Page 82 of A Sinner's Saint

“Getting married,” I repeat.

Cammi is silent next to me. I kind of put her on the spot with this one, but I’ve been dying to tell someone.

“You’re nineteen, Vin. You can’t get married.You’re still a kid,” Eloise says.

Cammi looks like she wants to say something, but she doesn’t. She looks to me instead. “Are you okay?” she mouths.

I give her a nod, then return my attention to my sister-in-law. “El, I wasn’t asking for permission.” I might have forged some adoption papers back when I was still in high school. That doesn’t give her the mother title, though. As much as I lovemy brother’s wife, accepted her as family, I’m not going to let anyone talk me out of this.

“You sure you want to marry into this family?” Daisy looks to Cammi while waving a hand around the table. “I mean, Vin’s amazing and honestly I think he’s going to make a great husband. But you get all of this too. Just so you know.”

“I don’t think this family is as bad as the rumours lead you to believe,” Cammi says.

“Yeah, and what was I doing the first time you saw me?” Santo chimes in.

“Grieving,” Cammi answers vaguely.

“I was digging up the grave of my dead fiancée,” he clarifies. “And just so we’re clear,we.” Santo points to Gio, Marcel, and Gabe before finally aiming a finger at me. “…are usually digging graves to hide bodies, not to retrieve them.”

“Okay, so do you want me to like order shovels or something?” Cammi asks, causing everyone at the table to burst out laughing.

“Can I keep her?” Zoe asks. “I like her.”

“No, she’s mine. Find your own friends,” I’m quick to reply.

“When and where is this wedding happening?” Gio asks, finally breaking his silence.

Cammi and I look at each other. “We haven’t gotten that far into the planning yet,” I tell him.

“Okay.” He nods, just once, which is his way of giving his approval—blessingeven.

“Seriously? Just okay, Gio? They’re nineteen!” Eloise reminds him.

“Babe, calm down. He’s going to do this with or without us. And I’m not missing another one of my brothers’ weddings,” Gio says while glaring at Gabe.

It’s a sore spot that Gabe and Daisy got married without telling anyone. I get why they did it. What I don’t understand iswhy Gabe kept it a secret for the whole year he was locked up. I guess if he knew Daisy wasn’t actually in Melbourne, a fact we all kept from him, he might have come forth with that info.

“What do your parents think about this?” Eloise asks Cammi.

“They don’t know yet,” she says.

Fuck, I didn’t think about that. Her parents probably hate me already. I would if I were them. If I had a daughter and some prick broke her heart the way I broke Cammi’s, I wouldn’t let him anywhere near her again.

“I understand your concerns. We are young. But we’re also not,” Cammi tells Eloise.

“I know. I… Just, why rush? Why not wait until after you graduate?” Eloise suggests.

“Why wait?” I counter.

“Because… I don’t know. Just because.” Eloise throws her hands in the air, and her eyes water. “Everything is changing. You’re going to move out. Marcel’s gone, Gabe’s gone, and now I’m going to be left with just his cranky ass.” She gestures a thumb at Gio before turning it on Santo. “And his moody ass.”

“Aw, you’re going to miss me. I knew I was the favourite brother.” I laugh. “And you married the cranky one so that is your own fault.”

“I know.” Eloise starts crying. She reaches out to swipe up a napkin. “Damn these stupid hormones.”

“Yeah, we’re never doing that,” Zoe tells Marcel under her breath.

“Oh, we so are. More of you is exactly what this world needs,” he replies with a grin.

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