Chapter 1
“Mom you can’t do this!” I groan, rolling my eyes. “Son, you need to understand that this dislike toward Nala is unnecessary.” Mom pats my shoulder. “She’s a bitch.” I mutter and she gasps. “Hunter! You do NOT talk like that around me!” She points a finger at my face. “Do you hear me, young man?” She asks and I sigh, nodding.
“Yes?” She raises a brow. “Yes, ma’am.” I grumble and I hear a chuckle. I turn around to spot Nala, short and pudgy, staring up at me. “’Yes ma’am’” She mocks and I shake my head, turning to my mom. “See what I mean?” Mom is focused on covering the apple pie and peppermint apple cupcakes. “Take her luggage to the van for her.” She tells me. Nala just smiles that infuriatingly perfect smile.
“Yes please.” She pulls her curls back in a ponytail, stepping to the side. “My luggage won’t pack itself, Hunter.” She sings behind me. “Shut the fuck up-“ “HUNTER!” Mom warns and I groan.
I grab Nala’s pink suitcase and storm to the van with her humming behind me. The snow crunches underneath my boots as I shove her luggage into the back of the van. Three weeks of holiday with Nala’s family and mine. Lord kill me now.
Dad comes out with sleighs and skiing equipment and Nala perks up, pulling her hands out of her pink puffer. “Mr. Ellison! We’re going to have so much fun!” She squeals, spinning around in excitement. “Calm down, Nala, it’s not that serious.” I mutter and she stops, narrowing her hazel eyes at me. “You’re such a grouch, Hunter. Be happy!” She steps closer to me, shaking my shoulders. “Didn't I tell you to fuck off, Nala?” I step back and she rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go!” She hops into the backseat.
My little sister Halo comes sprinting out of the house, rushing into my legs. “Hunter!” She hugs me tightly and despite myself, I let out a small chuckle. “Sis, get in the car. It’s cold.” I smirk and she huffs her black curls out of her face. “WE’RE GOING TO A RESORT!” She screams, sliding into the van beside Nala. “Yes, we are, Halo!” Nala responds. I roll my eyes. Next comes my toddler brother, Houston. He’s in my mother’s arms while she balances the desserts in her tote bag. “Hunter, come help me.” She shouts to me and I groan, walking forward to grab the tote and Houston. “Just get in the car, I’ll get your luggage.” I mutter and she smiles that motherly smile. “You know you’re a sweetheart when you’re not so mean.” She pats my back before crunching toward the van.
Houston’s already squirming in my arms by the time I reach the van, his little boots kicking against my ribs like he’s trying to launch himself into orbit. The cold bites at my face, but he’s warm and heavy and humming some nonsense song into my shoulder.
“Hold still, dude,” I mutter, shifting him so I can get the car seat straps. He giggles like this is a game. Of course he does.
I click the first buckle, then the second, tightening the straps while he tries to grab my nose. “No,” I say, dodging his sticky fingers. “Absolutely not. Keep your hands to yourself.” He laughs harder. Great.
Behind me, the van door slides open again and cold air rushes in. Mom’s voice floats out, breathless. “Hunter, the desserts—careful with the cupcakes!”
I bite back a groan. “I got it,” I say, even though I’m already juggling enough. I shut Houston’s door gently, circle around to the trunk, and grab the tote bag full of desserts. The thing weighs a ton. Peppermint cupcakes, apple pie, whatever else Mom decided we needed for three weeks of forced family bonding.
Then her suitcase. Then her other three suitcases. Why she needs four for a resort trip, I’ll never know.
I shove everything into the back, rearranging Nala’s obnoxiously pink suitcase so it doesn’t crush the pie. The snow crunches under my boots, the cold seeping through my jeans, and all I want is to sit somewhere far away from—
“Hunter!” Mom calls. “Sit in the back with Nala so Halo can be near Houston.”
Of course. Of course that’s what she says.
I close my eyes for a second. Just one. A moment of silence for my sanity.
Then I climb in.
Nala’s already there, legs crossed, curls bouncing as she looks up at me with that bright, infuriating smile. “Hi, seat buddy.”
I don’t answer. I just slide into the seat, pressing myself so far into the door I might merge with it. The cold metal bites my shoulder, but it’s better than touching her.
She watches me, amused. “You look thrilled.”
“Move over,” I mutter.
“There’s nowhere to move,” she sings, spreading her hands like she’s innocent. “We’re sharing.”
I exhale through my nose, jaw tight. The van door slides shut, sealing me in with her warmth, her perfume, her humming, her everything.
Three weeks. Three whole weeks of this.
I've got this.
The ride is long. We’ve got three hours ahead of us and we’ve already been on the road for an hour. I’m just getting comfortable when Nala’s head lolls over onto my shoulder. “Move, Nala…” I murmur but she can’t hear. Her pink headphones are on blast. I sigh, shaking my head as we pull over to a nearby pit stop. “Alright kids, you guys can get some snacks and a drink. Make sure to use the bathroom because we’ve got three more hours ahead of us.” Dad tells us and I shake my shoulder against Nala’s cheek. Fuck she slobbed on me. She sits up, yawning lightly. “Pit stop. Piss if you’ve gotta.” I tell her, turning to unbuckle Houston and wake up Halo.
“Where are we?” Halo asks as Houston hits my face with his moist palms. “RaceTrac. Come on, you want some cookies?” I ask her and she jolts up. “YES!” She runs past me, catching up to mom and dad as Nala scoots out of the car. Houston babbles against my neck, clearly half sleep before Nala’s rubbing her eyes and standing in front of me. “You fell asleep on me.” I tell her and she blinks behind her glasses frames. “You smell good. It’s attracting…” She just walks into RaceTrac like she didn’t just compliment me. We never compliment each other. I shake it off, walking after her, thinking about which chips I’m going to get.
