Page 38 of Sins of Bliss

I owe a lot to Nixon. His friendship is not something I take for granted.

“Grazie, amico mio.”

Nixon grunts. “See you soon, asshole.”

I arrive at my motorcycle right as we end the call and pick up my helmet that rests on the seat where I left it. Before I slip it on,I toggle to the group message with Sully and Enzo, sending them a message.

My apartment. 30 minutes.

Their responses come in immediately, so I read them before putting my helmet on.

Sully

Someone’s demanding today.

Enzo

It’s three p.m. on a Friday. Some of us have jobs, cousin.

Shaking my head, I type out, ‘It’s important’ as I kick my leg over my bike and straddle the seat. The engine roars to life, vibration igniting through the entire motorcycle.

Enzo

It better be life or death by the way you’re summoning us.

Can you guys meet me or not?

Sully

I still can’t believe you kept paying for your apartment even though you were gone for almost a year. Should have known you’d always come back.

Enzo

Because that’s what’s important right now.

Sully

Oh, c’mon, Zo. Don’t act like you didn’t sneak in there and cry yourself to sleep on his couch a time or two.

Enzo

How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t call me Zo.

Sully

Alright, Zo-Zo.

Chapter 13

Vinnie

Crystals shimmer from the low lighting of The Cordelia, a posh restaurant the St. Jeans rented out for the rehearsal dinner. Soft music plays over their speaker system as dishes clank from the fifty guests in attendance for this meal. Thiscelebration. Both sets of families, close friends, and the wedding party.

Despite not wanting bridesmaids and groomsmen, August relented when my mother fought him tooth and nail on it, insisting that one’s wedding day is nothing without being surrounded by the people who love you.

We settled on two each. Raina and Cecilia as my bridesmaids. Joseph and August’s younger brother, Orlando, for his groomsmen.

The restaurant sparkles with radiance as everyone enjoys their food, starving after leaving the church. The sea of people around the table are the picture of perfection in their expensive tuxedos and beautiful dresses. I am wearing a mid-length white dress that accentuates my curves and suffocates me both in the literal and mental sense.

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