Bad Cruz(67)

“I sense a but coming my way.” I folded my arms, already on the defense.

Trinity heaved a sigh, playing with the clasp of the Gucci tote Wyatt had bought her for Christmas. “But I noticed you were kind of throwing yourself all over Cruz while we were on vacation. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing to watch. Gabriella is my best friend and my maid of honor. I know I have no right to ask this of you, but could you please try to…back off? For me? I just couldn’t stand to see you hurt when you’re rejected like that, you know?”

I wanted to throw my head back and laugh. Instead, I stared at her, deadly calm.

“I have not been throwing myself at Dr. Costello.”

“You have to promise me you won’t make things complicated. I love you so much…” Again, that gass-covering, the thing she said before something hurtful came out of her mouth. “But you’re Messy Nessy, and a lot of people in Fairhope are calling this the wedding of the year. People are seeing me for a change. Please don’t ruin it for me. Please. I finally think I’m getting somewhere with Catherine.”

I was glad I was so good at hiding my feelings, because every single part of me wanted to puke on her sensible shoes. Instead, I flashed her one of my infamous pouts, shrugging as I let her comments roll off of my back.

A few construction workers passed us by and whistled at me on their way to a sandwich shop.

“Howdy, Messy Nessy. Oh, how I’d like to take you for a spin.”

Trinity scrunched her nose, disgusted.

“Worry not, little sis. I’m staying the heck away from Mr. Fancy Pants. Gabriella can have him.” And because I was tired of being the harlot who couldn’t bag a man, I added, “Rob wants another chance. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll give it to him. For all his faults, he’s still pretty hot.”

“Oh, Nessy, I heard he’s still gorgeous! A friend of mine saw him at a steakhouse out of town and said he’s a real dreamboat. You should totally go for it.”

She looked so relieved, so happy to share a piece of gossip so normal between sisters yet foreign to us, for a moment, I was actually tempted to.

Okay, not, but still.

Trinity threw her arms around me, squeezing me into an excited hug.

“Think about the story. Robert Gussman came back after all these years and got his family back! That’s practically a fairytale.”

Robert Gussman never had his family in the first place, but now wasn’t the time to correct her.

“Yeah.” I smiled, patting her back. “That’s a nice story.”

“Just stay away from Cruz. We don’t need that kind of drama on our hands.”

“Sure don’t.”





My promise to stay away from Cruz Costello lasted for a little over twenty-eight minutes.

Twenty-seven and fifteen seconds, if I were counting, which clearly, I wasn’t.

Not my fault, seeing as I walked through the door—to my house, mind you—and there he was, perched on the couch next to Bear, both of them holding joysticks, staring at the TV, wide-eyed, shouting at each other both directions and profanity in decibels more suited for Madison Square Garden.

“Take him. Take. Him. You have enough dexterity. I got your back, dude. Just aim for the heart,” Bear practically growled, elbowing Cruz. “Do you know where the heart is?”

“Yeah, jackass, I’m a doctor.”

“Well, good thing Mom takes me to Dr. Finch outta town, because your degree says heart, but your aim says leg.”

“I’m trying to get to the center, but the bastard keeps on throwing spike-bombs at me.”

“Dude!” Bear screamed, punching his joystick’s buttons with his thumb. “I’m a bastard.”

My throat clenched in horror, shame, and…yup, there it was, guilt, too, like I had a choice in the matter. I’d tried to shield Bear from this term for so long, had done my best to ensure he never felt less-than…

Cruz rolled his eyes, still staring at the TV as he moved his joystick from side to side. “If you’re looking for sympathy, better try next door. Here. I finished him off for you, n00b. Now let me trail back and find some life potions before I fucking expire.”

That finally made me snap out of the weird haze that had taken over me.

“Language!” I roared, slamming my purse against the credenza by the door. “This house is an F-bomb-free zone.”

“Sorry, ma’am,” Cruz murmured, eyes still glued to the TV. He then threw Bear a side-eyed smirk. “Your mom’s cute.”

“Shut up, dude,” Bear snarled, hitting Cruz’s arm with his joystick.

Cruz chuckled. “Payback’s a b—witch.”

“What are you doing here?” I strode in and stood in front of the TV, blocking their view of medieval-looking characters in capes running through a dark maze while fire bombs landed all around them while they shouted at me being in the way.

“Well, I live here.” Bear threw up his arms in surrender, as if he wasn’t at fault for letting Cruz in.

“And I gave him a ride because I saw him walking with a broken skateboard under his arm while I was on my way back to work.”

“Yup.” Bear looked up at me innocently. “That happened, too.”

“How’d y’all get from Dr. Costello giving you a ride to Dr. Costello sitting on your couch, helping you stab a gory monster to death?”