Page 21 of Meant for Mayhem

“How about a pact?”

I looked up at him, confused. “A what?”

“A pact. I promise I won’t lie to you. To always tell you the truth. No matter what you decide, I swear it.”

That caught me off-guard. People always promised they wouldn’t hurt you. They promised they’d change. They promised everything would get better. But no one had ever promised me honesty.

It was such a strangely specific thing to offer that it lodged somewhere deep inside me, scraping against all the fragile places I’d spent years building walls around.

He stuck his hand out, and I stared at it, a sense of unease sitting heavy in my chest with each moment that passed. But he didn’t drop his hand, didn’t take it back. He waited for me, eyes searching my face, like he knew how hard a decision this was. How much his words meant.

Against every instinct screaming at me to walk away, I slipped my hand into his. His grip was warm, rough with calluses, but impossibly gentle.

“Fine,” I said. “One lie, and the deal’s off.”

“There won’t be one.” The certainty in his voice irritated me almost as much as it comforted me.

I gave his hand a single shake before pulling mine back like I’d touched a hot stove. “This doesn’t mean I’m saying yes.”

“I know.”

“It doesn’t mean I trust you.”

His mouth tipped into that annoyingly adorable half smile. “I know that, too.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket, loud against the quiet hallway, and Leena made a little whimpering sound behind the closed door. I jumped, rushing away from him and whatever this was between us.

Mikko watched me back down the hallway, his grin spreading when I ran straight into the wall. “Öitä, rakas.”

There it was, that word again.

I pulled my phone out, trying to figure out how to spell rakas so I could search it, but before I made it to a search engine, a dozen text messages from the girls came through.

Moms of Mayhem

Emmy

I need an RSVP count for tomorrow morning. This is a MANDATORY meeting of the Moms of Mayhem.

Tate

Since when do we RSVP to Pilates? Don’t we just show up?

Daisy

I’ll be there.

Stevie

What kind of question is that? Of course, we’ll be there. It’s Shannon’s last day with us.

Emmy

Yes, yes. Just checking in case anyone needs some life advice or anything.

Tate

… You good?