I gather my sister in my arms. The crash may have destroyed and taken so much from me, but it also gave me gifts. My sister. My mother. Forgiveness between people I never thought possible.

I’ve gained too, and Winnie is right, Eveline Parkerson can’t take anything away if I don’t let her.

“Okay, enough of this,” Winnie says as she dabs at her eyes. “I’m going to be splotchy and I need to be stunning.”

“Don’t worry, you’re stunning.”

Arm in arm, we walk into the lion’s den. The Park Inn has always been beautiful, but tonight, it sparkles. There are crystals hung around the entrance of the lobby with tons of candles strategically placed. I haven’t been to a wedding here in forever, but that’s what I’m reminded of.

When we get into the sitting room area, it’s been converted into a bar area, and one of the front desk staff is working to pour drinks and fill orders. She waves, and I do the same.

Winnie says hello to a few of her work friends and introduces me. I can feel my stress-level rising, but I stay calm and focus on keeping my answers short.

When we enter the main event room, which was a huge addition built after I left town, I can’t stop the smile that forms when I see an old friend.

“If my eyes are playing tricks on me, it’s the best one yet,” Alex says as he pulls me into his arms.

“You are the same as ever.”

He lifts one shoulder and kisses my cheek. “I heard you were back and looking even hotter than when we were kids.”

“I am—back, that is,” I add on.

Alex wraps his arm around me, holding me to his side. “And I also heard you’re working here.”

“Right again,” I say.

He shakes his head. “I’m sure that’s . . . fun.”

“That’s one word for it.”

Alex takes a step back, tugging me gently to let someone pass. “I won’t say the word I’d use for being summoned back here by my asshole father and my viper of a mother.”

“Fun?” I offer.

He drains the amber liquid in his glass. “Definitely not. This fucking place makes my skin crawl.”

“So, you’re glad you’re not here?”

He laughs. “Sweetheart, I would’ve burned the fucking place down if I had to stay.”

I don’t remember Alex being openly hostile about his parents when he was a kid. None of them were ever openly loving, but neither did they seem hostile—well, except Josh. He was the first sibling to take off to another location, which coincided with a certain incident with my best friend.

“I take it things in the Parkerson house are tense?”

Alex waves over someone from the waitstaff I don’t know, requesting another whiskey neat.