Page 16 of Priest (Confessions 3)

Luckily, this was his Friday and Saturday off, and going to see his nonna, and then Elliot, was exactly what he needed. Family and friend time always put him in a good frame of mind, and considering the conversation he planned to have with Julien and Priest when he got home, a good frame of mind couldn’t hurt.

As the elevator dinged, Robbie walked off and headed right as instructed. When he reached 307, he knocked, and several seconds later the door was pulled open to reveal—his baby sister, Felicity, standing inside.

Thank you, God, Robbie thought. It seemed fate had led him exactly where he was meant to go today, because just seeing her, and the joy that now lit her face, made Robbie’s heart feel about ten times lighter than it had been.

“Ah!” Felicity squealed, and then ran forward to throw her arms around his neck. “I didn’t know you were coming to visit Nonna today.”

“Neither did I,” Robbie said, and planted a kiss on her cheek. “But I’m glad I did, or I would’ve missed you. You should’ve texted me you were coming to town.”

“What do you mean I should’ve texted you? I already told you I was going to come and spend a week here; you just forgot. Plus, I wasn’t sure if you were working today or not.”

“Hello, not working,” Robbie said. “And you could’ve stayed with me, you know.”

“Umm, don’t you think I should probably meet your boyfriends before I come and crash at their place?”

“They wouldn’t have cared, and it’s my place too, now,” Robbie said, knowing deep down they really wouldn’t have minded, even with everything else going on.

“No, no, I’m perfectly happy here. I’m going to hang out with Nonna, visit with Vanessa a bit, and stay until this fancy-schmancy restaurant opening of your famous Mr. Thornton.”

Oh shit. With everything else that had been going on, it had completely slipped Robbie’s mind that his ma and sisters were all going to be swooping in on Thursday to come to the opening of JULIEN.

“So…” Felicity drawled, as she eyed him. “If you aren’t working tonight, does that mean you’re free to come and have a few drinks with your favorite sister?”

Robbie thought about what he was supposed to be doing and his plans with Elliot, and sighed. “Well, I’m supposed to be meeting El for dinner, and then heading home to—”

“Oh, come on,” Felicity said, and reached for his hands. “I haven’t seen you in forever. El either, for that matter. We could make it a night.”

When Robbie hesitated, Felicity angled her head and batted her lashes, much the same way he would do if trying to get his way.

“Please. You know you want all the gossip from back home. And man do I have some great gossip about Penny.”

Poor pregnant Penny… Hell yes, he wanted that gossip. “She still hasn’t told Ma, has she?”

“Nope, and the other day, Mr. Jack Paulson stopped by to pay Ma a visit, and oh my God. Can you say ‘awkward’?”

Robbie’s mouth fell open, but before he could ask for more details, Nonna called out, “Felicity? Who’s at the door?”

Felicity grinned like a loon. “It’s Robbie.”

“Oh, well, bring him in. What are you both standing out there talking for?”

Robbie laughed as he wrapped an arm around Felicity’s shoulders and tugged her into his side, Nonna’s words easily translated to: Come in here so I can hear the gossip too.

“So, drinks after this?” Felicity said as they shut the door and walked down the hall, and Robbie decided, what the hell?

A drink or two with his best friend and baby sister might do him good before he headed home.

What’s the worst thing that could happen?

* * *

“DO YOU THINK he’s missing us half as much as we miss him tonight?” Julien said, as he sat opposite Priest, who had his eyes closed.

It was close to ten thirty, and around an hour ago they’d received a text from Robbie telling them not to worry about him—he was with Elliot and his sister and would be home before midnight.

“I’m not sure. I’m the last person who’d know what he’s thinking right now,” Priest said into the shadows, as the light from the lone candle on the side of the bathtub made them dance across the tiled wall.

Julien had suggested they take a bottle of wine and soak in the tub to help pass the time. But as they lounged there in the warm water, it was apparent their minds were both still firmly fixated on the one who wasn’t there with them.

“I keep wishing that I could hit a rewind button,” Priest said. “That I had a chance to tell him everything instead of him hearing about it on the television. It makes me look guilty.”

“Spoken like a true lawyer. But he knows better than that,” Julien said, then took a sip of his wine and placed it down beside the tub. He then sat up so he could put his hand on Priest’s.

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