Page 108 of Lyrical

Perry found me down there not long after, puking my guts up. There was very little in my stomach, but something was finding its way out. The tears were pouring hard, and my hair was matted against the sides of my face. I was dizzy and had barbells strapped to every muscle. In short, I was a hot, fucked-up mess as I blubbered it all out to her.

There were way more horrible things in life than what I was going through, but it’d felt like my house had collapsed on top of me, brick after brick hitting me hard. Once raw emotions had gotten involved, I couldn’t defend myself against Cassie piling it on thicker and thicker, her ‘real mother’ jab finishing me off.

“I texted Daniel. What else can I do for you?”

“I’m supposed to be taking care of you today,” I said. Fortunately, after all the crap exited my system, I was able to start putting myself back together. But I’d never be able to fix my shitty maid-of-honorness.

“Says who?”

“Says the wedding rulebook. This is the only bridal shower you’re ever going to have.”

“Pfft. Like I care about that. I mean, I appreciate the work you put into arranging this, but do you really think it’ll matter to me in the long run? I’m not going to look back and say, ‘I really wish I’d made a toilet paper veil to shellac and keep in my garage for all eternity.’”

I smiled. “You know what I mean.”

“Then if it makes you feel any better, I’ll make sure to have a personal crisis at your bridal shower. Deal?”

“Deal.” Perry was always throwing out comments like she was so sure that Chase and I would get married someday. I was just grasping onto next week.

“I see that look, Jills, and I don’t like it. So knock it off. You know that she was just fucking with you, right? These horrible pictures don’t exist, and she’s not going to change anything between you and Chase. You two are untouchable.”

“Thank you, Perry.” Anything positive thrown my way, I’d embrace with open arms. But I wasn’t naïve. I wouldn’t put it past Cassie to create something out of nothing, and I had to be prepared for that. “Did Daniel respond yet?”

“No, but it hasn’t been that long.”

While I was indisposed, I’d asked Perry to text Daniel with my phone, letting him know I needed to speak with him as soon as possible. I didn’t hold out a huge amount of hope, but maybe I could get to him before Cassie did.

She squeezed my hand. “Do not allow this bitch to infect you, Jills. She’s like a fucking disease eating into your head. She’ll get what’s coming to her. Her kind always do eventually. But please don’t let her take you down with her.”

I nodded. “I’m trying, but I hate how she knows I’m not Daniel’s birth mother. Obviously he told her, and that makes me wonder what he said—”

“Jesus, stop it right now. You are way more real a mother than that deadbeat loser who shot him out of a vagina, and don’t you ever think for one fucking second that Daniel doesn’t believe that too.”

I scrubbed my face hard. “You’re right. I can’t do that to myself.”

“Damn straight.”

“And I need to jump in the shower.”

“Please do. Those chunks in your hair are nasty.”

I chuckled, grateful that I had a full bathroom downstairs. I didn’t have to go up and face anyone yet. Perry had already run up and snatched me a change of clothes from the bedroom, telling everyone I wasn’t feeling too hot.

“Love you, Perry.”

She blew me a kiss. “Love you too, Jills.”

I’d managed to salvage part of the day. After making myself presentable, I’d joined in the last third when Perry opened her gifts. I made her a very pink rehearsal-day bouquet on a paper plate that she’d gushed about, and I ended the bridal shower feeling much less like a jerk.

Now I was about to be one all over again. I just hoped my son would understand it was necessary. Did he really love her, or was that another one of her lies? I was about to find out.

The shower had been over for about an hour when Daniel texted and said he was on his way. Perry had left shortly after, but not before giving me her rah-rah pep talk. “Good always overcomes evil, eventually. Remember that, Jills.”

When I heard the car door, I peeked out the blinds, crossing my fingers that he wouldn’t have the demonic leech stuck to him. If so, my whole plan would be shot to hell. I puffed out a breath, and my body loosened. He was alone.

I whipped open the front door as he was stepping to the porch. “Daniel, I’m so glad—”

“How could you do this, Mom?”

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