Page 152 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

I open my mouth to say something back, but my phone began to vibrate. I frown at the name and mutter to Briar, “Why is my mum calling me this late? I’m going to answer, stay quiet.” Without waiting for her to agree, I answer the phone. “Mum?”

“Sweetheart!” my mum’s voice sounds relieved. How are you feeling? You didn’t call me at all last night, so I just wanted to check in to see how you’re feeling.”

“Mum, it’s nearly midnight,” I sigh, squeezing between my eyes. “I’m sorry, I was busy today and forgot to text you.”

Briar giggles from the side, silently mouthing, “busy with me.”

I glare at her, putting my finger to my lips to signal her to shut up.

But the damage has been done when my mum gasps. “Rurik! Are you with a friend? Who is that? Oh my… Why did that sound like a girl?”

If I could shoot laser beams out of my eyes, Briar would fucking disintegrate into nothingness.

“It’s no one, mum.” I groan. “She’s just…” Fuck, can I say friend? I don’t want Briar to get the wrong idea. Then again, what are we?

“Rurik Lev Campbell! Let me talk to her.”

Briar’s eyes widen, even she can hear my mum over the phone.

I shoot her another glare as I put my mum on loudspeaker. “She can hear you now, mum.”

Briar gives me a confused look before clearing her throat and timidly saying, “Hello, there.”

“Hello, oh, don’t you sound adorable.”

“Aw, thank you so much!”

“Mum!”

My face is burning, yet Briar is looking smug and satisfied as fuck.

My mum continues drilling her with many questions, and I’m thankful that Briar is keeping it short and vague. Now, my mum thinks we met through mutual friends, just acquaintances.

“You must come over for dinner sometime,” My mum asks after Briar tells her that she’s going to bed. “Rurik, invite her over next time you come, yeah?”

“Mum,” I groan, “Briar’s busy, and—”

“I would love to, ma’am. Thank you for the invite!”

I whirl around and glower at her hard.

She brushes a kiss against my nose as if my simmering annoyance and anger are invisible to her.

“Splendid!” My mum beams. “I’ve never met Rurik’s lady friends before.”

“Mum,” I warn, rubbing my face with my hand. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

As soon as we said our goodbyes and hung up, I turn to Briar and snap, “What the fuck, Briar?”

She blinks innocently. “What? Your mom asked, I didn’t want to be rude.”

I scoff, “This is definitely crossing my boundaries.”

Briar ducks her head, her smile dropping. I ignore the throbbing ache shooting through my chest as she sighs.

“Oh,” She says, looking up at me again. Her smile looks strain. “I’m sorry. You can make up some excuses. Tell your mom I’m sick or something—”

“It’s fine,” I mutter, interrupting her. “It’s fine, Mum sounds excited to meet you.”

---