Page 41 of Big & Lily

The knob doesn’t move in my hand. I jiggle it and try again. I lean my shoulder against the door and give it a light shove as I saw Brick do the first night. Nothing. I knock, and when Lily doesn’t answer, I bang. Nothing. I step back, my fists balled, my nails digging into my palms as I realize what’s happening. My sister has locked me out.

Chapter Twenty

My banging makes a thudding sound that rivals the thumping in my ears.

“Lily, open up!” I rattle the knob. I’m exhausted and not in the mood for whatever game this is. What happened between dinner and the firepit and this moment to make Lily decide to start with me right now? I have an urge to kick the door, but I haven’t lost my composure yet. I’m still rational enough to realize it will only result in a broken toe. “Are you kidding me?” I snarl.

Then the cogs of my weary brain start to turn and click, and I make sense of the glances cast by Ian and Jace. Goddammit.

Ear to the door, breath held, I listen for confirmation. These cabins are no Fort Knox. The lack of insulation that’s forced me to add an extra blanket in the night now lets me hear what’s happening inside. At least partially. There’s whispering. And it’s coming from a male voice.

My sister has lost her damn mind. Dane most certainly has a death wish. Didn’t wejusttalk about this? Has Lily gone mad because some guy jumped into an icy lake for her? And what about that dope Dane? Yessing me to get me off his back? Placating the older sister with no plans of giving up the pursuit of the younger one? I gnash my teeth and feel a pain in my jaw. This time I do kick the door. A worse pain radiates through my foot and up my shin. That last effort yields no results except to put an end to thewhispering. I need to search for a signal in this godforsaken place, even if I have to climb a tree, and call my husband, the Lily whisperer.

Dealing with my sister’s adolescent behavior well into adulthood is often better left to Tim. Maybe it’s because he’s inherently calmer and more rational than I. He doesn’t go straight to eleven with her. He’s the good cop. Mostly likely, it’s because she isn’t his sister with years of entanglement behind them.

But then I realize my phone is in the cabin. With Lily and Dane. I wrap Mimi’s crocheted shawl tight around myself and walk back up the path. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Sit out here until they are finished? Get eaten by a bear while my sister does one of the stupidest things ever? I could knock on Luna and Mimi’s door, but now that I know about Mimi, I can’t disturb them.

No one is at the firepit. The flames are down to a glowing pile of ash. A few empty beer bottles and glasses are scattered around the ground, and I bend down to pick up after everyone who expected someone else to do it.

“I got those.”

Brick steps out of the barn and takes the bottles from me with one hand, a finger around each neck.

“Old habits, I guess,” I say. “I thought everyone went to bed.”

“Just finishing the dinner cleanup. Something I can help you with, Bridget?” A small-business owner is never off the clock. I learned that with Sweet Dreams,which is not supposed to be my business, silent partner as I was promised, although from day one Lily had a skewed vision ofsilent.

Tears well in my eyes. Frustration and exhaustion make a lethal combo. “How about a place to sleep tonight?”

Brick’s eyebrows rise, and I suddenly realize that might sound suggestive. It’s been so long since I’ve suggested anything to anyone,it would never have dawned on me that Brick would take it that way. If this hadn’t been such a shit show, with things blowing up so spectacularly, I might have giggled at the thought of it. I worry that Brick, seeing my fun and carefree sister in action, thinks it runs in the family.

Before he can start with the “I’m married, I’m flattered, I’m not interested,” I add, “My sister locked me out of the cabin. She’s... she’s entertaining.”

Brick is stone-faced. He’s probably seen it all. Every new group must bring their own problems.

“Hey, I’m almost done here. Why don’t I buy you a nightcap?”

“You seem to always be buying me booze when I get in trouble. I’m going to drink through your profits if you’re not careful.”

Brick laughs but doesn’t disagree. “Here, grab those glasses if you don’t mind. Then we can drive up to Heidi’s.”

The Heidaway is more crowded than it had been last night. The whole town of McCarthy must be here. Brick says hello to everyone we squeeze past, giving some a grasp of the shoulder or a pat on the back. We find stools at the bar, and my guardian angel orders two beers. “Unless you want something stronger?”

I consider it for a second. It’s been a day. I could use something to turn off my brain, to chase away the remaining chill and the thought of what my sister is doing as we speak. “Beer is perfect,” I say.Hold it together, Bridget.

Our drinks arrive, and Brick tips his glass to mine. “To adventures,” he says.

“To adventures.” May they be over with soon.

“Lily seems to be enjoying Alaska.”

“Ya think?” I answer and follow my snark with a long gulp of beer. I can feel the foam sitting on my upper lip, and I dab with my Xavier’s sweatshirt sleeve.

“Is it really so bad?” he asks. “They are both single, from whatI’ve gathered. We’re modern people, aren’t we? No harm, no foul, I’m sure.” I want to tell him so badly. “Although, a bit, er, inconsiderate.”

I harrumph; it’s all I can manage. Anything more would have me sharing what Lily has asked me not to.

“I’m sure if you talk to her in the morning—”