“Mable’s ex-boyfriend, or fiancé, whatever you want to call him, was a serial cheater.” She sighed. “Morris was sleeping with every woman that would spread her legs open for him. I used to go to the country club a lot—it had the best Wi-Fi in town—and I’d see him taking so many women into the janitor’s closet. I was so sick of it, so I just…let the lie pass. I wanted her to know that he was a dick and that he was cheating on her. And she already hated me anyway, so why would I care if she thought I did it?”
“You’re a good person, Birdee,” I said softly. “I’m not sure why you let everyone think you aren’t.”
She shrugged. “My dad is a pretty popular person in this town. Mom was, too, in her own circles. Mable’s beloved by everyone. It’s hard to kick the stigma of being known as the town ‘bitch.’ Sometimes it just seemed easier to let it lie. I mean, even if I did defend myself, who would believe me?”
I tilted my head slightly sideways and asked, “Then why’d you stay?”
She looked out the window. “I don’t think a daughter ever stops wanting her father’s attention. I guess I figured if I stayed, maybe one day he’d give me the time of day.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I reached forward and caught her hand. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
Her watery brown eyes tipped up and her gaze caught mine. “I think you are biased.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “For some reason, you’re actually talking to me. That’s just…weird. And since you feel some sort of obligation to talk to me since you ran over me with your truck, you got to know me. Maybe you know I’m not a bitch, and you feel like you should spread the word or something. I don’t know.”
“One, you’re not an obligation.” I linked my fingers through hers. “Two, you’re not a bitch. And have never been a bitch. Three, you’re the reason that I have my sister in my life right now. For that, you’ll have my devotion for the rest of my days. Even if you hadn’t already had it before you brought her back into my life.”
She tilted her head. “What are you talking about?”
Before I could answer, the diner’s doors opened and four laughing people, and one only barely smiling, came inside.
Romeo, Mable, Vito, Grace, and Cody.
Romeo’s gaze caught mine the moment they came through the door, and his smile dropped.
“Your regular table is open, dear.”
That regular table just so happened to be right next to ours.
Mable, Cody, and Grace didn’t notice us until they were about to sit down. Vito caught their gaze only after he took his seat and saw them watching.
Romeo came up to me and offered me his hand.
Since I would’ve had to let Birdee’s go to take it, I fisted my hand and held out my knuckles to him with my free hand.
He changed directions fast and knocked his fist against mine.
“Hey, Birdee,” Romeo rumbled. “How ya doin’?”
“I’m fine,” Birdee lied.
She wasn’t fine. She was tired, and you could tell. She had dark circles under her eyes, and even though she was wearing long sleeves, you could still see the medical tape coming out from under her sleeve.
Romeo missed nothing and eyed her carefully. “Are you sure?”
“Yep,” Birdee chirped.
Romeo eyed the dressing peeking out of her sleeve, and Birdee hastily tugged it down over her hand.
Romeo’s eyes came to mine, and I shrugged at his questioning gaze.
“What the hell are you doing here right now?” Vito barked. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
I moved my stare from Romeo to Vito before I said, “I know you’re not barking at her like she’s in trouble. She’s a grown-ass adult.”
Vito snorted. “I wasn’t barking at her.”
