Page 2 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
“She’s twenty-seven now,” I point out. “Too late to adopt.”
“I would’ve had a daughter to dote on if it weren’t for you,” she says icily.
It always comes to this—the sin she can never forgive. I can’t forget or forgive myself for it either. Memories slam into me. Katherine’s short, panting breaths. The smell of chocolate mint from the candy she loved so much. Her heart pumping, pushing more hot blood out of the small hole I made on her torso. I pressed my hands over it, praying they would stop the bleeding, but no. More and more blood spilled out. Who could’ve known such a small girl could have so much of it?
Suddenly, a pit burns in my gut. I shoot a quick glance at Ivy, gauging her reaction. Is she going to be repulsed?
She’s looking at both of us, her eyes darting back and forth. She’s not revealing much, even though I can see thoughts flicking across her gorgeous face.
“Oh man, I need coffee,” comes Harry’s voice from upstairs.
Perfect timing.I will him to hurry the hell up.
“Come on, sleepyhead. I’m dragging you out of this…” He trails off as he reaches the bottom of the steps. “Whoa! Mom!”
Unlike me, he’s freshly showered and presentable in a UCLA T-shirt and denim shorts. I relax a little as he rushes forward and hugs her tightly in his arms. He’s her favorite, and she is rarely unkind in front of him.
“Wow,” he says. “You never said you were coming to Los Angeles. Did you miss me?”
Her expression softens. “Of course I missed you, but I don’t think I have to tell you where I’m going every time I leave Tempérane.”
She places a hand on his face and kisses his cheek the way she used to all those year ago. It shouldn’t bother me now, but the gesture still causes a small pang in my chest.
Harry’s grin is overly bright. “But if you’d told me, I would’ve gone to the airport to pick you up! Now you made me a bad son.”
She laughs, the sound like a clear stream over pebbles. “Never. You’re the most perfect son any mother could wish for.”
Her words slice like razors. She used to call me the best son eighteen years ago. I’m not really envious of Harry, just sad for myself, even though I should be used to it by now. No disowned son can ever be called good.
Harry sticks a hand into his hair and looks down, an image of mild embarrassment. “You know, I’m starving. There’s nothing to eat in the fridge here or anything,” he says, although he stocked the fridge last night with stuff he likes.
“That’s not good. Breakfast is the most important meal.” Mother slides an accusing look in my direction.
I merely look back at her. She isn’t wrong to blame me, since I haven’t cared about food or sleep or anything else for days.
Harry’s smile grows brighter. “Exactly! So why don’t you and I go have something delicious? Your treat.” He loops an arm around hers.
“My treat?”
“I’m just a poor college student.” He gives her puppy eyes. “Please?”
She glances at the kitchen as though she wants something from it, but then smiles. “Very well. Whatever you like.” She pats his hand.
Finally, I think.
As he herds her out, he turns his head and mouths, Good luck.
The door closes behind them. The tension doesn’t ease, though. It merely changes from guardedness to desperate longing.
Ivy hasn’t said a word since she got here. And she saw the entire Awkward Family Act. What’s she thinking? It’s hard to read her. I’m too tired and strung out to be rational. But whatever’s going through her mind can’t be good. I certainly wouldn’t be okay if the situation were reversed.
I look down at myself. Damn it. I look like shit. I haven’t showered in two days, and the only reason I did that at all is because Harry, TJ and Ryder dragged me to the bathroom and made me. And I decided I was going to see Ivy, so maybe I should look fresh, even if I felt like rotting meat inside. Although it didn’t do me any good, since no explanation could change her mind.
If she’s here…maybe she wants to talk. Give me another chance to come up with a better excuse than what I gave her.
She starts to inhale deeply, her gaze flicking toward the door.
No. Anxiety grabs my throat. I have to find a way to make her stay.
