by Messer Stone
“Everyone has to settle down eventually.”
While I hem-hawed around the topic of that never happening, under any circumstances. Saying things like—
“Moms can get a little wedding crazy. I’m sure when you get engaged, your mother will be in heaven.”
And—
I think beautiful is a strong word.
And—
There’s a difference between settling down and just settling.
Really, short of being downright brutal, I’m not sure how I could make it any clearer.
“Blair!” I yell, my patience wearing thin. “Where are you?”
“No need to shout, silly.”
I turn around, finding Blair dressed in nothing but a lacy bright red negligee.
Oh for the love of….
I scowl at her. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
She has the audacity to be surprised by my anger, her mouth dropping open as she halts in her slow, sultry movement towards me.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“You broke into my apartment!” I roar. “Are you serious right now?”
She rolls her eyes and snorts, apparently still convinced that I’m flirting. “You are so dramatic.”
Before I can process what’s happening, she’s pressed up against me, trying to wrap her arms around my neck. I grab hold of her wrists, keeping her away from me.
“This has got to stop!” I yell. “What do I have to do, Blair? Rent a plane and spell it in skywriting? I’m not interested!”
Her eyes go wide, apparently just now picking up on the seriousness of my tone. “But— I thought— your dad—”
“Forget about my dad! He doesn’t know shit!” I lean in closer. “Listen to what I’m saying. We are never going to happen. Full stop. End of story.”
I drop her wrists and she stands there, frozen in place as she stares up at me.
From somewhere behind me, I hear voices.
“Ms. Chase, please, it’s really not the best—”
By the time I hear the sharp intake of breath from just behind me, it’s too late. I can feel Mercy there and when I realize what this must look like to her, bile rises up in my throat.
Blair is standing less than a foot away from me, dressed in what can only be defined as lingerie.
When I turn to look at Mercy, the expression of raw betrayal and heartbreak on her face nearly cleaves me in two.
“Mercy, no—”
Before I can finish the sentence, she’s spinning on her heels and sprinting away. I howl out a growl-like sound of anger, demanding for someone to stop her, before rounding on Blair.
“Get your shit and get the fuck out!” I scream at her, spit flying. “I want you gone by the time I get back. And from now on Blair, you’d better stay away from me. I’m serious. If you try to see me again, you won’t like what happens.”
Before she has time to respond, I’m sprinting after Mercy. To my horror, I reach the foyer to realize she’s already on the elevator, on her way down. I have no choice but to wait for the car to drop her off in the lobby and make its way back up.
“Call the lobby!” I yell at no one in particular as I helplessly stab at the call button. “Tell them to stop her!”
After what seems like an eternity, the car finally returns. I throw myself in and pace across the small space throughout the entire trip down.
Once I get to the lobby, I almost sob out loud in relief. Mercy is still here. She’s trying to leave, almost at the door, while a crew of no less than three lobby attendants try to dissuade her.
“Mercy!”
She whips around to look at me, giving me a glimpse of the tears in her eyes as I jog towards her.
“Sweetheart, please—”
With a loud sob, she finally manages to break free of the lobby attendants, surging out the door and onto the street. I run after her, catching her on the sidewalk and wrapping my arms around her.
“Let me go!” she cries.
I catch sight of Lonny, idling on the curb with the car, and I give him a nod. Understanding my silent command, he gets out of the drivers set and comes around the front to open the backseat door.
“Listen to me—” I say, fighting to hold a struggling Mercy in my arms. “You want to go home? Fine. Lonny will take you. But you’re going to listen to me first.”
She finally gives in and I help her into the backseat before sliding in beside her. After pushing a button to erect the privacy screen between us and the front seat, I turn to her and take her hands in mine.
“Mercy. Baby.” My voice is soft, but sure.
She continues to stare straight ahead, her lip wobbling. My heart is breaking, seeing her hurt. I’m not sure how much more I can take. Without thinking, I put a finger under her chin and turn her face towards mine.
