Page 154 of Burn Bright

She gulps. “Well…I’d like to think the benefit is greater than the cost because I’d be celebrating Charlie and Beckett.” She pops back out of her seat. “It’s for family, Mother! You can’t fault me for that.”

“A bribe is still a bribe, gremlin,” Mom retorts. “If you want to be at a nightclub in New York atsixteen, I will be accompanying you.”

Audrey collapses in her chair in defeat. “I’m far too old for a chaperone, especially when Beckett and Charlie movedto New York when they were only sixteen.” She’s brought up this point plenty of times before, but the argument has no legs to stand on. Our parents would let her finish school in NYC if it’s what she desired. Instead, she’s repeatedly chosen to remain with them in Philly. She lifts her chin to add, “I’ll simply wait for the next invite.”

“There won’t be one,” Charlie says bluntly. “None of us want to babysit you.”

Audrey lets out a horrified gasp. “Father.” She swings her head to our dad. “Please remind your infernal offspring that I amnota baby.”

Dad has his fingers to his temples, casually listening to us. Eliot and Tom take advantage of the silent moment to drum the table.

Charlie barely blinks. “Rappelle-toi que tu dors encore avec un ours en peluche.”Remind yourself that you still sleep with a teddy bear.

Audrey’s grip tightens on her goblet. “I might sleep with a teddy bear, but that doesn’t mean I am a child. I am awoman.”

“Under society’s terms, you are agirl.”

“I havebled.I could be pregnant tomorrow!”

I have a hand frozen to my forehead. Eliot and Tom are near laughter, which is going to make Audrey cry soon. Jane is too busy trying to feed a fidgety Maeve to come to her aid. Mom is sending daggers at all of my brothers, then eyes Dad for a long beat.

Beckett is raking his fingers through his hair like he sees our sister on an emotional downward slope too. I shake my head at him. She will not win this back-and-forth with Charlie.

Beckett is sitting too far away from him, but he bows into the table and calls out his name. To which Charlie tips his head toward his twin brother. They give each other looks I can’t decipher.

To Audrey, I ask, “You aren’t…?”She’s not having sex.She always overshares, obviously, and there’s no chance she wouldn’t have told me.

Our dad has an unreadable expression, but I think he’s unamused. No one wants to picture our sixteen-year-old sister pregnant, but I might be the only one actually cringing.

“And that is fact,” Audrey decrees as if she won this tournament of wits.

Fuck. Charlie is a slingshot on her. “Great, you had a period,” he deadpans. “You want a real fact? Virgins can’t get pregnant.”

She lifts her chin. “I’m not a virgin anymore.”

The sudden silence should be comical, but it’s honestlytense.I’m not even studying the reactions around the table because I’m doing my best to read Audrey’s poker face.

“And I care because?” Charlie questions. “Fuck the whole neighborhood, it doesn’t change your age?—”

“CharlieKeating,” our mom sneers his name. “Rethink what you say to yoursixteen-year-oldsister. Right now.”

He expels an aggravated sigh. “Audrey, you don’t want to be a statistic, do you? Teen pregnancy?” He forces a pained smile. “Wait for a man who will…” He waves his fingers. “Fulfill your obnoxious imagination.” Then he looks to our mom. “Happy?”

“I amnotablyirate.”

“Wonderful.” He swigs his wine, crashing back in his chair.

“Is this a lie?” Jane asks Audrey.

She’s bullshitting, for sure.

“Possibly.” She reaches for more cranberries, and the flame of the candle bends at just the wrong time. Her frilly lace sleeve catches on fire. She shrieks and jumps out of her chair. Everyone follows suit in an attempt to help.

“Audrey!” Mom rushes toward her, but Dad is closer. I’ve already grabbed her water goblet, dousing her wrist instantly. The fire extinguishes, but my pulse is ringing in my ears.

My sister places a hand to her chest, her breathing shortened. Dad curves around to inspect the damage. “Es-tu blessée?”Are you hurt?

She shows him her wrist. “Non, je ne le pense pas.”No, I don’t think so.