Chapter 5: Uncle's Divine Assist and Unwanted Romance
949words
Sometimes she just stares into space, and I hear her wondering: [That Mr. Sterling… why did he look at Leo like that? Am I imagining things?]
I don't think she's imagining it. I keep thinking about Ice Man too, and how his hands were cold but somehow gentle.
But Mom's worries get blown away by a human hurricane named "Uncle Jack."
Uncle Jack is Mom's little brother, and whenever he visits, it's like a mini-earthquake hits our apartment. He always tosses me up in the air, tickles me with his scratchy beard, and brings the weirdest presents—like the giraffe plushie that's taller than I am.
"There's my champion!" he bellows, scooping me up the second he walks in. "Did you miss your favorite uncle?!"
I hear him roaring inside: [HAHA! Got my bonus today! Gotta treat my sis and the little man to something fancy! Money's meant for spending—make it, spend it, repeat!]
That's Uncle Jack for you—his inside voice is just as loud as his outside one.
He didn't just bring gifts but also "good news." With a mysterious wink, he tells Mom: "Claire, I've set you up on a date! He's a lawyer, young and successful, totally dependable! You can't keep flying solo forever!"
Mom's face turns bright red. I hear her thinking: [Jack and his meddling… though… maybe it wouldn't hurt to try?]
So that's how we end up sitting in a fancy restaurant, waiting for this supposedly "dependable" lawyer guy.
He shows up right on time. His hair is slicked back so shiny it could be a mirror, and when he smiles, it looks like he's wearing a plastic mask.
His name is Mark. The second he sits down, I activate my "secret ears" for a full scan.
[Hmm, the single mom's actually pretty hot, better than her profile pic. The kid's a bit of a nuisance, but I can work with it—perfect chance to show off my "great with children" routine. Sealing the deal should be easy.]
I silently put down my fork.
This guy has "CREEP" written all over him from his shiny hair to his pointy shoes.
The [Angel System] hasn't said anything, but my own internal alarm is going BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
No way is this slimeball getting anywhere near my mom! Operation Bad Date Destroyer—now activated!
Battle Plan Phase One: Physical Attack.
While Mark is bragging about all his court victories, I make a show of reaching for the ketchup. My hand "accidentally" slips, and the bottle tips over. A beautiful red waterfall cascades directly onto his pristine white jacket.
"OH! MY GOD!" He leaps up, his face turning green.
"Sorry, mister," I blink up with my most innocent wide eyes. "My hands are too little. I couldn't hold it good."
Mom and Uncle Jack scramble to help clean him up, apologizing frantically.
Battle Plan Phase Two: Psychological Warfare.
After he finally gets cleaned up and sits back down, his face is sour as a lemon. Trying to save his dignity, he starts bragging about his new sports car.
"…The engine has this incredible sound—women literally stop in their tracks when they hear it coming," he says with a smirk.
I tilt my head and look at him with wide-eyed curiosity. "Mister, when you tell fibs, doesn't your heart feel yucky inside?"
The table goes dead silent.
He freezes mid-sip, nearly choking. "W-what are you talking about, kid?"
"My teacher says liars get visited by Pinocchio at night, and their noses grow longer and longer," I point directly at his nose, deadly serious. "I think yours is already getting bigger."
People at nearby tables are turning to look now, hiding smiles behind their napkins.
Mark's face turns the color of raw liver. He finally snaps, slamming his hand on the table as he jumps to his feet. "Claire! Is THIS how you raise your child?! Letting him be rude and talk complete nonsense?!"
Mom looks stunned. Uncle Jack is speechless too, but I hear him thinking: [Holy cow, is my nephew psychic or something?! How'd he know this guy's full of it? But… NOBODY yells at my sister like that!]
Just as Uncle Jack is about to stand up and throw down, a cool, commanding voice speaks from nearby.
"A true gentleman never raises his voice to a woman or a child."
We all turn to see—it's Ice Man! Alex Sterling!
He's sitting at the next table, calmly cutting his steak. He doesn't even look up at Mark, but his words land like icicles—sharp and cold.
I tune into his thoughts; he's enjoying this like it's dinner theater.
[The kid's a little devil—brilliant. This slick parasite actually thinks he has a chance with her.]
Sleazy Mark takes one look at Alex, seems to recognize him, and deflates like a punctured balloon. He mutters something nasty under his breath and scurries away.
The restaurant settles back to normal, leaving just the awkward silence at our table.
Alex sets down his knife and fork, dabs his mouth with his napkin, and approaches our table.
"If you wouldn't mind," he says to my stunned mother and uncle, "I'd like to invite you all to join me. Consider the recent entertainment as my treat, courtesy of this brave little warrior."
As he speaks, those blue eyes flick to me, and I swear I see a tiny smile hiding under all that ice.
I sit in my chair, swinging my short legs, thinking to myself:
Hmm, Ice Man is definitely better than Slick Mark. Even though his heart is full of deep, dark secrets like a bottomless well, at least… he's not gross.
