Page 104 of Love Me Not

Her pitch-black hair was cut in a bob with bangs.She wore an oversized hoodie that was at least three sizes too big on her as well as baggy jeans that hid her figure.On her neck was a pair of headphones, and on her back a large backpack, which I quickly came to learn had multiple laptops and documents inside, along with blown-up pictures that now lay in front of us on the counter.

Her name was Mia, and she was apparently our saving grace.

“Yep,” she said, popping thep.“Your mother cheated on both her partners with each other and was surprised when they both left her because of it.Your father is still alive and tried to fight her for custody, but she did some shady shit just like she's trying to do with Bella.All details are in the file.And that's not even half of it.If you want to dive deeper on the "donations" she's been giving to some of these charity and school events, I could dig up some more stuff.Let's just say that it's more about paying off a few particular friends that have sway in her little community than actually wanting to do good.”

Lux sat there stunned, and if I was being honest, I was just as stunned as her.

To be hit with the information so nonchalantly—that Lux’s father had not abandoned her and that he had fought for custody of her—could not be easy.

Even worse, I knew that the small woman in front of me knew way more than she was letting on too.

I probably should've been scared of her, but I was mostly impressed.It wasn’t easy to dig up this kind of information.And while her methods might have seemed a bit crazy and cluttered, she seemed to have a system and she knew all the whens and wheres of Lux’s mother's timeline.

Bella was at my side, gripping my hand.Neither of us had the courage to leave her out of this meeting.She hadn’t stopped crying since the showdown the day before.She even crawled into bed with us, seeking comfort.

And while Bella probably didn’t fully understand what was going on, there was a renewed sense of hope between us.

It may be awful, but it’s our only way out.

Mia looked at us expectantly.

“So, do you need more than that or…?"

"No, I think that will do it,” Lux replied, though she sounded a little unsure, no doubt trying to digest what she’d just heard.Something was nagging at the back of my brain.I tried to push it away and leave this to Lux, but I couldn't help myself.

“Is there anything a little bit more illegal?”I asked.“Besides the shady donations?”

Lux gave me a look, but I couldn't tell if she was appreciative or skeptical.

Mia leaned forward, her eyebrows wagging.“Oh, you know, I have something.But this one's more of a rumor, so we're gonna need to get a little more proof if we want it to pack a punch.”

“Tell us,” Lux ordered.

“Nine years ago, she was driving under the influence, or at least that's what the records insinuate.She was never taken into custody, but she was in a car accident and later taken to the hospital.My guess is she either knew the policeman on the scene or sweet-talked him into taking her name out of the papers.Maybe both.”

The world stood still.

There’s no such thing as coincidence with my mother.

Lux had said those words to me before.My body caught up before my mind did, and I started to shake.I didn't want to believe it.

Nine years ago.Something had happened in my life nine years ago.Something that changed its whole trajectory.Something that still to this day affected every part of it.

“What else do you know about it?”I asked, trying to keep the horror out of my voice, my nails digging into my pants.

“Just that it was in New York and her car was totaled.In fact, the car seems to have disappeared altogether.”

No.

There was absolutely no way Lux and I were connected by something so horrible.

But they died nine years ago.

The supposedly drunk driver was never found.It was in New York.It was labeled as a hit and run.I had grieved my parents, having to come to terms with the fact that their murderer might never be caught.

The universe had to be playing a fucking joke on me.

There’s no way.I don’t want to believe it.I can’t.

---