Page 123 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I

“Ahh…” Caroline says as if she’s just received insight from on high. “They’re close.”

“Very,” Mom and I say at the same time.

Suddenly, an idea pops in my mind. “Plus, I don’t think Treasure really loves Quinton Long. She’s still in love with Orion Valentine.”

I'm watching my mother's every response. She angles her gaze down to her plate and then picks up her fork and slowly starts eating the cracked glazed duck breast that's so tender she doesn't need a knife to cut into it.

“Oh, the Valentines.” Caroline takes a sip of wine.

“If she’s in love with him, then I think she should be with him,” I say.

“That’s never going to happen,” my mom says. However, it’s not her words that I find alarming—it’s the hostile trembling in her voice.

I set my fork down. I’ve just lost my appetite. “Why not?” If looks could sting, I’d be withering in pain right now. “She’s an adult, and he’s an adult.”

“Cut it out,” my mom snaps.

I jerk my head back. Rarely does she take that tone with me. All sorts of emotions have been stirred up inside of me. I don't want to cut it out. I want her to be straight with me for once and tell me exactly why the Valentines are equivalent to cyanide.

“What’s wrong with Orion?”

Her eyes narrow to slits. “Why are you asking me about Orion Valentine?”

“Okay, ladies, let's take a beat,” Caroline says as if she's refereeing a couple quarreling in therapy.

I throw my hands up. “You would’ve thought I said Treasure is in love with the devil. I just think it's wrong that she can't be with who she actually loves because of you all. She really thinks her mom and dad will cut her off if she chooses Orion. I mean, is that true?”

My mom is so angry that I can almost see smoke rising out of her ears. “We are not talking about the Valentines anymore,” she says, punctuating her statement by slicing the air in front of her with her hand.

On the way home,I close my eyes, pretending I’m asleep so that Greg won’t engage me in conversation. He’s too intuitive. He would know dinner with my mom went south.

After my mom shut down discussion about Orion and Treasure, I didn’t want to be there anymore. I took a few more bites and made an excuse to leave. “I have to work tomorrow.” I pushed my chair back.

“Is Max overworking you?” my mom asked.

I shot to my feet. “Ask him. And tell him to tell you the truth.”

She looked at me, aghast. I’d never taken that tone with her. “Good night,” my mom said through clenched teeth. She knew I was mad at her because of our conversation about the Valentines. Usually, she would say something that would put us back on the same page. But tonight, she was unwavering.

Caroline gave me a hug and slipped something into my back pocket. “It was so good seeing you, my love. Don’t be a stranger,” she whispered in my ear.

Mom and I hugged loosely before I left. Now I feel awful. On top of that, I have my answer. My parents will never accept me and Hercules as a couple.

I have tried over and over again to get answers from my family about our silly feud with the Valentines, and the ones that they’ve given me do not make sense. Now I make a decision. The time has come for me to find the answers on my own.

I pull out whatever Caroline put into my back pocket. I open one eye to see what it is. It’s her business card. I softly roll my eyes. I don’t need a shrink—I need answers. But then a thought strikes me. Caroline has known my mom for ages. They’re like sisters. If Heartly has secrets, Caroline will know them. She’s returning to California tomorrow night. I’ll call her Monday morning and ask her what she knows about the Valentines.

I smile. My plan feels empowering.

“Good dream?” Greg asks.

“The best,” I reply.The best.

Chapter Forty-One

Another Cousin

Hercules Valentine