Page 19 of Blast from the Past

Mercy West

It’s like stepping back into my childhood. After I shower and get some clean clothes on, we toss my suitcase in the car and walk next door. Now we are inside the house that was like a second home to me for most of my life, and I feel like I never left.

The furniture is the same, as is the wallpaper. All along the hallway are framed photographs of all the boys and some of me and Karmen. Even the smells coming from the kitchen have nostalgia rushing through my veins.

Fuck, I miss my mom.

I feel myself getting misty-eyed and take a deep breath to keep my emotions under control. For someone who rarely cries, I have done way too much of that lately. We round the corner into Wesley’s kitchen, my hand clasped tightly in Shane’s. Karmen lifts her gaze to us for a moment before putting the roast back in the oven.

“So that’s what all the yelling was about,” she says. “I thought you two were actually killing each other this time.”

“Don’t start,” Shane chides with a smile, and I feel my blush re-emerge.

“What? It’s not like I don’t know other people have sex. I just didn’t know Shane was so virile…”

“Karmen!” we both cry out together.

“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes at us. “It’s about damn time, though.”

She wipes her hands on her apron before grabbing some plates from the cupboard. “Will you please set the table?” she asks me. It was always my job.

“Yes, ma’am,” I say with a nod, glad we are finally off the topic of my sex life.

“Everyone is coming over. Adam said he would pick up Lenore.” She hands me the stack of plates before turning to the stove and stirring a dark, rich gravy. “Shane, go fetch your brother from the garage.”

“What is he doing out there?” Shane frowns.

“You’ll have to ask him. Some big secret project,” she says and shrugs. “He’s only been sleeping for a couple of hours a night.”

Nodding, Shane heads outside to fetch Wesley while I proceed to set the dining room table. It’s like I never even left. Except for this new crazy part in my life, and sleeping with Shane, most of it is the same as when I moved away all thoseyears ago.

“You’re still doing it wrong,” a deep voice says from the doorway. “The forks go on the right.”

Turning, I face Adam, the youngest Blake brother. He’s taller than I remember and the boy has certainly grown to be an attractive young man in the years I’ve been gone.

“Stop drooling.” He chuckles before walking forward and wrapping me in his arms for a tight hug. “We missed you,” he says into my ear.

Pushing at his chest I glare at him. “What the hell do they put in the water up here? You’re huge!”

“Had a growth spurt.” Adam blushes while adjusting his glasses and he finally looks like the teenage boy he was when I left.

“Well, good for you.”

Lenore, Shane, and Wesley join us. Everyone shares hugs, talking over one another, and soon we are sitting at the table having a loud, laughter-filled lunch. And everything is like old times. Even with Mrs. Blake and my mother no longer around.

Except it isn’t.

Chapter Eleven

Shane Blake

I’ve never thought about what my house looked like to someone else but I’m nervous as I lead Mercy inside. It’s clear that I live alone. My home is clean but sparse. Two navy blue couches, a massive television, and a coffee table are all I have in the living room.

I hear Zeus scratching at the back door, demanding entry, and I know if I don’t hurry up I will have to replace the door. My boy doesn’t like being ignored.

“Give me a minute,” I say, dropping her suitcase inside the door.

The moment Zeus is granted entry he sprints through the house before I have time to stop him. Hauling ass, I try to catch him before it’s too late. But Mercy’s yelp of surprise is enough to tell me I’m already too late.

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