Page 23 of We Are All Sinners

He returns quickly, placing the large envelope on top of the pizza boxes I’m holding.

“If she kicks you out, you might wanna go to Bourbon Heat with Noah.” He taunts, but then puts on a serious face giving me a nod.

“Got it bro, I’ll give you time with Emily.” I roll my eyes, but I get it. I would expect the same courtesy.

I finally make it to Evie’s porch, where I remember kissing her so many times as a teenager. I ring the doorbell and look at the porch swing, towards the right side of the house. We would sit there for hours after her curfew just so I could spend more time with her.

We would watch the stars, make out, and talk about what we thought our future would look like together, never realizing everything was going to be cut short.

I look back to the door and hear stomping and giggling. To my surprise, Emily opens the door with a bright smile on her face. She is blonde, probably five foot seven, has pretty blue eyes, and a sweetheart shaped face that I don’t think she ever puts makeupon. She doesn’t need it. She is naturally pretty and from what I’ve heard when she talks to Evie and her author friends, she is hilarious. I see what has Liam so smitten with her. She is like a bouncing little ball of light.

“Hey Brixon, come on in. Evie just hopped in the shower and will be right down. I had her talking for a bit when she got back. Make yourself at home, I’m gonna go change before I head over to see Liam.” She ushers me into the living room, taking the pizza boxes from me.

I grab the envelope before she carries the pizza to the kitchen.

Damn, I didn’t even have to ask her to go. Points for Evie.

I sit on the large, oversized leather sofa that is new. I look around the room and realize quickly that all of the furniture is different from the last time I was here. Evie has really spruced up the place. I love all the little details she left of her gran. She loved her so much. I hate that I wasn’t here to care for her through losing her family.

I glance over at the fireplace and see her mom and gran's urns resting on the mantle, just like mine. I turn my attention back to the envelope, aware of how hard this will be for her. But it’s the right thing to do; she deserves the truth—at the very least, she deserves to know who her parents are.

“Whatever you are wrestling with, it’ll all work out.” Emily pops out of nowhere, beaming like a little ray of sunshine, jolting me back from being lost in the abyss of my thoughts.

“What if it’s too much too soon?” I ask, unsure if she understands the weight of my words.

“Better to rip the Band-Aid off completely, rather than drawing it out any longer, don’t you think?” She answers my question with a question while still giving an answer, making me chuckle slightly.

She reminds me of how Cami and Charlie would always speak to everyone, even when we were little kids. Their words were always riddled. It’s like they had their own language.

It’s how my mom would always answer me when I asked for help with whatever particular problem I had at the moment. Her words sound in my head all the time when I have to make difficult decisions. Like now, I hear my mom’s voice in my head telling me to be here for whatever Geneveive will need to get through this.

“Thank you, Emily. I appreciate you saying that.” I nod and give her a knowing smile.

She bounces up on her toes clasping her hands at her chest as she beams sunlight, giving me the most infectious smile I think I have ever seen, “Anytime! Trust me, she is worth it all. I’ll see ya later, have a good night and take care of her. I know she seems tough, and she is, but sometimes she needs to let it out and not be okay to.” With that, she nods and heads out the front door, still smiling.

I’m left alone with my thoughts, wondering if my little witch will be able to handle what I’m about to drop in her lap. I let out a sigh, raking my hands down my face before letting them fall into my lap.

“Hey, sorry, I got to talking to Em about everything and lost track of time.” Evie comes into the living room, wearing green boxer shorts and a grey Tulane T-shirt with no bra. Her curly brown hair is still wet, sticking to her face as she plops down next to me on the couch.

“No big deal. I brought pizza if you’re hungry, you haven’t eaten all day.” I say as I place my hand on her tanned, smooth thigh.

“I knew I smelled pepperoni!” she exclaims, jumping off the couch and practically racing to the kitchen. Evie used to love pizza more than almost any other food on the planet.

She returns with all three boxes, a slice hanging from her mouth, and sets them down on the coffee table.

“What’s this?” she asks, pulling the pizza slice from her mouth with one hand while grabbing the envelope with the other. She plops back down on the couch next to me, looking at me expectantly for an answer.

Fuck, I planned on easing her into it first.

“Well, do you want to eat first?” I ask as she gives me a questioning look. She can see it all over my face. She felt it when I touched her. I knew she would.

She felt my anxiety, fear, hope, worry, and apprehension. The absolute dread of whatever comes from what’s in that envelope. It could change everything, or nothing for her where I’m concerned.

She continues to give me a look. A look I know all too well. She is giving me the chance to come clean before she gets answers her way.

In this moment I’m not sure which would be worse.

Chapter 7

---