Page 42 of Vicious Titan

She takes a step in our direction, an uneasy smile on her face. “Hi, Elliot. I tried calling first, but your phone went to voice mail.”

How can she be here? How can she be standing on this property with a smile after what happened here? And how can she be smiling at me after what I’d said to her?

Looking to Victoria, her smile grows more relaxed. “Hi, sweetie. How’ve you been doing?”

“Fine,” Victoria utters, glancing to me, her hand firmly grasping mine as she looks back to my mom.

“I’m not going to keep the two of you, I just wanted to see if we could get together. Maybe have lunch or something.”

Lunch? She’s been locked away for months, during which I’d told her I wished she was dead, and she wants to have lunch. Why does that seem insubstantial? “We have plans.”

Victoria quickly adds, “It’s okay. We can go out another time.”

“Oh. No. I don’t want to just barge in.” She gives us a heartwarming smile. “I’m glad the two of you found your way to each other.”

I jerk my hand away from Victoria’s and she looks to me, her eyes pleading not to make this worse.

“I’m going to head back to your grandfather’s house. I thought the transition would be better if I stayed at Lawrence’s house for a while to give you some time. I’ll be there if you want to stop by. I’d really love the chance to talk to you if you’d like, but I want you to know that I love you, and I understand if you don’t want to see me. Just know that I’m there if you need me.”

Victoria brushes her fingertips up my arm as we stand there, watching my mom wave goodbye to us, a smile is on her face … but is it real? Will I get a chance to find out if I let her walk away without saying what is demanding to be said?

“Mom.”

She stops just before she reaches the door, turning to face me with an apprehensive look, probably unsure if I’m about to say something nice or something hateful, and that makes me sick to my stomach. I never would’ve furthered her pain had I known what she’d been through.

Walking to her, I stop a few feet away. “I didn’t mean it.”

Her eyes fill with tears as she smiles. “I know.” She reaches for the door, saying over her shoulder, “Call me or stop by whenever you’re ready.”

Will I ever be? I think I am now, but something stops me from telling her. There’s no way we can just pick up and move on like nothing ever happened. What’s our new normal going to look like?

“Elliot,” Victoria’s soft voice pulls me from my thoughts as I turn to face her. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.”

Victoria steps forward, snaking her arms around my torso. “We can go on a date another day. You need to spend time with your mom.”

“I will, but I’m not sure I’m ready just yet.”

“It’s a lot to take in. I’m going to head home. If you decide you want to change the plan, just let me know.”

“Okay,” I reply with no intention of changing a damn thing. Victoria is the only sure thing in my life right now. I’m not canceling on her. Besides, she’s right. It is a lot to take in. The last person I thought I’d lay eyes on today was my mother.

“I’ll call you in a little while,” she gives me a quick kiss before reluctantly releasing me, heading for her car.