Page 5 of Seer

“You okay?”

I glanced over at Craig. “Sorry. My neighbors were playing video games all night again. I’ve complained enough that they turn the sound down on the game itself, but they still yell and trash-talk each other.” I sighed. “I’m forty years old, and everyone in the building is younger than me. Not to mention the management company isn’t keeping up with repairs. I think it’s time to bite the bullet and look for a house to buy.”

Instead of agreeing or commiserating, Craig gasped. His eyes went wide and sparkled with excitement.

“What?”

He slapped his hand over his phone, which was lying on the table in front of him. “Your mom will be so excited!” He picked up the phone and opened his messaging app.

Oh, hell no.

I grabbed his wrist. “No way. That’s not what’s happening.”

“What’s going on?” Lloyd asked. I was impressed he’d taken his eyes off Silvia to notice us.

Craig looked at Lloyd, and his face lit up. He opened his mouth, but I said, “No.”

He smirked. “You said it out loud, so it counts.”

The entire table went silent, everyone waiting to find out what Craig was talking about. Shit. I let go of Craig’s wrist and got up to get another beer. Maybe I should get two. I’d need them for this conversation. As a bonus, then I’d have to ask Malcolm to drive me home, and I could leave my car for Lloyd. I’d never have to know where he spent the night.

Craig gleefully said, “Greg wants to buy a house.”

Lloyd sucked in a breath and said, “No. Really?”

“Really.”

“Fuck off, Craig,” I called from the kitchen where I was dumping my empty bottle in the recycle bin. “I have noisy neighbors, that’s all.”

Foster said, “Um, why is this a big deal?”

“It’s not,” I said emphatically, thunking my fresh beer on the table as I returned to my seat. I’d only gotten one, but I reserved the right to go back for another.

“Itis,” said Lloyd.

Craig nodded in agreement. “Greg’s mom is psychic. About ten years ago she told me she’d had a vision that Greg will find the love of his life as soon as he moves out of his apartment.”

Lloyd chuckled, glancing around the table so everyone could share in his amusement. “He’s stayed there this long just to irritate her.”

“There’s nothing wrong with living in an apartment,” Iprotested. “I’ve saved a ton of money.” Though pissing off my know-it-all mother was an excellent side benefit.

“Anyway,” Craig said. “I had to promise Greg’s mom I’d tell her as soon as he showed signs of moving out.”

I pointed a finger at him. “Do it, and you’re dead to me.”

Craig shrugged, “Sure. Then I guess I don’t have to meet Mrs. Carver at 6am Saturday morning so she can drop her dogs off before her flight.”

Fuck.

“Fiiiiiine. You’re my best friend forever, no matter what you tell my mother.”

He grinned. “Plus your mom reminds me every so often. Last time she said I’d get a year’s supply of chocolate chip cookies as a reward when I told her.”

Foster perked up. “Delphia’s cookies? Shit, send the text now.” He pointed at Craig’s phone. Foster might not know all of my mom’s secrets, but he’d met her several times since he and Craig had gotten together. She tended to make sure my friends remembered her fondly so they’d tell her any gossip about me.

Case in point: Craig’s stupid grin as he texted her.

I turned off my phone before slamming back half my beer. My mom would be insufferable. Which was nothing new.