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Meghan
On the way to Shambles, Cass warns me.
The Herc sighting at the marina was an accident on everyone else’s part.
The restaurant reservation is my mistake.
“So, Herc works at Shambles, and he knows we’re coming because he saw the logbook and texted me about it. If you want to eat somewhere else, we can,” Cass blurts.
Cass is sweet, and I feel a pang of knowing she was almost my sister-in-law. But I don’t tolerate people changing their minds last minute about where we’re eating; I’m not about to do that to everyone else.
However, I ask Titus to stop by my house so I can pick up a piece of jewelry to wear to dinner. Just in case I need it.
Upon entering the dining room at Shambles, I blow out a tentative breath when I don’t see Herc right away. I can’t decide if I’m relieved or disappointed.
“Daddy!” Cass shouts. Everyone in the group turns and sees the scandalized former NBA forward headed our way.
I faintly gasp at the sight of him, realizing I’d never met him face to face. I’d only seen him at hearings prior to his sentencing, which I’d attended in support of his kids. I never saw him in prison because Herc didn’t want to go.
At the moment, Dex is hugging his daughter and son-in-law and greeting everyone around the table. Carson looks star-struck, and now I think I know why Carson agreed to a last-minute blind date.
“May I have a selfie, sir?” Carson asks. At least he’s polite.
Dex is eating up the attention, and I wonder how Herc feels about all this.
Finally, we sit, and I’m happy to focus on food and not any men by the name of Treadway.
I make it through ordering my food at appetizers without seeing Herc, and I’m feeling curiously miffed about it.
Fortunately, my tacos arrive, reminding me I haven’t eaten since this morning’s poached egg, and I dig right in.
Nothing spoils tacos like a bunch of dumbasses having a dumbass conversation. The table behind us reminds me why I hate going out to eat now.
“Sure, Dex made poor choices, but he was self-made. He came up from nothing. No dynasty money to fall back on for that family. At least Dex made his own way, and he served his time. As far as I’m concerned, that’s more honorable than old money like the Eastburns, if you know what I mean.”
I snap my gaze over my shoulder and see that Dex is, fortunately, out of earshot, taking selfies on the deck with diners outside.
I think I’m going to throw up because I know what those people are implying.
I should keep my mouth shut and ignore them. But I’m stewing.
Leela must see my cheeks turning pink because she leans into my side and murmurs, “Their opinions don’t matter, sister. They ain’t even trash like me; that’s how little they matter.”
I can always count on Leela to make me laugh in moments like this. I nod but say nothing. Leela and I stare at each other while we sip our sweet tea and continue eavesdropping.
“Ah shit, what’s about to go down?” I hear Crosby growl on the other side of Leela.
Leela cuts her eyes at her man. “Nothing at all, sweetie. Eat your chicken wings.”
I hear more comments from the next table. “Oh, and how about how the Eastburns love to put their name on anything that stands still? The Flower Bridge, the gazebo. Every third park bench in the greenway. They are exhausting.”
The smug chortling chaps my hide, but I hold it together.
Someone cracks their knuckles. A New Jersey accent asks, “Need me to make someone disappear for you, babe?”
Mila’s black lips purse as she warms up her hands for a fistfight. I’ve never seen the girl punch anyone, but I used to watch her take out her aggression on the bags at the gym. Also, I’m pretty sure she murdered someone in her past. We don’t talk about that.
I give Mila a subtle shake of my head.
