Page 95 of Inferno

Manning sobered at the reminder of the painful ordeal Michael and Marcus had recently gone through with their parents. As he watched, Marcus smacked Magnum upside the head with a pillow,thenburst out laughing.

Manning smiled softly. “This week will be good for him.”

“Yeah,” Michael murmured.“For both of us.”

Hearing the husky catch to his cousin’s voice, Manning reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

Neither spoke for several moments.

“You’re lucky,” Michael said quietly. “Uncle Stan and Aunt Prissy really love each other. When they’re together, they’re like…like high school sweethearts.”

Manning smiled a little. “They were.”

“I know. And it shows.”

Manning thought of the tension he’d sensed between his parents over the past few months. Whatever had been troubling them seemed to have passed. Thank God, because he honestly didn’t knowwhathe’d do if they ever gotdivorced.

“I know youmissAtlanta,” Michael continued solemnly. “I probably would, too. But if I could turn backtimeand keep my family together, I’d do it in a heartbeat—even if we had to move to Timbuktu.”

He and Manning shared a quiet chuckle.

Sobering after another moment, Michael gently grasped his cousin’s shoulder. “You have a lot to be grateful for, Manny.This beautiful house, your loving parents, even your little brothers—who look up to you whether you realize it or not.You’ve got it made.So the next time you’re tempted to feel sorry for yourself, stop and count your blessings instead.”

Manning nodded slowly, thoroughly humbled by his cousin’s heartfelt words. He knew Michael was right. He’d been wearing a chip on his shoulder for the past two years. It was time for him to stop sulking and start appreciating everything he had.Starting now.

Watching his expression turn to one of acceptance, Michael grinned with satisfaction. “Now that we’ve had shrink time,” he teased, “I think I’ll give you a good old-fashioned butt whupping for old times’ sake. Does that half court in the backyard have lights?”

“Yeah,” Manning said slowly, “but it’s almost midnight. And it’s, like, fifty degrees outside.”

“Chicken?”Michael challenged.

Manning laughed.“Hell, no!I’ve gotten used to Colorado winters, so whileyou’restanding there shivering in your long johns, I’ll be raining threes on your head.”

Michael laughed as they headed upstairs to suit up in sweats. “You can take the boy out of Atlanta—”

“—but you can’t take Atlanta out of the boy.” Manning grinned. “And don’t you forget it.”

“I won’t.” Michael sent him a meaningful look. “And neither should you.”