“Look me in the eye,” I say, holding her gaze. “And tell me what you think just happened.”
“It’s not about what I think!” she grits, tears streaming. “It’s about what I saw, and I—”
“What you think you saw,” I counter. “You don’t know for sure though, do you? But you know me. Better than anyone.”
Her eyes water and spill over with tears as they search mine, and it’s as though I can feel her picking apart my soul.
“I’ve given you all of me,” I whisper. “Don’t you see that? How could I give anything to anyone else? There’s nothing left.”
She inhales loudly at my declaration. “Tell me what happened.”
Finally, I can take a deep breath.
“When Blair came to the office today,” I begin, conscience of the way her body tenses at the reminder. “She hinted pretty strongly at us getting together. I hinted even stronger at the fact that I wasn’t interested.”
She arches a brow at me. “And from that, she got ‘come to my penthouse and put on something sexy’?”
I take a deep breath. “I have at least ten staff members that can attest to the fact that I’d barely walked in the door before you arrived.”
“People who work for you, you mean.”
“Security footage then!” I offer, exasperated. “If we went in there right now and demanded they play back footage from the lobby from the last hour, you would see me getting on the elevator less than five minutes before you did. There was no time for anything to happen.”
Sighing heavily, I cup her cheek. “I have nothing to hide, sweet girl.”
She watches me for a long moment before leaning into my touch. “I believe you.”
CHAPTER 26
Mercy
We sat there in the cab for a long time, just touching one another. Not the frantic, desperate kind of touching that leads to more, but rather more gentle, and tender— the kind that means so much more. After tonight, I know I will never love anyone like I love Parker. Walking into his home and seeing him with Blair hurt me like nothing else. I can still feel the icy blade of it in my chest every time I picture Blair in that sexy lingerie. Glamorous and poised in a way that I’ll never be.
I wonder for a moment if he’s going to ask me why I came to his place unannounced. The truth is, I’m not sure I can answer him. I didn’t know then and I don’t know now. I don’t want to tell him about this business with DeMarco. It could be dangerous to drag him into it and I love him too much to risk it. If DeMarco got his claws into Parker, a successful billionaire, he’d never let him go. Parker will be stuck in his pocket forever. I can’t let that happen.
At the same time, do I have a choice? Jason and Sophie are counting on me. I have to keep them safe. What if telling Parker is my only choice?
God, I don’t know what to do. All I do know is that right now, I just want to be with him. To feel his body against mine, to feel his breath on my skin.
“Come back with me.” He runs a featherlight finger along my jaw. “Stay.”
Every cell in my body screams to say yes. The thought of being away from him right now seems like more that I can take.
&nb
sp; “I can’t,” I say tightly. “The kids.”
He nods, ghosts his lips over my forehead.
I hesitate, not wanting to sound desperate. “My bed’s not as nice as yours. But maybe you could…”
“Yes,” he says, quick and eager.
I lean into him, smiling against his neck. Glancing at my watch, I notice it’s still relatively early. “Let me go on. I need to feed the kids dinner and get them in bed.”
“What time should I come?”
“Ten o’clock? Is that too late?”
He shakes his head before giving me a long kiss. “Not at all. I’ll be there.”
We exchange a few more kisses before he slips out of the car. The ride home seems to pass in a blur as I sit there, lost in my thoughts. When we reach my house, Lonny opens my door for me and I get out, moving in a daze.
“Excuse me, Miss Chase. Could I have a word?”
Turning around, I find Lonny standing by the car with his hat in his hands. “Of course. And please, call me Mercy.”
He nods, looking uncomfortable. “Mr. Callahan has been really good to me. I was in the marines, you know. Did two tours in Afghanistan. When I came back, I was all messed up. I went to the VA to try and get help, but it was useless. I couldn’t get a job. I was maybe a few weeks from being homeless when Parker found me. Got me some help. Gave me this job. I owe him everything.”
