had gotten sick and it’d given him a good excuse for not going in.
She glanced at Caleb and Kody. “Your parents are good with you both staying a little later than normal? I don’t want either of you to get in trouble. Do I need to call them?”
His poor mom had no idea that Caleb was thousands of years old and that his parents had literally kicked him to the curb three minutes after his birth.
As for Kody …
Right now, her father was imprisoned on a Vanishing Isle in the Greek Underworld, and her mother was frozen in an immortal sleep as a statue in the Atlantean heaven realm. It would still be a few years before her father was released, and a lot longer before Styxx would be able to reclaim her mother.
And since the only reason for Kody’s father’s initial reprieve would be for him to open a hell-gate by killing Ash and unleashing a whole group of demons into the world in an attempt to raise the goddess of destruction …
They were better off not asking his permission about anything. Styxx just wasn’t in the best frame of mind at present. He would need a few decades to zen so that he could forgive Acheron and humanity, and realize that the world didn’t need to come to a screaming, horrific end.
“We’re good, Ms. Gautier,” Caleb said in that kind tone that he only used with her, and Nick appreciated it more than Caleb would ever know. It meant a lot to him that his friends took as good care of his mom as he did.
While the two of them might not always get along or agree on things, his mother was all he had. And Nick would skin alive anyone who harmed her or hurt her feelings.
“Okay. If you’re sure. Like I said, I don’t want either of you in trouble with your parents. And I definitely don’t want your parents worrying about you. There’s nothing more terrifying than not knowing where your child is.”
“No fears, Ms. Gautier.” Kody smiled. “We’ll see Nick home and make sure he’s taken care of. You two go and have a great dinner. Don’t worry about anything.”
“Not a puppy, people. I can walk and tie my own shoes and everything.”
“I wouldn’t take that bet,” Caleb mumbled under his breath. “Your shoes have been untied all day.”
“That’s called a fashion choice.”
“It’s called a broken leg waiting to happen, but far be it from me to correct your delinquent behavior. I can use the laughter when you trip and fall, and bust your…” Caleb glanced at Cherise as he barely caught himself before he spoke profanity, “rump.”
Bubba laughed at them.
His mom just shook her head at Caleb before she spoke to Bubba. “Give me an hour and pick me up?”
“We can go now, if you want.”
She smiled sweetly. “Michael, I’d like to take a shower and get the smell of fried grease off my hair and change out of my work clothes.”
“Why? I think you smell real good, and look even better.”
Nick groaned. “Hello! Do you mind? Son is present and choking on my own bile! Gah! Old people. Y’all are so gross!”
His mother glared at him. “Eat your pudding and shush.… And I’m not old! I’m barely over thirty. You’ll be here before you know it!” She turned back to Bubba. “See you in an hour.” When she went to kiss him, Bubba pulled away.
She gave him a stricken look.
He jerked his chin toward Nick. “Trying not to antagonize the most important man in your life.”
“I’m not looking,” Nick groused. “I already threw up in my mouth. And Ma, I don’t want no grief from you the next time you come into a room and I’m innocently leaning too close to Kody. ’Cause I know we’re not doing anything, and I don’t want to know what you two do or don’t do, and you better not be doing nothing. That’s all I’m saying.”
She shook her head and sighed. “I have raised a rotten child.”
Bubba grinned. “Nah, he’s a good one. It’s why I’ve let him live this long. Though drowning is still an option if he ever gets too lippy. I do know how to dump a body in the swamp where no one will ever find it.… gators got to eat, and all that.”
Laughing, she paused at the door. “You want to come on home with me, Boo?”
“Can I finish my food?”
“I thought you were sick?”
“I am sick. You know the