Page 22 of Merciless

“Oh my God, Clem,” she dragged me into an awkward hug. “I’m really sorry. I can’t even imagine the horror… I’m happy we can help,” she squeezed me harder.

Behind her back I saw Troy, Lucas’s little brother. He was the only member of their household I didn’t know what to expect from. He was so little when I stopped coming here, I practically didn’t know him.

He was looking at me and seemed impatient. I wondered if he had the attitude of his brother. If he was going to hate me like Lucas. I couldn’t believe I was scared of a ten-year-old now, but he had the same piercing blue eyes the older Cole son had, and at that moment they were dissecting me.

“Umm…,” my father cleared his throat. “I really have to go catch my flight. Thank you, Elizabeth. You’re a life-saver,” then he kissed my hair, put his hand on my back, and pushed me inside. “Call me if you need anything. Love you!”

And he just left. My mouth fell open, and I sensed my eyes trying to pop out of their sockets while I looked at his back. Did my parents go to some class on how to be the shittiest parents in the world? Because they could definitely teach it.

The only thing that was good about my current situation was that it looked like only Elizabeth and Troy were home. It made sense. It was a Tuesday afternoon. The football team had practice. But I still had to leave. Fast.

“Clem,” Elizabeth was looking at me as if I was a puppy. A blind, three-legged, left by the fucking road, dying puppy. The saddest part was I got it. Every normal human being wouldn’t approve of what just happened. And I knew Elizabeth was a good person. A good mother. There was no way she approved of this. “I’ll cut to the chase. I got the feeling your father doesn’t know that you and Lucas… you know.”

“That we don’t talk or look at each other? I told him years ago. Obviously, it slipped his mind.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at me and cocked her head. Her eyes moved from me to Troy only for a second, but I saw it. The hesitation. She didn’t like my negativity and wasn’t appreciating the dark vibe I brought with me to their perfect home.

Don’t worry, Elizabeth, having a broken family is not contagious.

“Look, I don’t know why this is happening, but obviously I won’t stay. I’ll go back to the Spencers’ house and I’ll call my dad.”

“Don’t,” she almost yelled when I turned to open to front door. “Please, Clem, stay. I know it must be weird for you because of Lucas. But I promise you, he will be on his best behavior.”

I shook my head. He may have saved my life, but there was no way he would be okay with me living in his house. I was not okay with it either, and I was basically homeless.

I faced her again, full of suspicion.

“Why do you want me to stay here? He won’t be happy about it.”

That was an understatement. He was going to be furious.

“I talked to your father a few days ago. He came to see your house… you know,” she waved her hand dismissively. “He said he was sure you won’t go to Seattle, and he didn’t want to leave you with the Spencers. He didn’t know what to do,” she paused looking attentively at my face. “You can’t live on the street, Clem.”

“And?” I asked, knowing there was something more important to her than my well-being.

“And mom thinks Lucas is a selfish little prick, and he needs to get down to earth,” the little man behind her answered my question.

“Troy!” Elizabeth gasped.

“That’s what you said to dad,” he shrugged.

A smile tried to form on my lips, but I suppressed it. They were a cute picture together, but I had to get out of here.

“I’m sorry. I don’t see how all this is related to me,” I started walking backwards, moving closer to the front door.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, “Please, spend the next three months here. I swear you will be treated like a member of this family byeveryone. I’ll make sure of that.”

Yeah, good luck with that.

“You can go to school, be with your friends, maintain your usual life. I won’t try to parent you outside of the rules your parents want you to follow.”

“In exchange?” I asked sharply.

She shook her head. “Nothing. I don’t want you to do anything. Just live your life under our roof while your house is being repaired.”

I had mixed feelings about her agenda and, luckily, Troy meddled in the conversation again.

“Mom thinks you being here will help Lucas become normal again. I think he’s a lost cause.”

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