By the end of July Eric was back in his life whether Vince liked it or not. His mother couldn’t have been happier—and she never missed the chance to tell him, either. “I’m so glad you two are friends again,” she said once, standing at the kitchen sink while Vince helped bring in the dinner dishes. Never mind the fact that Eric sat in the dining room and probably heard her every word. She talked loud over the water filling up the sink. When Vince tried to quiet her, she told him, “Don’t shush me. You need some friends, Vincent. I swear, I don’t know what ever made you kids fight but I’m just happy to see that it’s over and done with now. He’s such a nice boy.”
Who laughed at me, Vince thought bitterly, when I told him I loved him. How f*****g nice is that? But he kept silent—what was the u
