Broken

• Chapter 32 •

"IS THAT HER?"

My eyebrows knit together as I close the front door behind me, I recognize that voice—

Emoni wraps her arms around me before I can turn around and inspect the situation. My spirits are lifted and excitement rushes through my veins. "OH MY GOD, EMONI?" I squeeze her.

"The hell are you doing here?" I ask as we pull apart.

"We were out of town when you guys moved back but we came back as soon as we could!" she explains with a bright smile.

Benji rushes over to me with a gigantic smile on his face, "MINTY!"

I reciprocate the smile, unable to control myself. I fucking adore Benji. He engulfs me in a gigantic bear hug, and I embrace it. "How are you, you little turd?"

"IT'S SO AWESOME TO SEE YOU GUYS! You're my favorite adults," I tell them.

"Excuse you?" I hear dad scream in shock-horror from across the room, he looks extremely offended.

I laugh, "Kidding!"

I turn to Benji and Emoni and whisper, "Totally not kidding."

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"Minty, you've gotten prettier in the last couple of months we saw you. You guys sure you didn't switch up babies at the hospital?" Emoni teases my parents.

"Ha," mom responds.

"Thanks," I laugh. "Hey Clary, I haven't seen you in a while. Your hair grew," I tell Benji and Emoni's daughter. She has crazy vibrant orange hair, just like Emoni.

Clary shrugs, "It's a gift."

I snort, "Cocky."

"She gets it from her mother," Emoni chirps in.

"Oh, God. We're gonna have another Emoni roaming around. At least you're cute, Clary," mom says.

Emoni turns to mom with a frown, "DO YOU WANT TO DIE A SLOW PAINFUL DEATH?"

Dad, Benji, and mom break into laughter.

Emoni composes herself and turns to me, "So. Clementine. Do you have a boyfriend?"

My heart sinks into my stomach, what? Where did she hear that?

"Of course not," dad cuts in.

"Heh... I uh—"

"You what?" dad narrows his eyes at me, my eyes widen and I put my hands up defensively.

"Brandon shut up," mom cuts him off.

"Is he cute?" Emoni asks. "How old is he?"

"Is it Eric?" mom adds, they're way too excited about this. "ARE YOU GUYS GETTING MARRIED? HOW—"

"You're all asking the wrong questions. No one's getting MARRIED. What's his social security number?" Brandon's royally pissed off. "And would he rather keep his right hand or left?"

I snort, "Okay, no. You're not going to kill him, dad."

"Boys have cooties," Clary shrugs.

"See, I used to think that until—"

"Until WHAT?" Brandon's frown deepens.

"Uh... Nothing. Until you just don't... Think that..." I am mortified.

"You better introduce me to him," Emoni says.

The thought of introducing Emoni to Adrien, or anyone really, is horrific.

"Guys, I'm not dating anyone! Chill!" this needs to stop.

"Yeah, whatever you say," Benji grins and waggles his eyebrows at me.

"You too, Benji?" I sigh.

Everyone breaks into a debate on my love-life and whether or not I have a boyfriend. I decide to remain quiet and pretend I don't.

___________________

"Bye!"

We wave Benji, Emoni, and Clary off from the window. I turn back to come face-to-face with mom and dad. They're smirking and not saying anything.

I roll my eyes, "I don't have a boyfriend!" I snap, stalking off to my room.

I hear their laughter as I close my bedroom door. Dear God, help me.