Zain’s mom sat down next to him, leaning her elbow on the armrest as she watched him. Her eyes flicked to his phone, then back to his face.
“You’re smiling,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Is that Theo?”
Zain’s ears went hot immediately. “What—no, I’m just—” He tried to play it off, locking his phone way too fast.
His mom laughed softly, not buying it for a second. “Uh-huh. It’s okay, you know. You don’t have to pretend you’re not grinning like an idiot.”
Zain sank lower into the couch, covering his face with one hand. “I’m not—” He peeked at her through his fingers. “Okay, maybe a little.”
She nudged his knee with hers. “He seems like a good kid.”
“He is,” Zain said quietly, his heart doing that dumb fluttery thing again just thinking about him.
For a minute, his mom didn’t say anything. She just smiled, like she could see right through him but wasn’t gonna push.
“So… are you two—”
“Mom,” Zain groaned, cutting her off before she could finish.
She held her hands up. “Alright, alright. I won’t ask.” But the knowing look on her face didn’t budge.
Zain unlocked his phone again, rereading Theo’s text like it was the first time he saw it.
Theo: Proud of you.
And honestly? That made him smile even more.
ns 15.158.61.13da2
