Season of Mercy

by Melissa Storm

  Liz placed both hands on her hips, but it did not give her any added authority in this awkward situation. “Is that a problem?” she demanded, raising an eyebrow at Hunter.

  He shrugged. “Well, we already went out before, but she blew me off partway through and then stopped taking my calls.”

  Sofia wanted to fade through the wall behind her and never return to this apartment—or this conversation. She glanced toward the door, but it had already been shut tight.

  Liz huffed and jerked Sofia’s arm. “You said you weren’t seeing anyone!”

  “I’m not seeing anyone,” she argued. “I saw him one time and that was it.”

  “I don’t get it. Why don’t you like him? I figured you two would be a perfect match. That’s why I wanted to make sure you’d both be here tonight.”

  “Liz, shut up. Please just stop,” Sofia growled as Scarlett and Lauren watched with wide eyes.

  “Wait. Actually, I’d like to know that, too,” Hunter said, placing a hand on Elizabeth Jane’s shoulder as the two of them stood united against Sofia, both demanding answers she would never willingly give. “Why don’t you like me?”

  “I…” What can I possibly say?

  “C’mon, that’s enough,” Lauren said, putting two hands on Sofia’s back to lead her away from the group and deeper into the party.

  “Sorry about them,” she whispered in Sofia’s ear. “Liz and Scarlett tend to get a bit juvenile when they’re together. I’m sure they didn’t mean to embarrass you like that. I can create a distraction if you want to sneak out of here without them noticing.”

  Sofia had only just met Lauren, but already she’d become her favorite person in the entire world. “Please and thank you,” she said as she calculated the quickest path to the door.

  “You’ve got it!” Lauren ran back over to the group and said something with big, sweeping hand gestures that made the other two women double over with laughter.

  Sofia saw her chance and grabbed it tight—slipping out of the apartment, racing down the hall, and…

  Running straight into Hunter, who had also decided to mount an escape.

  Sofia wanted to cry. This week just kept on getting worse and worse. The only thing worse that having to escape the company of a handsome man was getting caught in the process. And now here they were. Sofia’s mortification knew no bounds.

  Hunter, on the other hand, burst out laughing. “Looks like we can at least agree on one thing. That sucked.”

  “Yeah… well, bye.” She needed to get out of there, get away from him. If rudeness was required, then so be it. She had no desire to make small talk.

  Hunter followed her down the stairs, stopping midway. “Hey, hold on. You know that was embarrassing for me, too. Especially after you ghosted me like that.”

  “I didn’t…” Although it was only natural to defend herself, Sofia needed to curtail that inclination real quick. She needed to make him go away without asking anymore questions.

  “You’re right,” she said with what she hoped was a formidable scowl. “I’m not interested. Sorry if you find that embarrassing.” Sofia glided down the stairs with more confidence then she felt, hoping that this would finally be the end of her messed-up saga with Hunter.

  “Nope, you’re not getting away that easily.” Hunter trod after her with rapid footfalls. Was he trying to force her to physically run away from him?

  Could she not escape this situation with the very last shred of her dignity intact? Sofia quickened her pace, but it was too late.

  Hunter caught up to her and scooped Sofia into a fireman’s carry.

  “Hey, put me down!” she yelled.

  “I will if you promise not to walk away from me again.”

  “No way, you can’t just—”

  “Okay, then I’ll carry you.” He took quick strides down the sidewalk, delivering her to the apartment’s courtyard but still refusing to let her go.

  “Hunter, what are you doing? This is not okay.”

  “You know what else isn’t okay? The way you’ve been lying to me and to yourself.”

  She looked up at him, their faces dangerously close, and for the first time, she saw the hurt reflecting in his eyes. That made what she needed to do even more difficult. “I haven’t—”

  “Yes, you have. I felt it then, and I know you did, too. In the factory, when we almost kissed. I feel it now, too.”

  This caught her off guard. She needed to fight, to demand he put her down, but instead she asked, “We almost kissed?”

