Page 23 of Hooked

“But he’s being erased because he made a few terrible decisions. And he was so much more than the last six months of his life. More than the overdose that killed him.”

“I’m sure no one means to erase him,” Vinny offers. “It’s just hard sometimes.”

“It is.” I sigh. “He was like a brother to me. We ran together and it didn’t matter then that I was invisible, because he saw me even when my own parents didn’t. And I did the same for him. Danny’s a good man now, but it took a while to get there. It wasn’t until Drew died and his wife soon after that he realized how important family was. More important than bridge games with the upper crust and specious connections to the Kennedys.”

And the worst part is that I let Drew down. I saw him spiraling and didn’t do everything it took to help him.

My mug miraculously doesn’t crack under the pressure from my hands. It hurts, but the pain grounds me.

“I’m sorry, Sia.” Vinny’s voice is soft, tinged with a reluctance that instantly makes me ashamed.

God, why am I whining at someone who got his face smashed in as child by an adult who was supposed to be caring for him?

“No. I’m sorry—I must sound like such a brat after what you’ve been through.”

I need to explain myself.

“Drew was a good person, Vinny. And I miss him. And I hate that I can’t say that to my uncle, or any of the family left on his side.”

“I think,” he says, “that you would be able to say it to Danny now. I’m not trying to tell you what to do—you’ve obviously tried before and it didn’t go well?”

That is an understatement. There’s a reason my uncle hadn’t been to my holiday parties, and why I haven’t been back here until now. It’s difficult, but I finally pull my gaze from the ceiling and focus on Vinny. I expect pity, or fear, or maybe even disdain. But he just leans slightly forward, his chin resting on his hands.

“He was a mess when I brought you here from the boat. When he realized he could’ve lost you too. It might be worth another try. When you’re ready.”

Christ. The first time I’m able to talk about Drew in the house he grew up in, and it’s with this man.

But I guess he’s had his fair share of loss too.

Tentatively, I release my poor mug and touch his elbow. He flinches again, and I’m about to pull away when he unfolds his arms and takes my hand in his.

“I’m a lefty too,” he says quietly, gently stroking the back of my hand with his thumb, stopping just under my scraped knuckles.

Heat rises to my face as he turns my hand over as if checking for more injuries. He traces the lines of my palm, before stroking the underside of my wrist. A delicious shiver runs through my body, and those brown eyes of his spark with an intensity that thrills me. My breath catches in my throat. But I can’t forget that flinch, and why this, whatever this is, will never work.

“Good morning, kids.” Uncle Danny’s voice cuts through the tension, and Vinny and I pull away from each other like we’ve been caught in bed together.

Sweet Christ and all the saints. It’s time for me to go plan some décor. I push back from the table, red-faced and far more turned on from a simple touch than I should be.

I greet my uncle and flee, the intense desire in Vinny’s eyes searing my mind.

10

Vinny

Danny sits across from me, yammering about something I can’t process right now. I’m hard as a rock, trapped here until I can leave without showing Danny how much I want his niece.

The way she’d turned pink, goosebumps breaking out over her skin, just from a simple touch on her wrist? That silky robe of hers hid nothing, revealing how her nipples had responded too.

I’d love to touch her there. Skim my fingers over those taut peaks. Tease her and find out what kinds of noises she makes when she’s fully aroused.

But what happens when she wants more than just sex? Feelings I’m not equipped to deal with is what. No, this can’t happen.

“It’s great that you two are getting along,” Danny says, sitting directly across from me.

Would it be noticeable if I just used the newspaper like some kind of boner shield? Because I don’t want to have this conversation right now.

“I know Sia brings a lot of energy,” he continues.

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