Page 9 of Snowbound with the Santas

“Don’t be so ridiculous,” Mom snaps. “Don’t stand there acting all judgmental after some of the stunts you’ve pulled.”

“I’m not judging, I’m just?—”

“You are!” She interrupts me sharply and raises her voice.

“You, uh, weren’t meant to find out like this,” Cecil says, followed by a dry, awkward laugh.

“You’re making me feel dirty, like I’ve done something wrong when I am a grown woman and I can kiss whomever I like.” Mom raises one sharp, penciled brow.

“But UncleCecil—” I try to say. My mind runs, searching for a hint as to how this could have happened. And why keep it a secret like this?

“He’s not your real uncle, so don’t look at me like that,” Mom snaps. “I won’t have you acting like this is something terrible. You know, this is just like you, Rayne. You always find a way to make things dramatic and make them worse than they are. What happens between Cecil and me is private and absolutely none of your business!”

Her passion for defending Cecil is the most heated I’ve seen her in years. I can’t wrap my head around this. The last time I saw them together, Cecil was dating a blonde woman from work who looked like she was constantly sucking on sour prunes, and my mother was chasing after some English lord.

Now they’re together?

“Well?” Mom demands, crossing her arms over her middle. “You better have a damn good reason for interrupting me like some lunatic!”

I have to get out of here.

The look in Mom’s eye is one I’ve seen countless times before. She’s far too concerned with saving face and protecting someone else to give a shit about me. I can already hear her telling me to deal with Ashton myself, and that’s not something I can do.

“I’m sorry, I have to?—”

I stumble out of the room without another word, and neither of them follows.

That’s fine.

Whatever. I don’t need them.

I need…

I need Nina.

Heading away from the elevator, I stumble toward the stairwell and use my shoulder to push open the door while digging my phone out of my purse. Tears fall irregularly down my cheek and my body grows numb with each passing heartbeat.

I can’t breathe.

My abusive ex is here, and my mom is shacking up with my uncle-not-uncle, all while staring at me like it’s my fault for keeping it a secret.

I need someone on my side, and Nina is the only person I can think of.

In these heels, each step down the stairs is a gamble, so after the first flight, I kick them off and leave them in the corner. Nina’s number flashes up on the screen, and I hit dial as I descend to the next set.

Instead of the connection click that I crave, my phone gives two long beeps and the call dies.

No reception.

What the hell?

Assuming it’s because of the stairwell, I hurry faster down the stairs and out into the ground floor hall. The cold of the floor barely breaches my thoughts as all I can think of is calling Nina.

I need to hear her voice.

I need help.

“Fuck,” I murmur, tapping the call button again. Once again, the call fails.

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