Page 97 of The Cursed Chalice

“What?” I ask, pushing the sword back into my wrist.

Phobos drags a hand down his face. “Forget torturing a man with knives. All we need are six preteens gushing over a cute boy named Kyle and Spotify with more teenagers singing.”

“Who the hell is Kyle?”

I laugh because I can see how tired Phobos looks. I wonder who else he’s protecting.

“Anyway, I've gotta go. I’ll ask about the sleepover. Bye,” Nisa says as she makes half of a heart with her hand on her cheek. After a series of goodbyes, she hangs up the phone.

I wait for her to finally see me standing here.

“Hi, Einstein.”

I grunt at the name that she gave me. “How was your day?”

“Great.” She adjusts her bookbag strap over her shoulder.

“Who is Kyle?” I ask.

Nisa’s face went from smiling to serious. “No one.” I can hear the tremor in her voice.

“Let’s try this again. If you don’t tell me, I will come to your school and ask for Kyle.”

Nisa blinks up at me like she was waiting for me to say ‘sike.’

Phobos comes out of the kitchen eating a donut. “Tell him, because he will only make it worse.”

Nisa bites her bottom lip. I can tell the wheels in her head are turning. Her shoulders drop in defeat. “He’s a boy from school. I like him, and I think he likes me too.”

“What does she mean ‘like him’?” Aric asks.

I remain silent, watching as her little hands twitch over the bag strap.

I have to remain silent because what does she really mean by ‘like him’?

The door opens, and I smell the jasmine before I see her. Nisa takes advantage and runs to meet Soraya. “Oh, it looks like it’s about to storm out there.”

As Nisa’s arms wrap around Soraya’s waist, she bends and kisses her head.

“What’s going on here? Hi, Phobos.” Soraya’s eyes don’t meet mine. She doesn’t acknowledge me. My wife is acting as if I don’t exist.

“You mean the way you want it to be?”

If I were by myself, I would have punched my own throat.

“You want to punch me, Ares?”

When her eyes finally meet mine, I wait for her smile and for her to say something about her day.

With Nisa wrapped around her waist, Soraya walks toward the dining room, murmuring to her. I follow a few steps behind, close enough to hear their laughter.

Nisa nods and smiles with Soraya.

“Tell me more about Kyle?” I ask.

Both Soraya and I look down at Nisa.

She laughs nervously as she backs away slowly. “I am so hungry. I’m going to wash up.”