Just give the guy a chance and have some damn fun while I am gone. You have two weeks here. Don’t stay cooped up in my house doing nothing or I will be so pissed off at you when I get back.”
She takes a deep breath and continues.
“You deserve to be happy just like anyone else does. I know this is why you have sat there all night stiff as a damn board, pushing your food around on your plate.”
I look down at the floor but she grabs my chin and brings it back up to look at her.
“Don’t. Just don’t. You once told me how proud you were of me and that no one deserved to find happiness as much as me. Well, my beautiful, talented, sister. I agree with you on every point except one.”
“And what’s that?” I ask humorlessly.
“To me, you deserve it more than anyone. You don’t see the inner beauty and kindness and selflessness you have. Let it out and let go.”
I can’t speak as I really don’t know what to say. I’m scared to let go. I’m so scared to fall for someone and have them leave me when they find out how truly broken I am. I know I wouldn’t be able to survive.
But...when I am near Antonio, my heart does something it has never done before. For the first time in years, it feels like it has finally started to beat again.
Chapter Six
Shelby
“Take care of my baby girl. No parties, no staying up late, and especially no guys spending the night,” Adam chuckles as he embraces me.
I roll my eyes and shove Adam gently away.
“Get the hell out of here, you two. Let me take my niece home so we can pole dance and drink whiskey straight from the bottle while listening to that Crazy Bitch song.”
“What’s a crazy bi-”
Before Sierra can finish her words Erin clamps her hands over her mouth.
“It’s another one of your aunt’s very naughty words and don’t you ever say it.”
Oh, here comes the drop dead glare from my sister. I hold my hands up in defeat.
“I got it. I got it. Now, go .”
I look around for Markus so we can walk outside with everyone else and finally spot him coming out of the bathroom with a big smile on his face.
“They’re leaving. You ready? And what put that smile on your face?” I ask.
“I am so ready. And I will tell you in a minute,” he states through gritted teeth as he continues to smile.
Placing his arms around me, he pulls me tight as we step outside into the bitter early evening air.
“I still don’t understand why you people like this shit. It’s no fun at all,” I grumble to whoever can hear me.
My teeth start chattering as I watch Adam lift Erin into the carriage before bending down and giving Sierra a hug. He whispers something into her ear, causing her to giggle. She waves to them as he climbs inside. With one last wave, we watch the happy couple disappear with their lips locked with a pure love that I can feel even as they glide out of sight.
Again I look around for Antonio and he’s gone. Like vanished. What in the hell?
I take Sierra’s hand and we walk with everyone to the giant bus that will take us back to the main house of the vineyard where our vehicles are parked.
Once settled in our seats, Markus grabs my hand and brings it to my lips as he whispers in my ear.
“Listen, I had a very good night tonight, Swanky, so please don’t be mad at me when I tell you I met someone. He and I are going to Bubba’s to have a drink. Are you okay with that?”
“Huh? What? When?” I ask a little too loudly.
“Shh. Shut it! Jumping Jesus, Shelby. It’s the waiter, loud mouth. We were talking while you sat there staring into space during dinner. Then when I went to the bathroom right before we left, he asked me to go for a drink.”
He shrugs his shoulders as if it’s no big deal.
“Well, shit,” I say, nudging him slightly in his side. “You go have some fun, then.”
“Oh, I intend to, and I suggest you do the same.”
Markus and I go way back and I know he means well. Our relationship is so much like
She takes a deep breath and continues.
“You deserve to be happy just like anyone else does. I know this is why you have sat there all night stiff as a damn board, pushing your food around on your plate.”
I look down at the floor but she grabs my chin and brings it back up to look at her.
“Don’t. Just don’t. You once told me how proud you were of me and that no one deserved to find happiness as much as me. Well, my beautiful, talented, sister. I agree with you on every point except one.”
“And what’s that?” I ask humorlessly.
“To me, you deserve it more than anyone. You don’t see the inner beauty and kindness and selflessness you have. Let it out and let go.”
I can’t speak as I really don’t know what to say. I’m scared to let go. I’m so scared to fall for someone and have them leave me when they find out how truly broken I am. I know I wouldn’t be able to survive.
But...when I am near Antonio, my heart does something it has never done before. For the first time in years, it feels like it has finally started to beat again.
Chapter Six
Shelby
“Take care of my baby girl. No parties, no staying up late, and especially no guys spending the night,” Adam chuckles as he embraces me.
I roll my eyes and shove Adam gently away.
“Get the hell out of here, you two. Let me take my niece home so we can pole dance and drink whiskey straight from the bottle while listening to that Crazy Bitch song.”
“What’s a crazy bi-”
Before Sierra can finish her words Erin clamps her hands over her mouth.
“It’s another one of your aunt’s very naughty words and don’t you ever say it.”
Oh, here comes the drop dead glare from my sister. I hold my hands up in defeat.
“I got it. I got it. Now, go .”
I look around for Markus so we can walk outside with everyone else and finally spot him coming out of the bathroom with a big smile on his face.
“They’re leaving. You ready? And what put that smile on your face?” I ask.
“I am so ready. And I will tell you in a minute,” he states through gritted teeth as he continues to smile.
Placing his arms around me, he pulls me tight as we step outside into the bitter early evening air.
“I still don’t understand why you people like this shit. It’s no fun at all,” I grumble to whoever can hear me.
My teeth start chattering as I watch Adam lift Erin into the carriage before bending down and giving Sierra a hug. He whispers something into her ear, causing her to giggle. She waves to them as he climbs inside. With one last wave, we watch the happy couple disappear with their lips locked with a pure love that I can feel even as they glide out of sight.
Again I look around for Antonio and he’s gone. Like vanished. What in the hell?
I take Sierra’s hand and we walk with everyone to the giant bus that will take us back to the main house of the vineyard where our vehicles are parked.
Once settled in our seats, Markus grabs my hand and brings it to my lips as he whispers in my ear.
“Listen, I had a very good night tonight, Swanky, so please don’t be mad at me when I tell you I met someone. He and I are going to Bubba’s to have a drink. Are you okay with that?”
“Huh? What? When?” I ask a little too loudly.
“Shh. Shut it! Jumping Jesus, Shelby. It’s the waiter, loud mouth. We were talking while you sat there staring into space during dinner. Then when I went to the bathroom right before we left, he asked me to go for a drink.”
He shrugs his shoulders as if it’s no big deal.
“Well, shit,” I say, nudging him slightly in his side. “You go have some fun, then.”
“Oh, I intend to, and I suggest you do the same.”
Markus and I go way back and I know he means well. Our relationship is so much like
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