Page 107 of Even in the Dark

Like hell I’m not.

Kenz stomps down the two stairs, stopping right in front of me. “I’m not gonna give you my present I made you!” she screams, hands fisted at her sides.

Phil grabs her around her middle again and she kicks out, barely missing my shin.

“I’mnevergonna give it to you ’cos you’re leaving on Christmas and now everyone is fighting, and we never even got to eat the special stripey trifle Grammy made!”

While Phil is distracted with Kenz, who collapses like a rag doll on the stairs, kicking her feet against the wall, I slip through the front door.

“Diane!” Phil yells. “Can you come deal with Kenz?”

I jog down the front steps two at a time.

Phil is right on my heels. “Dylan!” he yells. “Dylan!Get back here right now!”

I run faster.

So does Phil.

In the end, I run farther.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Dylan

By the time I stop running, I have no idea where I am. Wish I knew more about that map thing Scarlett was talking about on your phone. Would be handy right now. It’s cold as hell and I’m not wearing a jacket. Or gloves or hat or anything. Turns out snow isn’t nearly as awesome when you’re out in it wearing just a shirt and jeans with worn sneakers. Still beats sticking around and listening to the yelling. Hearing my family flinging opinions around about me.

I ignore my phone, which keeps ringing every two minutes. Probably Phil freaking the hell out. I need a break from him as much as I need a break from those fucking ads that follow me everywhere I go. Worst decision I ever made. Hope to God they have some new campaign in the works that’ll replace this one soon.

I give the ‘intentional breathing’ thing a shot that Morley gets such a boner about. Does nothing, though. Big surprise. Still feel like slamming my fist into the stop sign at the intersection that'sas unfamiliar to me as the one I just passed two minutes ago. Instead, I fish my phone out of my pocket. Type out a text. Fully aware that texting Scarlett as a substitute for destroying shit should weird me out way more than it does.

Dylan

u busy?

She answers right away.

Scarlett

Only if u consider sucking back 3 candy canes in a row and suffering thru my Aunt Rita's 5000 Tuscany photos "busy"

Shit. Forgot she'd be celebrating with her family right now. Forgot this Christmas thing is a big deal to everyone—not just the Brauns. Another text comes in:

Scarlett

How's your Christmas so far? Everything ok?

It's like she has this sixth sense that knows when I'm anything but ok.

Dylan

Shit hit the fan during lunch. I bailed

Scarlett

Alone?

Dylan

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