Page 147 of Promise Me Nothing
“That’s not how being a mom fucking works,” I shout back. “That’s not how this gets to play out. Andbullshityou’ve been doing this alone. You’ve been doing this with Ivy. The one who is scared to fucking death and needs her mom.”
Her nostrils flare and her neck flushes red, her tell tail signs of embarrassment and frustration.
“You think you can come in here and solve all of the problems with a few words? That you can show up here with Henry’s daughter and save the day? Fix all of the problems that have been choking the life out of us for years?Thatis something that doesn’t work, Wyatt. You don’t get to come in with your sanctimonious ideas and your broad theories and apply them to my life.” She shakes her head. “You don’t get to control what happens. You really are a Calloway if you think any differently.”
And then she storms out of the room before I can think up anything to say in response.
I stand there alone, looking at the mess I made, feeling like the life I live is starting to crumble and twist and change around me.
I don’t know myself.
I don’t know what I want or where to go.
No, that’s a lie.
I know what I want.
Ivy to find a match.
And Hannah.
That’s it.
It doesn’t feel like too big of an order.
Those two things should be doable.
Surely I can figure out a way to have both.
I spend the next twenty minutes picking up the shattered glass, slicing my fingers a few times, though it matches nicely with the open cuts on my knuckles from when I socked my dad in the face yesterday afternoon and then beat the shit out of the bag without any gloves on.
I’ll be feeling those cuts for a few days to come.
Eventually, I manage to get everything picked up, then vacuum for good measure.
When I’m turning off the machine, I hear a beep in my pocket.
Pulling out my phone I glance at the screen, my blood running cold when I see the message.
Lucas: Get over here. Hannah’s leaving.
I immediately dial his number, and he picks up on the third ring.
“What do you mean she’s leaving,” I ask, my voice hoarse.
“I mean she’s leaving. She found out she’s not a match for Ivy.” He pauses, lets out a sigh. “I’msosorry about that. God, I really thought it would happen. That she’d be…”
“Focus, Lucas!” I bark into the phone. I know he cares deeply about my sister –oursister – but now isn’t the time for his emotion. I need to know what’s going on with Hannah.
“Sorry. She’s going back to Phoenix. She already bought her ticket. Her bus leaves tonight.”
Pacing the room I try to figure out what to do.
“I can’t come over right now. I have to spend time with Ivy. She’s a mess over this. Can you stall her? Talk her in to doing a bus tomorrow instead?”
He sighs. “Maybe. I’ll try.”
Then he hangs up and I squeeze my phone in my hand, pressing a fist to my forehead.
