Page 24 of Priority

“Absolutely,” Nae retorts in tandem with me moving around bubble bath. “My brother and his fam are out of state for Christmas this year,plusthe boys love the Doctenn mansion because it’s got a heated, indoor pool.”

“It’s not a mansion.” I pop my face back into the frame. “It’s acottage.”

“Only in comparison to this place,” she sasses back.

“Sick!” He shouts back. “So, we can go!”

“Slow your carve, Fins…” Resuming my visual scouring occurs the instant I’m back to a standing position. “Dad is still unwilling to go,especiallywith the new reports about a potential snowstorm heading for that area.”

The fact he knows that’s a possibility is actually agoodthing.

It means he’s seriously considered making his son’s Christmas wish come true.

Which is progress.

Major progress.

I just wish the weathermen would keep all the fear inducing language to themselves.

Like what if children are checking those reports?!

Do they really need to see Santa might get stuck in a fucking blizzard?

“Aha!” I shout out in triumphant upon spotting the bright red tights neatly folded in the pushed in, plush chair. “Found ‘em!” Snatching the object out of their hidey hole is followed by me lifting them high into the air. “I found them!”

“They weren’t lost,” Brae unexpectedly states from the doorway that leads to her bedroom, confusion completely caking her complexion.

“What do you mean they weren’t lost?” My head tilts to one side, straightened hair lightly swaying. “Did you know where they were this whole time?!”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?!” Additional frustration soars up my spine. “What do you mean yeah?!”

“Yeah.” Her innocent shrug causes my eye to twitch. “Somehow they fell onto the floor, and Board decided he needed to guard them by laying on them, and so then I found them, and took them to Cass to get cleaned because Blake can’t wear tights covered in doghair when she’s the star of the show.”

“Aw…” her sister lovingly swoons from the other room.

“And you didn’t think to maybe…mention thatsooner?”

“You didn’t ask.”

I lower my mouth to snap once more yet can’t.

Because unfortunately…she has a valid point.

Ididn’tthink to ask her.

And I really should’ve.

They always seem to have each other’s back like a superhero and a sidekick, although they definitely take turns on which one is which.

I love that they’re so supportive.

So united.

“But I didask,” Wy grouses, pulling my focus in the opposite direction, back to where he’s seething in his sister’s room. “Iaskedto go to Doctenn for Christmas. Iaskedeveryone in ourimmediatefamily would they be willing to go. IaskedPark could we make security work. Iaskedyou to convince Dad that we could go.” He shakes his head prior to glaring. “What’s the point inaskingwhen it’s clear you really don’t wanna help, anyway?”

Rather than wait for a reply, he stomps off, leaving me with dismay and defeat resting comfortably on my shoulders.

---