Page 28 of The Fake Divination Offense
Silence hangs. Even without being able to see her, I canfeelher expression, that brief lip twist that signifies she’s worried I’m going to talk about the lawsuit.
Seb specificallystoppedteasing me about being a momma’s boy once he realized that I’m only a momma’s boy if we avoid certain topics. For a while, it was Seb himself and hisinappropriately weak influenceon me. For the past four years, it’s been the lawsuit.
When the news came through yesterday that we won, I texted her about it. Didn’t call.
My parents both left the message on read.
I don’t let the silence hang for long. “I met someone.”
Because if this thing between me and Alexo is meant to look real, I’d absolutely tell my mother about it.
I ignore the twinge in my stomach at the reminder that this is a lie.
She sucks in a breath. It sounds more relieved than excited. “Oh, that’s wonderful! Do I know them?”
“Him. And no. Well, maybe? Have you or dad been on any pro rawball sites since last night? I wanted to tell you before it started getting too spread around.”
There’s a pause, a muffled conversation I can’t hear, and my mom returns with, “No, we haven’t been online in a bit, but we will now. What are we looking for?”
Great. I pinch the skin over my nose. “There was an… incident. I got into a bit of a situation at a bar, and—”
“A situation?” Her interest piques.
Just say it. All at once. “A guy was being rude to someone and I intervened, and the person I stepped in for ended up being—”
“Orok!A fight? How did you stop that man? How brutal was it? What did Urzoth call you to do?”
“It didn’t escalate to that, but—”
“You didn’t evenneedto fight him? Oh, I’m so proud of you! This is what Urzoth’s strength is best used for—asserting dominance so all around know your might without you even needing to display it. Strong as stone.”
“Hard as rock,” I say automatically, then wince. “But anyway—the man I saved is who I’m seeing now. And the rawball tabloids are running with it, so I wanted to tell you before you saw anything. Keep you in the loop.”
“Behind-the-scenes information?” There’s a smile in her voice.
I echo it. “Yeah. Behind the scenes.”
“Well, thank you. Will we get to meet him soon?”
My parents live a few hours from Philly, but if Alexo and I are meant to keep up this charade all season, they’ll definitely cross paths.
“Yeah. I mean, if things work out. His name’s Alexo.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re happy. And I’m glad you’re using your position and fame to bring light to Urzoth. We’ll pray for you and Alexo.”
Back to squeezing the skin over my nose. “Thanks, Mom. I gotta get to practice.”
“We love you.”
She hangs up, and I hold there, phone to my ear, pinching the shit out of my nose to stem the headache pulsing behind my forehead.
A tap on my shoulder has me vaulting a foot in the air.
Marlow stands on the track behind me, outfitted for a run.
“Gods, Darian’s right,” I groan. “You do need a bell.”
“I feed off your terror,” she says, her ring translating. But she’s grinning, looking almost conspiratorial, and she shimmies back and forth before signing, “So, you’ve got a new boyfriend?”
