Hazel’s eyes are back on me, pleading with me in the silent way she does that makes it impossible for me to say no. Girls, man. “One for now, and you can have more after dinner.”
Hazel squeals and takes off toward the cupcakes a few feet away.
“She’s a cutie pie.”
“She’s going to be trouble someday.”
Daphne chuckles. “I have a feeling she already is.”
“Hi,” Maddox says, walking up to us. “I’m Maddox.”
“Such a rock star girl name,” Daphne tells her, which earns her a smile.
“I like it,” Maddox says and shocks the shit out of me because I’ve heard her moan about how she doesn’t like being different from everyone else and how she thinks it’s a boy’s name.
“I heard you’re going to help Tate redecorate her shop.”
Maddox is instantly beaming. “I am. I can’t wait.”
“There he is,” Vinnie, Tate’s uncle, says as he stalks across the room, looking as big as ever.
The man spent years playing professional football for Chicago. He’s something of a local legend because of his skills on the field and for helping to finally bring a national championship to the city after decades of mediocrity.
“Vinnie,” I say, holding out my hand to him.
We’ve talked a few times over the years. The last time I had a real conversation with him was when he came into the body shop to have his car repainted.
His grip is so tight, I almost wince, but I refuse to let him know he’s crushing my fingers. “Ma told me you were coming to dinner with your girls, and I was shocked. But we’re glad you’re here.”
“No one more shocked than me.”
Vinnie looks almost the same as he did ten years ago. He’s barely aged and continues to work out, keeping his muscles as toned as they ever were. “I’m thinking about buying a beat-up old-school GTO. Interested in refurbishing it for me?”
“Nice. Those are kick-ass, man. For sure. I’d be honored to work on it for you.”
“Baby, come meet Wylder. He’s a genius with cars,” he says to a beautiful woman who’s standing only a few feet away.
Damn. There’s not an ugly person in the room. If pretty comes on a gene, every person in this family has it.
“This is my wife, Bianca,” he tells me, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“She’s a famous writer,” Ma says at my side, almost making me jump out of my boots because I didn’t know she was nearby.
Bianca smiles at my mother and extends her hand to me. “I’m more known around here for being Vinnie’s wife than my ability to put words on a page.”
“Oh, honey,” Ma says to her as I shake Bianca’s hand, “Don’t sell yourself short. I love football, but there’s nothing better than getting lost in one of your steamy romance books.”
“Thanks, Cheryl. You’re always so sweet to me,” Bianca says with a tip of her head.
“Wylder’s going to work on that GTO for me.”
“Great,” Bianca mutters, not sounding the least bit enthused about the project.
“Hey,” Tate says, coming to my side. “You okay?”
“Yeah, babe,” I say without thinking. “All good.”
Bianca, Vinnie, and Daphne raise their eyebrows for a brief moment before letting their surprise fade away.
