Wild Tendy (IceCats 2)

That is ludicrous. If she loves you, then it will not matter.

I am aware, but what if she doesn’t? I can’t chance it. I will tell them.

“Nicolas,” she warns, but I shake my head.

When my gaze falls on Callie, she gives me a look of pure horror. “I didn’t know you spoke French.”

I nod. “Yeah. Well, I’m French Canadian.”

Callie nods and then points to Aviva. “She knows French.”

Well, fuck me sideways. I ignore my heart that has jumped into my throat before grabbing my water. I drain it as Aviva’s gaze burns into the side of my face. Mom, though, she doesn’t seem to care that Aviva could understand. She’s staring at me with such a disapproving look on her face, and I don’t know what to do.

“Well, since no one wants to say anything, I will. What haven’t you told me?”

Callie covers her face, and I want to mirror her. “It’s nothing,” I mutter.

“It appears it is something,” Aviva says sternly. “Nico, look at me.”

“Oh, Aviva honey, he doesn’t look people in the eye.”

“He looks at me,” Aviva snaps, and when I look over at her, her eyes are searching mine. “What is going on?”

I shrug and look away once more. “Can we please talk about something else?”

Callie is all for it, but not my mom. “I don’t know why he has not told you, and it upsets me because he shouldn’t be ashamed—”

I slam my hands onto the table, making everyone jump. “I’m not fucking ashamed.” I feel Aviva’s hand on my bicep, and I suck in a deep breath. “Let’s drop it.”

“Nicolas is autistic.”

Everything stops. I love my mom. I love her so much, but right now, I might hate her. I hadn’t even realized I’d closed my eyes until I opened them to look at her. She isn’t even sorry, but that’s my mom. She is never embarrassed by my diagnosis, only proud of me. Right now, though, I want to rip her head off. How could she do this to me?

“That was not your place,” Callie says, very low and dangerous. I look over at her, and she’s glaring at my mom. “That wasn’t your truth to share.”

“Excuse me, little girl, but—”

“I am sixteen years old, and even I know that it’s his choice who knows what about him. You are his mother, but you don’t get to choose that for him anymore. He’s an adult.”

“I am well aware—”

“If you were aware, you’d know not to speak his truth. Nico is a wonderful man. No one would know unless he told them. Is he quirky? Yup. But his heart is so big, it doesn’t matter. He will sit with me for hours, helping me with whatever I ask. Aviva says ‘Jump!’ and he’s like ‘How high?’ even when it gives him anxiety. He came to my practice the other day, in a crowded room, and I knew it bothered him, but he stood there, proud of me. He fights that label daily, and it does not define him. And I am disgusted that you took it upon yourself to tell my sister.”

“Young lady, I have never—”

“Stop calling me anything but my name. I’m not calling you old lady, later-age lady, or Nico’s mom. I’ve called you Mrs. Myra!”

My mom’s jaw actually drops, and Aviva flies off the handle, leaving my skin prickling. “Calliope, what in the world!”

But Callie’s eyes are on my mother. “Would you have done that to anyone else? Just a guy you knew? Would you tell his business? Being his mother doesn’t give you that right.”

Oh, I think I might throw up. But then Callie’s tear-flooded gaze meets mine, and I can’t worry about me. I have to worry about Callie.

“I want to go home.”

I stand instantly. “Okay, let’s go—”

“Nicolas.”

“I love you,” I say, still not meeting Aviva’s gaze. I feel my anxiety boiling inside me like that monster thing on that show Aviva made me watch. I still don’t understand why that girl’s nose was bleeding the whole time. Hell, she might have been as overwhelmed as I am right now, and that’s what caused the bleed. I don’t know, but Callie wants to go, and I don’t blame her. She’s shaking, she’s so upset. “But Callie wants to go home, and I drove.”

“Nico, she is fine. We all just need to calm down,” Aviva says to me, but I shake my head.

“Fine, then I need to go.” I still won’t look at her, but out of the corner of my eye, I see her grab her things.

Aviva stands as I pull out her chair for her. “I’m very sorry, Ms. Merryweather. I don’t know—”

“Do not apologize for me, Aviva. She needs to apologize to Nico,” Callie sneers.

And one thing is for sure, I gotta get this kid out of here. I go to her and wrap my arm around her shoulder to pull her with me as we walk out. “It’s okay, Cal.”