Page 49 of Wild Hearts

He shakes his head. “The only people who know are her friend, Sophie, and you guys.”

“Until tonight, anyway.”

“Yeah,” he mutters, rubbing his face. “Until tonight.”

He pulls out his phone again, only getting disappointed when she still hasn’t replied to any of his messages.

“You really like her?”

Harley lets out a humourless laugh. “Yeah, I guess I kind of do.”

Tom pulls up in his twin cab, leaving the engine running as he jumps out and runs over to us. “Who the hell did this to you?” he asks, checking his brother over. He glances at me, eyes narrowing when he realises I don’t have a scratch on me.

“Just some punks from outta town,” Harley lies. “They thought I was hitting on their girlfriend or something.”

I keep my expression neutral as Tom looks between the two of us. Eventually he just shakes his head and tells us to get in the truck.

I’m absolutely spent from everything that’s happened. When I get home, I want nothing more than to climb into my bed and drift off into oblivion. What I don’t expect is for Mum to be sitting up in the living room waiting for me. When I close the door behind me, she calls out for me to join her. I close my eyes and count to ten before making my way into the living room.

She turns off the television and pats the couch next to her. I lower myself onto the edge, praying she can’t smell the hint of weed lingering on my clothes. It’s not often that I’m home before 9:30 when I’m in this state. If Mum can smell it, she ignores it.

“Ivy’s quite upset,” she says softly.

I sink back into the couch with a groan and rub my hands over my face. “Do we have to do this right now?”

“I understand that what happened between me and your dad hasn’t been easy on you–”

“What happened between you and Dad?” I stare at her incredulously. “Are you serious, Mum? He cheated on you. Nothing happened between the two of you. If anything,Tarshiacame between the two of you.”

Mum winces, and I immediately want to take back what I said, but the words linger in the silent room like a heavy cloud.

“I’m sorry.” I hang my head. “I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s true. Dad chose to leave us. I don’t know why he’s making me go and play pretend when I’ve barely spoken to him in the last twelve months.”

Mum nods. “I’m not going to force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I just want you to think about what you really want to do. I don’t want you to regret it later. I also want you to respect your sister’s decision to be a part of their lives. I don’t begrudge her that, and I also don’t hold any ill feelings toward your dad or Tarshia. Overall, it needs to be your decision. You’re an adult, and I will respect whatever you choose to do.”

“Okay,” I mutter. I play with the strap on my knee brace. “You’re a good woman, Mum. He didn’t deserve you.”

She lets out a soft chuckle. “Thank you, honey.” She hesitates before asking, “Is there anything else going on that I should know about?”

I shake my head.

She presses her lips together as her eyes bore into mine making me squirm in my seat. “Are you sure, B?”

“I promise.” Lying to her makes me feel sick, but Mum doesn’t need to worry about me right now. She has enough on her plate.

“Okay,” she finally says. “You look beat. Why don’t you go to bed?”

I get to my feet and pick up my crutches, but hesitate when I reach the hallway. “I love you, Mum.”

“I love you, too, Brady.”

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