Page 64 of Pumped

Mom looks a little surprised but mostly curious. “It’s not?”

“No, it’s…” I glance up at Owen again, who is pointing out something in the distance to Ivy. “It’s Owen.”

Mom glances toward the front of the shuttle too. “I thought you said you guys were getting along.”

“I thought we were, but…” I sigh heavily. “I dunno. He’s been weird all day.”

Mom furrows her brow a bit. “He seems fine to me.”

“Yeah, I know.” I roll my eyes. “He’s fine with everyone else. He’s just being weird with me.”

Mom eyes me silently for a few long seconds. “I get the sense there’s more to it than that.”

I pout and shift uncomfortably on the hard bench seat. “Maybe.”

“Mmhmm?” She knows not to rush me, that I’ll end up spitting it out when I figure out how to put what I’m feeling into words.

“Owen… I…” I peek over at Mom who is still wearing her patient, non-judgmental expression. “I think I might feel some kind of way. About Owen.”

“Some kind of way?” Mom gives me a “really?” look.

I throw my hands into the air and then land heavily on my thighs with a slap. “I don’t know. I just… feel something.”

“As in romantic feelings?” she prompts gently, walking me through my own emotions.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” I cross my arms and lower my chin toward my chest. “Kinda.”

“Is this a sudden thing? Or has it been developing for some time?”

“It’s…” My cheeks heat as I realize what I’m about to say. “We’ve, uh, kinda been, you know.”

“Kinda been, you know?” Mom echoes me, her voice flat with a hint of amusement.

I give her a meaningful look. “You know.”

She gives me a meaningful look in return. “We’re adults, Everest. We can use the appropriate words.”

“Fine! We’ve been fucking!” I hiss quietly at her.

Mom’s lips twitch like she’s fighting back a burst of laughter.

“It’s not funny!” I whine, a little louder.

She snickers. “It’s a little funny.”

“Mom!”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. This is serious. I get it. Your feelings are on the line.” She pats me on the shoulder.

I stick out my bottom lip in a pout so she knows I don’t appreciate her teasing.

“So, you two have been… intimate. And now you have kind of romantic feelings for him.” She pauses for a second, considering.“That seems perfectly normal given your circumstances. Actually, now that I think about it, it was probably inevitable.”

I stare at her. “What was?”

“You and Owen.”

“We were?”

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