“Thanks.” Vanessa still didn’t look, obviously not interested in anyone in that bar. “So, what next?”
“What do you mean?” Carter asked.
“Are we going to a strip club next?” Carmen asked.
“Or a club in general?” Vanessa asked.
“We’re keeping it quiet tonight.” Having a drink with my family was enough of an adventure. I kept Muse in mind, constantly worrying if she was doing okay. My parents were there if she needed something, but the bigger her belly became, the more I worried.
“Seriously?” Vanessa asked, her eyebrow raised.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Carmen said, appalled.
“What?” Carter asked incredulously. “You guys want to go to a strip club?”
“Not necessarily,” Vanessa said. “But this is a bachelor party, right?”
“Not really,” I said. “We’re just getting a drink and enjoying each other’s company.”
“Enjoying each other’s company?” Vanessa asked. “You never enjoy my company.”
“Very good point,” Carmen said, her fingers wrapped around her beer. “Carter never enjoys mine.”
“I’m not interested in strippers. I’m not interested in anything crazy.” I had a famous face, and I hated being recognized everywhere I went. I was usually recognized by women, and most of the time they tried to make a move. I used to live for those moments, to have beautiful women show interest, but now my life was different. I’d never wanted to settle down because I didn’t want to be boring, to stop living life on the town. But that happened anyway, and I didn’t regret it.
“So, you are boring,” Vanessa noted.
I would normally put her down in some way, but since she was going through a hard time, I let it slide. Until she was better, I would keep my mouth shut. “I’m a committed man.”
“Boring,” Carmen said. “When I get married, I’m hitting the strip club. I’m gonna dance on the bar and give my panties to some stranger.”
Carter cringed. “Anyway…”
Vanessa turned quiet, the sadness entering her eyes.
Carmen realized what she’d said and wore a look of regret. “I just meant—”
“Don’t walk on eggshells around me,” Vanessa said gently. “Really, it’s fine. I’m going to be this way for a long time, but you shouldn’t have to watch everything you say to avoid offending me. Heartbreak is a complicated thing…I’ve never felt this way before. Everything reminds me of him, so I can never really escape this pain. Even when I sleep, he’s there…” Her eyes drifted down to her scotch. She gripped the glass tightly, the only person there who’d gone straight for the hard liquor.
“I’m sorry,” Carmen whispered. “I wish there were something I could do…”
Vanessa rubbed her back. “You’re already doing something.”
“You know, maybe you should start seeing someone,” Carmen said. “They say the quickest way to get over someone is to get under someone else…”
I would normally grimace or tell them to drop the subject, but I bit my tongue. Vanessa had to put up with my relationship with Muse since they were friends, so I should be quiet and not say anything.
“I’m not interested in that,” Vanessa said, her eyes heavy. “I can’t even picture myself with someone else. I’m not there. I won’t be there for a long time.”
Carmen gave a slight nod. “I understand. Griffin was really hot.”
“It was more than that,” Vanessa said. “It was deeper than that.”
My sister’s sadness bothered me, and I wished it would end. I missed her outgoing personality, her fearless ways. I knew this relationship had changed her forever. She would never be quite the same. But I still didn’t want Bones back in our lives. “Vanessa.”
My sister turned toward me, displaying features that were similar to my own. She looked more like Mama, and I looked more like Father, but it was obvious we were related. “Yeah?”
“How about you stay at the house tonight?” I knew it would make both of my parents happy, particularly my father. Vanessa used to love staying at her childhood home every chance she got, but all of that changed overnight.
Vanessa stared at me, but her expression didn’t change, still full of heavy sorrow. “I don’t want to.” She said it simply and without a drop of emotion. She held my gaze before she turned back to her scotch.
I kept looking at her, surprised she’d given such a deadpan response. “It would mean a lot to Father if you did.”
“I’m not ready to pretend everything is okay, Conway.” She spoke directly to me while our cousins listened to every single word. They were silent, blending into the background while music played overhead. “Because everything is not okay. I’m happy for both of you, and I’m excited to see my brother get married. Sapphire is a wonderful person, and you’re very lucky to have each other. I’m excited to call her my sister. But my issues with Father are separate, and I can’t dwell on it tomorrow. But no, I’m not going to sleep over and pretend everything is okay. Father made the wrong decision.”