I sighed in relief. “That’sgreat!”
He nodded. “But they woke up in our old childhood home. Something’s not right aboutthis.”
I frowned. The female sentries were up to something, and I didn’t like it onebit.
My phone beeped. I glanced down to see a text fromRonnie.
Ronnie:Woke up next toMaxine.
I replied quickly as my mom set a plate of buttered toast beforeme.
Kit:Is she okay? Where areyou?
Ronnie:She’s pissed that I stabbed her, but she’s going to be fine. We landed in Texas at Maxine’s high school. Weird. See you inVancouver.
Weirdindeed.
“The ghouls are up to something again,” I told theroom.
My mom shrugged. “Good. Means they’re scared. They’re changing itup.”
That was certainly one way of looking atit.
Damien and I ate our breakfast in relative silence. We said nothing of our night with the ghouls, about them knowing my name, or any of that. For a small moment in time, we just… hung out with my mom and herroommate.
“Are you still dating Roberto?” I asked my mom, as she sharpened her huntingknife.
“Nah, he’s with Macy now. I’m seeing Eddie from 14B,” she repliedcoolly.
I chuckled. Macy was one of my mom’s roommates. How they so easily handed off boyfriends was beyondme.
“Brisk still in love with Ronnie?” Momasked.
I nodded. “Yep, but she won’t give him the time ofday.”
Birdie, who was a short, slender woman in her early fifties, cackled. “You send that tall drink of water my way. I’ll show him what he’smissing.”
Damien grinned, and I couldn’t help but smile as well. I’d forgotten how loony my mom and her friends were. It was kind of entertaining and refreshing in a way. None of them had a filter. They were all like Maxine, choosing to live life to the fullest because they could die the nextday.
“So how long have you two been dating?” my momasked.
“Well it was nice to see you, Mom,” I told her with wide eyes, hoping she would take the hint and shut hermouth.
Damien smiled. “A few weeks now. Kit’s pretty amazing,” hegushed.
Oh my God, kill me now. But wait, that was a sweet thing tosay.
“Is the jet coming for us? Should we get to the airport?” I askedDamien.
Birdie cackled again, her years of smoking painfully obvious when she laughed. “Come on, child. You’ve never brought a boy home. This isfun.”
I was quite sure my cheeks were flaming red, and I felt a panic attack coming on. My hands were numb, and I was nauseous. Damien and I were new, not in the ‘meeting my mother’ stage.I am so not ready forthis.
Damien chuckled. “Kit’s right. My pilot will be here shortly to get us. It’s been lovely to meet you boththough.”
My mom rubbed his shoulder. “Thank you for the plasma cuffs. You’re always welcome to pop into my bedanytime.”
“Mom!” I shrieked, and she winked, taking a swig of wine from thebottle.
