Page 154 of Faithful

Soon I find myself back in the lobby. Kai’s next to me, his hand holding mine.

Val has enlisted our student volunteers to shoo everyone overly nosy away as we make our way to the north wing where our home base is, where we can hide from the onslaught of attention for the time being.

“Dylan?” My name is called off to the side and I pause.

Turn around.

My mother is standing several feet away.

Alone.

Gavin isn’t with her.

She examines me slowly and carefully, her gaze lingering on Kai’s hand wrapped around mine.

“He’s the boy?”

My throat goes abnormally stiff, my chest caving in. “Yes,” I say hoarsely.

She blinks several times in a row and I finally notice how watery her eyes are.

Kai gently releases me.

“Mom?” I shuffle my feet, unsure of what to do with all these people around us. The emotional roller coaster I’ve been riding all day today is becoming a bit too much.

She keeps on staring.

When you’re at war, you win some and you lose some. And deep down I always knew my mother wouldn’t welcome Kai with open arms. Still, I had to take that leap.

And now I’m torn.

Fuck, why is this so hard?

“Mom?” I say again as she turns around, her back to me. “I love him. Please.”

“I just need some time, baby,” she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper lost in the noise of the lobby.

Then she walks away.

19 TRESPASSING AGAIN

There’s not much to do at the hotel after the scandal we caused during my father’s speech.

First, we’re whisked away to the room the Blue Sun Project team has been using as a temporary office.

There, Kai and I wait for the venue management to arrange safe passage for us.

You’d be surprised how challenging this proves to be with the number of Iodine fans on the premises, and they’re growing at the speed of a geometric progression.

We depart as soon as one of the security guards discreetly moves Kai’s van to the underground loading dock.

My own car is left behind in the rear lot. I’ll probably have more luck getting to it tomorrow morning than tonight while the hotel is crawling with paparazzi.

Also, my phone has been ringing and flashing nonstop, and I have to eventually shut it down.

I’m still just in my tux and shoes and now that we’re speeding away from the city proper and Kai has rolled down the window to smoke, I’m starting to feel the cold winter air.

The music pouring from the speakers is low and familiar and I take the liberty of turning up the volume.

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