Evric instantly pulled back, his voice sharp with surprise.
"Mom!"
The word hit me like a bucket of cold water. Mom?
I straightened up, adjusting myself as fast as I could. My mind spun. I hadn't forgotten, Evric's father was openly homophobic. And if his father was like that, what if his mother was too? I didn't know what to expect, so I just… stood there, frozen.
Evric got to his feet and went to her with an easy smile, wrapping her in a hug.
"Mom, what are you doing here?"
She returned the hug and replied casually, "I was passing by. Your father told me about you coming to work, so I decided to stop in."
They talked for a moment, but I couldn't miss the way her eyes kept flicking toward me. Watching. Studying.
Finally, she leaned in close to Evric and whispered something I couldn't hear. He nodded, smiling at whatever she'd said. My curiosity burned, but before I could guess what it was, Evric walked back to me.
He slid an arm firmly around my waist.