It wasn’t just that the stubborn-ass woman hadn’t called me to walk her home; things had gone sideways, and she hadn’t said a damn word. Furious, I marched over and got right in her face.
“We need to talk,” I said.
Mercy’s jaw jutted out as if she would refuse, but then she seemed to remember people were watching us, because she gave me a brisk nod. “Fine.”
Good. Because I was two seconds from throwing her over my shoulder and taking the option out of her hands. We dipped into the hallway to get a little privacy, and then I laid into her.
“You were supposed to call me when you got off work last night.”
The way she cocked her head and stared up at me, her blue eyes sparkling with defiance, told me that might not have been the best opening. “That’s what you demanded, but I didn’t agree.”
We were in the hallway on the other side of the mess hall, completely alone despite the gift-wrapping chaos going on in the common room. Only the security lights were on, and they wrapped her in a softness too damn appealing to resist, no matter how fierce her scowl. My hand slid over her side, pulling her toward me even as my other hand caged her between me and the wall.
Desire flared in her eyes for a split second before she glared at me like I was gum stuck to her shoe that she was preparing to scrape away.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m trying to figure out why you think my life is any of your business.”
Her words were a punch to the chest. But also a reality check, because she had a point.
“My mom works for you.”
“She wasn’t working last night.”
“She could have been.”
“Beth and I go in early, so our shift is generally over when parents pick up their kids.”
I changed tactics. “You’re right. I have no reason to be concerned. Excuse the hell out of me for wanting to fuckin’ help you.”
“You had no right to tell the club about Ben.”
The fury in her tone made me pull back. “Your preschool had just been broken into and vandalized. I thought the two might be connected, and they said they could help.”
“You don’t get to cross boundaries just because you think you know best. I’m an adult. I don’t need anyone swooping in to save me.”
“Except last night, right? It sure doesn’t sound like you had shit under control. Would you rather someone get hurt? Or are you fine banking on a near-stranger like Rabbit to be close enough to rush in and save you? That’s not strength, it’s hubris.”
I knew the words were a mistake before they even crossed my lips, but once they were out there, I was screwed. The hurt that flashed in her eyes made me want to kick my own ass, and I didn’t know what to say. This was why I stayed away from relationships. They were a level of complicated beyond my comprehension.
“I didn’t mean that.”
She took a deep breath and blinked. Several times. And then—from several inches below—she looked down her nose at me.
“You know what, Landon? You can fuck all the way off.”
17
Mercy
MY FINGERS TWITCHED as I fought the desire to stomp away. It would be childish and would only prove that he’d gotten under my skin. So, even though I wanted to turn and sweep his feet out from under him, I didn’t. Mostly because I was terrified I’d jump on him the second he hit the floor. And I wasn’t even sure it would be to beat him up. The man made my brain short-circuit. It was best not to tempt fate.
So instead, I kept my footsteps light as I strode away, cool as a cucumber, except for the raging inferno that was my face. My problem with Landon’s presence was that he made me feel weak and pathetic. Landon wasn’t like the losers I usually slept with. He had stuff going on. And he was smart. He’d eventually realize how fucked up I was and lose interest. Still, bringing up the attack at the school had been a low blow. I could have handled it without Rabbit’s intervention. The cops had been only seconds behind him.
Hubris? That wasn’t pride. It’s called competence. Freaking asshole.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text, interrupting the arguments I kept having in my head. Pulling my cell from my purse, I clicked on the app to see a message from an unknown number.
