Guilty pleasures

a

g families, and ours seemed to be dr

ly?” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the din of t

thers and family, and felt a sense of dread wash over me. We were all gathe

sip of whiskey before he smacked the bar and walked off tow

said in his usual gruff, rational tone. “H

e eyes walked around, looking completely overwhelmed

dow, Vanessa.” The poor woman looked devastated and out of place, how I i

his is more your

away from him. “You’re the

t. Do you

u can kill a man without blinking an eye but an

nces as I went. It was a somber affair, but that was to be expected. W

rribly sorry for your loss. Really.” I wrapped my arms aroun

or this,” sh

was a good man.

and took a

s the least we can do. If there’s anything else

you, Ms

brother, Jas

ther before her blue gaze met mine once again.

is big hands around Vanessa’s delicate, slender hands. “I’m s

cere and she nodded.

words of condolence and comfort. We would take care of her,

only thing that mattered. And we would

the direction of Ma, who looked like she was havin

at times. Not good in moments like this,

tually single, in fact. Not that I could talk when it came to matters

shoulders in a way that had some of the guys eyeing the beaut

oice that showed the str

night Mass had been closed for the memorial celebration so there would be no

she asked, a hint o

dling a new Springfield Hellcat, said I reminded hi

ush and lick his lips. Fucking men. No class at all. “That sounds like Lance. Charming as he

msy compliments of tough guys.” It was nice to have someone to shoot the shit with, who only w

f us simply savoring the taste of the alcohol, reconciling the

s welled in her eyes. “We were high school sweethearts. I haven’t

ke the men in the Ashby family, I k

nce knew the deal, but that didn’t change the truth. I slid from my side of the booth

y own eyes sting with the threat of tears. I did what I always did when it came to te

ne

that love. What does that kind of love feel like? Thoughts of love, of course, sent my gaze in search o

e moment feel like they were the most important person in the room, the most interesting and e

ing the room than my brother. It was probably what made them best friends, clos

grip for several seconds, mocking and spar

I’ve ever had the kind of love you and Lance had, Vanessa, but I’ve experienced loss. Too much fucking loss. I k

nd, determined to do what I could to ma

d sat back, reaching for a handful of napkins

. “No. That’s my brothe

nt him to be,” she said, suddenly

t was my own humiliation. “I used to. Fancied myself in love with him as a teenager, but there are plent

cal. I could see why Lance was so smitten with he

them.” I pointed to where they were deep in convers

me when you’re teenagers. Then Sarah, my sister, got leukemia, and Lance and I grew closer. He resisted me, especially after her death. I was barely

hiskey with a brittle smile on my face. “Maybe you’re

an matriarch in her black Chanel and matching black pearls. “Lance will be miss

as his security job and you people; you’ve all been so nice. So kind.” More tears came and Sadie looked about as ready to b