Page 163 of Bone’s Choice

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Myth muttered.

“Absolutely.”

Ma turned toward Hazel. “And you.”

Hazel straightened. “Oh, no.”

“You are going with Bone.”

Hazel blinked.

I blinked.

“What?” we said together.

Ma rolled her eyes.

“You heard me.”

Hazel looked at me.

I looked at Ma.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m cleaning. You’re talking.”

“To Hazel?”

“No, Bone. To the invisible woman standing beside her.”

“Ma.”

“Oh, knock it off.”

“Knock what off?”

“This.”

She waved between Hazel and me.

Hazel’s eyes widened.

I stared at my mother. “There is no this.”

Ma laughed. Actually fucking laughed. “Oh, sweetheart.”

Taco stopped picking up bottles. Humpty slowly turned away from the table. Myth suddenly looked very interested.

I pointed around the room. “Every one of you better get back to fucking work.”

Ma slapped my arm. “Language.”

“This is my clubhouse.”

“And I’m your mother.”

“That doesn’t mean you run shit here.”