“Oh, I think Sara can handle that.” He wags his eyebrows, and then he’s out the door.
“Well now, since it’s just the four of us, why don’t we play some cards?” Colby suggests.
“I suck at cards,” Laramie complains.
“Let’s just watch a movie,” this from McKenna.
“That. Let’s do that.” My sister nods and points at her best friend as if the idea is the best one she’s heard in her entire life. “I’ll grab some more wine, and you pick,” she tells McKenna, tossing her the remote.
“Me? I don’t care what we watch.” She then tosses the remote into my lap.
“No,” Laramie whines dramatically. “They’re going to make us watch some thriller or shoot-’em-up movie.”
“Come on, it won’t be that bad,” McKenna says.
“Yes, it will!” she calls over her shoulder from the kitchen.
“Choose wisely, my friend,” McKenna says with a smile for me.
“Please, choose wisely,” Colby pleads. “You know she’s more opinionated when she’s been drinking.” While he says the words, there’s a soft smile playing at his lips that’s always there whenever my sister is involved.
Laramie comes back with her hands full. She passes me a beer and then does the same with Colby. She tops off McKenna’s wineglass, which is almost running over, and does the same to hers before setting the empty wine bottle on the table, taking a hefty drink, and then sitting on Colby’s lap.
Lifting my arm in the air, I’m ready to launch the remote to the love seat my sister and Colby are sitting on. A loud crack of thunder so loud it feels as though it rattles the house strikes, and then the lights go out.
“Shit.”
“Well, that makes the decision for us.” McKenna laughs.
“I’ll dig out some flashlights, candles, and a lighter.” I stand to go searching for what we need. “I have a couple of oil lamps too,” I tell whoever happens to be listening to me ramble on in the darkness of my living room.
“I’ll help,” comes from Colby as he turns on the flashlight of his cell phone and follows me into the kitchen. Using my phone light as well, I rummage around in the drawers until I find the lighter I used to light the candles for my dinner with McKenna’s Thursday night. Then I make my way to the dining room and snag them from the table.
“When did you get those?” my sister asks once the candles are lit and sitting on the coffee table.
“I’ve had them.” It’s a lie, and we both know it, but she doesn’t call me out on it either. “I have a few more. I just need to dig them out.”
“Where are the lamps?” Laramie asks.
“On the mantel.” I turn around and, with the light of my cell phone flashlight, grab them and light both, which fills the room with a soft glow.
“It’s either ghost stories or bed,” Laramie suggests.
“Ugh. I vote bed if those are our only options,” McKenna groans.
“Fine. Party-pooper. You guys keep a lamp, and we’ll keep one.”
“I should probably go home and check on my grandparents,” McKenna says just as her cell phone rings. With the dim lighting, I watch as she pulls it out of her pocket and answers. “Hello.” She listens quietly. “Yes, the power just went out.” More listening. “Oh, okay. That makes sense. All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.” She taps her screen and lays her phone on the couch next to her. “That was Gram. I guess the alarm system on the house alerted them to a power failure. She called the electric company, and they’re saying five to six hours before power is restored.”
“We should go get them and bring them here,” I say immediately.
“Oh, they’re still in Jasper. They’re just going to grab a hotel room and make a night of it.”
“Well, you can’t go stay there by yourself.” My sister speaks up, and I make a mental note to buy her a really good Christmas present.
“I’m a big girl, Lara,” McKenna says gently. “I’ve been living on my own for five years now.”
“I don’t care. I hate the thought of you staying there all alone with no power.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Kenna,” I say, moving to stand next to where she’s sitting on the couch. “We’re not debating the topic of you taking care of yourself. However, you’re already here, and we’re all staying. You should stay.” My tone is gentle, despite a storm very similar to the one raging outside roaring inside me. I want her to stay. I want her in my bed, in my arms. I just… I need her to stay. I won’t sleep knowing she’s staying at her grandparents’ place all alone without power. Yes, she’s an adult, but damn it. I want her here.
“Fine,” she concedes.
“I’m going to go change.” Laramie stands from the couch on wobbly legs.