Free Elemental Reality by Cesya Cuono Page B

cut short when his sister interrupted.
    “Is everything okay in here?” she said from the archway of the kitchen.
    “Everything’s fine, Mum.”
    My eyes grew wide. “This is your mom ?” I whispered.
    “Yeah.” He nodded. “Callie, meet my mum, Lucy. Mum, meet Callie Pierce, our neighbor.”
    She extended her hand to me. “It’s so nice to meet—” She paused and examined my face and eyes. Her outstretched hand slowly came up to her mouth, and she let out a breathy gasp. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “You look just like your—” She turned to Oli then back to me. “Like an old friend from back home when she was younger. I didn’t realize the resemblance when you first came in.” Unshed tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to spill over if she blinked.
    “Are you okay?” I asked wearily. “Should I go?”
    “I’m fine sweetie,” she said quickly. “You don’t have to go. It’s just that seeing you standing here made me realize how much I miss her.”
    “I-I’m sorry. I should go.” I started to back away. “I have to talk to my dad anyway. I left in such a rush he’s probably worried.”
    “I’ll walk you out,” Oli said, worried.
    I gave him a small smile and looked back at his mom. “It was really nice meeting you, Mrs. Drayke.”
    “It’s just Lucy, dear, and it was really nice meeting you too.”
    Oli led me to the front door. There was definitely something they weren’t telling me, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was. We stood in the doorway, and I waited for him to say something, anything. But he didn’t.
    “What––or who––is Cayden?” I finally asked in a hushed whisper.
    “Kitten.” He sighed. “Cayden’s different. He’s not good company. He . . . he’s . . .” He groaned. “Stay away from him. Please promise me you will.” He sounded anguished, as if he was afraid I wouldn’t heed his warning.
    “I’m not going to go around him willing,” I said. The added “duh” was implied.
    Oli hugged me, but it was different somehow. As if he was desperate to keep me safe. He let me go reluctantly. I already knew Cayden was bad company after whatever stunt he pulled tonight. I needed to get to the bottom of whatever he did to me.

10
    Situations
    At home, Dad sat at the kitchen island. He jumped from his stool and approached me, worry in his eyes. He cupped my cheeks in his hands and studied my face as if searching for answers to questions unknown.
    “What happened?” His voice was laced with panic, and the lines on his forehead crashed together like waves upon the shore.
    “I’m fine, Dad. There’s nothing to worry about.” I hated lying to him. “It was just a misunderstanding.”
    He narrowed his eyes, trying to see through my façade but unable to. I gently tugged his hands from my face and held them. “I do want to talk to you about something though.” I gestured for him to sit.
    Dad let out a shaky breath as we sat. “You’re not going to talk to me about what I think you’re going to talk to me about, are you?” he asked.
    My eyebrows furrowed. What did he think I wanted to talk to him about? “That, uh, depends.”
    “Sex,” he said matter-of-factly.
    My eyes grew wide in horror, and I raised my hands to stop him from saying anymore. “Oh God no. I’m an adult, and the sex-talk ship sailed long ago. Didn’t we cover this earlier?” I made a circle with my hands. “Nothing that big will be exiting this body any time soon, remember? Besides, I know how all that works thanks to an entire semester in high school filled with torturous lectures in Sex Ed class.”
    He shifted uneasily. “I didn’t mean how, I meant—” He sighed. “I didn’t know if you were going to ask for . . . advice.”
    “It’s a little bit early for that, don’t you think?”
    “Oh, good,” he breathed in relief, and his shoulders relaxed.
    “But I don’t know if this subject will be any easier,” I hedged.
    A confused silence met my