UNMASKED

#33

Eli would admit that if there was one thing he did not miss from his childhood home, it was the awful flower print couch his grandmother had passed down.

He'd hated it when he was a child, and the feeling was very much still there. The fact that he was currently sitting stiffly atop it was unfortunate. He still tried not to focus too much on how uncomfortable a seat the thing made as he thanked his mother for the cup of tea. Eli didn't really care for tea. He wasn't about to tell his mother that though, not when she was just happy he was alive.

She'd also gotten his favorite cookies to go with the tea, so Eli supposed she could be forgiven.

"So, how have you been?" his mother asked as she sat next to him, wringing her hands most likely to keep from pulling him to her and clamping down like a barnacle. Eli appreciated the effort.

"Uh, fine, I guess?" he said around a mouthful of cookies. They both ignored the few crumbs that escaped. "I mean, I still kind of feel like shit, to be honest. Just, kinda glad to still be breathing." He shrugged.

"Oh, I'm so happy you're okay. You almost gave me a heart attack!" She smacked his arm because apparently, she was passed the need to hug the life out of him. "Here I am at home, hoping you'll be safe without me there, and what do I see on the news?"

"Not me because no one knows I was there?"

SMACK

Eli rubbed his arm and glared at his mother. He wished there was enough room on the couch to scoot away to a safe distance.

"I saw that ship sinking and heard all about the bomb threat and just knew you were involved. I swear to God, you are trying to kill me."

"It's not like I wanted to get kidnapped," Eli said, and just barely dodged his mother's hand. She glared at him as he grinned at the fact he'd kept his poor arm safe.

"I don't understand how you keep getting into all these dangerous situations. Is it that boy you're seeing? I told you it was too dangerous to stay with him."

Eli missed his mother a lot of the time, even if they usually ended up bickering. The one thing he didn't miss was her lecturing.

"Ma, it wasn't his fault." It actually mostly was, but his mother didn't need to know that. "And he almost died saving me." Even now, in the safety of his mother's home, knowing full well the idiot in question was also safe, Eli couldn't help but wish he were with him.

His mother sighed. Her shoulders slumped and there was a look of remorse that told Eli she knew it was true. It was like he'd told Matthew before—his mother didn't dislike him, just the danger that came with him. It was something Matthew understood enough not to fault her for.

"How is he?" she asked after a moment, and Eli was glad to see real concern on her face.

"Well, he almost died, but thanks to some shady doctors and some very questionable driving, he'll be fine." Eli still wondered how he'd survived Adria's driving. Not that he was complaining. It was probably one of the reasons Matthew was still alive.

"That's good to hear," his mother said. And in spite of all the times she'd threatened to bury Matthew in her backyard, Eli was sure she was truly glad he survived. "I still think you could find someone a little less," she trailed off, clearly at a loss.

"Insanely reckless?" Eli supplied before stuffing another cookie into his mouth.

"I suppose, if that's how you want to put it. But I am glad he seems to truly care for you. And if you're not going to change your mind, well, I guess that's the best I can hope for." She let out a resigned sigh that made Eli grin gleefully at having worn her down.