Page 27 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

‘Oh, god,’ I groan to myself, dropping my head into my hands as Mercy laughs next to me. ‘Please stop talking.’

Welcome to my childhood full of embarrassment, oversharing, and zero inhibitions.

‘She’s not wrong,’ Mercy says. ‘You got caught up in a moment that should have lasted eight minutes,noteight years. It happens.’

‘Has it ever happened to you?’

Mercy laughs. ‘Well, no. Mostly because I don’t do long-term relationships. For good reason. That being: most men are just boys in overgrown bodies.Menare far and few between. It’s like finding a particular feather in a heap of nearly identical feathers.’

Mom laughs, nodding as though she gets it.

‘I don’t even think Tristan ever lasted eight minutes,’ I say mostly to myself.

At one time, the sex was good but, looking back, that feels like forever ago.

‘See,’ Mom says. ‘Lesson learned. Time to move onto bigger, better, andyoungerthings.’

‘Hello, Hollyn.’ Dad stops in front of me, giving me a once over, then a quick hug – the kind you’d give a distant family relative you don’t know well.

I was beginning to think he’d never say hello as he’s been sitting at the table chatting with River, pretending I don’t exist since he got here. He’s been mad at me for a long time, and if I had to guess, once he finds out I’ve lost my trust fund I’d say he’ll stay mad for a long time to come.

‘Hi, Dad.’

No response, just a polite smile.

‘Did you tell her yet?’

‘No, John, I haven’t told her yet,’ Mom says.

‘We don’t have all night. We’re meeting Jim and Deborah for drinks in twenty.’

‘Fine.’ Mom turns to me, handing my drink back. She looks at me with a frown.

‘Sweetheart, we’ve turned your room into a recording studio. Mommy is making a comeback.’ She beams. ‘River mentioned you need a place to stay. Unfortunately, we’ve decided you staying with us isn’t the best idea.’

‘Nor is you working at the shop,’ Dad adds.

Mom gently touches his chest – her cue for him to shut up and let her handle this. ‘We love you,of coursewe love you. We’re your parents. But it’s been hard for us to watch your life from a distance while you had no interest in making us a part of it. So, since you’re nearly thirty, it’s only fair for you to make this transition back home on your own.’

I glance between the two of them. I’m not sure what I thought they’d say, but I’m sure this isn’t what River expected. Yeah, we have our problems, but them turning their back on me never crossed my mind.

‘I deserved that.’

Mercy, sweet friend that she is, laces her fingers through mine and squeezes my hand.

‘I don’t expect you guys to fix this for me. I made the decisions to get into this hole, and I’ll figure out how to get myself out. For the record, though, I am sorry I’ve been such an awful daughter.’

Mom nods her head, acknowledging my apology as Dad pulls her towards the exit by her hand. And just like that, they walk out the front door without so much as a goodbye.

‘Well, I didn’t see that coming,’ River says, now standing where Mom had been.

‘What do I do now? I’m sure I’ve overstayed my welcome with Dax. The guy’s afraid of me.’

‘Dax isafraidof you?’ Mercy asks, clearly confused. ‘Giant, muscly Dax fears tiny, petite you?’

‘In his defense, she stunk.Badly,’ River says, a matter-of-fact look on his face. ‘Likebad, badly.’

Mercy raises both eyebrows, looking at me questioningly.

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