Page 61 of Eye of the Hurricane
I know when my mom is getting at something. This is one of those times.
“Yeah, yeah, okay. She slept in my tent. We aren’t dating though,” I relent.
“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…” She trails off with a pointed look.
I can’t tell my mom why it looks like something it’s not,because I can’t tell her we’re hooking up with no strings attached. She’s mymom. And without that piece, the rest seems like a cover story when we’re clearly not just going on fake dates anymore.
“I’ll let you know if something changes,” I tell her.
“Just don’t miss out on a good thing by chalking it up to being too complicated.” She doesn’t know that I’m not missing out on a single thing. I’m soaking Katherine up every single day. The moment I think she’s ready for the real thing, I’m all hers.
“I won’t.” I’ve always felt a wave of relief coming home for the first time after a trip. Vacations are fun but home is… home. This time feels different. The relief never comes, I feel like I have somewhere else to be.
Ares
Want to do something tonight?
Katherine
Bad day. Can’t.
Ares
Want me to come over and help you unwind?
Katherine
No. I need to focus.
Ares
Talk to me?
Katherine
Can’t. Busy.
There’s a weight in my chest telling me it’s more than just a bad day. It’s a small brush-off, nothing serious. But it feels like she’s pulling away all the same. I go about my day, tryingnot to dwell or let my fears speak for her. If she wants space, I need to hear it from her.
“I didn’t realizewhen I bought a house for Audra and me that it came with two roommates,” Roman calls from the other side of the pool deck.
“You should have. We warned you,” Ravyn responds. Roman reaches for the blow-up beach ball next to him and tosses it at her. She swims to the edge of the pool and splashes him.
“Hey! No splashing, I’m painting,” I scold. Ravyn rolls her eyes.
“What are you painting?” Audra asks from her pool raft. I take a long look at the blank canvas.
“Well, nothing yet. I’m trying to paint,” I correct myself.
“Still having trouble with inspiration?”
“Sometimes. It comes and goes.” I don’t tell them that the only pieces I’ve actually been proud of lately involve Katherine. I don’t know what it means and I can’t think too far into it.
“You said you showed a piece to Professor Vines and it was the kind of emotion she was looking for, right?” Ravyn asks.
“Yeah. I definitely feel like I’m closer to the right track. It’s just knowing what to make,” I sigh.
“Show us the piece she approved of,” Ravyn demands. The girls are both hanging on the edge of the pool below me, looking at me with expectant eyes.
