Page 279 of Bitter’s Sweet

“Junie.”

“Better.”

“Petal.”

“Expensive if you keep feeding her.”

I smile. “The twins.”

Mercy groans. “Strike that from the record.”

“Sheriff.”

“That bird has manipulated everyone.”

“I like the town.”

Mercy looks at me.

“And?”

I know what she is asking.

I lean back against the counter. “I don't know what happens with Bitter.”

“Then don't make the school answer that question.”

Simple.

Annoyingly simple.

“You make everything sound easy.”

“No. I make things sound separate.”

That lands.

Mercy folds the towel.

“You can say yes to me and no to Bitter.”

My throat tightens.

“You can say yes to both.”

I look down.

“You can say yes to Bitter later.”

She pauses.

“You can say no to him forever.”

That one hurts.

Mercy notices.

Of course she does.