Page 108 of Tell Me When It's Over

My sister with a slight shopping addiction meets my eyes with arched brows up to her hairline. “Do you know how much these things cost? Individual charms are at least—”

“Not important,” Ky cuts in, smacking Mia’s hand away before eyeing me. “It doesn’t matter, so don’t bother Googling it either. I saw it and knew I had to get it for you.”

Normally the thought of something so expensive would make me uncomfortable, but it doesn’t this time. I mean, I’ve worn designer clothes that Mia or Mom would give me, so jewelry isn’t all that different. And it’s from Kyler, which somehow makes it that much more special because he wouldn’t spend too much money on me unless it was worth it.

I give them both hugs before we settle in to watch a movie, my hand cupping the bracelet resting on my wrist as our marathon continues throughout the day.

It’s going on three when we finish eating a lunch that Beth made us when the front door bursts open, and two familiar voices begin yelling from the foyer behind us. We all turn, alarm on my face, confusion on Mia’s, and something ashen on Ky’s as Harry and Mom appear in the den.

In Harry’s hand is a yellow envelope, but his eyes aren’t on Mom or whatever he’s carrying. They’re on Kyler, searing, sneering, and so dark that I feel it in my soul.

“What’s going on?” Mia asks slowly, caution thick in her inquiry.

“You,” Harry spits, suddenly staring directly at me, “and your mother need to go.”

“Harry,” Mom cries. It’s only then I see her red face, wet with tears, and glassy eyes as she wraps a hand around her fiancé’s arm. He yanks it away, putting distance between them as he walks further in the room, right in my direction.

I stiffen on the couch, heart nearly stopping with dread, with Mia and Kyler both leaning in as if to protect me when they see the way Harry’s hands shake as he lifts it and points.

“Dad—” Mia begins.

“No.” He glares at her, then turns to Kyler, who’s tucked me partially behind him again like the last time Harry went off at me only weeks before. “I don’t know what made you so inclined to butt into business that wasn’t yours, but I hope you’re happy. You got what you want.” He shifts his attention back to me, eyes cold, and adds, “I want you and your mother out of here by sundown. This won’t work anymore.”

Jaw quivering, I flinch when he turns abruptly and walks back where he came from. Mom starts crying harder. “Let me explain, Harry. I promise, I—”

“You lied!” he yells, making me gasp at how close he looks to hitting her. I stand, wanting to get between them, but Mia and Ky both put their hands on my arms to stop me. “You’re exactly what they say you are. A filthy, lying, gold digger. My fucking son was right about you.”

“That is enough!” Mia tells him, hand tightening around mine. “I don’t know what’s going on, but it can be worked out—”

Harry’s laugh is dry and humorless as he eyes his daughter before turning to me with hatred and something else burning through the air. “Whatever DNA you have that isn’t your mother’s is no longer my problem. I have nothing more to say to you but good luck with that one.” His narrow eyes snap to Mom. “I sure as hell won’t be dealing with her again.”

My lips part in shock and something inside me snaps. I feel empty. So empty. Like a dam has been drained and all the memories, promises, and emotions formed over the past five years is just…gone. Vanished.

I croak out, “Mom?”

Harry shakes his head and throws the envelope at Mom’s feet, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him. The two people beside me are staring at my mother, and it’s Kyler whose grip loosens on me as he steps back like he’s been burned.

Turning to him through a glassy gaze, I try to take deep, even breaths, but feel like I’m suffocating in confusion. “I d-don’t know what he’s t-talking about.”

A gentle hand finds my back. “We’ll figure this out, Lenny Lou. Right, Ky?”

Kyler’s eyes are on the yellow envelope now in Mom’s hands. She reaches in and pulls out whatever’s inside, a few things falling to the floor. Pictures. Documents by the looks. One of them resembles my birth certificate, except it’s not the faded, yellowed one that is locked away upstairs. This one is white and free of flaws, like someone copied it.

“Mom?” I ask, walking toward her.

“I just wanted another chance.” Her words are so quiet I almost miss them. I blink at her, then at the paper on top of the pile she’s gripping so tightly in her hands that her pointy, manicur

ed nails are cutting into it.

When I see the results in bold at the top, I know what it is. The paternity test taken when we first arrived. Except, it doesn’t have the same information as the one she gave Harry.

“Mom,” I repeat, brokenly. We were doing better. She took me out, bought me things she couldn’t before, and paid attention to me when she was always too busy in our old lives. We still fought, she said hurtful things, but nowhere near as bad as when it was just the two of us. “What did you do?”

Her eyes change. It happens so quickly I can’t process it. The tears subside and a switch flicked, her features going from pale to blank before I can blink. “What did you expect from me, Leighton? I’m trying to live the life you took from me.”

Feeling like I’ve been slapped, I take a step back and ball my hands into clenched fists. My own fingernails dig into the meaty part of my palm until they sting, and I won’t be surprised if a mark is left or blood is drawn.

She lied.

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