Page 55 of Hooked

I wrap my arms more tightly around my body. “I don’t know how.” The words tear their way out of me, quiet and ragged at the edges. “I’m afraid of what will happen if I do.”

He sighs and pats my arm. “I was scared when I lost my Kathleen. Thought about leaving town. Leaving someone else to care for the boys while I drank myself to death.”

“You never would have,” I gasp.

“Thought about it a lot,” he says. “Told myself it’d be easier for them and me. Did the scarier thing and stayed though. Don’t regret it. Never have. And you don’t regret coming back here for Danny, do you? Even though tough memories live here?”

I’m sure this place holds difficult memories for him as well.

“No,” I say, letting my body relax. “I don’t regret it.”

“And you won’t regret asking for what you need, Seraphina. You deserve to be happy, but most people aren’t mind readers.”

Irish psychic is a thing, though. Uncle Murphy has it in spades.

“Give people the chance to be there for you. Most of the time they’ll come through.”

I nod, my thoughts wandering to Vinny. After we’d had sex, I’d asked him what was next instead of telling him that I wanted to give us a try because I’d been afraid of what he’d say.

It’s a mistake I won’t make again. Better to know than to let yourself be blindsided.

Murphy gets back on his feet with difficulty. “Stay here. I’m going to make the boys bring you breakfast. It’s your birthday, after all.”

He’s waiting to see if I’ll argue.

Instead I nod again, smiling.

“Thatsa girl,” he says, chuckling.

Soon the whole family is in the lounge and we’re eating and laughing. Kieran tells a terrible story about his Roomba encountering a massive shit his St. Bernard had taken in the kitchen, and the subsequent carnage that had followed when the robot vacuum had dragged the shit throughout the house. I’m crying with laughter when Kieran’s smile drops from his face. My skin erupts in goosebumps and I force myself to look at the doorway.

Vinny stands there in that ugly fucking pine tree sweater, holding a big wrapped box. His face is mottled with cuts and bruises.

I can’t believe he’s here.

Kieran goes to stand up but stops after a glance from his dad.

“What the fuck did you do?” Seamus’ girlfriend, Evi, snaps.

Seamus shushes her.

“What? He obviously did something fucking egregious and I’m just saying I can handle it if you want.” Evi folds her arms over her chest.

Vinny looks scared shitless. Because of my cousins? There’s five of them, plus their girlfriends who may be even tougher.

Or is it because of me?

“Hi,” he says, staring out across the gauntlet of people who surround me. “Sia, do you have a minute?”

I nearly look over at Kieran, but I don’t need permission to make my decision.

Do I have a minute for him?

His terrible words have played through my mind over and over again since I left his house.

What do I want?

I see the hurt in his eyes, and I don’t want to fix it.

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