Cyril glanced at the screen.The guywascreepy.His profile picture was just a black circle, and there were no pictures of him anywhere on his profile.He went by the name ofThe Master, which was ridiculous.Cyril probably would’ve made fun of him in any other circumstance.
Cyril didn’t stop to read all of the rants the guy had posted on his page.Mostly, he complained about how the people in charge of the country couldn’t do their job, and about how he deserved more.He complained about not having money or a girlfriend, but just a few scrolls down, he declared that all women were sluts.That wasn’t conducive to him finding a girlfriend.Cyril understood why women stayed away from him.
“He’s definitely a creep,” he agreed.“What was Sam doing, talking to him?It wasn’t like him to allow anyone to talk that way.”
“From what I can see, Sam only commented on the posts talking about changing things, not on the ones where this guy goes nuts.”
“Still.I have a hard time believing that Sam would associate with this guy at all.”
Vale reached over and squeezed the back of Cyril’s neck.“You heard Katie.He was having a hard time.If I had to guess, I’d say that this guy manipulated Sam.He’d been fired and felt that it wasn’t fair, and this guy took advantage of that.He goated him on.”
“Do you think he’s the one who killed Sam?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t think we’ll find out on social media.”
Cyril huffed.“What are we doing, then?”
Vale narrowed his eyes, and Cyril sucked in a breath.He knew he was being a brat.He just hated being useless.
Thankfully, they were distracted by a knock on the door.They weren’t expecting anyone, but Cyril’s mother often came around without telling them about it.It was something Vale wasn’t quite comfortable with, so Cyril had been trying to convince his mom to at least call first, but she sometimes forgot.They were working on it, though.
At least she didn’t let herself into the apartment like she used to.She waited outside the door for Cyril to open, and when he did, she beamed at him.“Hi there.How’s your vacation going?”
Cyril wasn’t sure what his expression looked like, but his mother’s smile fell.She stared at him for a moment, and he waited for her to berate him for not taking that vacation she’d mentioned.Right now, he wished he had, but he wouldn’t have been able to help Katie if he was out of town.
His mother shook her head.“I see.Well, I brought food for you and Vale.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” Cyril said as he stepped aside to let her in.
“I didn’t have to, but I did anyway.I know that now that Vale is in your life, you don’t forget to eat as often as you did before, but I can still check on you, can’t I?”
“He’s been eating,” Vale said as they joined him in the kitchen.“I made sure of it.“
“I always said that Cyril needed a keeper, and I’m glad he found one.”
Cyril crossed his arms over his chest.“Are you two having fun?”
His mother rolled her eyes.“We’re not having fun.I always worry about you, but I know I don’t have to anymore, and it makes me happy.Don’t you want me to be happy?”
“I want you to be less dramatic,” Cyril muttered.He loved his mom, but sometimes, she was a lot.
“Dramatic?How about this for drama—I’mstarving.I hope you boys didn’t have anything planned for dinner because I went to that Mexican restaurant I like, the one with the red hat in the logo.”
Cyril glanced at the computer Vale still had in front of him.The only thing they’d been planning was to continue poking around the Internet, but Cyril could use a break.He didn’t feel they were getting anywhere, and it was starting to weigh on him.
Vale closed the computer.“No plans,” he told Cyril’s mother.“I’ve never been to that restaurant.What did you get?”
* * * *
USUALLY, VALE AND CYRILtook turns cooking.It was supposed to be Vale’s turn tonight, but there was nothing for him to do.He couldn’t say he was sorry.He didn’t particularly like cooking.He did it because he had to, but he was happy when he could avoid it.
He could tonight.He watched as Cyril and his mother got the food Eva had brought out of the bags.They were talking about how Cyril didn’t take care of himself, and while Vale agreed that he wasn’t great at it, he didn’t give them his input.They didn’t need it.
He enjoyed listening to them talk.He’d never had that kind of relationship with his own mother or his father.He’d never had that type of easy relationship with anyone.He and Russell were best friends, but Vale was annoyed with Russell most of the time.It wasn’t the same kind of affection, anyway.
“So, what are you up to these days?”Eva asked as they sat down.
Vale wouldn’t touch that question with a ten-foot pole because the answer was getting himself in trouble, but Cyril wouldn’t want her to know.If Cyril wanted to lie to his mom, he was welcome to, but Vale knew she would see right through him.
