Page 65 of Memories Like Fangs
I sparred for one Flo Milli song before I said, “I’m surprised you aren’t with Simone.”
Over the sounds of my grunts and hits, Cole replied, “She’s busy working with Maisie and Everett to find Byrd and Lilah.”
“Any updates from Cody?”
“Not since you texted the group chat before you came here, no.”
“I was hoping you would have some news or something useful for once,” I said, more biting than I probably should have.
“Hey! I’m helping you spar and distracting you with my charm. Isn’t that something?” He smiled. When he winked at me, he gave more of Cody’s vibes than anything. Theyweretriplets, but it was still enough to make me put more power than I intended into my next punch. I hit the pad hard enough to make Cole stagger backwards with a heavy grunt.
While he readjusted his stance, I felt my irritation prickle up. Once he was ready, I didn’t pull my punches, hitting his pads even harder and faster than before. “Why are you tworeallyhere? Why not just leave me alone like everyone else has?”
“Because that isn’t what family does, Q.”
“Okay, putting that gay shit aside,” Nat said, scrunching her face in disgust at Cole’s Hallmark Card nature. She continued. “You miss Byrdie, and she is the one who usually mellows you out. Since she isn’t here, we just want to make sure your bond doesn’t make you blow up like the Libbies warned.”
“Please tell me that isn’t actually sticking?—”
“Don’t change the subject! We know how you are, and we just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“We know youthinkthat. But, you are also entitled to your wrong opinion.”
“Hey, maybe don’t talk shit to her when you’re not the one behind—” I let my fist fly with the most power I had used so far as my anger took over for a moment at Nat not listening to me. Once it made contact with Cole’s hand, he flew backwards, landing on his back a ways off the mat.
Nat folded her arms. “I rest my case, your honor.”
I growled. “Get fucked, runt.”
“Just admit that you need us. You would go insane without us.”
I cut my eyes towards her. “Really? And, what do you call what I am with you?”
“Happy, obviously!” Natassa beamed.
I rolled my eyes.
Suddenly, the chorus from “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan rang out loudly from my gym bag. I sighed, blurring over to my phone to silence it. I didn’t have to look at the photo to know I would see Mama’s face there. I had last spoken to her quickly on Christmas a week ago, but not since.
When we spoke then, I had promised that I would get her a massive Christmas gift to make up for everything, but she had brushed that off. The concern was loud and clear in her voice, and I knew that it only grew the more I avoided her and didn’t tell her what was going on. Her worry for Clarkson didn’t make matters any better, as my sweet furbaby wasn’t eating or sleeping well when she was with her. Mama wondered if it was separation anxiety with her being apart from me for so long, but I knew it was because of Byrd. She missed her almost as much as I did. I told Mama I would send Maisie by to pick up Clarkson so I could take her to the vet. I could feel my mother’s hesitation on the other end of the line. I knew what she wanted to say.
Why can’tyoucome and get her? Why can’t I see you? When will I see you? Why won’t you talk to me?
Mama and I had always been close, sharing a bond of our own where it felt like we knew when the other was in trouble or needed us. Doing this, shutting her out and not talking to her,killedme. It was another thing that was slowly destroying me from the inside out and made me push myself past my limits when I worked out. But I had no idea how to tell her any of this. This was our life. We killed dragons, well, we used to at the very least. She had killed one before. Our family built our legacy on it. How do I explain that not only is my girlfriend a dragon-shifter, but my cousin, her nephew, was trying to kill her?
The phone went black at last as the call finally went to voicemail. Naturally, it didn’t escape Nat’s and Cole’s notice. Few things ever did. I didn’t look at them. Instead, I scratched Clarkson’s ears, focusing on her Precious Moments eyes looking up at me, wondering where her momma was and why she was stuck with her spare human for so long.I wish I had answers, you cute little traitor, but I know about as much as you do.
“Was that your mom? Have you been avoiding her?” Natassa questioned.
“No.”
“Holy fuck, you are! Why? Your mom needs to know what’s going on. She is the only adult who would know what to do!”
“I can’t tell her, Nat. She wouldn’t get it. She would say I’m choosing a stranger over family. And, I can’t hear that from her. It would destroy me.”
Without looking at her, I knew her gaze had softened, just like her voice, “You have no idea she would say that, Quinn…”
