Page 59 of The Forbidden Note

Damn.

Is someone there or not?

Maybe I’m losing it.

“You coming?” Finn asks.

I nod and trot behind my brothers.

My suit is itchy. I’m more of a jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket kind of guy but, out of respect for Cadence and Dutch, I dressed up.

Cadence approaches me when I’m ripping off my jacket by the car.

“Hey, Zane.”

“Cadey.”

“I wanted to thank you for today. I heard Dutchwasn’tthe one who planned today’s funeral.”

My eyes swerve to Dutch.

My twin scowls, leaning on the hood of his car, ankles crossed in front of him.

Chuckling, I rub my chin. “I guess I couldn’t get that one past you.”

“Dutch didn’t even know what hymns we were singing,” Cadence says. She touches my arm. “Thank you, Zane. It was really sweet of you to do that.”

“It was nothing. But if youreallywant to thank me, you can give me a nice big hug. Your husband is currently glaring at the hand you have on my arm and I think that would really piss him off.”

Cadence giggles like a woman after my own heart and throws her arms around my waist. I squeeze her to me, dipping my head in her shoulder.

Dutch is on us like lightning. “What the hell do you need to hug for?”

I release Cadence just enough that she can move out of the hug, but I drape an arm over her shoulder. “I can hug my sister-in-law if I want to.”

Hazel eyes glittering with annoyance, Dutch growls, “Keep talking smack and we’ll have two funerals today instead of one.”

“Can you twonotfor one freaking minute,” Finn groans. Always caught in the middle.

Sol smirks and walks up to us. “Don’t stop them. It’s kind of refreshing. Lightens up the mood.”

I meet my best friend’s eyes. Sol is drumming up a tight smile, but there’s something off about it. Like it’s hiding a world of pain. When we told him the funeral details, I was half-hoping that he wouldn’t show.

“Thank you all for coming,” Cadey says. “You too, Breeze.” She reaches out to her blonde friend who takes her hand. “And Serena.” Cadey extends her other hand and a brunette wearing bright red lipstick, fishnets and a leather jacket joins her.

I’ve seen Cadey hanging out with the goth chick at school. She’s always seemed a little weird to me. Quiet. Studious. Kind of like a female version of Finn.

I wink at the ladies. “We’re having the after-party at our place. You ladies are free to come.”

“After-party?” Breeze scrunches her nose.

“Don’t you mean repast?” Finn corrects me like the smart aleck he is.

“Whatever. It’s the part of the funeral where you eat, drink, and play music. Sounds like a party to me.”

Serena licks her lips nervously. “I’ll, uh, bow out. I’ve got plans.”

“What about you?” I arch a brow at Cadey’s friend. “In the mood to party?”

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