Nadia gasped.

I grabbed Elizabeth’s hand. “No. Stay. Just … wait a fucking minute. We haven’t had a chance to talk about us—about last night.”

Things were happening too fast. She’d just told me in so many words that I meant nothing to her as well as the name of the guy who’d hurt her.

I needed time.

She shook her head. “No, really, I have a million things to do today, and I can’t handle any more stupidity.”

“Elizabeth, wait a fucking minute—”

She held a hand up, her cool mask already in place, reminding me of the girl who’d walked in the frat party. “Save it. I’ve heard enough, seen enough. Enjoy your talk.”

ANGER BURNED WHEN I left Minnie’s. I was pissed at Nadia for chasing after Declan right in front of me, but I was also ticked at him because I’d seen a look he’d given her and part of me felt like he still had feelings for her.

I stomped across the street and back to my apartment, and if I had a theme song for the breakfast fiasco, it was a toss-up between “Love Bites” by Def Leppard or “Done” by The Band Perry. Both about love and letting that shit go.

Love … I’d bled for it. I’d tasted the destruction of losing your heart, and no matter how beautiful Declan was inside and out, I couldn’t endure heartbreak again.

I went up the breezeway and saw my mom standing at my door. Her shoulders were slumped as she banged on my door.

I inhaled sharply, remembering our last meeting at the diner. Worry gnawed at me once again about Karl and his crazy plan to blackmail the Senator. He was bad news for her, just like all the rest.

“Hey, I’m here,” I called out. I infused my voice with enthusiasm, but I didn’t know how much more I could take when it came to her. But she was all I had left now that Granny was gone, and it’s hard to let go of family no matter how shitty they treat you. Sure, I had a few cousins out there, but they were in Petal and the majority of them didn’t associate with my mom. She’d always been bad news, borrowing money that she never intended to pay back and generally being undependable.

She met me on the staircase, and I smelled the stench of stale cigarettes on her wrinkled clothes.

“Thank God you’re here,” she exclaimed. I didn’t miss the busted lip she’d tried to cover up with her pink lipstick. Her eyes darted down to the parking lot and back to me.

“What’s up?”

“Let’s get inside and I’ll tell you everything. I need some coffee.” Her voice was sharp as razors.

We got inside and I made us coffee. She stirred in cream and sugar as she sat at my small table and watched me. “You got any food here?”

“Sure.” I got up and made her a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had in the pantry at the moment.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re here?” I asked as we sat together a bit later.

“Can’t a girl come see her daughter?”

“You never have.”

She frowned, chewing her food. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Karl hit you,” I stated.

She touched her lip gingerly. “It wasn’t his fault. I smarted off to him, and usually he’s sorry after a fight and buys me flowers or takes me on a trip, but this time …” she rubbed her arms “… he’s fit to be tied.”

“We can call the police. At least get a restraining order against him.”

She paled. “No! I—I still love him, Elizabeth, and we’ll probably get back together once all this Senator Scott stuff flies over.”

My mouth dried in fear. “What? Don’t tell me you’re still on that, Mom?”

She cleared her throat, eyeing me nervously. “Karl … he really wants to bring Colby to justice—”

“No, he wants money from the Senator. There’s a difference,” I bit out, getting angry now. “Why did you even tell him? You—you’re supposed to be my mother, and you know how I feel about what happened. I don’t want anyone to ever know.”

She picked at her chipped fingernail polish. “People in Petal know.”

“Yeah, and they think I’m a slut.” I slammed down my coffee cup.

She winced. “Look, it’s a lot of money. I’m tired of struggling and never having anything. Plus, I think the Senator needs to know about his son.”

“Why do you even care? You didn’t when it happened.” The words were out before I could pull them back.