Page 95 of When We Burn

“No. But what if I did?”

I crook my finger at her, and she walks to my side. I brush my hand over her soft hair. “Then you just say so. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Birdie runs back over to Alex, who was braiding her hair, and sits between her legs. Dani leans her head on my shoulder, and I plant my lips on her forehead, breathing her in.

“What’s up, Darby?” Holden asks as he wraps an arm around his wife.

The eldest Lexington sister takes a deep breath and then says, “I’m moving.”

There’s shocked silence. I feel Dani stiffen in my arms, and she sits upright, staring at her sister.

“Like, across town?” Dani asks.

“No.” Darby shakes her head. Holden’s eyes have narrowed, and Millie links her fingers with his. “Look, you know that I love it here, and I love all of you, but there’s got to be something better out there for me. I work my ass off and never get ahead. I never was good at making friends, and the men here are ridiculous. No offense, guys.”

I grin at her, and Holden doesn’t say anything at all.

“Holden and you girls have your lives figured out,” Darby continues, pushing her hand throughher dark hair. Her blue eyes are shiny. “And I don’t. I didn’t go to college because…well, we all know why.”

Holden’s hand tightens on his beer.

“I’m ready to figure my shit out, too. I’m going to vet school in Colorado. I have to do some prereqs first, but I want to work with animals.”

“Oh, my God, that’s amazing,” Charlie says. “Darby, you’d be so good at that!”

“Vet school?” Alex asks with a frown. “Withanimals? The one thing we all avoid?”

“I’m over avoiding shit because the dumpster fire who sired us ruined everything in the world. Animals are awesome. They’re better than people, and I’m going to help them. I’m through with being afraid. He’s dead and gone, and it’s time I live my life.”

“Good for you,” I say before I can hold the words in, and Darby’s eyes, so much like her siblings’, turn to me. “I know, I don’t have a say here?—”

“You’re our family,” Darby says, shaking her head.

“Thank you.” Dani rubs my arm as I smile softly at her sister. “I think it’s brave and badass of you to do this.”

“Agreed,” Holden says, and then clears his throat. “You know I’ll pay for school. That’s not a problem.”

“I’m counting on it,” Darby replies with a half laugh. “But even if you won’t?—”

“I will.”

“I’ll take out loans because I want to do this.”

“When do you have to leave?” Dani asks. I can hearthe tears in her voice, and it makes me want to pull her to me.

“I’ll start in January,” Darby replies. “But I’ll probably move down there in November, find housing, get a job. All the things. But, of course, I’ll come home for Christmas. Did I mention I’ve already been accepted to the school?”

“Of course, you have,” Alex says. “You’re brilliant.”

Holden stands and pulls his sister into his arms, hugging her close. “I’m so proud of you, sweet girl.”

And just like that, Darby starts to cry in her brother’s arms, and all three sisters surround them in a group hug.

Birdie looks at me with wide eyes, and I wink at her, letting her know that everything’s okay, but my daughter still crosses to me and stands next to me.

“They’re happy,” I murmur to her.

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