Page 20 of Falling for the Grinchy Bad Boy

“Damn. Is he okay?”

“Oh, he’s fine. Stubborn as ever. But here’s the kicker—we got called out because Mrs. Ellis thought she witnessed a hit-and-run. She saw this old man sliding down the street on his stomach and assumed he’d been clipped by a car.”

I snorted despite myself. “Of course she did.”

“By the time we got there, Carson was already back on his feet, brushing himself off like nothing happened. The dog was sitting pretty as you please, tail wagging, probably wondering why everyone was making such a fuss.”

“Did you tell him he needs a shorter leash? Or maybe a smaller dog?”

“You try telling Frank Carson anything,” she said with a laugh. “Man’s been walking that route for fifteen years. Says he’s not about to change his routine because of a ‘minor tumble.’”

I shook my head. “Minor tumble. He got dragged by a hundred-and-twenty-pound lab.”

“A hundred and thirty, easy. That dog could probably pull a sled.” She picked up her phone again, still smiling.

“I need to move south,” I said. “I’m done with the cold. Do they celebrate Christmas in Arizona?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re an idiot.”

I heaved a sigh once again. “Well then I fit in this town just fine. We’re surrounded by idiots.”

She leaned back, folding her arms, still smiling, but softer now. “That’s not why you hate the season, Coop.”

I stiffened. “Sure it is.”

“No.” She gave me that big-sister look. Big sister by two minutes. But she still made me feel like I was twelve again and got caught sneaking cookies before dinner. “You hate it because of her.”

“Don’t.” My voice came out sharper than I meant.

“You’re still associating Christmas with Lynn. I swear we can never schedule another event during any holiday. We cannot risk things going badly and you holding a grudge forever. Lynn didn’t ruin Christmas. She ruined your wedding. Stop connecting the two.”

I clenched my jaw. “Kind of hard not to.”

“Cooper.” Her voice gentled, but there was steel under it. “Santa didn’t leave you at the altar. Frosty didn’t run off with her tennis instructor. It wasn’t elves sticking their packages in her sleigh.”

“Gross,” I muttered, but I couldn’t stop the huff of reluctant laughter. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“Christmas didn’t jingle⁠—”

“Stop,” I said. “I get it. I don’t need any more visuals.”

“She was a coward,” my sister said. “Jilting you at the altar instead of telling you to your face. And yeah, it was brutal. But you’re better off without her. Better now than five years down the road or even two years down the road. Can you imagine how bad it would have been if you had kids? She would have made your life hell, Cooper. And mine. Good riddance.”

I stared at the scuffed tile floor. Better off. Sure. But the words didn’t sink in. Not really.

She leaned forward. “You need to stop letting her steal Christmas from you. She doesn’t get to ruin this season for you forever. Don’t let her be the actual Grinch. Fuck her. I hope she’s miserable somewhere. I hope she’s hating every life choice she’s ever made.”

I dragged a hand down my face. “I’m not ready.”

“Not ready to what?”

“To move on.” I swallowed. “I don’t think I ever will be.”

My sister sighed, softer now. “I’ll make it my mission to get you in the spirit. One candy cane at a time.”

I groaned, leaning back in the chair. “God help me.”

“You mean Santa help you.”

I shot her a look. She grinned wickedly.

“I’m going to eat before the next call comes in,” I said. “And don’t you dare try to send me off on a bogus call.”

“One time!” She was laughing as I walked out.

“One time too many,” I shot back. “That’s an abuse of resources. I’m a fireman and you’re supposed to be a dispatcher. Don’t abuse your position.”

She said something but I didn’t hear her. When I walked into the living area, Matt was in the kitchen with the sandwich stuff out. Tony had disappeared into his office. We were a small station. Usually we only had maybe five people on staff at any given time. I used to think I wanted to move down to Salt Lake and get a job at one of the busy firehouses.

And then I realized I actually liked being around town. For now.

I liked knowing the people I was sent out to help. I liked knowing it was my sister I was talking to on the other end of the radio when shit was going sideways. Katrina was the calm one. I was the hothead. She was the Yin to my Yang.

Even if she drove me fucking crazy.