Page 27

Instead, I lazily run my hands through Dick’s fur and stare at Nic's ceiling, letting the sounds of Thanksgiving wash over me, similarly to the pain when Evan tattoos me.

Nic and Lauren’s banter in the kitchen. Henry baby-talking to Pumpkin. Caleb’s car pulling up in front of Nic’s home. Then another car, either Erik or Henry’s parents'.

None of the animals move a muscle when Caleb walks into the living room. However, another set of paws pitter-patters closer, and suddenly Shadow’s tongue licks over my cheek. Then he curls up next to my legs and lays his heavy head on my knee.

I take a deep breath. Well, as deep as Dick's weight atop my chest allows me to.

Even though I have it better in check with every passing year, the holiday season is hard to swallow.

Getting to celebrate Thanksgiving with my friends is taking off some of the sting, but at the same time, opening a whole other wound. It’s reassuring to spend Thanksgiving with others who have cut contact with the family, initiated or not.

But spending it with two couples who are very in love and very open about it? A whole other beast. I let out a deep sigh.

And there will be even more couples this year. After all, Kylie and Erik got together during the autumn fair, and Henry's parents are coming as well.

Erik's aunt, Molly, will also come this year. I've probably seen her around some of the festivities happening in Wayward Hollow or Kinstead. But seriously? The only other single person at this dinner is going to be Erik's aunt?

It’s a little depressing. Then again, who knows? Maybe she’s hot.

Then, once Thanksgiving is over, the holiday depression will begin, and I have a hunch it will be the worst one yet.

But, like every year, I will breathe through it and do my best to enjoy it, anyway. I will decorate the Christmas tree without my sister and bake Christmas cookies without my mother.

And I will eat as many cookies as I want, without getting yelled at by my dad to leave some for the rest of them.

Only me. And the little guy softly snoring on my chest. But that's okay.

I drop a kiss on his head. He's my family now. And he's all the family I need.

“Holy fuck, these are amazing.” The pizza rolls Erik’s aunt brought might be the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth. Yet. Super cheesy and the tomato sauce is on point, ugh, I’m in heaven.

“Thank you, thank you.” She grins at me and digs into her mac and cheese.

“Are you single?” I wriggle my eyebrows. I’m joking. Well, kind of. “Because I’d marry you for these.”

“Nope.” If looks could kill, they could bury me right next to my afterlife-bestie Svetty the Skelly. AKA Elizabeth. Erik might be Wayward Hollow’s sheriff, but right now, he’s definitely down for murder. And I should maybe be more concerned, considering his job. He’d get away with it if he wanted to. “Uh-uh. Stop it, Kieran.”

Were it any other season, I’d cling to my life more, but at the moment poking the bear sounds more fun. “I’m just saying.”

“Kieran!”

“Sorry love, you’re not my type,” Molly declares with a wink, and I think Erik is seconds away from an aneurism.

“You’re breaking my heart, Molly.” I clutch my shirt as dramatically as I can and let out an equally dramatic sigh.

Suddenly, the phone equivalent of an air horn rings, and makes every person around Nic’s giant dining table jump. Erik excuses himself, but not without shooting another glare my way. Then he freezes in the doorframe to the hallway, his face hardening and he curses.

“What?”

Everyone at the table goes still and slowly turns to him.

“There’s a fire in Kinstead. Apparently, their main square is burning down.”

I freeze, blood rushing through my ears, drowning out the rest of what he's saying.

A fire.

In Kinstead.