Nothing to lose

Chapter 30: Grey

Before I could get out of the truck, my mom flung the front door open and sprinted across the front yard.

She didn't care that her fuzzy socks were going to get dirty or that her wet hair was still wrapped up in a towel, taking the shape of an ice cream cone. I met her halfway, and she slammed into me, wrapping her arms around me.

"Hey, Mom," I said, hugging her back.

I heard sniffles.

"Mom," I complained. "Stop acting like I'm coming back from war."

"This is the longest we've been apart. Leave me alone and let me have my moment." 

"Awe, you missed me?"

She answered with a snicker as if to say don't call her out on it. 

A very distinctive chuckle came from behind me, and I mentally rolled my eyes. I bet any money that was from Dean.

"Not surprised he's a momma's boy," Dean mumbled.

I knew it."Mom," I whispered. "You're embarrassing me," I joked.

I didn't care, but Mom would never let me go if I didn't break this up.

"Alright, alright." Mom pulled away and looked up at me with a beautiful grin.

She cupped my cheek with one hand before pinching them.

"OW!" I grumbled.

"You're eating well." Then she stepped back to examine me. "You're taking care of yourself." She nodded with approval.

"Don't sound so surprised," I mumbled.

"I'm not. I was just stating facts."

"Yeah, right. Anyways, Mom, I want you to meet the guys." All three of them take that as their cue to step forward.

Mom held the towel up with one hand as she used the other to wave at the guys. "Hi, I'm Stephanie, or you could call me Mrs. McNamara. Nice to meet you guys."

I feigned shock, leaving my mouth in the form of an O. "Wow, you didn't assault them with hugs? Are you sure you're my mother?" My mom had always been a hugger. It's in her nature.

Mom gave me the sweetest of smiles before evilly pinching my biceps, causing me to flinch. I rubbed my arm, knowing it was slowly going to turn red. This was my mother. No alien abductions took place here.

The guys all chuckled then introduced themselves.

"Are you boys' hungry? I cooked a feast because if all of you eat like Greyson, then we wouldn't have enough otherwise."

"You know I'm technically still a growing boy, at least until the age of 21 or something," I told her.

"Yeah, scientists have backed up that fact," Dean nodded.

"You would agree to any excuse that lets you eat more food," Tobias muttered under this breath, causing Dean to scowl at him.

"You're one to talk," Dean fired back with the quickness.

Tobias shrugged.

"As you can already guess by now, I'm the only normal one here." Tatum smiled politely at my mom.

Tobias and Dean grunted in disagreement, and Tatum looked offended.

Mom, on the other hand, was highly entertained.

"I can see why you like them," Mom said to me, but she wasn't quiet about it.

"Come on, let's get inside before more of the neighbors get to witness me in this state." She gestured to her hair and outfit.