Del spins on her heeled boot, her red lips touched with a wicked grin.
“No, Del,” I start knowing where this is going.
“Yes, Briggs. It’s going to happen. You know you can’t stop it.”
I don’t argue, because I can only imagine Del’s obsession with parties has expanded with age and also because Millie has never had a proper birthday party with kids and cake and games.
With a sharp finger, I point at her. “No frilly shit. Millie doesn’t do pink. Feminine is fine, no flashy.”
Del salutes me and then claps her hands together quickly.
“Oh, this is so exciting.” She lunges at a man walking down the sidewalk. “Pete, I get to plan my niece’s birthday party.”
Pete, a tall balding man with sweat on his ginger brow doesn’t seem at all phased by Del’s ambush on his personal space.
“I didn’t know you had a niece,” he says and Del pouted.
“That’s not the point Peter McLellan,” she says sternly, following him into the bar. “The point is I get to plan a party!”
She winks at me as the door closes and I’m left stranded on the sidewalk of main street, terrified of how deeply I’m sinking back into this town. Of how fast Millie has been absorbed into Xan’s world.
If I’m not careful, the Ryker family and the rest of Raston will swallow Millie whole.
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