Page 41 of April’s Fool

“Mom,” Torpedo grunts, giving her a two-finger salute as his lip twitches ever so slightly.

I guess Professor McDonald isn’t always a monotone bore.

Throughout the next hour, I listen but wonder about the dynamic between the two of them. I don’t see any resemblance, yet Torpedo had called her ‘Mom’.

I want to ask, though I know it’s none of my business. It doesn’t help that Samuel is behind me and my phone keeps going off in my lap. I usually keep it put away, but I wanted to make sure I had it in case Fool texts me. Only the vibration isn’t the distinct one I’d set for him, so I keep ignoring it.

Professor McDonald dismisses the class, and Torpedo looks at me. “I’ve got to go speak to her. If I don’t, she’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

“Okay, I’ll wait outside for you.”

“Nope, you’re coming too. I said you’re not out of my sight, and I meant it. Not until your ol’ man gets back here.”

I roll my eyes at his response and sigh. “Fine. Lead the way.”

I follow him down the steps to the bottom and hang back as he approaches his mom.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re sitting in one of my classes today?” she asks, glancing from her son to me. “And with one of my top students, at that.”

“I’m sorry about this.” I blush and nervously bite my bottom lip.

“She’s married to Fool and is Cannon’s cousin. Just following orders.” Torpedo shrugs.

“Hmm, interesting.” She nods. “Well, that’s good news for you. Getting married is exciting,” she says to me, then turns her attention back to her son. “You’ll be at family dinner tomorrow, correct?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” he confirms.

“Good. Your brother and sister are nut cases, and I need someone on my team who knows trivia like I do,” she announces, looking to me again. “Ryker’s father and I try to have family dinner weekly, with a game night as well. My son here and I always win when we team up.”

Torpedo lets out a grunt and rolls his eyes. “You say that because you love me more than the other two nut cases.”

“This is true,” she agrees. “Though I love them for being the nuts they are.”

“Right,” he snorts, hugging his mom. “We’ve got to head out. April’s got more classes to attend.”

“You can stay and chat with your mom. I can handle getting there myself.” I try, yet again, to avoid having him with me. I don’t feel like I need a babysitter.

“You’re not getting me in trouble with Cannon or Fool,” he says deadpan.

“Fine,” I huff, leading him out of the building. “Then let’s go. I need more coffee before heading to the next class.”

“Fool needs to cut your caffeine intake,” he mutters, more to himself than to me.

“Take that back,” I snap, whirling on him and pointing a finger at his chest. “I love my coffee, and no one is taking it from me. I’ll break your fingers if you even try.”

Okay, it’s a little extreme, but no one’s ever suggested cutting back on my caffeine. I love my coffee, though I do make sure to drink plenty of water as well.

Torpedo snorts and shakes his head. “Now, you sound like my sister. She’d be the first to nut check you if you take something from her.”

Seriously?

“Is that why she’s a nutcase? I completely get it when it comes to my coffee. But I’m curious why you and your mom call both your sister and your brother nutcases?” I ask as we walk back to the café. Stepping inside, I add, “You don’t have to share if you don’t want to.”

“Because they always have been. They’re good people, both of them. They just like to fuck around with people through pranks and shit. Similar to the story I heard about you and your friends, how you got Fool and Hazard.” He grins and keeps going. “They’re twins, five years younger than me. I came to live with them at four as a foster. They adopted me before my fifth birthday, and then the twins were born,” he says like it’s no big deal, but it explains why they look nothing alike. What also surprises me is how he opens up about it and doesn’t hide the truth.

“That’s cool that they adopted you. I take it you guys are all close.”

“Yeah, we are.” He nods.