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“I know. I’m just surprised is all. Dad must have flipped.”

Caleb shook his head, “I’ve never seen him like that. He’s been on a rampage since you everything that went down on Thanksgiving. I’ve never seen him on a power trip quite like this.”

“I ummm —- I don’t know what to say.” I couldn’t help but feel like it was partly my fault.

“Micah, you don’t have to say anything. I admire what you did. I wish I could stand up to him like that.”

I pulled my brother into another hug. I don’t think I’ve hugged anyone in my family in years. I mean, my mom does fake hugs sometimes, but never a true embrace.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

He scratched his head as he blew out a breath. “I mean… no. But I will be.”

“We are going to revisit the rehab discussion after the holidays.”

He gave a slow nod. “Okay.”

After I left, I sat down on the couch. The church was poking around in money. That wasn’t good. Did they find out about Robin's little act of do gooding? I had no way of knowing.

Shit.

25

ROBIN

Ipulled up to the Roller-o-Rama with for Secret Santa, but sadly, my heart was still Grinch-sized. It’d been over a month. I thought I would be over him by now. I should be over him by now. But I wasn’t. Not even close.

Still, I put on my Santa hat and grabbed my skate bag and my present. I opened the door and pulled my coat around me. A cold wind whipped around me as I made my way in. I yanked the door open and was enveloped by warmth and the smell of Mel’s Chili. I stomped the snow from my boots before turning the corner to the Reaper’s Christmas Party.

“There she is!” Sonia hollered as she made her way over and pulled me into a big hug.

“I see you’ve been hitting Belle’s eggnog already.”

“I wouldn’t touch that shit.” Sonia said, brandishing a flask out of her vest pocket.

“Hey! Everyone loves me eggnog,” Belle protested.

“You keep telling yourself that,” Sonia said as they walked further in.

“Let the mandated merriment begin,” I groaned. I just couldn’t seem to summon up any holiday cheer this year.

Around me the team all laughed and joked. Some were skating, some were eating, I was just sitting here wondering why I couldn’t force myself to have fun in this room full of amazing women.

Belle brought me over a basket of chili cheese fries and a drink. I eyed the drink suspiciously.

“Oh stop, it’s not my eggnog.”

I took a sip only to spit out because of the surprising burn of what seemed like straight up vodka.

Belle took it back and sniffed it before turning to Sonia with a glare. “Really?”

She merely grinned and flipped us both off before heading out onto the floor in her skates. Belle got up and put a little more mixer in and brought it back.

“Sorry, I should have known better than to trust Sonia to mix a drink.”

“Rookie mistake,” I said with a smile that almost felt foreign. “Where’s Raphael tonight?”

The smile that flitted across her face made me burn with jealousy for a split second. Belle was one of my best friends; I was happy she found Raph. He treats her like a princess and Belle deserves it. But sitting here with a fucking broken heart I can’t put back together is pissing me off.