Level Up!: Press Start by Simon Archer

Author:Simon Archer [Archer, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-15T22:00:00+00:00

22

After the incident with Viper, we left the gym and went our separate ways. Mason hung out with Anthony a while longer, because the poor APCC man claimed he needed a wingman. Sasha had to get back home, and Allison stayed at the gym to teach Mindy some of the moves she had used in the fight.

I went back home, and as I entered the suspiciously dark house, I announced my presence.

“Mom, I’m back!”

IO followed like a silent shadow.

Tim had gone out of town for a few nights to get a business deal, but my mother had said nothing about staying out. I recalled seeing her in the market with Ultimatum earlier that day.

“Did they go on a date?” I wondered.

“It would appear that Ms. Civitas is pursuing romantic attraction with Mr. Candescent,” IO said in an airy tone, even though I hadn’t expected an answer.

I grimaced. “IO, go to my room and stay there for now.”

My bot loyally followed my request, and it left me alone in the room.

I wanted to make the most of this chance to play a practical joke on my mother. After setting a lamp on the small table and plugging it in, I sat in the swivel armchair beside it and kept the lights off.

I turned the chair around to face away from the door, and I kept my hand near the switch. With any luck, it wouldn’t be too long of a wait. At least, I hoped it wasn’t a long wait.

To my eternal relief, the deadlock clicked a short while later, and then ever so slowly, the door opened. I heard a man’s deep whisper.

“Are you sure he’s not coming home tonight?”

My mother answered in her normal voice. “Oh, Drew, that boy would live at that gym by now with how much time he spends there.”

With the perfect opening dropped into my lap, I switched the lamp on and spun to face two startled, wide-eyed adults. They both looked like kids with their hands in the cookie jar. I frowned despite wanting to laugh at the looks on their faces.

“And just where have you been, young lady?” I demanded of my mother.

Ultimatum laughed so hard I thought he would end up hyperventilating, as my mother waved her hands frantically in front of her in what looked like a cross between denial and fluster.

“Oh, dear. Uh, Sam… It’s… oh…”

I broke down in a fit of laughter, which startled her even worse.

Ultimatum, Drew, gaped at me as my mother strode forward and smacked my arms. “Samuel Asher Civitas!”

I fended her off as I kept laughing.

Eventually, I cooled down.

“It was too good!” I eyed Drew and smirked. “I had the chance to take it, and I did. But I’m sad to say you can’t stay the night here because I don’t plan to go anywhere else tonight.” I lost my smirk and flinched. “I am so not ready to deal with this.”

The red flush on both of their faces confirmed my theory, and I had to fight not to gag at the implications.

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