Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I toy with a strand of Charlotte’s hair while she tries to converse amicably with Elise. That chick is dumber than a box of rocks, though, making it hard as hell for my girl. Garrett has abandoned his dumb fuck toy to huddle with my dad somewhere in the house. I was pleasantly surprised when our dads hit it off. Garrett is a lot like Charlotte and Hollis, making friends with just about everyone everywhere they go. Penny is the black sheep in their family. The one who likes to dish out shit like it’s a full-time job.
“The snow is too heavy,” Mom says, perching on the edge of the couch beside me. “Everyone is enjoying themselves. I think it’d be best to stay and not have to drive in it.”
It’s pretty uncommon to get snow on Thanksgiving, but this year the cold came early and more brutal than usual. Winter is going to fucking suck.
“We wouldn’t want to put you out,” Elise says, her voice tight. It’s clear she’s been uncomfortable since Garrett left to go gossip with Dad.
“Oh, honey, it’s nothing and we have plenty of room in this big house.” Mom waves her hand in the air. “I keep telling David we should do like Cal and get a cute riverside cabin, but he’s stubborn.”
“Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Charlotte jokes, tilting her head up to kiss me.
I kiss my girl and then catch my mom watching us with pride in her eyes. It makes my heart squeeze inside my chest. I guess it’s pretty obvious I love this girl and Mom seems thrilled about it. Being the momma’s boy I am, happiness washes over me at having pleased my mother.
“We have the guest room right beside ours downstairs that Rhetta and Terrence could take,” Mom suggests. “Penny and Tierra could take the guest room beside yours upstairs, Cal.” She lifts her brow. “Charlotte…”
“Is staying with me,” I confirm with a possessive growl that makes my mom laugh.
“And Elise, if it’s okay with you and Garrett, we have the pull-out sofa downstairs,” Mom offers.
Elise’s nostrils flare, but she forces a smile. “I doubt we’ll have to stay, but thanks for the offer.”
Dad and Garrett walk back into the room, both wearing matching stern expressions.
“Everyone needs to stay the night,” Dad booms, gesturing toward the window. “I wouldn’t feel right about letting anyone drive in that. We have the room.”
Mom winks at me. “What a great idea, hon. I’ll get the guest rooms ready.”
“I’ll help,” Charlotte says, climbing out of my lap.
Elise sighs as though it pains her to speak. “I guess I’ll help too.”
I wake with a start, realizing a naked body is sprawled out over me. Our bodies are sticky with sweat and it feels like it’s a thousand degrees in here. My palm slides to Charlotte’s perfect ass and I squeeze before slipping back into unconsciousness.
But I can’t sleep.
It’s too hot.
Unnaturally so.
Charlotte coughs. Then coughs again. I cough too.
It’s then I smell it. Thick and cloying. Smoke.
I jolt out of bed, fumbling for the light. Black smoke is clouding at the ceiling in my bedroom.
“Charlotte,” I bark out. “Get up. There’s smoke.”
She wakes up, sucking in air, and then starts coughing. Panic shines in her eyes. I roll out of bed and start throwing on clothes.
“What’s happening?” she croaks as she scrambles for her clothes.
“I think the house is on fire. Do you hear that?”
Yelling.
Downstairs.
I throw on my shoes and run over to my bedroom door. After I rush through it, I head toward the stairwell.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
I’m stunned to see huge flames licking up the steps. Mom. Dad. Terrence. Oh God.
“What is it—Oh my God, Cal!” Charlotte shrieks. “How do we get out? Daddy!”
Spinning around, I grip her face. “Wake Penny and Tierra up. Make sure they’re dressed and meet me in my room.”
“What are you going to do?” she demands, her blue eyes wild.
“Just go!”
She runs off, away from the fire, while I stare down at it.
“Terrence! Dad!”
Nothing.
Fuck.
I start to ready myself to go lower when Charlotte claws at my shirt.
“They’re outside. Everyone’s outside. Come on,” she rushes out. “Let’s get out of here.”
Relieved, I swivel around and chase her back into my room where Tierra and Penny are waiting, terrified expressions on their faces. I run over to the window and wrench it open. Sure enough, everyone’s outside.
“Tie your sheets together and get those girls out of there,” Dad yells at me.
I snap into action and rip the sheets off the bed. Quickly, I knot one end of the top sheet to the fitted sheet. There’s nowhere really to tie it to, so I wrap it around my forearm a couple of times and then grip it in my fist before tossing the excess out the window. It’ll still be an eight or nine-foot drop, but it should be fine. Sirens wail in the distance, letting us know help is on the way.