Page 33 of The Fight

The house is quiet, minus the soft voices drifting from the kitchen. When I round the corner, I find Blair leaning over the counter with my dad and her mom on the other side. Her hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail, and she has a cup of coffee in front of her as she listens to the conversation.

I freeze for a moment. It’s not like I’m shocked to see her here. She is my stepsister now, after all. Still, it’s always a little odd seeing her so at ease in my space. It isn’t that I’m not used to it, but lately, everything feels… different.

“Morning, Shay.” My dad tips his chin. “We were just telling Blair how we’re flying out to LA today. We’ll be gone a couple of days but expect you both to be on your best behavior.”

I nod and move past them to grab a mug out of the cabinet. “So that total rager I was planning will have to wait?”

Blair chuckles, but my dad doesn’t. He’s always so fucking stiff.

I just roll my eyes and pour a heaping amount of coffee into my cup. “What’s happening in LA?”

“It’s my final dress fitting,” Sylvia all but squeals.

Blair raises a brow. “Isn’t it bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding?”

Sylvia shrugs and curls into my dad with a smile. “Traditionally, yes. But nothing about our relationship has been traditional. Since we aren’t planning a honeymoon right away, I figured we could use this as a sort of pre-honeymoon. A mini trip to the big city before we say ‘I do.’”

I gulp my coffee and swallow loudly. “Bring me back a souvenir.”

Discarding my cup into the sink, I try to slip back to the doorway, but my dad stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “Shay. I’m serious. No nonsense when I’m gone, understood?”

Shrugging away from his touch, I nod. “I got it.”

He studies me for a moment, then moves his hand up and grips my chin between his pointer finger and thumb. “Bruised up with a busted lip. Since when does that happen?”

I pull away, turning my head, and catch Blair giving me the same look. Like she’s agreeing and saying,yeah, what’s up with that?Only, she doesn’t keep it up. As soon as she knows I’ve seen her, she points her sights at my dad and her mom again, breaking the small silence.

“So, when are you guys heading out?”

Sylvia looks at her watch, dragging my dad’s attention with her, giving me enough time to slip past them.

“Oh! We need to leave now. We’re set to board in an hour.” She gathers her purse from the counter, pats the front of her body quickly like she’s making sure she has everything, then looks at my dad.

“I already have the tickets.” He smiles like he read her mind.

“Okay.” She releases a breath, then moves around the counter to Blair and pecks her head. “Be good. Love you!”

“Love you too.”

As they move toward the doorway, I back up and shuffle toward Blair, watching them as they go. I keep my eyes on the front door until they’re on the other side, and I hear the familiar sound of tires rolling over gravel. When it lulls into a distant hum, I turn to Blair.

“Finally.”

I don’t give her a chance to even reply before my lips are on hers. The bitterness from her coffee is still slick on her tongue, but the cherry from her lip balm is sweet. I push my hands into her hair and curl the tips of my fingers, no doubt fucking up her already messy ponytail.

After a few seconds, she pulls away, planting her hand firmly on my chest. “As much as I like this, doesn’t it feel weird doing this here?”

I glance around the kitchen and then back to her. “I mean, no.”

She laughs. “I don’t know. I feel… icky. Like we’re doing something wrong.”

Now, I laugh. “’Cause technically, we are. You’re my sister, duh.”

Blair shoves me hard. “Shut up! I told you not to say that.”

Holding up my hands in mock surrender, I drop my head. “Okay, okay. I tell you what, go pack an overnight bag and get dressed.”

“Forrr?” She draws the word out.

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