Page 56 of Ruthless Blade

I opened the door and my eyes widened when both Mom and Mr. Daniel were standing outside the door.

“Um, what are you doing here?” What was she playing at? She never came and visited me on campus. She pretty much ignored that I existed unless she wanted something, so her being here, with Kayden’s dad, was NOT on my to do list for the day.

I stood frozen in the doorway, not knowing what to do. I didn’t exactly want to let them in, but I had a feeling there was no choice in the matter.

“Are you going to let us in?” Her eyes narrowed to slits, a scathing glare coming on her face. Mom was beautiful, but when she was angry, she looked like Yzma from Emerperor’s New Groove. Yikes.

Dad had figured her quirks out early on in their relationship, and he even told me one time that if she was mad, it’d be best to either be outside playing or on the other side of the house. No one ever crossed her when she was pissed, and currently she was setting her anger on me.

I moved aside, letting them come into the kitchen/living area. Mr. Daniel made himself comfortable on the couch, turning the television to football. Guess he wants no part in this conversation. I wouldn’t either.

"We need to talk," Mom said, pulling out a stool, placing her purse on the island and making herself situated.

No thanks.

"Do we?" I closed the door behind them and stood by the sink, crossing my arms over my chest. "Because from where I'm standing, we’ve done enough talking."

"Don't be dramatic, Alexis." She rolled her eyes, trying to play it off. “You humiliated me. You need to apologize."

You need to apologize. Not, are you okay? I’m worried about you. No, she wants me to apologize.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

"You made a scene, and rolled up your sleeves at the dinner table like some kind of... " She stopped herself, glancing at Mr. Daniel like she needed his agreement to finish the sentence. He didn't give it to her, just continued to watch TV with his jaw tight. Well, that’s interesting.

"Like some kind of what, Mom?" My voice came out steadier than I expected, considering I was ready to rip her fucking head off. "Say it. Finish the sentence you were about to say."

"That's not important."

"Why not? You’re the one who came forty minutes out of your way, looking for an apology you know you aren’t going to get. You don't get to rewrite that into me being dramatic."

Something flickered in her eyes, as if I was crossing a dangerous boundary. "I was upset. We both said things."

“I said things because you pushed me to the point of no choice. I know you’re grieving Mom, but so am I. I am also the only one who survived a horrific crash. Think about that for a second. What would that do to you if you were in my situation?”

My hands shook, but I put them behind my back, where she couldn’t see what she was doing to me. “You’ve been writing me off since. I know I’m not Jake and I’m sure as hell not Dad, but treating your only daughter as if she’s a bug on the bottom of your shoe isn’t the way to go about it. From what you saw on my arms, it’s obvious I’ve been hurting for a while. Even longer than the crash...”

I let my voice drift off, trying to give her a hint. That this pain had been going on longer than she ever could’ve imagined. That I’ve been alone, suffering through it because that’s how she left me.

Trashed.

Scared.

Broken.

Alone.

Always fucking alone.

"Alexis..." She began, but I cut her off. Maybe one day she would listen to me, and I her. But I refused to give in, because if I did, we’d end up in the same shitty circle we always did.

"No. I'm not going to apologize for surviving something you clearly wish I hadn't."

The room went silent. Even Mr. Daniel, who was still watching football, seemed to have stopped breathing.

Her face paled, and part of me, the rational part, felt bad about saying that. But the other part, the one that didn’t give a fuck anymore, didn’t care. She needed the truth, point blank. She needed someone to be blunt with her, not catering to her every need. "I...I never wished for that. Never.”

Actions speak louder than words.