  He kept his hazel eyes fixed on her, pleading her to see something. Perhaps it was his earnestness, the fact he meant everything he said now, that he wouldn’t let her get away without first giving him a proper chance. “Contrary to me carrying you around like a crazed gorilla right now, I’m actually a really decent guy. You’d know that if you gave me a chance.”

  “But I…”

  “But what?”

  “I don’t know.” Don’t you understand? Can’t you see this is hard for me, too? Please just let me go.

  “Well, then, that makes two of us.” He plopped her down onto the pavement and sighed.

  Sofia stepped closer, but Hunter wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m just… well, I’m really messed up.”

  He let out a sad chuckle and shook his head, still avoiding her gaze. She hated that she’d hurt him like this, but what other choice did she have then? Have now?

  “That’s the thing, Sofia. We all are. Every single one of us. Even me.”

  Sofia shook her head and placed her hand on Hunter’s arm. “Not you. You’re perfect.”

  He laughed bitterly. “Making fun of me now?”

  She bit her lip. This was not going well. “I had no idea you liked me so much. I wouldn’t have ever agreed to go out with you if I knew…”

  “Knew what?” At last his gaze zipped toward hers. Its intensity caused her breath to catch in her throat. She didn’t have the answers he wanted. She didn’t have any she could offer.

  “You know what I know? I know that our feelings are mutual. I know that we could be so great together, Sofia. Even our friends know that, which explains the most awkward fixup in the history of mankind back there. Everyone wants us together—the whole universe, even—everyone but you. And no matter how hard I try, I just can’t understand why.”

  She shook her head, holding back her tears. If Hunter saw her cry, this would all be over. Then what would happen to Wolfie? To the other dogs who needed her? “I’m not right for you, Hunter.”

  He placed a gentle hand on her wrist, reminding her of how close they now stood. All she needed to do was turn around and walk away, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to budge. Not now. Not yet.

  “Won’t you give me the chance to decide that for myself?” Hunter pleaded.

  Tears continued to sting the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She hated to hurt Hunter like this, but it was better to do it now than to let him continue this inconvenient infatuation. “I…”

  “Hey!” A high-pitched voice floated down from above, breaking through the bubble of intensity that surrounded them. “Hey, Sofia Stepanov!”

  Sofia snapped her head up and saw a pair of familiar girls leaning over the edge of the roof.

  “Celeste?” she asked, recognizing the former mean girl’s red locks even in the waning light.

  “Yeah! Allie from school is here, too. Come up and say hi!” The other girl waved, then collapsed into laughter. Yes, that was Allie Mayfair, all right. Sofia hadn’t realized the two had become friends again after what she’d done to split them apart and get her revenge for all the hurt they’d caused her.

  Her heart picked up its pace. Did they know? Of course they couldn’t know. Sofia had never told a soul, which is why her plan had worked so well.

  Normally, these two high school enemies would be the last people she’d want to spend any time with, but tonight there was a different
person who bottomed out her list…

  She took the stairs two at a time to put as much distance between herself and Hunter as she could. Hopefully, when she looked back, he would finally be gone.

  Rooftop terraces were somewhat of a rarity in Anchorage, given the huge amounts of snow that blanketed the city for the better part of the year. As she ascended several flights of stairs to reach the roof, Sofia briefly wondered how much Scarlett must be paying for rent to afford a place with such nice amenities. However, these trivial thoughts fled when she reached the top of the building and came face to face with her former tormenters.

  Celeste spotted her instantly and ran over for a hug.

  Allie hung back, leaning against the half wall and nursing an over-filled glass of wine.

  Sofia flinched. Her muscle memory from more than ten years ago had remained intact, and her poor body expected to be slapped, spit on, or worse.

  “So glad to see you again.” Celeste offered a kind smile and hugged Sofia a second time. She seemed to have grown up quite a bit over the years.

  But still…

  It was too little, too late. A childhood full of memories stampeded through Sofia’s head. The rumors, the taunts, the sometimes physical abuse. Her parents had told Sofia to stand up for herself, that if the bullies respected her they would stop picking on her—but they had been very, very wrong.

