Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,61

a rush to leave.

“Kid.” Mom walked in bearing two mugs wafting steam. “Hot chocolate break.”

“My favorite kind.”

Mom handed me my mug and budged up between me and the dogs. “What are you working on?” She read the first question. “Advanced mathematics for psychology? I didn’t realize your curriculum was this intense.”

“Not mine,” I replied. “The pledges. It’s the second big test to weed them out. The first is not remembering random details from the charter at a moment’s notice. The third is being an unlikable bugger or falling short in the tasks. The final is the obstacle course. After all that, I choose my final six and they take their chance on my game show.”

“Goodness. Sororities have changed since I went to school,” she muttered. “Though, I’ll be able to find out firsthand now.”

I stilled. “What? Mom, are you serious?”

She beamed. “I did it, kid. As of today, your mother is a student of Evergreen Community College.”

I would’ve hugged the crap out of her if we weren’t holding scalding hot cocoa. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you. Does this mean...?”

“No,” she said gently. “I’ve already started looking for a place near the campus.”

“But Caroline said—”

“I will be forever grateful to Caroline for everything she’s done for us, but it took me a long time to get here, Val. Strong. Independent. I’m not ready to give that up yet.” She put her arm around me. “I’m also not interested in being hours away from my family. The community college is a half-hour drive. We won’t see each other any less.”

“I am happy for you, Mom. I’ll miss having you right down the hall, but nothing has to change if we don’t let it.” She kissed my cheek. “What will you study?”

“I’m finishing my degree and then taking it one day at a time from there.”

“Love that plan.” I patted my stack of papers. “Whatever you do, don’t join a sorority.”

She bumped my shoulder. “You say that but every other weekend you’re out having a good time with your friends. You needed this,” she said. “High school wasn’t the experience it should have been for you. It’s such a relief to me that you’re having fun in college.” She tapped my homework. “Your present situation excluded.”

My smile tightened around the edges, holding with difficulty. “Yep. I’m having so much fun, Mom.”

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO this.”

Maverick cut the engine. Music poured out of the mansion, welcoming us inside. We ignored its call in favor of sitting in the dark.

“Let me take you home.”

“Remember the deal.” I traced the shell of his ear. “We’ll find the truth together. If we stop, we do that together too.”

“You don’t want to be here, Val.”

Friday night arrived and along with it our invitation to Hayes’s house. Maverick’s GPS hung between us, congratulating on successfully arriving at our destination.

That thing is happier about being here than we are.

“Aiden can tell that too.” The intricate white and gold Venetian mask mocked me. Empty eyes pierced my soul, and swallowed it as I secured it on my face. “No more standing in the corner.”

“We’re not doing half the shit they do.”

“Then we’ll do the other half.” I opened the door. “Put your mask on, love. It’s time.”

Maverick fell in with me on the front stairs. Lacing our fingers together, he placed them over his heart, soothing me like so many times before.

I reached for the knob. It flew away and a wall of sound rushed out, bowling us over.

“Rick! Val! Finally.” The long hooked nose of the pantalone mask nearly poked my eye out as Rowen grabbed and threw his arms around us. The resemblance to the mask worn by old plague doctors wasn’t lost on me. Part of me wondered if he chose it on purpose.

“About time you got here,” he said. “We got something special for tonight. Just for you, Val.”

“What’s for her?” Maverick demanded.

“Can’t tell before the big reveal.” That he was enjoying himself was as clear as the gaudy reds and golds of his mask. “Come on. We’re in the ballroom.”

“A ball? Is that why we’re wearing these ridiculous outfits?” I asked.

I glanced down at the gold tulle beaded gown. My dress flared at the waist, spreading out in all directions and preventing me laying my arms flat by my sides. I looked like I could conceal three more of me under this thing.

Maverick, on the other hand, was a lordly rogue. The cloak, gloves, and leather hat danced with fantasies in my mind.

“Nothing