Page 66 of The Librarian’s Familiar

“He didn’t, I volunteered. I need something to do…” It would be so easy to add on a few more words.

His mother didn’t look at him as she paired up his father’s socks. She didn’t say anything either, which was worse.

“We’ve been talking a bit, since he’s new in town and I feel like I am because I’m hardly ever here.”

She nodded. “He doesn’t know anything about winter up here.”

“I’ve been telling him.”

Another nod and more silence as if she expected him to say more. It always worked when they were children. She’d leave enough space, and then they’d start talking and confessing to whatever they’d been getting up to.

“I’ve been staying at his place.” The words hung in the air, and he wanted to claw them back, shove them back into his mouth, and swallow them down. The words were both too vague and left too much for her to imagine. “I guess we’re kind of dating…”

He should be saying that with more excitement. Instead, he was filled with trepidation. Should he add on that they were also fated mates, or was that too much at once? The bond was only temporary because of Charlie’s magic.

No, he’d leave that.

She glanced up. “Why are you acting like you’re scared to tell me that you like someone?”

“Because I’m gay and I don’t know how to tell people because I’ve been keeping it a secret for so long.”

She put down the socks and wrapped her arms around him. “If you’d said something sooner, I would’ve stopped suggesting eligible women. Now I need to rethink my list.”

“Mom…I like Charlie.”

She drew back. “He’s a witch, and he’s not here forever.”

“I had noticed that he was a witch.” He drew in a breath and said softly. “And I don’t know if I’m going to be here forever. I’m sorry.”

“I know. You’ve been out in the world, and Claw Lake is tiny. Some people get a taste for city life, and they can’t find their place here anymore. My mother was like that; she could never sit in one place. When you needed to leave, it was the excuse she needed to spread her wings further, and my father was happy to go with her.” She sighed. “The moment I held you, you didn’t want to be swaddled…it was like you were already fighting for freedom.”

“And you let me go when you could’ve refused.” He kissed her temple. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t start telling everyone about Charlie.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure most of the town has already realized that Charlie likes men. So if people see you two together…” She tilted her head, and her eyebrows drew together. “Weren’t your brothers helping at the library?”

“Yes. I told them already.”

“You told them before me?”

“Mom, no offence, but sometimes it’s easier to talk to them.”

She pressed her lips together. “Oh…I hope they behaved themselves.”

“They did.” Mostly. But they were his brothers, and he expected them to give him equal amounts of support and shit. It’s what brothers did.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Another message from Charlie.

On my way around. I will behave.

August frowned. If Charlie was coming round, it meant there was something serious going on. “He’s on his way.”

“Oh…” She smiled, like she’d won a battle he hadn’t realized he was fighting. “I’ll set another place at the table. And I’ll tell your father to behave, or he’ll try to convince you to stay here and get married before the winter solstice.”

“I don’t need that kind of pressure.”

“He wants you to be happy and settled. He always worried about you being on the road, especially after…” She sucked in a breath. “Well, I’d better move. It’s not a long walk from the library.”

August gathered up the folded laundry, placing his parents’ clothing and bedding in the basket before putting it on their bed, then taking his bedding and towels to his room. He scrubbed his hand over his face. That hadn’t gone terribly. But then it wasn’t his family he was particularly worried about. He wasn’t even worried about people in town.