Page 73 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
My phone buzzes again and I really don’t want to look.
But I do.
Mom:Can you not find the grace to forgive him?
She must’ve deleted the long-ass explanation she had been writing that whole time in favor of this. Simple, emotional, manipulative. Am I capable of forgiveness? Yes, I am. Will I forgive my ex-boyfriend of five years for cheating on me with my friend within three months of the incident? No, I will not.
Sylvia:Not right now, no. I have more important things, like getting my business off the ground. And letting my incubus boyfriend fuck my pussy with his tongue.
My hand trembles as I hover over the send button. I delete the last sentence because I donotwant her flying down here tonight with sage and crystals.
The ending credits roll and I toss my phone down on my chest. “Another?”
Apollo massages my shoulders. “I know you want to distract yourself from reality and I’m more than happy to provide said distractions—my tongue, my fingers, whatever you need. However…” He pauses, his hands squeezing my shoulders. “You love your mother. She loves you. Jason is not going to come here, and if he does, I will deal with him. There is nothing for you to fear, and you should tell her you’re not afraid.”
I grind my teeth side to side as I stare at my phone, deciding. He’s right.
Sylvia:I’m not afraid to do this on my own, Mom. I love you so much for trying to make sure I won’t be lonely, but I’ve already made friends here. Irene, Leonard, Apollo, Charlie…they’re all great and I’m not sad or alone. I don’t need Jason. I don’t want him.
She takes a few moments as the credits keep rolling.
Mom:Okay.
Oh, shit. One-word responses are never good. Apollo’s hands deepen the massage on my shoulders.
Sylvia:I love you
I wait.
Nothing.
Sylvia:Mom, don’t be like this. Tell me you love me too.
Her dots appear immediately.
Mom:I love you. God night.
The typo makes me sick to my stomach.
She was typing fast. She’s mad.
“My witch,” Apollo croons against my ear. “You cannot be in control of this. You cannot own her emotions, her reactions. Only yours.”
I take a deep breath and relax into his massage. “Want to watch the next one in the series? It gets better.”
“Yes, of course,” he says, no question or hesitation.
I launch the second movie in the series and lean into him.
Do I really know what I’m doing? Am I doing it?
Fuck, what if I don’t, and I’m not?
What if my mom is right, and Mark is right, and Jason…
What if I can’t do this? What if I can’t manage this business?
“Sylvia,” Apollo purrs against my ear. “Obviously these distractions aren’t enough. Do I need to fuck these dark thoughts out of you?”
