delivery in the back.” I jump down from my Jeep and go around to grab her order from the hardware store.
“You’re fine. Sorry for the last-minute delivery. I couldn’t get away.”
“Anytime. You know that.” I hand her over the box. She doesn’t actually get deliveries from me often. I know money can be tight for her too, so she usually runs her own errands if she can. Every penny matters when you don’t have family money to fall back on.
“You hear we might actually get snow?” I drop my head back to look up at the graying sky.
“It might be nice,” I admit. Astor makes a noise, clearly not agreeing with me. Then again, I don’t have horses to worry about and whatever else they have going on here. I know she does the bulk of work on the land, and I’m guessing snow would only make things harder for her.
“I suppose a white Christmas could be beautiful. I’ve never experienced one.” She finally gives.
“Marry Cane Justice and I bet he’d take you to Aspen every Christmas.” I poke her a little to see if I can get a reaction from her.
“You talk a lot of shit for a girl who has Tyson Carter in love with her.”
“Fair point,” I agree quickly, hoping she’ll drop the subject.
Tyson’s family owns Carter Energy Transfer. They are an energy company that transports oil and gas products. Tyson has the luxury to never lift a finger for the rest of his life if he doesn’t want to. His family has secured their wealth already and will take care of him.
I know that’s not his fault or doing, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit I was bitter about it. Still, I always find myself thinking about him first thing when I wake up and last thing when I go to bed. He’s always there and not only physically.
“How do you do it, Astor?”
“Do what?” she asks, looking confused.
“Keep away from him?” I’m not trying to pry into her business. I truly am curious as to how she maintains her distance from Cane. Maybe she could share some tips with me because I’m obviously failing miserably when it comes to Tyson.
Even now, my fingers itch to pull my phone back out and check social media again. To see if he’s responded to the girl who posted she would happily be his girl. He usually does. Always saying his heart will know no other. He’s a giant sap. I hate how adorable it is. Anyone at a first glance would never think that about him.
“That’s a bit different. It’s only you that’s keeping you from Tyson.” She takes the box from me. “See you around,” she says before she takes off back toward the giant barn. I’m pretty sure she’s talking about her father not caring for the Justices. I’m not really sure. I’ve never heard the story, but I’ve never been big on gossip. Who has time for it?
Though I think she’s wrong. My family might not tell me not to be with Tyson, but the reality is I don’t have time for him. I barely have time for anything. The truth is I’m a bit scared if I let myself have even a taste of Tyson Carter I’ll never want to let go.
Then what? People depend on me. I won’t be selfish. Not when it comes to taking care of my little brothers. They’ve been let down enough. I shut the back door of my Jeep before jumping back into the driver's seat to finish my deliveries. I need all the cash I can get. This Christmas will not be like last year. I promised my brothers that.
CHAPTER 3
TYSON
“Tyson, your mom and I’ve been thinking you should get away for the holidays. Give your account some fresh content,” Dad suggests over dinner. He slides an envelope across the table until the edge hits my plate.
I set my fork down and peak inside the envelope. It contains plane tickets and a printed invoice for a hut in the Maldives. “People like that I’m relatable. I don’t think a tropical vacation that costs thirty grand a night is relatable.”
“You never know,” Mom chirps. “I watched an hour-long video of someone getting their hair washed in Japan. That’s not relatable, but it was entertaining. Your audience might enjoy new scenery.”
I rub a finger under my nose because I don’t want to offend my very loving parents, but I can see right through their scheme. “This is nice and all, but Christmas is around the corner, and I’ve got a date on Christmas Eve.”
Dad clears his throat. “About that. Your mom and I thought that I could take over your duties as Santa Claus this year.”
For the last five Christmas Eves, I’ve ho ho ho’d my way around town dressed in a Santa suit, dropping small toys and candy at homes where I know there are kids. I shake my head. “No can do. The suit wouldn’t fit you.” My dad is two inches shorter and about a hundred pounds heavier.
“We can easily get a new suit made,” interjects Mom. She turns to my dad as I guess this tag-team effort now requires him to chime in. When he doesn’t immediately speak because he’s intent on scarfing down his porterhouse steak, she nudges him with her elbow.
This show would be kinda amusing if it wasn’t all intended to take me away from Rory.
My dad gets the clue and hastily sets down his utensils. While he’s wiping his mouth, he makes a snicking noise by clicking his tongue against his teeth. It’s his Aw, son sound, the sound of regret tinged with a little bit of disappointment. My heart sinks slightly. I love my parents, so it’s hard facing even the tiniest bit of disapproval which hardly ever comes my way. Even when I said I wasn’t going to college until Rory could leave her family, they never pushed.
“Son, it’s been almost a year now. Your friends are off to college, but you’re still here.”
“Isn’t Edison the greatest place in Texas? No better place to raise a family or grow old—or so Uncle Phillip says.” Uncle Phillip being Edison’s mayor going on twenty years now.
“It is, of course, but I just wonder if you’re staying here for the right reasons,” presses Mom. “It’s not that I don’t approve of Rory. She’s lovely. Her brothers seem…sweet,” she finishes after a long pause. Rory’s brothers are a handful but normal boy handful. Even if they were hellions that wouldn’t be Rory’s fault. It isn’t her job to raise them or to provide for them even though she’s doing the best she can under the circumstances. “But she doesn’t seem receptive to your advances, and I know you are too decent of a person to force yourself on someone who has interest elsewhere.”
“First, she doesn’t have interest elsewhere. Second, I’m not forcing myself on anyone. Third, she’ll come around, and when she does, I have to be standing right there, otherwise she might miss me. Good talk, though. Appreciate your concern.” I sweep the rest of the potatoes into my mouth, swallow, and then gather up my plate and utensils. “Sadie, best damn steak in the country once again,” I holler as I make my way to the kitchen. I dump my dishes into the sink and give the older woman a quick smooch. “Thanks. Any leftovers?”
She points to the cardboard box. “I made a casserole from the steak and potatoes. It’s enough to feed them a couple of days.”
“You’re the best, Sadie.” I grab the box and take off before my parents can cook up another argument. I have a feeling this isn’t the last I’m going to hear of me wasting my life away for Rory.
At Rory’s house, there’s only one light on and no Jeep in the driveway. The blue light of the television flickers in the window. I knock, but no one comes to the door, so I open it.
