Page 72 of My Heartless Soul

“Vee,” I say, taking a deep breath. “What is happening at the school today?”

“Nothing,” she answers too fast, glancing at her dad, who stopped cooking, listening to us without turning around.

“It’s okay, little mermaid. You can say whatever it is. I promise no one will be sad or mad.”

Victoria looks up to me, her eyes filled with unshed tears and that is when I realize it is too late for me. I am attached. And it will hurt in the end. Once again, it will hurt.

“Promise?” Her voice is shaking, and that is when Vassar whips around, his eyes wide as he gapes at his daughter and me. Her hands back in mine.

“Promise.”

“It’s ‘Bring your mom to school day’ today,” Victoria barely utters the words, but they hit all of us as if she would yell them out. “I asked Sophie, but she had some really big test today and can’t go with me.”

“Angel, why didn’t you tell me?” Vas looks crushed. He is really a great father, but she is the most amazing daughter who prioritizes his feelings over hers. She shouldn’t have to do that. She shouldn’t feel all this pain at such a young age.

But life is a bitch.

“It’s okay, daddy. I will go get ready.”

“I’ll come with you instead!”

“No, it’s okay,” she reassures him, but I hear the hidden meaning. It’s a mom day, and try as hard as he might; he can’t be both. “I will go get dressed.” She jumps off the stool, her face devoid of any emotion.

“Can I come?”

I think that was my voice asking that. Wait, was it?Fuck…

I want to take it back, to make up a lie that I meant something completely different, but Victoria’s head snaps up to mine, those two shiny pools of tears staring at me with awe and such hope; no lies could ever come out of my mouth.

“Kira? What do you mean?” Vas asks me, and I swallow that stupid lump, addressing his daughter instead of him.

“Can I come with you, little mermaid? I know I’m not a mom, but maybe I could go as your…friend?” The tiny body collides with my legs in a flash, hugging them hard.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she squeaks happily. I feel those stiff muscles around my mouth pull up, and a genuine, big smile covers my face.

“Kira,” Vas clears his throat. “The meeting with Landon?” He raises an eyebrow at me, and I squint. Shit, I forgot about that. “Vee, how about you have that day off? I’m sorry, we have—”

I interrupt him. “No. I’m going with Victoria.”

“But Landon?”

“Fu—” Vassar’s eyes go wide as I was just about to let a colorful curse word fly around his daughter, and I purse my lips. “Fuuuorget. Forget, Landon. This is more important.”

Chapter thirty-three

Kira

Song: Tove Lo – Borderline

“Chef,” the first one of my employees greets me and a whole chorus of “chefs” and head nods followed it as I passed through the kitchen. The only time I don’t want to be seen or acknowledged, but today is clearly not my day because I knew there was no avoiding Vassar forever, but I hoped to at least postpone it a bit longer.

I needed more time to reign in my raging emotions. To tame that stupid spark, my little mermaid lit in my chest. No one was ever prouder to have me standing next to them than Victoria today at her school. I don’t know how she knew so much about me, but she kept on going on and on about what an amazing cook I , how pretty I am, and how I’m her best friend.

With each word, that spark in my chest spread wider and wilder until I was scared out of my mind that it would get so out of control the only way out would be to let it all burn.

I have already drowned twice in my life, so why not add another deadly element to my life. But I couldn’t drop her hand or let go for a second. That little hand in mine felt like the best freaking thing. It was the perfect calm to my storm.

Something I never thought I could feel.

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