Page 334 of Wicked Brutal

“A few months ago. I don’t talk about her much.”

“Why?”

X swallows. “Because it hurts.”

“Does it hurt now? Because you’re talking about her?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you can stop.”

X’s face changes. “I know. But I want to.”

“Why?”

“Because you need me to.” Tobias stares at him. X reaches over and wipes a tear off his cheek. “It fucking sucks.” Tobias nods immediately. “You’re gonna miss her. And sometimes you’re gonna be really mad because everybody else is doing normal shit and you don’t understand how they can when your mommy is dead.”

“Does that happen to you?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you do?”

“Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I get pissed. Sometimes I go see her.”

“Where?”

“Her grave.” X goes quiet. “My mom knew your mom.”

Tobias’s head lifts. “She did? Were they friends?”

“They were.”

Tobias looks at me. I nod. “They were, bug.”

“Mommy knew X’s mommy?”

“Yes.”

His eyes go back to X. “Your mommy liked my mommy? Did my mommy like yours?”

“Yeah. Both.”

Tobias’s mouth trembles. “Then Mommy wouldn’t be with a stranger.” X’s eyes fill.

“No.”

“Will your mommy be nice to her?” X swallows.

“She already was.”

I make a sound I can’t stop. Ryan pulls me against him. Because I remember them. Mom and Adeena. Before. Before everything got so bad.

“My mommy gets scared,” Tobias whispers. “Does yours?”

X shakes his head. “My mom wasn’t scared of much.”

“Mine is.”