Page 76 of Fashionista's Playbook

I rolled the tension from my shoulders and dug around in my desk drawer, found Moriah’s watch in the very back and retrieved it. I flipped open the box and stared down at the watch. It was smaller than mine, but it ticked away without question. Vintage. Special.

“What up, bro?” Vin stuck his head into my office and glanced around.

“She’s only here Monday and Tuesday.” It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

“Who?” Vin’s face turned up in mock innocence as he entered the room.

I didn’t bother answering. We both knew he was avoiding Bianca. He peered over the desk and into the box. He whistled. “That’s nice. Classic.”

“It was Moriah’s grandfather’s.” I don’t know why I told him. Hell, I didn’t know why I hadn’t given it to her yet.

“She give it to you?”

“Nah. She was hocking it that day when the car got repossessed.”

“And you bought it back.” Vin snorted a laugh. “It’s like the two of you were meant to be.” His tone was more snark than good humor.

I sliced a sideways glance in his direction. He backed up, clutching his middle as he laughed like he was the world’s best comedian. He wasn’t.

“You could have taught her a different way to get out of that repo.”

I snapped the case shut and made like I was going to throw it at him. His genuine amusement, however, was contagious and I grinned.

“Where’s Errand Girl, anyway?” He plopped into Moriah’s desk chair and spun it in lazy circles. This time, he said it with something almost like affection.

“Out getting everything for Thanksgiving.”

“Who all is coming?”

Here we go.I’d been dreading this moment, for multiple reasons. Almost everyone in my life was a point of conflict for my brother. And yeah, I knew the issues were his and his alone, but that didn’t make it any easier. Not when I’d spent so much time lately remembering where we’d come from and what I’d done to get us where we were. And more, what Vin had done.

“Linc, DT, a few of the other guys, Moriah, and her parents.” I fought to keep my voice easy, when mentally I was preparing for the confrontation.

Vin’s lip curled. “Mercer? Seriously? That rich bastard can go eat anywhere.”

Relief swept over me. His issue wasn’t with Moriah or her family today, but with my team’s general manager’s attendance.“And he’s coming here. He’s been a good friend to me, he’s invited.”

Vin sighed. “Yeah, well maybe he’ll leave that stick he keeps shoved up his ass at home.”

This time when I sliced him a look, it was with a jolt of warning.

“I’ll behave.” He spun his chair once again then leveled his gaze on me, his face serious. “You really think I’d fuck this up for you?”

When I didn’t immediately answer, he leaned forward and steepled his fingers. The movement was an echo of my father anytime something weighed heavily on him. The loneliness in my heart that Moriah had begun to tear away at, came rushing back, slamming into my chest and burning at the back of my eyes.

Whatever annoyance I’d felt with Vin no longer mattered. He was my brother. Family was family. There was only one other person who understood what we’d been through, what we’d lost, and how far we’d come.

I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Vin.

He lifted his head and met my gaze. “I know I’ve pissed you off a lot lately, but man—I’d never do anything to ruin your career.”

Unable to look at him, to process the divide that had grown steadily between us, I pushed away from my desk and walked to the window. The Dominion stretched out for miles—some of the wealthiest people in West Texas lived here. We were just two jokers from southern Florida, forced to raise ourselves when our parents died.

It would be easier to say I brought us here on my own. But Vin had too. And his road had been a lot harder than mine. “I didn’t say you would.”

“But you were thinking it.” He laughed, but it was hollow and without humor. “Look. I’m a big boy. You don’t have to tell me to behave. Prison didn’t take away everything Mom taught me.”

I snorted. “You’ve always been rebellious.”

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