Elf on the Edge (The Wynter Brothers #3)

by Alina Jacobs

And he smiled at me. It’s the same smile he smiles at me now… but how am I just realizing that it doesn’t reach his eyes? It’s all that hairspray you were huffing. Also probably all the makeup. Austen is staring at me like he doesn’t even recognize me… Wait, no, he’s looking past me to Brielle.

“I object!” All the attention in the room swings to Brielle. My stepsister moves in front of me so she’s right in the center of the altar, framed beauteously by the winter wonderland arbor I painstakingly handcrafted with silk and lace flowers and hand-beaded snowflakes. “I’m sorry, Misty, but you and Austen can’t get married.”

“Austen’s not good enough for you. He’s going to get his. It’s karma. You’ll see.” “He won’t.” I rest my face on my dress, ignoring the forkful of crab cake Sienna’s trying to force at me. “Girls like me never get what they want for Christmas.”

Morris, I told you this is a Christmas café. I am not running a charity. If you want to sit in here, you have to buy something. Don’t argue with me! Or you can go down the street to Janine’s café. She wouldn’t know what to do with a dollar if it crawled up her snatch. I thought for sure she would be out of business by Thanksgiving.”

I’ll fuck her by Friday. Austen will be dead by Wednesday. And I’ll enjoy both.

Misty is in her element out here on the ice. I’ve never loved her more. I mean, not love loved. I don’t love people like that. Just, like, love the way you love the hamburger at Red’s or love your favorite bar. That kind of love. You know, the normal kind.