  Day after day, the mean girls made her life a hell. Celeste and Allie were their queens, two inseparable best friends whose first priority was maintaining their hard-won throne of popularity.

  Nothing Sofia tried could dampen their cruelty. Not until she came up with the plan. The plan had worked like a charm, and for months, Sofia had been on top of the world, free from harassment, free to enjoy the remainder of her high school days.

  Until the worst happened…

  “How’s your daughter?” Sofia asked, remembering how she felt when she’d first heard the news of Allie’s pregnancy. Her little girl must be at least twelve by now. Hardly a little girl at all. And to think Sofia was partially to blame for her existence. For this mess that Allie had now become. Allie and Celeste may have made her childhood a hell, but Sofia’s actions had ruined the rest of their lives—or at least Allie’s.

  Allie shrugged and took another long drink from her wine goblet. “Milly is fine. She’s with my parents tonight.”

  “Oh, that’s good.” How much did she have to say before she could mount another escape? She certainly couldn’t say what she most wanted—that she was sorry. “And h-how is everything else?” she said instead.

  “Good as it can be for a high school dropout,” Allie grumbled into her drink.

  “She’s being modest,” Celeste said, walking with Sofia over to the wall. “She just got a promotion at work.”

  “Head tour guide, whoopie.” Allie pumped her fist in the air, slightly losing her footing. She clutched to the wall and took another drink.

  Celeste raised her voice and furrowed her brow. “Stop putting yourself down, Al. It is a big deal! Think of the difference you’re making, the awareness you’re spreading.”

  “The people I’m entertaining? Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Allie let out a long sigh, then frowned at her now empty glass.

  Sofia felt trapped between the two friends, each growing increasingly hostile toward the other right before her eyes. She had done this. Sofia. Her actions all those years ago still held tight to their lives like burrs to a hemline.

  “Congratulations on your promotion, Allie. Where do you work?” Sofia asked, drawing both sets of eyes to herself.

  “The Wolf Sanctuary up in Eagle River. I show the tourists around.” She shrugged. “No big deal.”

  “We ran into each other again a couple years back when I was called in to take some photos for their new website,” Celeste explained.

  “And it’s just like old times. Isn’t it, C?” Allie swore and stamped her foot.

  Celeste scowled. “Yeah, I guess some people never change. C’mon, Sofia. This one’s obviously had too much to drink. Her inner wicked witch is showing.”

  Sofia allowed Celeste to lead her away, but the physical distance from Allie didn’t dampen the emotional impact Sofia had had on the girl’s life.

  Still. All these years later.

  Would it be like that again with Joe Collins and Hunter and all the other people she’d hurt by trying to do something good? She’d attempted to mete out justice before and look at what had happened. Sofia had the power to destroy lives, whether or not it’s what she wanted.

  The thought of Hunter becoming broken and bitter like Allie devastated Sofia.

  “Oh, look,” Celeste said, pointing across the roof to an attractive couple poised on a wicker lounger with a small group gathered before them. “Did you know Scarlett has celebrity friends? That’s Lolly Winston.”

  Sofia squinted in the direction Celeste had pointed but didn’t recognize the woman she saw flanked on one side by her husband and the other, Liz. “I’m sorry, who?”

  “Lolly Winston. She’s basically the Christina Aguilera of our generation. Don’t you listen to the radio?” Celeste laughed and dragged Sofia over to the unknown singer. Why is she acting like we’re such good friends? Does she know?

  Liz and Lolly both stared down at the tiny screen in Liz’s hands.

  “And this is Delilah after her bath,” Liz declared with an obvious maternal pride before swiping again. “This is Delilah with her favorite stuffed bunny… Oh, and this is Delilah getting ready for bedtime.”

  “Let me see that,” Lolly’s husband said, gesturing for the phone.

  “That’s Oscar Rockwell,” Celeste whispered into her ear. “Isn’t he hot? He’s not famous or anything, but he does run this huge rescue organization for sled dogs. I think that’s how Scarlett knows them.”

