Page 54 of Prayers for the Prickly

“But I have! I even went over there and demanded to know if she’d been involved in the incident with the ants. I know you said to keep out of it, but I couldn’t leave it alone.”

“Yeah, and how did that turn out for you, since this is the first I’m hearing of it?”

“She just asked if I really thought she’d waste her time going through that much effort for me,” Olly said, ducking his head. “Like I’d ever ask her to do anything like that for me. I’d never. Not even when Jason Black broke my heart and took Micha Cade to the spring dance after he asked me first.”

I couldn’t help the snarl that slipped out then, remembering the way Jason had made my little brother cry that night. He might not have asked for anything bad to happen to Jason, but shit happened in the middle of a hockey game, especially one without any refs around to affiliate. Not my proudest moment, but I hadn’t been the only one to check him hard enough to hurt, a few of our older brothers had taken great pleasure in leaving him bruised and unable to skate anymore after half a game.

“And you left it at that?” I said, still bristling over the old memory.

“Didn’t see any reason not to,” Olly said. “She’s right. When has she ever cared enough about me to go through any sort of effort, let alone one that would involve her getting a favor from a friend, or blackmailing one into doing something?”

“Never, but that doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth,” I pointed out. “Just means she knows what to say to get you off her case when she doesn’t want to talk about something.”

“True, but what would even be the point? Ever’s my mate. Why would she want to keep me from being with my mate? Even if she isn’t behind the ants, she still doesn’t want us together and I don’t know why.”

“Did you try asking her?”

“No, I just left it alone ‘cause she got upset and started tearing up about how the only reason I’d come over there was to accuse her of things, that I didn’t even come by to watch movies or eat with her anymore.”

“And what did you have to say to that?”

“I-I mean, she was right, I had gone over there to accuse here and I hadn’t been over since I’d moved out, which was probably kind of shitty of me, so I made supper, and we ate it on the couch in the living room while we bingedHell on Wheels.”

“Olly! That is not okay, she manipulated you, again, dammit.”

He sighed, his shoulder’s slumping, but when he swiped at his eyes, I set the seagull aside so I could hug him.

“I-I know,” he muttered. “But she’s my mom.”

“Who doesn’t deserve you.”

He sighed again and clung to me like when we were kids, so I hugged him tighter.

“I know you love her, but she has to love you back and not for the things she can get you to do for and with her.”

“Yeah. That’s kinda why I didn’t tell you about going over there,” he admitted. “After I left, I just stood there on the sidewalk for a moment, looking at the sky and wondering what the hell had made me stick around in the first place. I don’t even likeHell on Wheels.”

“My point exactly.”

“I’d have rather been home with you and August watchingSugar RushandChopped Sweets.”

“August found another one this morning, he had it on in the kitchen while we were having breakfast. It’s calledSweet Geniusand he absolutely wants us to binge it together when we’re done withSugar Rush.”

“Sweet, I’ll be ready,” Olly said, stepping back a little to look up at me. “And if you want, I can always try my hand at making supper so you can get more drawing and carving in.”

That hopeful look on his face was impossible to miss. “Anytime you want, little brother, you have it.”

“Yay,” Olly explained, face lighting up a little. “And I promise, I will not skimp on the seafood.”

We both laughed at that, recalling the way August had dumped the contents of a Zesty Panda container onto a platter, just to search for more of the shrimp and scallops that were supposed to be in the dish, proclaiming it woefully lacking in meat. He was right, my portion hadn’t contained a lot, either. In response, I’d picked up a couple Asian cookbooks, so I could make the dishes we loved while adding as much seafood as we wanted to them.

“I’m glad the seal is back, I was hoping for a chance to see him in person,” I admitted, changing the subject away from anything to do with his mom, now that I had him smiling again. “But something tells me that wasn’t what you came back here for.”

“No, but I did get pictures. I didn’t realize he’d moved far enough back that you could see him, too,” Olly said.

“So, what’s up? What is this thing I won’t believe?”

“Oh, yeah, shit, I just sold all the manta rays.”

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