#Chapter 283 – The Darkness

Jesse gives me a little glare, clearly wanting to be in on the mini conference, but I just grin at him and flick my fingers towards the door, telling him to go away. Cora laughs and gathers up my brother and my cousin, escorting them out of the room and shutting the door behind her so that mom, me, and Jacks are quite suddenly alone. Jackson sighs, letting me slip down to the floor, even though I can tell he doesn’t want to. Mom keeps her eyes on the door until it snicks shut and then whips her head back to the two of us. “Did Rafe and Daphne break up? What’s going on there?” “Mom, I called this private conference to talk about me,” I say, pressing my fingers delicately to my heart. “Not your precious meatball.” “But he is a precious little meatball!” mom says, gathering her fists tight below her chin and looking at me with shining eyes. “Just a sad, precious little heartbroken meatball!” I laugh, shaking my head at her but heaving a little sigh. And then as mom slips into Ra