The Last Architects

Chapter Forty-Two.

 I watched as Ema walked to the bathroom, only to find my mom beaming at me brightly enough to blind the sun.

"So, you two. I approve. He's the sweetest boy ever! Who asked who?" She leaned forward.

"I asked him." I looked down at my food with slight embarrassment at being in the spotlight.

"Oh, that's good. He deserves good treatment!" She leaned into Kane's side.

"You just met him, mother." Cameron sighed, leaning on his hands.

"Oh, please. I've been right with everyone each of you brought home!"

"Not with my ex." He tilted his head, and the heavy silence that followed those words had me shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

"Fine, with the girls Sky had brought back." She cleared her throat.

"Mm, I guess. But I can't help but be weary." Cameron's gaze shifted to me, "I mean, you two didn't get along until you got him mother's funding."

"Cameron, they were getting along before that." I was surprised when Kane spoke. He had never liked Cameron, and the dislike had only grown with the allegations.

"Well-" Cameron began.

"How about lets just be happy I have a great boyfriend, which mom and Kane like, and who I really like. And be done." I groaned, Kane nodding in agreement.

"I am just looking out for you." Cameron smiled, and I held back an aggressive eye roll.

"I'm twenty for god's sake, I can take care of myself."

"You still are my little brother, I can only remember you running around as a little kid, crying for legos after you ran out of three boxes."

"Aha, right." I pushed back my chair, "I'm going-"

"I'll go check on Ema, it's been a bit." Cameron stood abruptly, patting my shoulder as he walked past.

"Ok..." I raised a brow, unable to understand why he would go but sitting back in my seat.

"Such an odd one." Kane murmured, holding my mother's hand gently.

"He's so serious." She sighed, "but you will bring Ema on more dinners with us, yes? I adore speaking with him, he's so creative and witty."

"Yeah, of course. He likes you, he's just a little nervous about how you perceive him."

"Aw! He has nothing to worry about! He makes you happy and that's what matters!"

"Thank you for being so supportive... I'm dreading telling father." I grumbled.

"That grump can deal with it." Kane let out a sarcastic breath.

"He is old, isn't he?" Mom wrinkled her nose, "well, when you do, I'll back you up, love." She gave me a reassuring smile.

"Thank you..." I leaned back in my chair, becoming distracted with the time. What was taking them so long? Cameron was Ema's Professor I guess... Schoolwork maybe?

My mother's comments didn't really register in my mind, so I laughed along when she did, my eyes on the hallway to the bathroom. Schoolwork talk shouldn't take that long...

"They have been a while, haven't they?" Kane spoke up after a moment, "go check on Ema. He may have gotten lost."

"Yeah... I'll be right back." I stood, adjusting my glasses as I walked towards the bathroom, my eyes narrowing at a muffled thud coming from inside, but when I pushed on the door it was locked. "Ema?" I froze at the breathless whine from inside followed by a crash as what I assumed to be the mirror broke.