Page 47 of All Along

“Mom,” I grumble. “You knew we were a couple already.”

She dismisses my words with a flick of her wrist. “Everyone knows you were faking.”

I scan the room. “How does everyone know?”

“Never mind,” Mom says. “Now we can properly welcome Maya to the family.”

Maya’s eyes widen and she shuffles until she’s standing slightly behind me. Mom isn’t having it. She grasps Maya’s hands and pulls her into a hug.

“Welcome to the family, Maya!”

“Mom,” I warn.

“What? I’m being warm and welcoming. This is what a mother does when her son who never visits home finally settles down.”

“I’m not…” I trail off when I hear Maya sniffle.

“You better not have made Maya cry.” I pull Maya away from Mom and scowl at the tears on her face.

“Oh dear,” Mom mutters. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“It’s okay,” Maya says but the tears continue to course down her face. “They’re happy tears.”

I shackle her wrist and lead her down the hallway to the bathroom. I shut and lock the door behind us before lifting Maya onto the vanity.

I frame her face with my hands. “What’s wrong, Bunny? Do you want to leave?”

“I don’t want to leave. These are happy tears.” She smiles up at me but her bottom lip trembles.

I growl. “I don’t want you to cry. I don’t care if the tears are happy tears.”

She slaps my chest. “Get used to it, soldier. I’ll cry if I want to.”

I groan. “I’ve created a monster.”

“Are you saying I’m a monster? Do I get to wear green paint and have horns? Are you a monster, too? Do you have a tail?”

“What are they talking about?” Willow shouts.

“Shush. I can’t hear them,” Clara claims.

“They’re talking about monsters,” Abigail says.

“Oh, I’ve read about this. It’s called monster romance,” Eliza says.

I lean my forehead against Maya’s. “Welcome to the madhouse.”

“I think it’s wonderful. I always wanted sisters or brothers. Being an only child is boring especially when…”

I pinch her chin. “Especially when what?”

She forces a smile. “Never mind. Shall we get back out there? Your sisters will think we’re having sex in here if we linger any longer.”

“No, we won’t,” Eliza shouts.

“But we will listen in,” Willow adds.

“Did I say I wanted sisters?” Maya mumbles. “I think I was wrong.”

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