They all thought I was honestly in love with Kiara.

Ha.

As if. Who in the world falls in love within twenty-four hours of meeting a person? Not this rational, smart-ass.

"Mom, I need to tell you the truth," I began.

She was watering sunflowers at the front part of the café. She didn't turn around. "I know, you're trying to convince yourself you don't really like this girl and think saying it out loud will further consolidate your lies."

I rolled my eyes. "They aren't lies. Kiara is sticking to that brute because she thinks he's her only option. If I let her know there's-"

She slammed the watering pot on the table, raising a brow at me(I've always wondered how she managed that with her eyes closed). "You think Kiara is an idiot or something?"

I frowned. "No, but-"

"She's not stupid so man up to the fact that you like her and got your butt kicked by the guy she loves."

I scowled, lowering my head on the table. "Not true."

"True."

"Not true."

"True."

"Not true."

"Do you want dinner tonight?"

"What are you, a dictator?" I grumbled.

"If I was you'd be exiled from the country," Mom replied faintly. She frowned, then pursed her lips, wringing her hands warily.

I didn't like the look. "What is it?" I asked. "What's wrong?"

"What makes you think that?"

"There's nothing wrong then?"

"Everything is absolutely fine."

"Okay."

She nodded. "You should head on home now by the way. I need you to make sure the painting crew has the colors right, keep an eye on the antique pots coming in today and try to keep them from falling, check in on the order for the living room furniture- oh and your dad called today but I also need you to change the light bulb in my bedroom because it died last night and I know all I can really see are auras but its still driving me crazy and I really hate-"

I sat up with a start. "Dad called you last night?"

The floor suddenly became very interesting, she wouldn't face me. "Did I say that?"

I tried to force down the urge to start shouting. "Yes, you did. And you also told me to help you stay away from him. Why didn't you block his number like I told you?"

"He used a different number," she mumbled.

I raked a hand through my hair. "You're acting guilty. What did you promise him this time?"

A pause. "I didn't promise him anything," she replied.

"You're lying."

"Not true."

"True."

"Not true."

I stood up. "Fred, it's okay to want to fix broken things, I get that you love that and I love that about you but it's not okay when those things hurt you. Dad isn't your normal broken vase you can glue back together, his pieces are shattered beyond repair. And they'll keep cutting you everytime you try to fix him."

She exhaled, the sound filled with resignation- of what kind I didn't know. I was still angry though, we'd moved all the way to this annoying town, cutting off my training(which might've helped me earlier out in the street) to start a new life without that man and she still couldn't let him go.

She moved closer, and although I was still mad, I didn't stop her when she reached out and took my hand. "Love makes a fool of the best of us."

I sighed. "Don't worry, I've got your fooled back. Now tell me what you promised him."

"He's got people after-"

"You mean angry women?"

She frowned. "No, these people-"

"Vengeful husbands?" I provided.

She smacked me on the shoulder. "Let me talk!"

I mimed zipping my lips. "I am silence itself."

She tried to hide a smile. "There are people after him, a sort of hit man gang or something. I couldn't find any information on them other than how dangerous they are."

I pursed my lips. "So, all the angry women and vengeful husbands sent not one hit man, but a whole gang of them after him?"

She nodded.

I grinned. "Brilliant."

"Brad!"

"Seriously. Why didn't I think of this before?"

"He's your dad."

"He's also dead meat. All our problems are solved, let them have him."

"I told him to come stay with us, that I'd protect him," Mom blurted out, face flaming. "And I had no ulterior motives when I suggested he sleep in my bedroom just to be cautious..."

"You invited the man who cheated on you back into your bedroom?!" I shouted.

She pointed a finger at me. "It's your fault."

I threw up my hands. "How in the world is it my fault?!"

"You said you'd protect me from temptation but you weren't there when he called."

I sat down, right there on the floor like I did on the sidewalk when I first met Kiara. I'd gotten my ass handed to me then too... I shook off the irritating memory. "What time did he call?"

"...While you were in school."

I covered my face with my hands, wondering what was worse, thinking about how Mom might be right about the real reason I was trying to keep Kiara and Cage apart or how I was going to have to disentangle my mom from the deceptive, two-timing weasel that was my dad once again.