“The cupcake chick was looking for you last night.” Daphne gives me a shitty smirk from across the dinner table.

“Cupcake chick?” Ma asks, glancing between the two of us and giving Daphne the reaction she wanted.

“You know, Ma. The new store opening next to the bar.” Daphne’s still staring at me, wanting to open a can of worms that isn’t even there. “She asked for you.”

“Daphne, don’t make it something it isn’t.”

“She looks mighty sweet too,” she adds, twisting that knife a little deeper in my gut.

“Is she single?” my ma asks.

“Stop,” I growl.

These two are always willing to cook up some scheme if it involves me finding a new wife.

“I don’t know. She was in the bar with some guy.”

“Roger,” I grumble.

Daphne gasps. “I knew you were interested.”

I stab at the overcooked potato, ignoring my sister’s comment because I don’t know what the hell I am. I wouldn’t say I was interested. I met her for a total of five minutes, and I probably wouldn’t recognize her if I walked by her on the street and she wasn’t covered in flour.

“She needed help, and I was just being kind.”

Daphne eyes me. “Mm-hm.”

I lean back, placing my fork on my plate, and stare my sister down. “Don’t get any ideas in that hormonal brain of yours.”

“It’s time.”

“I agree with your sister.” Ma’s trying to outvote me on something neither of them has any say in.

“What’s wrong?” Lucio asks, finally getting his head out of his ass to save me.

“Your brother met a girl.” Ma overstates what really happened, which is usually the case.

The entire table of people goes quiet and turns in my direction. There’s nothing I hate more in life than being the center of attention.

“That’s fabulous news.” Delilah claps her hands, way too enthusiastic for me.

“I haven’t met anyone. Jesus.” I push back from the table, about to stalk out of the room, when Lucio grabs my arm.

“Sit,” Lucio tells me as he narrows his eyes. “Don’t be a pussy.”

For a moment, I think about punching him in the face, but I decide to act like a grown-up and sit back down. “Are you taking my side?”

“There are no sides. Everyone around this table wants the best for you. Now, what’s going on?” He pats my arm before he finally releases me.

I take a deep breath and crack my neck, trying to relieve some of the stress that’s always weighing on my shoulders. “Honestly?”

He nods.

“Nothing. The lady next door dropped something, and I helped her pick it up. That’s all.”

“Is she cute?” he asks.

“She’s all right.” I’m lying. From the little bit I could see underneath all that flour, she was cute as fuck.

“Hmm.” He rubs the scruff on his chin. “So, just okay?”

Daphne rolls her eyes. “Lame.”

“She was covered head to toe in flour, but from what I could see, she wasn’t bad-looking.”

“Oh, she’s cute, all right,” Daphne chimes in. “She’s just your type.”

I grind my teeth together. “I don’t have a type.”

“You’re so precious.” The shitty smirk’s back on Daphne’s face. “You most certainly do have a type.”

“Why don’t you enlighten me?” I lean back, sliding my arm behind my mother’s chair, and wait for Daphne to impart her wisdom to the entire family. She thinks she knows everything about me, but she’s wrong.

Daphne pushes her plate forward and gives herself a little room. “Well…” She waves her hand. “You like your ladies more on the adorable, innocent-looking side than the sex-kitten type.”

“Sweet Jesus,” Ma mumbles.

“You want the type that looks like they can teach Sunday school.”

“You’re insane.”

“No. No.” Daphne shakes her head. “It’s your thing.”

“I think it’s a lot of guys’ thing.” Leo earns himself a slap to the chest with that statement.

“Shut it,” she tells him, giving him the side-eye. “You married me.”

“I didn’t say it was my type, bella.” He grabs her hand and lifts it to his mouth, turning on the Casanova charm that won her over in the first place.

“Even though you like the pure-as-the-driven-snow look, you also like a woman with a dirty mouth.”

“It’s hot.” Lucio nods his head slowly and wraps one arm around Delilah. “This one can swear like a sailor.”

Delilah blushes and rests her head on his shoulder. They’re so stinking cute, they make me a little sick with all their adorableness.

“Anyway,” Daphne continues, ignoring Lucio and Delilah as they fawn over each other. “You also go for the chicks who are a little broken.”

“Seriously, Dee, you’re describing every man on the planet here.” I wave off her insanity.

“I’m not.” She looks at Leo. “He doesn’t want innocent, and I was never broken or in need of help.”

“If I remember correctly, you were about to face-plant in front of three hundred wedding guests when I saved you.” The look Leo gets from my sister is one I can only describe as lethal.

“And you want the woman to be just as sweet on the inside as she looks on the out. If we weren’t brother and sister, we’d never work. I’m too bitchy and bossy for you.”