Warmth spreads through me as I fight back a smile. In the few weeks that I’ve known Lonny, I’ve scarcely heard him utter more than two words at a time. “Why are you telling me this?”
He blushes, averts his gaze. “I tried not to overhear your conversation in the car earlier but… sometimes drivers hear more than they want to. Comes with the job.”
Now it’s my turn to blush. “Oh.”
“I’m probably overstepping, but…” He clears his throat. “I just wanted you to know that he’s a good man. And if he tells you something, you can bet your life that it’s the truth.”
Shame wars with embarrassment and affection as I nod, giving him a small smile. “I know that.”
He nods. “Have a good night, Mercy.”
“You too.”
Once inside, I change out of my work clothes into a pair of leggings and a soft sweater. The next few hours seem to last an eternity but somehow I manage to live through it. Sophie is in bed at eight, Jason at nine. Shortly after that, Elena emerges with an overnight bag. I told her in a hushed whisper earlier of my plans to sneak Parker in. She winks at me as she heads for the door.
“Going to stay at Gabby's tonight. We have a big test in the morning, so we’re gonna pull an all-nighter.” Just before she leaves, she pauses. “Promise to wash my sheets before I get home.”
At ten on the dot, I get a text from Parker. He’s outside. Quietly, I let him in through the front door. He looks perfect in dark jeans and a fitted gray sweater, his golden blonde hair still damp from a shower.
“Hi,” I whisper.
He kisses me on the nose. “Hi.”
Taking his hand, I lead him towards the basement.
“Where are you taking me?” he asks as we tiptoe down the stairs. I answer with a coy smile and a wink.
The basement apartment is simple— a living room with a built-in kitchenette, and a small bedroom with an en suite bathroom. My dad finished it just weeks before the accident, planning to use it for supplemental income. Elena moved in about six months ago, and it makes me smile to find little pieces of her around the space. The nursing textbooks on the kitchen table, the magnets with corny jokes on the refrigerator. The miniature Venezuelan flag hanging on the wall.
We could go straight for the bedroom but I can’t help but feel like we still need to talk. So instead I sit down on the old red couch, patting the space beside me.
“Elena’s staying at a friend’s place tonight,” I explain as Parker plops down next to me. “I figured since she’s gone, we could sleep down here. More privacy this way.”
“Hmm,” he pulls me into his side. “ I like the way you think.”
My eye catches on the small, outdated TV on the wall opposite us. Part of me wishes that we could just put on a movie and hang out, like a normal couple. But I know that we can’t.
“Can I ask you something?” I blurt, before I can chicken out.
He slips a hand into my hair. “Of course. Anything.”
I swallow, forcing myself to be brave. “Who’s Lola?”
He tenses beside me, looking down at me questioningly.
“Your sister mentioned her to me at the Gala,” I admit, biting my lip. “And I might have seen that email she wrote to you. I wasn’t trying to snoop, I just—”
He puts a finger to my lips. “Stop. It’s okay. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”
I nod, waiting silently.
He lets out a long breath. “Lola was my girlfriend in college.”
“Was it serious?” I ask, when he doesn’t offer more.
“I thought so.”
“How long were you together?”
“About two years.”
Frustrated, but undeterred, I push for more. “How did you meet her?”
Realizing that I’m not going to let this go, he gives in, putting it all out there. “Through mutual friends. We hung out in mostly group settings at first but as time went on, we spent more and more time together alone. I’d never met anyone like her before. Most of the people I knew at Miami were pretty much the same as the people I knew growing up in New York. Wealthy. Privileged. Lola was there on scholarship. She was so… normal. She was from a working class family. She was kind, sweet. Never had a bad thing to say about anyone.”
I feel a surge of irrational jealousy and push it out of my mind. “What happened?”
