"Chinese,” Clarissa decided. “Just like in that movie The Christmas Story."
"Okay, a Cleveland Christmas tradition. And you can hear me call my parents and see if mom burned the turkey and yams this year."
“See you tomorrow morning then.”
Chapter23
Thanksgiving at the Murphy’s had just finished when, to Sean’s annoyance, Royce excused himself from the table, phone in hand.
Sean collected a pile of dirty dishes and followed him into the kitchen. “What do you think you’re doing?
“Sending a text,” Royce said, midway through typing.
“You spent the entire meal checking your phone. Would it kill you to be present?”
“Oh my God,” Royce said. “The meal is over. It’s not like I skipped turkey.”
Sean set the dishes in the kitchen sink. “It’s her, isn’t it. Vandy? We got the whole family together and you can’t even focus on it because of her. How’s her Thanksgiving? Anyone in her family even know you exist?”
“It’s none of your business, but her brother knows about me.”
Sean doubted that. “When did you meet him?”
“I haven’t. He’s aware of my existence.”
“Unlike her parents. Weird how in the five months you two have been together it’s never come up. Bet they don’t know their sweet college educated little angel is banging a blue-collar schmuck like you.”
“I thought you liked Vandy.” Royce set his jaw.
“She’s fine, but there’s a huge difference between liking your girlfriend and believing your relationship has a future.”
“I told you to butt out. I’m a grown man. Stop trying to order me around.”
“I will when you try to fall in love with someone who won’t discard you like a piece of trash.”
Royce’s fist hit the table. “You can’t talk. What relationship of yours has ever lasted more than four months? Zero, because you’re busy telling people how to live their lives instead of thinking about what’s wrong in your own.”
Boiling in anger, Sean shoved Royce. “You’d don’t know shit about what I’m going through.”
His brother shoved him back. “That hit too close to home?”
“Excuse me for trying to protect you from getting your heart ripped out again. I do actually know what it’s like to be in love and know it won’t work out."
"That's your problem. Your being a cop gives you this savior complex where you think you can protect everyone from their problems. You can't."
"You almost ended up homeless and in jail cuz you didn't want to ask for help," Sean said.
Royce took a slow breath and lowered his fists. "I'm grateful. I was in a bad spot. Still, it was over two years ago. You can't drag that out every time you think I'm screwing up. I'm moving forward with my life, which includes Vandy."
"I don't want to see you hurt."
"Neither do I, but I have to make my own mistakes. Besides, I’m guessing I’m not the one who's hurting right now. What happened?"
Sean hung his head. "I fell in love, and she never wants to see me again."
"Never wants to see you again?"
"I lied to her a lot. It was her for her own good," Sean said in his defense.
