Nesto’s eyes darkened at my words and leaned in closer, his hand still tight around my forearm. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, and neither does Odette for that matter. And I’m not here for any bullshit moralistic standards set by people who have no idea what our lives are like.” He lifted a shoulder, as if to concede a point. “It’s true, we didn’t see that at home, the parents loving on each other and all that shit. Odette, Dinorah, my mom, it’s sad that they didn’t have more of that. But they deserved it, and so do we. Now chill the fuck out before I call Milo and tell on you.”

Fucker had to make me laugh when I was confessing my deepest and darkest fears.

“Ice cold, Ernesto. Ice cold.”

He stood up then and I did the same, knowing my friend would probably want to hug it out. I pulled him to me and tightened my arms around his shoulders.

“You’ll be fine, P.” Nesto’s voice was so certain when he said that, I almost believed him. I would never stop being grateful for the people I had in my life, who never failed to show me the kindness it was sometimes so hard for me to show myself.

One thing was certain. I may not have seen many examples of couples growing up, but I could not say I didn’t have men around me who knew how to show love.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Easton

“We are not here to start a fight with the sheriff, Ron,” I said in the sternest voice I could manage.

“Dialogue. Starting a dialogue.” That was Cindy; she’d shown up at the parking lot this morning, pissed that we hadn’t consulted with her about the meeting. Now she was in my car after refusing to go home, and according to her, she was here to make sure we “kept it cordial.” I’d never thought of Cindy as anything other than a fighter. When it came to domestic violence and sexual assault cases she’d always been fearless. I’d seen her call up the chief of police in the middle of the night to yell at him for not making an arrest fast enough. And yet, with this she seemed almost tentative. My sister’s words kept ringing in my head.

Was Cindy’s plan really to wash her hands, and by association the DA’s office, from this? I wasn’t sure what to even do with that if it was the case.

As we all got out of the car I saw Ron pursing his mouth before answering Cindy’s admonishment. He looked a lot like I felt.