He has a point.
“Is Mom in?” Because I was wrong. Mom is the last person I want to see right now.
“Nah. She’s out. Hot date.”
I nod, relieved, and pleased with that. I’m happy she’s living her life again, at last.
“Is that cake I smell?”
“Oh yeah. She baked about a hundred cakes before she left. Doing her usual rounds tomorrow.”
Mom has this hobby. A philosophy of living, I guess. She bakes for us, for all her friends, all the people she has ever known, and plenty she hasn’t—homeless people, people in old people’s homes, people in hospitals. She believes that everyone deserves a cake, that indeed a life without cake is sad.
Her cakes are so good that I’m inclined to believe she’s right.
Shrugging off my jacket, unwinding the scarf from my neck, I sink into the sofa.
“You haven’t answered my first question.” I take off my high heels and lean back, letting the warmth of the room seep into my chilled skin. “What were you doing, sitting in the dark? That was creepy.”
“I wasn’t alone.” He lifts a glass with amber liquid.
“That’s not healthy.” I sigh. “Gimme.”
Chuckling, he passes me his glass, and I take a sip. “Ugh.” It burns. “What’s this, battery acid?”
He retrieves the glass, still chuckling. “It’s a manly drink. Too potent for the likes of you.”
“Pff. It sounds like you’ve been reading epic fantasy again.”
“Get thee hence, maid, and pour me some ale,” he intones, trying to keep a straight face.
I laugh and tuck an errant strand of hair behind my ear. “Alright. And what were you doing here, meditating with the elves?”
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Things.”
“You mean girls. Girls are not things, brother.”
He shrugs. Sits down beside me. “Doesn’t matter either way. I’m done thinking. So what’s up? Why are you back so early? Did something happen with Syd?”
“Why would you say that?” A shudder runs through me as I remember her down on the grass, her eyes round as Jarett fought off the two other guys. Drug dealers. Whatever they were.
Merc gives another shrug. “The other day I overheard some of the things you were discussing, is all.”
“Yeah?” I cast my mind back, trying to remember what he might have heard. “So?”
“So I know something happened with that guy, Jarett. Did she sleep with him?”
“What? Of course not.” My heart booms just at the thought.
God.
“Okay, relax. I thought you were mad at her, that’s all. And since you’re in love with Jarett…”
I shoot to my feet. “Holy frigging crap, I’m not in love with Jarett, okay? How many times do I have to say it?”