Page 51 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
The journalist groaned, rolling her eyes before turning to Rex.The Minotaur was frozen in place.Cass spoke between snaps of her jaw, "I'm.Not.Sure."
Rex winked at her, "Heard that, loud and clear."
Cass stewed in her rage while Rex somehow wrangled her car onto the tow truck.
Chapter twenty-three
A stabbing most foul
Elliot
Practicecutoutearly.Elliot was on the way back to his place, ready to fall face first into his couch and snooze.However, a text message appeared on his phone.
From Ma:
Hey!Heard you won!I'm so proud.Swing by and I'll slice you up a piece of winner’s pie?
Elliot smiled to Toad, excusing himself from the pack of sluggish athletes and headed to his truck.A slice of Mom's pie and a good cup of joe sounded good.Not to mention he wanted to talk to her anyway.Elliot wanted to talk through the heat situation.His mom was always the understanding parent.A bit flighty, and not always present, but she never judged…well, harshly.She judged him for taking the no-baby juice from his brother, but that was a medical mistake.She would judge him for that for a while…but she'd still listen and guide him through it the best she could.Elliot texted her back he was on his way and tossed himself in the truck.The sun was still oppressively beating down over the parking lot.Cassie was at Salamander Press and hadn't texted him yet, meaning it was going good.He tried not to stress over it.
Except he was stressed about it.This was important to her.
She'd told him yesterday over doughnuts and coffee about Mr.Pearson.Rick had always been a friend, but Elliot considered charging into the office to demand an explanation.Lily tried to walk Cassie back from the anxiety attack she was likely to give herself.There was no proof that Rick wasn't bringing her in on bad news.So, they sat on their hands and tried not to think about it too much.
Elliot considered texting her, poking at the beehive.If she was upset, he would rather come grab her and bring her to a warm motherly embrace and some delicious pie.However, if she was doing fine, then he wanted to know.Elliot made a mental note to text her when he got to his parents’ house.
The ride across town was relatively quiet.It was a Monday.Most people by noon are either at lunch or at work.He slowed down to look at the shop prior to going to the main house.The shop was packed.All the bays were full, the parking lot was covered in people and vehicles, and he caught sight of Jessie talking with some guy near the front doors before motioning for him to follow him inside.Elliot rolled on to the stop sign and around the massive block toward his parents’ house.Only his mother's little economy car sat in the driveway.The garden was freshly plucked free of weeds, their carcasses left in a pile to be scooped up later.She'd changed the wreath on the front door.It was King's Fall Knights purple and gold, with a dangling Minotaur knight in the center of it.He smiled warmly, slipping out of his truck.Elliot tossed the weeds into the recycling bin for his mother like he used to do as a teen and sauntered up to the front door.
Stepping inside hit him with a wave of delicious apple pie with cinnamon and bourbon.His mother's radio crackled from the kitchen, playing low dad rock that reminded him of his youth.Elliot wiped off his hooves and shut the door heavily behind him to alert his mother."Hey, Ma!"
"Elliot!Perfect timing!"she called from the kitchen, the sound of a timer going off following her voice.
Elliot walked the runner along the main hallway of the house.The living room to his left, the staircase to his right, the hallway was a long row of family photos.Most of the boys, the shop, or of them all smashed into one camera lens as best they could.He stopped to admire his graduating photo.He'd finished highschool by the skin on his teeth.Cap and gown, hooves, and horns extra shined, Elliot Bonesaw as a teen was so tiny.Compared to him now, all elbows and shoulders, glutes, and muscle guns.Jessie and Rex were dangling off his arms in the photos, Mom and Dad smiling proudly in the back.Despite his father's displeasure of his choice to go with SportsBall, the man still showed up to his graduation.They always made it at least one game as a family.
"Elle?"His mother's tender voice broke him away from his thoughts.He glanced away from the photo.
"Sorry, stuck in memory lane."He ducked his head, following her into the kitchen.
"I do that a lot.It makes me so proud to see you boys throughout the years.Reminds me it was worth it."She patted his arm before motioning to the kitchen table.The Minotaur sank down onto a chair while his mom brought over two bowls.A glistening, crusty apple pie slice sat in a deep bowl with a clump of ice cream that was already beginning to melt.
"Wow, Ma, you went above and beyond for this."He was gonna pass out that night.A slice of pie was one thing…a slice of Mom's bourbon apple pie with vanilla ice-cream?Oh, he was gonna gorge and be super happy about it.He'd regret the food coma later.Elliot stabbed his spoon into the ooey, gooey delight and moaned with happiness at the flavor."This is so good."
"I could teach you the recipe, if you'd like?"His mom grinned, wiggling in her seat happily over her own bowl."That way you could make it for Cass and get me some grand babies?"
"Ma!"He groaned through a mouthful of food.
His mother swatted his arm, rolling her eyes."I'm only teasing.You're my oldest, is it so wrong to be hoping that you two make some pretty babies while you're in heat?"
Elliot shook his head, chuckling."I don't know.We haven't talked about it.And her career’s just taking off and I'm about to start as coach next year.Plus…I haven't even told her I love her yet."
He dug a spoonful of pie out of his bowl and chewed it, butterflies fluttering in his chest.When he peeked up to his mother, he saw her lower lip quivering.He groaned, "Ma…"
"Youlove her?Oh Elliot!I'm so happy for you!"His mother launched up into her chair to throw her arms around him.He laughed, pulling her into his chest.She hugged him with all the muscles of a woman who raised three rambunctious boys.Lailee Bonesaw once punched a man holding a knife to her throat so hard that she had to stitch up his head wound on the way to the Healer's Hut.His mother had arms of steel and a heart of gold.The warmth of her in his arms and the motherly pressure of her arms around him almost made him tear up.She rubbed his back lovingly."That's my boy, such a sweetie romantic."
His mother scrambled back out of his arms.Elliot chuckled sheepishly, poking his spoon at his pie.While his mother settled back into her seat, he played with his desert…searching for the words."I want it to be romantic when I tell her."
"Oh yeah?What's the plan?How can I help?"
Elliot was at a loss for words as he held his spoon full of glorious dessert before him."I have no idea."
