Dreadnought (Nemesis, #1)

by April Daniels

Something caught my eye on the way in. These are the more distinctly feminine shoes. I find a pair in my size and clutch them to my chest, blushing. Flats, glossy black with straps. Super cute. I’ve always wanted some. Mom is pretty smart. If I show these to her, she might start putting things together. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Screw it. I really want these shoes. “Danny, I want you to try these on,” she says when I come around the corner again. My voice is quiet when I say, “I want these. They’re on sale.” “Oh, those are nice,” says Mom, and then an instant later I see her realize what Dad will think of them. A moment after that, she looks at me, puzzling. I’m sitting on the knife edge of hope, waiting for what she’ll say next. “But…oh. Yes, you can have those.” My smile is huge, as wide as it goes. I hug her, and she hugs me back and I love her so, so much. “Thanks, Mom.”