  “Is Delilah a Chow Chow?” Oscar asked Liz.

  Sofia held her breath, praying she could stop time, wind it backward, undo it all.

  Liz nodded enthusiastically and took her phone back from Oscar. “Yeah, isn’t she the cutest? I just love her little scrunched face.”

  “She’s beautiful,” the vet agreed, but a frown now filled his face. “Where did you get her?”

  “My friend found her wandering the streets in a storm.”

  “That’s what I thought. Tell me…” Oscar nodded and pressed a few keys on his phone then pushed it toward Liz. “Is this her?”

  “What? Oh my gosh!” Liz searched the crowd on the rooftop until her eyes landed on Sofia. “There’s my friend who found her! Sofia, look! Delilah’s real name is Fanta, and her owner’s been trying to find her.”

  No, no, no, no! This particular truth had finally caught up to Sofia. How she prayed the others would remain hidden in her past.

  Liz’s eyes searched Sofia’s for answers. Her face fell. Sofia watched as her friend’s heart broke right in front of her.

  There was nothing left to do except run away and refuse to look back.

  The facts against Sofia stacked up like an unsteady Jenga tower. One wrong move and the whole thing would come toppling over, creating a giant mess she’d never be able to clean up.

  Joe Collins had seen her car. He knew his dog had been stolen.

  Liz had just informed the party that Sofia was the one who brought the dog to her.

  And at least one person would be able to fit these pieces together and solve the puzzle—Hunter Burke.

  “I have to go get some air,” Sofia mumbled before pushing her way through the crowd and away from her friend. She couldn’t bring herself to confront the hurt in Liz’s face, in her voice. Even if she hadn’t yet figured out what Sofia had done, she would soon enough. Liz already loved the Chow like a second child, and now it would be taken away.

  She’d lose her baby—and all because of Sofia.

  “Get some air?” a man asked as she swept by. “You do realize you’re already outside, don’t you?”

  Hunter. Of course this night would get w
orse still. It’s what she deserved.

  “You look like you’re going to be sick,” he called after her.

  Sofia quickened her pace until at last she reached the stairs. Unfortunately, Hunter had followed her. She couldn’t very well lead him back to her car.

  Not now. Now with the revelation about the stolen dog so fresh in the air.

  “Wait.” Hunter jogged down the stairs after her. “At least let me drive you home. I promise I won’t get mad if you puke in my car.”

  What choice did she have? She could lead him to her car, the same one placed at the scene of her crime by Joe Collins. Or she could go back to the party and face what she had done to Liz—or to Allie, for that matter.

  Or…

  In this case, Hunter really was the lesser evil. She felt her resolve crumble and blow away in the light evening breezes. With a sigh, she stopped walking and asked, “Do you promise to take me straight home?”

  “I promise.” Hunter smiled so large that all his teeth showed. Why did he like her so much? How could he not see that she was damaged goods?

  “And you won’t try to invite yourself in?”

  He raised his hand in a scout’s salute. “On my honor.”

  You don’t have any other choices here, she reminded herself. Hunter will drive you home and you will do everything you can not to fall for him again. Be distant, cold, cruel. Just don’t let him see the effect he has on you.

  Her internal pep talk complete, she sighed and met Hunter’s gaze of boyish anticipation. “Okay. Fine,” she said.

  Hunter placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the parking lot. “Such a grateful princess thanking the brave knight for her rescue.”

  Sofia twisted to the side to escape his touch, and Hunter laughed.

  “Relax, I’ve known you long enough to know you’re not a princess. At least not the fairytale kind.”

  “Gee, thanks,” she grumbled. Maddeningly, she still wanted Hunter to like her. She enjoyed knowing that he found her worthy of his attentions… but he didn’t know the full truth about her. Once he did, that sparkle in his eyes would be gone forever. Until then, Sofia needed to be strong, to hope she could hide her secrets tonight and then avoid accidentally running into the charming cop all the nights that came after.