Page 107 of Twist of Fate
“Oh, Ash,” she says, finally pulling herself together, though I can’t help but notice the hint of amusement in her tone. “I have that audiobook you wanted. Did you want to listen to it on the long drive today?”
I arch my eyebrow, confused, because I didn’t ask her for an audiobook.Or did I?I am pretty tired. When she tilts her head and pins me with aplay-along, dumb-dumbsort of expression, I find myself nodding. “Oh,right. Yes, I’d love that. Thanks, Mom.”
She rummages through her bag and pulls out a pair of earbuds. Wait, am I really listening to an audiobook? I thought we were just pretending so Clint would leave me alone.
My mom is a bookaholic. She has an entire room in her house filled with books, and she’s actually read every single one. Thank God for her Kindle, though, because even with a large house, she’s running out of space.
She listens to audiobooks while walking or traveling because that woman doesn’t know how to relax.
As for me, I don’t recall the last book I read that wasn’t required for a class. It’s not that I dislike reading, but it’s been a while since I’ve had the time for it.
Okay, that’s not true. I’ve had loads of time recently, but I’ve just been spending all of it wallowing in self-loathing.
That takes dedication, so…
“It’s on my Kindle app if you’d like to log in. Let me show you.”
All right, I guess I really am listening to an audiobook. I let her take my phone, and?—
“Oh, I have it in Airplane Mode,” I explain.
“Why?”
I bite my bottom lip. “Theo messaged me a few times.”
She looks disapproving but says nothing. “Can I take it off so I can download the app?”
I nod, and the minute she does, my phone starts vibrating like it’s a bomb about to detonate. My mom, to her credit, does a good job of ignoring it. She downloads the app and the books, then must secretly delete the texts, because when she puts it back in Airplane Mode and hands it back to me, they’re gone.
Some daughters might see this as a bit of an overstep, but after the rough night I had with him, I’m honestly just grateful I don’t have to hear another word from him at the moment.
“I downloaded a few,” she tells me softly so no one overhears. “I wasn’t sure what you were in the mood for, and these are all ones I already had on my account.”
I slip in the earbuds and scroll through the five or so audiobooks she downloaded, reading the blurbs as I go. One is about a wealthy single dad and his live-in nanny. The next is a rockstar romance. Another is what I can only describe as faerie smut. I slowly turn back to my mom, and she shrugs. “I’m a widow, not a nun.”
I cover my mouth to smother my laugh.
Faerie smut for the win.
* * *
I’m actually a little bummed when Finn gets on the speakerphone to announce we are arriving at Blarney Castle because this book is…good.
I feel like my mom’s been holding out on me. She had this the whole time? Like, I’m her daughter. I thought we shared everything.
Even faerie smut.
Also, after two and a half hours of audiobook listening under my belt, I’ve come to the conclusion that my mother has some sort of superpower. I don’t know how many hours we’ve spent on this bus now, and she’s sat next to me with those earbuds in, listening to her spicy books with a completely straight face.
How does she do that?
Meanwhile, I’m trying not to giggle like a schoolgirl, turning a deep shade of red and curling up into a ball so my mom can’t see my face.
Because this book is hot. When the ancient fae prince discovers his fated mate is the human witch seeking revenge for the death of her father. I just got to the part where they were about to ahem—mate. And then she discovers he’s the one who killed her father. The betrayal!
“Ash, you ready?”
“What? Yep. Of course!”One reply would have sufficed, Ash.
