Page 65 of Of Sinners & Salvation
“You look good,” I say quietly, stepping in to pull her into my arms. I cradle her to my chest, my heart aching for what could have been, what we lost. I can’t change the past, though, can’t save her any more than I could save her brother from taking the fall. All I can do is be what Heath needs now, and maybe what she needs too.
“You look…” She steps back and looks up at me. “A little weird, not gonna lie. What’s with the hair?”
“I could say the same to you,” Angel says. “Pink?”
“It’s a long story,” I tell her, taking her hand and helping her back up onto the rock. I climb up with her, but there’s notmuch room for anyone else, though two people could scoot up the other side and sit with their backs to ours if we didn’t want to see each other while we talked.
“Not as long as that hair,” she says, eyeing me as she takes out a pack of cigarettes.
“I haven’t cut it since that day,” I say quietly. “Since you left.”
She looks away, out toward the island, and then fishes a lighter from her pocket. “You smoke?”
I shake my head no, then reach up and undo the threadbare bracelet I use to tie my hair up. “Remember these?”
“Oh… Wow,” she says. “Is that…?”
“From church camp,” I say. “I got yours.”
“You did?” Heath asks. “How?”
I shrug and look away. “We all have them.”
“I’ve got mine in a drawer at home,” Angel says. “Right next to the Holy Bible.”
“That’s what your hair tie is?” Mercy asks, staring up at me with a wounded expression.
“Yeah,” I say. “What did you think?”
“I thought the police took it,” Heath says. “That’s evidence.”
“They weren’t using it,” I say. “Besides, they closed the case. The investigation is over. They returned her things to your parents when she was declared dead.”
“Not cool,” Heath says, scowling at me.
“I think it’s sweet,” Eternity says, offering me a little smile.
Mercy looks from me to her and back. Then she turns away. “I don’t think I’m ready for this,” she mutters. “I’ll wait in the car.”
She hurries away, leaving all of us gaping after her.
“Dude,” Angel says. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“What did I do?” I protest.
Father Salvatore gives me a no-bullshit look. “Go.”
I sigh and hop down off the boulder. I know what I did. I just don’t know why I like doing it so much.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” I tell Eternity. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
Then I jog off down the beach after Mercy. I call her name, but she only walks faster. We’re practically running when we reach the parking lot. When she gets to the van, I grab her at last, spinning her around and pinning her to the side. “What the fuck, M?”
“You tell me,” she says. “What the fuck, Saint?”
“Damn,” I say. “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you swear. It’s kinda hot.”
She tries to pull her hands away, but I grip them tighter. “What are you doing?”
