“And practice this: ‘Yo no soy una puta.’” Kyle said the words in an angry, accented voice.Livia raised a sensitive, red, now-thin eyebrow at her sister.“It means ‘I am not a hooker’ in Spanish. And you already know it in English, so you should be good.”

“A small lady moved on after greeting Livia to address the wedding couple. “Cole Bridge. Look at you!”Cole’s mouth dropped open. “Mrs. D?” After a shocked pause, he scooped her into a hug. “You’re here?”“Of course I am, sweetheart. Your wonderful wife delivered the invitation by hand. She insisted it be a surprise.” Mrs. D rubbed Cole’s arm.Cole turned to Kyle. “Thank you so much. I didn’t know you were going to do this.”Kyle nodded. “I know how much she means to you,” she said.”

“What the hell, Kyle? How many damn times have you snuck out of the house?”Kyle’s laugh filled the small car. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. Now tell me more about this drug den.” Kyle cranked the heat up to full blast to counter the night wind as they drove.“Well, it was scary at eight-thirty in the morning, so at ten o’clock at night, we should crap our pants.”“Ah, good times. This should be fun,” Kyle said with a smile.”

“Do the routine for me. Please, Livie. I love you. I’m sorry I poisoned your boyfriend. I’m the one who made him so cute, though. You have to forgive me, Livia. I’m so bad.” Kyle looked close to tears.“He barfed and now he’s fine,” Livia said. “You know I love you, and you’re not bad, you just make bad choices. Do I still have to do the routine?”Kyle smiled and wrinkled her nose. “Oh, yes. The routine must happen. Assume the position.”Kyle bounced out of Livia’s arms and gave Lorraine what must have been the universal hand gesture for I just tricked my sister into humiliating herself. Start the music before she runs.”

“Kyle, will you come with me?” He whispered the words against her forehead between kisses. His hands traveled over her back as if the Bible were written in Braille on her sundress.“I’m your shadow now, Cole. I’ll be where you are.” Kyle smiled, her eyes steady on his.”

“Kyle nodded and bit her lip. She looked nervous as a virgin. “This feels like jumping off a cliff,” she finally said.“I’ll only do this if you want me to. Do you want me to?” Cole took a step back.Kyle reached around and unzipped her sundress. She held her arms out like a sacrificial lamb.“Say it, so I know for sure.” Cole’s eyes glowed with lust and reverence.“I want you to.” Kyle watched him.”

“If I watched your church burn down, would you kill me?”Cole looked suspicious. “No, and that’s a bizarre question.”“If I watched Kyle die, would you kill me?”Cole’s eyes practically glowed red.Beckett nodded. “You might already have the answer to what’s hurting you.”