“Your lips to God’s ears,” Leo whispers and glances up at the ceiling.

“Every man wants a good woman at their side.” Pop places his hand over my mother’s. “Without her, we’d be lost.”

And that’s exactly where I am.

Lost.

Without Marissa, I feel like I’m just wandering through life. Even when Michelle and I would hang out, the sadness wouldn’t leave my soul. She didn’t fill up my heart the way a woman should, or at least, the way Marissa did. I’m not sure there’s anyone in the world who could fill the void her death has left.

“Hello. You’re forgetting about Roger,” I remind my sister and the entire family.

“She’s not in love with him.” She shakes her head because, clearly, she knows way more than I do about a total stranger.

“You don’t know that.”

“If I’m in love with the man I’m having a drink with, I most certainly do not ask for another man.”

“Maybe she just wanted to say thank you,” I tell her.

“Nope. She had herself all dolled up. She was there with a purpose.”

“Daphne, I love you, but you’re off your rocker.”

“Daddy,” Tate says from the archway to the kitchen. “Can you help me?”

“I’m coming, baby.” I push back from the table, thankful Tate’s saving me. “This conversation’s over.”

“Mark my words…” Daphne says as I walk out of the room, but I don’t stop to hear the end of the statement.

“Watch, Daddy.” Tate pushes off the cinder blocks in the alley, showing me how well she can ride her bike without training wheels. She has the biggest smile on her face as the bike wobbles back and forth, but she doesn’t stop peddling. Even though it snowed last night, most has melted due to the unusually sunny winter day.

“Good job, baby!” I’m a little choked up, but my voice doesn’t waver. Something this small and trivial shouldn’t evoke this much emotion, but it’s another step in her growing up and another thing Marissa has missed.

“She’s growing up fast.” Ma walks outside and joins me behind the bar. “Soon, she’ll be dating and going away to college.”

“Ma, come on. She’s in elementary school.” I wave to Tate as she glides by, a little steadier this time.

“Look, Grandma.” Tate smiles, but her eyes are quickly forced back on the path when the handlebars start to turn.

“You’re doing good, sweetheart.” Ma claps as Tate speeds by.

“Angelo, I remember being out here with you when you were her age. It feels like yesterday. It all went by in the blink of an eye.”

“Time doesn’t pass so fast for me, Ma,” I confess. Every day since Marissa died has felt like a year, passing ever so torturously slow.

Ma wraps her arm around my middle and places her head on my arm. “Now that Michelle’s gone, it’s time for you to move forward. That was fun while it lasted, but you need to get serious about your future.”

Jesus. “I liked Michelle, Ma, but…”

“She wasn’t the right one, baby. It’s okay to scratch an itch with someone you trust. That’s just being a man and alive.”

“I shouldn’t have.”

“Oh, stop. You’re still breathing, Angelo. A man has needs.”

I glance down at her. “Ma, can we change the subject?”

“Fine. I won’t talk about sex.” She grips my waist tighter.

“Thank fuck,” I whisper.

“Let’s talk about the cupcake.”

And just like clockwork, Tilly walks out of the back of her store and steps into the alley. She’s bathed in sunlight, looking so damn angelic and more beautiful than I ever could’ve imagined underneath the sea of white she was wearing when we met.

“Wow,” Ma says exactly what I’m thinking. “I take it that’s her?”

“Angelo!” Tilly waves with one hand and shields her eyes with the other.

I wave back, careful not to be overenthusiastic, even though my stomach does this weird thing when I let my eyes travel down her body. She’s wearing a black pencil skirt that goes down past her knees, a white blouse with the first two buttons undone, and red stiletto heels that accentuate the muscles in her legs.

I suck in a breath as she saunters our way, feeling like I’ve taken a punch to the gut. Her brown hair looks more auburn in the sun, with streaks of red and orange blazing through the brown.

“Hi.” She looks at my mom as she gets closer, and she pulls her black knee-length coat closed. “I’m Tilly. I’m opening the cupcake shop.”

My mother holds out her hand to Tilly but keeps the other one securely fastened around my waist. “I’m Betty, Angelo’s mother.”

Tilly shakes my mother’s hand, but her eyes are locked on me for a few seconds before she speaks. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Betty.”

The deep sea of green in her eyes is striking, almost changing by the second in the daylight.

“You as well.” I can hear the happiness in my ma’s voice.

“Daddy!” Tate draws my attention back to the cupcake standing in front of me. “Look.” Tate lifts one hand off the handlebar, tempting fate.

“Hold on, baby.” I shake my head, but I stop myself from running down the alley and snatching her off the bike. “Don’t play around.”

