The Beginning

Nicky

Though she was surrounded by the only people I could trust at the moment, I couldn't keep my eyes off Tess Bowen. She handed out gift bags and free hugs near the end of the work line we'd formed. Her bright smile only interrupted each time tiny arms accidentally grazed bruises hidden beneath layered concealer and setting powder. Her midnight gaze settled on Silas. Tess caught her stomach and laughed from deep in her gut.

I lifted a leg to start my way over there.

"Stop it." Roni's petite hand, clad in every gold ring she owned, pushed back against my shoulder. "It's Si. He probably made a fart joke." Then she belatedly added, "She's immature enough to laugh at something like that anyway."

"Do you have to be awful all the time?" I asked quietly, passing bags of nonperishable foods across the table to the next family.

Roni sighed exasperatedly and rolled her eyes. "If I liked every girl that you brought home, I'd be as stupid as you."

"What is your problem?" I squared my body with hers.

Roni wore resting bitch face well, except she looked more concerned than mean or angry. "You heard what my dad said, and you're going to bring her to the funeral?"

That's right. We didn't tell her. "Your dad's been in contact with Noah Palmer. That was his connection. He knew Hannibal was out the minute he stepped foot on the street. Who knows what else he planned?"

"Excuse me?" She placed a fist on her hip and leaned into it.

"Marc got his phone when we went for our fitting. Ozzy found all the deleted messages. I'm calling a family meeting with Mama tonight."

"And you didn't think about telling me?"

"I'm telling you now."

"I'm still here with you, Nicky." She growled as if I didn't know. "You're treating me like I'm invisible right now. Are you taking one of them as your own already?"

"That's what you're mad about." I observed.

"I just don't see how it's fair for you replace me so quickly. Santi hasn't said a word to you, has he?" In her heightened state, Roni shoved a bag at a family.

"Calamte o te calmo." I snatched it from her hand and served it gently this time. When they disappeared down the line, I scolded Roni through gritted teeth, "You cannot act like that. You might be built for Riverside but that won't fly here. These people grew up together, they watch out for each other. You don't think your reputation will spread far and wide in a matter of hours, you're sadly mistaken." Under my breath, I muttered, "Should've told your ass not to come."

"Santiago is supposed to fill my job, and you're hanging out with those two dipshits."

"Language, Veronica." I reminded gently in front of a few passing parents. "Children are present." And she appeared to be another one of them. I took a cleansing breath. "You didn't think I was going to take Santi, did you?"

"I didn't think you were going to hold onto your little grudge." She kissed her teeth.

My indignant stare caught her attention for more than a second this time. My brows softened as I realized, "You want to stay, don't you?"

"No." She would've socked me if there weren't witnesses. "I didn't think you were serious." Roni admitted, rolling her jaw to one side. "I thought you were being... you."

"What does that mean?" My face contorted.

"You make these split-second decisions, and most of the time, Dominic, most of the time you're smart enough to pull yourself out of it." She paused, waiting for me to say something.

I let the silence carry.

"Are you really giving up everything we built for a girl?" Roni finally asked the question that had eaten her.

"She's not just a girl."

Roni furrowed her brow.

"She's not." My eyes drifted back over to Tess, who knelt to speak with a boy from her classroom.

"You can tell, in a week, that she's someone worth uprooting your life for?" Roni folded her arms in disbelief.

One thing I hated more than Uncle Dom being right was being vulnerable. But I didn't think Roni would understand if I wasn't. "I've been chasing that girl for a long time."

"You've had her, get over it." Roni snapped.

Ignoring her, I continued, "It's everything I thought it was. She's incredibly driven, wildly smart. She's so easy-going, but she's strong enough to stand up to anyone."

Tess nodded at the boy. Sadness turned her lips down.

The little boy clung to her again, this time he refused to let go.

And she didn't force him. Instead, she gave him the affection that he craved.

"I'd appreciate your support when it comes to her, but you and I both know it's not necessary or required." I placed a hand on Roni's shoulder, which she immediately struggled away from. "I'm not sorry for seeing where with this goes. If it ends tomorrow, at least I tried."