Dark Child (Wild Men 5)

“What does that have to do—”

“With you? Everything. He’s the love of your daughter’s life, and she’s been doing all she can to keep him from drowning. You could help her. You have the money.”

“Nonsense. She put herself in that situation, she can—”

“You’re her mother! We’re your children. And she didn’t do anything wrong by falling in love. She trusted her heart, and she’ll stick by him, but

they could both use some help.”

“Your dad—”

“We’re not talking about Dad. You know as well as I do that he has no money.”

“Don’t I know it. He never paid child support—”

“Oh, come on. He kept us, Mom. You’re the one who walked away, you remember that?”

She tsks, as if I said something ridiculous. “Come work for Brad, and I’ll consider it.”

Holy crap. “Really? That’s what you got from this discussion, that I’m open to blackmail?” I rush in before she can stop me. “I already told you I have a guy in St. Louis. Let me clarify. It’s the guy I love. And I’m not leaving him to work for your boyfriend, not that I want to work in a law firm in the first place.”

“Cosima—”

“Soph needs you.” I take a deep breath. “This is your chance to show you have a heart. That you are her mom for real.”

I disconnect because if she hasn’t learned by now that love matters more than anything, more than money, more than past mistakes, then she knows nothing.

And I’m only just starting to learn.

This done—even though I don’t expect any real results, and it was probably just a waste of time—I scroll through my contacts to find Merc’s phone.

Biting my lip, I grin at the pic I set for Merc’s number: it’s a pic I snapped of him shaving, eyes sleepy, golden hair rumpled, chest bare, pajama bottoms hanging low on his lean hips, showing off that sexy six-pack he rocks.

But before I press Call, the doorbell rings and Lin calls my name.

Rather, she hisses my name from the bathroom door. What’s with all the hissing instead of talking today?

“What is it?”

“Um, Cos? Someone at the door for you.”

“What? Who?”

“Steve.”

“My ex?”

“That’s the one. Should I ignore him until he goes away?”

Oh shit. I cringe.

“Told you he keeps pestering me about you. Want me to send him away? I can tell him you’re not here. Or we could both pretend not to be in until he goes away.”

“No.”

“You’re always running away. Stay and hold your ground.” Did Merc say that, or did I tell that to myself? “What does he want from me? He’s the one who broke it off.”

“I don’t know. A second chance? You know the rule: You only want something after you’ve thrown it away.”