Page 68 of Degradation
So, what’s the problem?
I unzip the coat and shrug out of it, looking from one to the other, wishing they’d just say.
Blake frowns. ‘You don’t like it?’
‘I love it.’
‘Then where’d the smile go, gorgeous?’
‘You’re…upset. Why?’
He gives Mav an annoyed look. ‘It’s nothing.’
He approaches me and tries to take the coat from my grasp.
He’s taking it? But he just gave it to me!
I drag it closer, scowling at him. ‘No!’
He looks surprised. ‘You really do like it?’
‘I said I did,’ I practically snarl. ‘You gave it to me and I’m not giving it back. It’s mine! Get your own!’
I see Mav double over in the background, making a weird noise and I stare at him in concern but then realize he’s laughing so hard he’s bent over with it. Blake is too.
‘I don’t understand,’ I say, feeling so lost and confused that tears come to my eyes. ‘Is… Is it not really a present for me? Is it for someone else?’
Blake’s chuckles die as soon as he sees that I’m beginning to get distraught. ‘Oh, sweetheart. No.’
He shakes his head.
‘Of course it’s for you. It’s just,’ he sighs and pulls me to him, holding me tightly.
‘It’s just… I’m so fucked up and weird and I’m sorry. The coat is for you. Of course it is. I wanted to get you something.’
‘But what did Mav mean? A test? A test for what?’
Blake gives Mav a narrow-eyed look. ‘You’ve upset her, you idiot.’
Mav winces. ‘Sorry, Tulip.’
‘Give us a minute,’ Blake murmurs to Mav who gives him another look I don’t get.
He leaves quickly though, closing the door behind him.
‘This wasn’t a test.’ Blake passes a hand over his face. ‘At least, I don’t think it was. And Mav was talking about my mom.’
‘Your mom?’
He sighs. ‘She had expensive tastes. She wanted things my dad couldn’t afford, thatshecouldn’t afford. Around this town, a lot of people have nice things, you know? She wanted a piece of the pie, I guess. Some of that lifestyle she kept seeing.’ He steps away from me and turns around so I can’t see his face. ‘He tried to make her happy. He got into debt trying to get her all the things he thought wouldmake herhappy.’ He laughs mirthlessly. ‘And she still left when I was nine.’
‘I’m…sorry,’ I murmur. ‘Where did she go?’
He shrugs. ‘No clue, but she never came back so maybe she found what she was looking for. Anyway, my dad never really got out of debt after that. He just went deeper and deeper. He’ll never get out.’
I let out a breath, thinking about what Blake has revealed.
‘I’m sorry that happened,’ I say after a minute.
