Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 127712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
I follow him in, then quietly close the door behind us.
“So you’re here,” she says. Starting the conversation without pleasantries. “Now what?”
“You wanted me here, I showed up. You tell me, Nova.”
Nova leans to the side a little. Like she’s trying to get a better look at me. Our eyes meet. Then she breaks away and looks back at Mercer. “I want you to let him go.”
“What?” I mumble.
“He said you wanted an apology,” Mercer says. His voice is calm and low, but I’ve known this man a long time. So I recognize it as something else. He’s… holding back.
Holding back what, though? Anger?
For sure. He’s been angry with Nova since she took off five years ago. But I’ve never understood this anger. So maybe, finally, I will get some answers about their obviously very complicated relationship.
Nova stands up. She’s fully dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail and she’s barefoot. She takes three steps until she is directly in front of Mercer. Then she tips her chin up, like she’s about to defy him. “Oh, I do want an apology. I deserve an apology. But I gave up all hope of that years ago, Mercer.”
“Well, if it’ll get this show on the road, I apologize.” He throws up his hands and turns to me. “There. It’s done. Are you happy now?”
I just kinda chuckle. “Mercer. That’s not an apology.”
“He’s not here to apologize, Locke.” Nova steps to the side and walks over to me. She takes my hand. “Please,” she begs, squeezing my fingers. “Please just let him go.”
Mercer scoffs. “Oh, so that’s what this is about? You brought me here to what? Make him choose?” He practically guffaws now. “He’s not leaving me, Nova. Trust me, I’ve tried. Don’t you think I’ve tried?”
“What?” I kinda push Nova out of the way so there’s nothing between Mercer and me. “What did you just say?”
Mercer sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose between his eyes, like he’s stressed. “She thinks”—he points to Nova—“that I’m… keeping you. Captive, or something.”
“What?” Now I truly laugh. Then look at Nova. “Nova. That’s not true, right? Tell him. Tell him you just want an apology.” I direct my gaze to Mercer now. “What we did, it was fucked up, Mercer. You know this. We both know this.”
“Here’s the problem.” Nova takes my hand again. “Here’s the problem, Locke. You—”
“That’s enough,” Mercer barks. “I said my apology. I’m done now. He’s not being held prisoner, Nova. Not by me, anyway. You’re the one holding him prisoner. Letting him come here—what? Three, four times a year. Letting him think that Veda might be his.” Mercer looks at me. “She’s not yours, Locke.”
“That’s enough,” Nova barks.
“Oh!” Mercer bellows. “It’s fine when you want to keep him in the dark, but not me, right?”
Nova points her finger at him. “Enough.”
“Wait.” I take a deep breath and turn to Mercer. “How do you know she’s not mine? I mean, she doesn’t really look like Olsen, does she?” I shake my head. “I can’t see it. And anyway, I don’t really care if she’s Olsen’s genetic kid. I like her.” I look over at Nova. “Love her, actually. Right? You know that, Nova. Right?”
“I do—” Nova starts.
But then Mercer cuts her off. “Locke. The girl is mine, OK? The child belongs to me. This is what I was trying to tell you back home.” He points at Nova. “I came here to make my fucking apology. But also to make her admit what she did. I was trying to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“Tell him, Nova. Tell him that she’s mine. Tell him what you did.”
I look at Nova. “What is he talking about?”
“Yeah, Nova. What am I talking about?”
Nova opens her mouth but no words come out. She kinda sputters a little, unable to start. Finally, she manages to spit out the word, “Olsen. It was Olsen.”
Mercer turns to me. “She knew what was happening. She set me up. We had sex. Before she was wandering around the island looking for my office, before you took her into the woods that first time, before you and Olsen—”
“Wait.” I put up a hand. “Are you telling me that you fucked her when you recruited her? Because… I will have a hard time believing that, Mercer. That’s not your style. Like, at all.”
He turns to Nova. “Tell him. Tell him or I will.”
Nova finds her voice. And it is filled with righteousness. “You are a liar. You wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you on the face.” She turns to me. “Michael, this is over now. You need to make a decision. Stay here with me.” She reaches for both my hands, takes them in hers, peers up at me and squeezes them gently. “Walk away from him. Stay here with me. Just—”