A McCree Christmas (Chasing McCree) by J.C. Isabella Read Free Book Online

started off in my own seat, but I ended up sharing Chase’s, snuggled under his arm. I’m pretty sure I would have stayed that way, even fallen asleep.
    A sudden burst of light blinded me when the door opened.
    Chase and I leapt apart, even though we hadn’t been doing anything but cuddling.
    “Briar, what has gotten into you?” It was my father. “You made fools of us. We may never receive another invitation to the mayor’s Christmas party again.”
    I didn’t have much to say, and I wasn’t going to apologize. “I was standing up for myself, for Chase. I’m not going to pretend to get along with that jerk, Nathan.”
    “Then you shouldn’t have come home.” My dad had never been so calm and so angry at the same time. It was almost scary. “In fact, I think its best you leave. When you learn how to behave, you can come back.”
    I stared, shocked. Chase was at a loss for words too.
    My father stepped aside, and I walked past him to my room to gather my things.
    Chase was beside me, holding my hand. I took comfort in his presence, but it still hurt. He told me it was going to be okay, and I knew he was right.
    We stole out of the house, almost in the middle of the night, calling a taxi to take us to Grandma’s. My parents had just pushed away their only child, and I hoped someday they would look back with regret.
    Because I w asn’t going to look back. Ever.

 
     
    Chase
     
    “Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the Menorah. Let's have a party, we'll all dance the hora…la la la la table, and something about treats…spinning topsey turvy with yummy things to eat!”
    I was woken out of a dead sleep by Grandma’s singing. She was bouncing around the hallway outside the guestroom. Briar’s family wasn’t Jewish. Grandma’s sanity was taking a vacation more than it had in the past.
    My stomach was not looking forward to a sangria-marinated turkey.
    “Hey, Chase, are you awake?” Briar opened the door to the guestroom and came in with a steaming cup of coffee.
    “Morning. How are you?”
    She sat on the edge of the bed, toying with a few wild, honey-colored furls that wouldn’t stay out of her face. “I’m looking forward to a drama-free day.”
    I took the mug from her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’m sorry, baby.”
    “I know,” she said with a sigh. “I am too.”
    “Grandma sounds cheery this morning.” I took a sip of the coffee and grimaced. “Did you make this?”
    Briar eyed the mug. “Grandpa did…is it bad?”
    “Best watered-down coffee I ever had.” I set the mug down and gathered Briar close for a hug and a kiss. “Think he’ll mind if I make a fresh pot when I go down?”
    “I don’t think he remembers making it.” She laughed.
    I got dressed and followed Briar down to the kitchen. Grandma was wearing a green dress and elf slippers, and Christmas music blared over a set of speakers from the living room. We had waffles for breakfast, and I was able to make some decent coffee without hurting Grandpa’s feelings. He was out by the pool reading the paper, dressed in a blue tracksuit and wearing a Santa hat.
    There wasn’t much to do. Grandma started preparing dinner early, and I tried to help as best I could, but the old girl was adamant I stay out of the kitchen. Only Briar was allowed to know the secret sangria marinade for the turkey. So that left me with Grandpa, who wasn’t feeling especially social.
    “So you ever been to war, Chase?” Grandpa was in his recliner now. He had World War Two documentaries on DVD, in color. The color was the really exciting part for him.
    “No, can’t say I have.” I was in the recliner beside him, texting Dustin covertly. He was having Christmas Eve with his family, but was looking forward to seeing Briar and me at the New Year’s Eve party in a few days. Apparently he was bringing his little sister Maria with him. She was sixteen now, and infatuated with our friend Josh, and probably Tuck. But Josh was with Ellie.