was more intuitive than I’d initially given her credit for.
“He made me out to be this sob story for the admissions department. One of my teachers patted my shoulder and said if I needed anything to call her.”
“That doesn’t sound like something Decker would do. That man repels pity like citronella candles fight off mosquitos. He’s potent.”
“So why did he tell them?”
Rose reached out to tuck a blonde strand of hair, the gesture something a mother would have done to comfort her child. Tears welled up in my eyes. “I think you’re letting other people’s assumptions determine what you think happened. Decker was just telling them what is going on. You can’t blame him for the fact that you have a past. You can just prove to them that you’re a fighter. That you’ve overcome the stigma your mother thrust on those proud shoulders of yours.”
“I know. I know,” I groaned.
“You say she’s in your blood, right?” Rose asked before hopping off the desk and bending over to pick up a shard of glass. “Give me your palm,” she demanded while stretching out her hand. I cautiously extended my palm, peering up at her with confusion.
Dragging the sharp glass across my skin, she drew a crimson stain that made me squirm in discomfort. It wasn’t necessarily a painful cut, I just hated seeing the evidence that Mama was very much alive within me. “See this blood? It’s yours,” Rose said before dragging the blade across her own palm. “And this is mine.”
She thrust our hands together, and the cut stung where our blood mixed. “Now you’re my blood. I’ve got some good blood, Blakely. Strong. Cunning. A dash of crazy. It’ll hit your veins and tarnish everything that was her and turn it into something else.”
I stared at our joined hands, feeling like this was some pagan ritual. It was strange and unsanitary, but it felt right. “I’m your blood?” I asked, looking up at Rose with a mixture of awe and amusement.
“Damn right, you are. Now go home and meditate. Tell Lance about your first day of school. He’s got good blood, too.” I stared at my hand for a little longer before pulling away.
“See you tomorrow?” I asked.
“Sure thing. No more fake smiles.”
Outside, the rare summer Memphis breeze licked at my soul. I saw the world in a different light, breathed in the barbecue-tinted air like it was a drug. Maybe Rose’s blood was magical. Perhaps it was a placebo for happiness. Either way, I smiled all the way out of her office and on my walk home.
“You’re home early!” Lance exclaimed while pulling a casserole out of the oven. The moment I stepped foot in the loft, the smell of taco seasoning hit my nostrils full force. I breathed it in.
“It was a slow night. Rose sent me home,” I lied.
Decker was sitting at the kitchen table reading over a stack of papers. No longer sporting his sexy suit but a pair of sweats instead. His eyes snapped to me the moment he heard my voice. We had a silent standoff for a moment, the earlier disappointment fading away like dust in the wind. “Hello, Mr. Harris,” I said with a grin. Lance coughed, drawing my eyes back to him.
“How was your day?” my brother asked.
“Awful. I’m not half as smart as those other kids, and I’m already behind,” I replied with a wince. I already had homework in chemistry thirteen pages long, intended to test my aptitude to see if I can place in the advanced class.
“Do you need help?” Lance offered. “I can google like a champ.” I smiled at his willingness to assist.
“I already looked it over, and I think I’ve got it covered. I’ll just be up all night determining the major organic product of reactions. Where’s the coffee?”
“Atta girl. Working hard already!” Lance got out two plates and coughed again, making Decker stir from his spot.
“Oh. I’ve got plans I just remembered,” Decker jolted lamely, making me roll my eyes. He sauntered off toward his bedroom, giving me a simmering look in the process.
“That was weird,” I mumbled to myself before sitting down at the kitchen table as Lance served dinner. He looked like a domestic goddess, wearing an apron and floral oven mitts.
“In the interest of honesty, I asked him to give us time tonight,” Lance said with a shrug before sitting down and removing the mitts from his hands, plopping them on the table. “Decker is my brother, but I’ve