“She’s a brave little thing, isn’t she?” Tilly asks.

“She’s too much like her mother. She’s going to be the death of me.”

Tilly laughs, and it’s the most glorious sound in the world. “That’s a little girl’s job.”

I lift an eyebrow. “Killing their fathers?”

“No. Keeping life interesting.”

“I better get inside and check on your father. It was wonderful meeting you, Tilly. Don’t be a stranger.” Ma glances up at me and winks. “Take your time.”

I’m not sure if she’s talking about Tate riding her bike or letting Tilly into my world. “We’ll be up for dessert.”

“You’re more than welcome to join us, Tilly,” Ma offers, taking a page out of my sister’s book. Always nosy and looking for an angle.

“That’s mighty sweet, but I have a batch of cupcakes I just put in the oven. I can’t leave them. I’m testing a new recipe.”

“I’m a good taste tester but an awful cook, dear. If you ever need help or a willing mouth, I’m always around.” Ma releases me and steps backward. “And so is Angelo.”

Tilly blushes and can’t hide her smile. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Betty, dear. Betty.”

“Thanks, Betty,” Tilly says before my mother steps back into the bar, leaving us alone.

“So.” I tuck my hands into my pockets like I’m sixteen again and totally unsure of what the hell to say to a girl.

“I want to apologize for yesterday.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Apologize? For what?”

“I came on a little strong, and that’s totally not me.”

“I didn’t think you were coming on strong.” I’m being nice, of course. She was coming on strong, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.

“Oh, please.” She touches my arm, sending little shock waves up and down my skin. “I was acting like a…”

“You were sweet.” I do nothing to pull away from her touch.

She’s standing so close, and all I can smell is vanilla and everything cake. “I’ve been trying to step outside my comfort zone, and I may have gone a little over the top.” She laughs and does this adorable thing with her head. “Okay, maybe a lot over the top. I don’t want you to think I’m a lunatic or a harlot.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard someone say harlot.” I give her a dopey smile, and my insides warm despite the cold breeze.

“It’s a Southern thing. I grew up in a tiny town in Georgia. You can take the girl out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the girl.”

“How did you end up here?”

“My husband was stationed at Great Lakes. He was a Navy SEAL and was an instructor for a bit, training new recruits.”

“Oh.”

“When he died, I didn’t know where else to go. My parents passed years ago, and I had no family back in Georgia anymore. I stayed because of my brother-in-law, Roger.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, familiar with the pain she felt. “I know how hard it is to lose your spouse.”

She gives me a pained smile and tightens her grip on my arm. “I heard about your wife. I’m so sorry, Angelo. No one should have to endure the kind of heartache we have.”

I place my hand over hers, allowing myself a moment to grieve and take solace in a stranger. “No, they shouldn’t, Tilly.”

“Hi, I’m Tate.” Tate practically pushes her way between us.

I drag my eyes away from Tilly, almost forgetting that Tate was riding her bike back and forth, probably watching me like a hawk. “Hey, baby.”

“Hi, Tate. I’m Tilly. I own the cupcake shop.”

Tate’s eyes go wide. “I love cupcakes,” she whispers. “Are you my daddy’s new friend?”

“I think so.” Tilly peers up at me.

“Tate, Tilly and I just met.”

“Daddy,” Tate almost sings my name. “Remember our talk the other night?”

“Tate.”

“She’s perfect.” Tate nods quickly.

Tilly blushes, probably able to guess what we’re talking about. I’m a little mortified that my kid is throwing me under the bus just like everyone else in my damn family.

“Go ride your bike.” I tap her cute little nose.

“My daddy’s getting me a horse,” Tate tells Tilly, being defiant and not listening to me.

“Really?” Tilly crouches down, getting eye-to-eye with Tate, and somehow keeps her balance on those ridiculous shoes.

“Yeah.” Tate twists her little body back and forth. “Auntie Nee said he needs to get back in the saddle.”

Tilly laughs loudly, covering her mouth with her hand, and she glances up at me. “Well, I don’t…”

I shake my head because I’m not ready to crush Tate’s dreams just yet. “We’ll talk about it later, Tate. You have five minutes before dessert.”

Tate reaches over and grabs Tilly’s hand away from her face, pulling her toward her bike lying on the ground. “Let me show you my bike, Cupcake.”

“It’s Tilly,” I remind her because she knows better.

“It’s fine.” Tilly winks. “I kind of like it.”

I thought I was fucked when I saw her covered in flour, swearing like she could give lessons in profanity. But now…watching Tate walk away hand in hand with another woman, and seeing a genuine smile on Tate’s face for the first time in years, I know I’m double fucked.