Page 87 of Where We Burn

“So that’s how it is, huh? You’re gonna cut me out completely?”

“Looks like it.”

“Fine…”

He pauses at the door, his back to me, and for a split second, I see the little boy who once hugged me so tight when he scraped his knees that I never imagined he’d hate me the way he does now.

“Bye, Dad.”

Chapter 26

Piper

“Holy shit, she lives,”my sister says, smirking from the doorway with her oversized coffee mug.

“Oh, shut up and let me in already.” I shoulder past her, laughing until I catch sight of the living room. “You decorated without me, you absolute witch!”

“While you were off playing house with your ex-boyfriend’s dad and conveniently forgetting where you live? Yeah, I did. And I don’t want to hear a single word of complaint because, quite frankly, it looks fucking magical in here, and I killed it.”

She’s not wrong. It’s a full-blown Christmas wonderland—pine garlands wrapped in twinkle lights and candles flickering everywhere.

“Fine.” I sigh, collapsing onto the couch and kicking off my boots. “I forgive you. But only because I’m currently getting orgasms daily, and I’ve decided I don’t have the energy to be anything but happy and satisfied.”

“So that’s what it takes to get you to show your face again? You get fucked back into remembering you have a sister?”

“No, you demon.” I grin at her, grabbing a pillow and flinging it at her. “I missed you and wanted to talk to you about the holiday.”

“What about it?” she asks, eyeing me over the rim of her mug.

“Well… I was thinking maybe we could go to Cal’s bar this year.”

“No way.”

“Why not?”

“Because Dillon will be there, and this is our first year not being a couple anymore. We’re in a good place, but I don’t do awkward.”

“Alright. Forget I said anything,” I say, watching as she tucks a piece of her choppy blonde hair behind her ear. “Just food and slobbing out all day. It’s gonna be awesome.”

“Are we doing gifts?” she asks, settling into the armchair across from me.

“We never do gifts.”

“We’ve got each other, I guess.”

“You don’t sound that thrilled about it.” I laugh, tossing a cushion at her.

“I’d rather have presents than my annoying-as-shit sister.”

“You lie.”

She sighs dramatically. “Fine. I love you. Even if you are currently screwing the second hottest Crawford.”

I blink. “Second?”

“I said what I said. And I hate myself for it, but apparently I have a thing for man buns. Sue me.”

“Holy crap, I knew you were into Callan!”