Page 66 of Merciless

“I hope you’re not suggesting sex,” Elizabeth murmured, and Lucas chuckled.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, mom.”

They changed the subject after that. I slid my legs down to the floor and got up as slowly as humanly possible, not only because I didn’t want them to know I was awake, but also because I was scared everything my stomach contained in that moment would make a sudden appearance and color the carpet. I went upstairs to take a shower and brush my teeth before I die from poisoning from my own breath. The moving around actually helped a little with the nausea. And I was hungry.

Half an hour later, I entered the kitchen. Troy was there. He jumped from the high chair and came to hug me.

“Happy New Year! You were sleeping last night when we came back, and I couldn’t say it.”

Lucas snorted.

“You were sleeping and walking, bro. But I give it to you. You stayed awake longer that this party animal over here.” He pointed at me, looking…happy? He was smiling at me calmly. His eyes were warm and I loved the way they scanned my neck. The pendant was under my shirt, but the chain was visible. Now that I have told him I loved it, I could wear it as much as I wanted.

“Troy, go find your father, please.”

Troy made an unhappy face. He knew Elizabeth was kicking him out because she wanted us to talk alone, but went out of the kitchen anyway.

“How are you feeling?” Elizabeth asked with accusatory tone. She was looking at me with herdon’t-bullshit-meexpression.

“Not so good,” I confessed.

“You are aware I have to tell your father about this.”

“Yes,” I looked down at my feet. I couldn’t bare the fact she was disappointed in me. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I hate that I’m putting you in this position after everything you did for me.”

This was the first time I acknowledged her help, if you don’t count the kiss I gave her at my birthday. She smiled.

“Well, I don’t want to nag about the alcohol, it’s obviously illegal, but...You should be more careful. Think of the consequences. What if something happened to you last night? I’m sure you weren’t the only one drunk at that party,” she shot Lucas a look.

“I was on water the whole time,” he lifted his hands up in front of his chest.

“Anyway,” she continued. “That should always be on your mind. You’re going to college soon, and there will be a lot of parties. Don’t put yourself in that vulnerable position.”

I nodded but guilt spread inside me like it infected my blood. No one knew about my college application situation.

I changed the subject.

“Dad said that the house will probably be ready by the time Sylvia gets out of rehab.”

“Probably,” Elizabeth nodded. “The contractor showed me the place last week. It’s turning out great. I have a spare key if you want to check it out.”

“No, thanks,” I shook my head. “I’ll wait.”

“Okay, I’ll go tell Troy he can come back now,” Elizabeth passed me by and squeezed my hand for a moment.

“I’m hungry,” I turned to Lucas. “Does greasy food really help with hangovers?”

“Only if you eat it before you start drinking,” Lucas said.

“What should I eat then?”

He reached behind him to take something. When I saw it, I burst out laughing.

“A banana is always a good choice.”

We all spent the day home. I helped Elizabeth with the cooking, which I found out I really enjoyed. Lucas, Troy, and I watched a movie together. Lucas was sitting on the ground, his back pressed against the couch. Troy and I were sitting on it. I had one leg under my butt and the other down on the floor. At some point, I felt Lucas’s big warm hand sliding on the back of my leg from my ankle up to the knee. His fingers caressed my skin, and it prickled. I saw him snicker.

In the evening, Troy and I played board games. Lucas commented on our skills or the lack of them to be exact, and made us laugh like crazy. He didn’t play with us, but he didn’t leave us either.

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