Wrapped in Lace Read Online Free

the best furniture in all of North Carolina, maybe even the whole wide world.”
    Your daddy’s right, but he’s still a douchebag, I thought to myself. I couldn’t understand why Rob would be singing my praises to his son, considering we hadn’t spoken in six years. I tried not to look up at my big brother, instead focusing on the little boy’s big brown eyes, the same eyes his mother had. “I try.”
    “My daddy says that you always had good hands. That you were a quarterback in high school. He said you had great aim.”
    “I guess I did, but your daddy was a quarterback, too.”
    “I know. My daddy won the high school championship.”
    “That’s true. When your daddy wants something, he gets it.” I liked the taste of the sarcasm dripping off my tongue. My dad cleared his throat, and I stood back up as silence hung in the air, but it didn’t bother me. I wanted Rob and Ellie to be uncomfortable. I wanted them to squirm.
    “I hear there’s a front coming through. It might snow later. Could have a white Christmas,” Ellie said, smoothing her son’s hair.
    “Snow!” the little boy screamed. Ellie placed her hands on her son’s shoulders then whispered in his ear. “Mommy says I should thank you for always sending me good gifts.”
    “You’re welcome,” I said, keeping my eyes on his.
    “Did you bring me something for Christmas?”
    “Jack!” Rob scolded his son. “I’m sorry. He’s only five.”
    I held my brother’s eyes. “At least he’s honest. I can appreciate that.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ellie wipe her eyes quickly, but I had no sympathy for her. She could keep any tears to herself. I held out my hand. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go out to my truck and find that present.”
    *
    I gripped the side of my truck and leaned my head down, trying to stretch out the tension in my back. There was no way I was making it through the week, no way to even make it through the afternoon, or family dinner tonight. I needed a new plan—tomorrow was the day before Christmas Eve. If I could just make it through Christmas day, I could make up some emergency, some reason I’d need to leave. I just needed to stay the hell away from Rob and Ellie.
    “You’ve got to do better, son,” my dad said from behind me. “This has gone on long enough. It breaks your mother’s heart not being able to have her sons in the same room together.”
    “I’m sorry it’s hard on Mom, but she should talk to Rob.”
    “He made a mistake, and he’s paid for it. You have to forgive him. He’s your brother.”
    “Not anymore.”
    “Someday your mom and I will be gone. You two will only have each other.”
    I knew my dad wanted me to mend fences, but guilt wasn’t going to work. “No, he’ll have Ellie and their happy little family.”
    “Only you can fix this.”
    “Why is it my responsibility to fix what he broke?” My dad placed a hand on my shoulder, giving me a look of sympathy. I hated that look. I didn’t need or want him or anyone feeling sorry for me.
    “I don’t know. It’s not fair, but that’s the way it is.”
    I was done talking about this. I couldn’t make myself forgive my brother or Ellie, even if I wanted to—which I didn’t.
    My dad released a deep breath. “Want to help me at the bar today? Told you, I’m not really retired.”
    “Sure, what about Rob?”
    He huffed. “Rob’s watching Jack because Ellie’s going to the doctor. Supposed to find out the sex of the baby today, and she wants it to be a surprise for Rob and Jack. Big announcement tonight at dinner.”
    Oh, holy hell, I couldn’t catch a fucking break to save my life. Not only did I have to sit around the dinner table with those two backstabbing assholes, but I had to pretend I was happy for them. This couldn’t get any worse.
    *
    PIPER
    Someone was honking their horn continuously outside my bedroom window, causing my head to throb even harder. Why did I think I could drink like that? I’d never been able