Page 101 of Witches Be Damned

“Please, call me Bev.” Mom wheeled her chair over to Supergal, squeezing her hand, and I knew by her overjoyed smile that she was just as smitten as me.

“Okay, Bev.” Supergal pumped her back.

“I’ll get onto cooking the meat shortly,” I told Mom, and she nodded.

The boys started setting the table, Knoxe showing Jack and Molly how to place the plates, cutlery, and napkins. Raze rumbled at the little ones, his eyes shiny and content, like he wanted a few of his own. Pascal assisted Janet delivering the burger buns, and a basket of bread, setting them next to the condiments.

Mom picked up my hand and rubbed it on her cheek. “Thank you, son. For everything.” The unsure way she looked up at me made my stomach dip. “The unit isn’t going to be confiscated again by your Guild, is it?”

I coughed out a nervous laugh. Damn Vartros. If I wasn’t so grateful for his small act of mercy, I might have punched him in the jaw for sequestrating the home I bought my mom with contraband money.

“This one is all good, Mom.” I raised a scout salute and failed to smile seriously. “Scout’s honor.”

My mom huffed, shook her head, her prominent cheekbones on display with her bright smile. “That’s the kind of promise I worry about, Victor.”

Supergal buried her face in my chest and giggled.

I deserved Mom’s distrust when I lied to her for three years about my whereabouts and pretended I worked overseas on an American sports team. All in the past now. My secret came out, and I was lucky I didn’t have to slog through an extra six-month sentence for it. Everything worked out in the end.

I squeezed her shoulder. “I’m a reformed man, Mom. Just ask Supergal.”

“Uh oh.” Supergal laughed.

“What do you think, Astra? Is my boy a reformed bad boy?” Mom asked with the cheeky smile I inherited.

Supergal grinned in a way that spelled girl power grouping together. “Absolutely not! He’s a bad boy for life, and that’s one reason I love him.” She pinched my chin and twisted my face from side to side.

She once told me that bad boys made the “the best boyfriends,” and I took that as a win. She also loved me the way I was, fuck-ups and all, and that was why she was perfect for me.

The boys got rowdy and cheered at her response. Molly and Jack poked out their tongues, grossed out by the declaration of love.

“Ewww, girl germs!” I gave Supergal a sloppy cheek smooch to tease them, and Janet chuckled and cut up the eggs for the potato salad.

Mom tapped my hand. “I thought so.”

“You two are ganging up on me.” I pretended to be offended and wheeled her to the table, where my brothers, niece, and nephew finished positioning the glassware and plastic cups.

Time to gather more praise from my family on my reformation, while they stood around the table, waiting for lunch to commence.

“What do you think, sis?” I took a seat next to her and messed up her hair like a good brother should.

“I agree with Astra.” Janet grinned and crunched into a slice of cucumber.

I poured Mom a cup of soda. “I’m not liking these odds.”

Supergal pressed her lips together in mock sympathy.

“Uncle Tor’s nice. He bought me these.” Molly flung a leg up to show her rainbow-colored trainers, almost kicking Knoxe in the process.

I shot her a thumbs-up for her support. “Just be careful you don’t karate kick Knoxe, okay?”

Molly squeaked out a sorry, and Knoxe gave her a cuddle to show everything was all good.

“Uncle Tor bought me braces.” Jack flashed his metal grill, and I winked at him. The kids were easy to get votes from.

“That’s a fifty percent vote for Team Tor.” I give Supergal and Mom a sarcastic brow before looking at my brothers for backing.

Knoxe shook his head. “Reformed, my behind.” I appreciated him keeping it clean for the family.

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