Sin to Win

Accusations

       This dinner isn't formal since the ceremony was today. Picking out a pair of black ripped skinny jeans and a black cropped blouse with ruffled off-the-shoulder sleeves. Pulling on a pair of black lace panties and a matching bra I get dressed. I keep my hair down letting it curl naturally and leave my face bare. "You look nice." She clasps the necklace around my neck turning it back on.

       She's wearing a white blouse tucked into a pair of white-washed skinny jeans. "So do you Em." Grabbing our stuff, we head downstairs.

       Sitting at an empty table we pick up the menus reading over it. Unlike breakfast dinner is made to order. After we put in our orders, I feel someone looming in our area. Looking up I see Nicky and Lorna hanging around. Making eye contact with Nicky they come over. "You mind if we sit with you guys the others are still in their rooms so..." Gesturing to the empty seats they both sit.

       Lorna looks uneasy and it's quite tense. "You guys know I'm not mad right at like any of you. What's happened happened but you guys were family. I shouldn't have said what I did earlier, but I didn't like the way she was talking about Emily. I let my anger get the best of me and for that, I apologize." They wave it off and Lorna gets up moving around Nicky bending down to hug me.

       "We've missed you so much. We understand though why you left completely. You look great by the way." She sits back down and the air around us is lighter.

       The waiter comes back and takes their order. "You guys look good too. How has everyone been? How's Red and Diane?" They were like surrogate mothers to me, and I find myself thinking about them often.

       Both of their faces drop, and worry sets in. "Ma's good still as fiery as ever but Diane... the cancer's back. She's in treatment but it's taking everything Alex has to keep them above water. The bar's booming but it's just a lot they're about two thousand in debt right now." Shaking my head, I open my purse pulling out my checkbook.

       Filling it out for three thousand dollars I make it out to Nicky because I know Alex will never accept it. "I'm giving this to you because she'll never take it from me. Put it towards her treatment Nick and if she needs more, you call me, I don't care how much I'll help with what I can." She takes it looking at it before folding it and putting it in her pocket.

       "You may not have been good as girlfriends but even after everything you're still one of the best people she's ever met, Ray." Looking down at the table I smile.

       The waiter delivers our food and theirs at the same time and we catch up some more as we eat. Nicky even asks about Emily and seems to like her. "Well, I'll be damned she didn't fist-fight you guys." Boo and Tricia join us at the table.

       "Nah we're all good she's still a great person and her new girl is pretty dope actually." We continue the conversation and Boo catches me up on her. She and Tricia are actually engaged now.

       Emily gets more comfortable the more we talk and I'm glad everyone's getting along. She grabs my hand at some point holding it as we talk. Once we're all finished eating, she orders wine for the table. "So, you guys ditched us for them?" Alex and Piper walk up bringing the fun we were having to a halt.

       The whole table becomes tense again. "They didn't ditch anyone please sit." Piper sits between Alex and Emily, and I make her switch seats with me.

       I'd sooner have Emily next to Nicky than her. "Are you still that mad at me Ray?" Looking at the blonde I take a breath before answering.

       "Not like I was Piper, but you have a type and I have a type that is just too similar." She nods in understanding looking at the floor. Pouring them each a glass of wine I hand it to them. "I do miss you though before everything we were best friends." She smiles and my anger completely dissipates.