“Once we started dating exclusively, I started buying her gifts every now and then, and when I saw how happy they made her, I started doing it all the time. Eventually it became something she expected. The longer we were together, the greedier she became. She moved into my apartment, charged thousands of dollars to my credit cards. For so long I told myself that she’d just never been able to afford nice things before. That I’d been privileged my whole life, and had no business judging her. But the more she indulged, the more she changed. She wanted to go to the hottest nightclub every night. She wanted me to take her on the most exotic vacations. I didn’t mind it so much at first. I liked making her happy. But then I started to realize that she didn’t give a shit whether I was happy or not. It was always about her.”
My heart broke for him as I watched the shadow of memory pass over his face. Reaching out, I take his hand in mine.
“Eventually I couldn’t take it anymore. She was getting too greedy and nothing was ever enough. I was beginning to resent her and I didn’t want to. I still wanted to make it work between us. I was so stupid.”
I stroke his knuckle with my thumb, leaning into press a kiss to his shoulder. “She was your first love. Of course it was hard to let go.”
He nods. “I cut off her access to my credit cards. I told her we had to get a handle on things. That even though I loved her, I couldn’t let her treat me like an ATM. I deserved better than that.”
A small sound escapes me at the raw vulnerability in his voice. I’ve never seen this side of him, and I’m speechless in the face of it.
“We had a big fight, but I figured she’d get over it. I decided to fly home for the weekend, give us some space. When I came back I found her in bed with my best friend.”
My mouth falls open as I stare up at him, eyes wide. “Jesus. How’d you catch them?”
He barks out a soft, short laugh. “It wasn’t hard. They were in my bed. And she knew that I was coming back that night, so I think she probably wanted me to catch them. Wanted to punish me for cutting her off. I honestly don’t think she expected me to end things then and there.”
“How could she possibly have expected anything else?” I ask, brows furrowed in a scowl.
&n
bsp; He shrugs. “She was used to getting her way with me I think. For a long time I pretty much let her run things in our relationship. I didn’t like upsetting her and she knew it. I think she thought that sleeping with Trevor would be a wakeup call for me. Make me see that I had screwed up by taking away my money, and I needed to make things right.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t see it that way.”
“Not even close. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad in my life. I said horrible things to her, threw her out. Said I never wanted to see her again.”
I frown. The story makes sense, but there are a lot of blanks I still can’t fill. “If things ended so badly… why did you go to Miami to help her?”
He narrows his eyes at me, clearly wondering how I know about the trip in the first place. But he doesn’t press the issue. “After we broke up, she went downhill. Fast. Dropped out of school, got mixed up in drugs. When I realized what was happening to her, I tried to be there for her when I could.”
Realization dawns and I rear back, incredulous. “You don’t think that’s your fault? Do you?”
He shakes his head. “I used to. She was a nice, normal girl before I came along. But I don’t blame myself anymore. Not really.”
“Then why? Why go out of your way to help her?”
“Because I can,” he says softly. “Because she doesn’t have anyone else. Because I hate to think of what could happen if I don’t.”
“Why do you think it’s your job to save everyone?” I know I might be pushing too far, but I can’t seem to stop. “Does it have anything to do with what happened to your mom?”
“Jesus.” He lets his head fall back with a thump, eyes squeezed shut. “Lorelai really doesn’t know when to shut up.”
“She didn’t tell me much,” I tell him quickly, feeling a bit guilty as I press into his side. “Just that there was an incident. And that it had an effect on you.”
I’m about to tell him that he doesn’t have to talk about it if he doesn’t want to when he beats me to it.
“I was young. Ten, I think? Maybe eleven. I didn’t know it then, of course. But Mom and Dad had been trying for a while to have another baby. Her first pregnancy was rough. Carrying twins is never easy and she was adamantly against having a c-section. She ended up losing a lot of blood in labor and the resulting damage was significant. They weren’t sure she’d be able to conceive again, but she did. I remember she cried when she told us. She was so happy.”
