Horrified, Mom covered her face with her hands. “What did youdo?”
“I was too close to him,” Storm said quickly, looking nervous. “He was startled. It’s not his fault.”
At that, Mom shot Linus an accusing look. “You broke his noseandyou’re using him for muscle?”
Linus could have argued that on both occasions, Storm had mysteriously appeared in his apartment and it wasn’t his fault.
But he didn’t want a lecture from his mom, and he didn’t want her telling Olson—which would land himanotherlecture.
The only time Linus dealt with lectures, was whenhewas the one giving them, thank you very much.
“Storm insisted on helping,” he mumbled. Storm nodded to back him up.
Mom clucked her tongue. “I raised you to be better than that. Anyhow, I wasn’t expecting you both to stop by.”
She gave them a significant look that had nothing to do with the fruit delivery.
“We bumped into each other,” Linus said hurriedly. “Storm offered to help me with the cherries.”
Storm raised an eyebrow; Linus abruptly remembered that embarrassing conversation.
Was it him, or did Storm’s expression meanI will help with any of YOUR cherries?
Linus’ face grew hot.
Mom snorted. “Just the cherries?”
“And the rest of the berries,” Linus yelped.
She rolled her eyes. “Where did you bump into each other?”
“At a, uh.”
“A coffee shop,” Storm said. “The one near his apartment.”
“And you were both there before daybreak. Because you like crawling out of bed so early.”
Linus gestured helplessly at the trays of fruit. “I have class after this! We just happened to be there at the same time.”
Mom looked as though she was biting down a smile. “And your fairy godmother led you both to that coffee shop with tiny glowing hearts.”
“Of course.” Linus bobbed his head. Then he tugged on Storm’s arm, dragging him out before there could be further questioning. “Great to see you, Mom! We have to go. Don’t let the fruit sit out for too long!”
He pushed Storm out of the house and locked the front door, sagging against it with great relief.
Storm glanced at the door uneasily. “Why do I get the feeling that she knows something we don’t?”
“She probably does,” Linus said glumly. “We better leave before she finds us here and starts another round of interrogation.”
He climbed back into his Jeep. Storm mounted his bike and followed Linus all the way to the college.
They didn’t call each other on this drive, but it wasn’t long enough to need one anyway.
When Linus cut the engine in the science faculty parking lot, Storm came up to his door. He was still wearing his helmet. “Hey, Professor. I’m heading out for a bit. Be back later.”
“Where are you going?”
“Picking up my laptop, gassing up the bike, maybe getting a snack. Want something?” Storm flashed an easy smile.
