Chapter 55: History

Ivan

"I've known Jesse since we were teenagers. Not well, but she was hard to ignore." We sat on the couch, Nefera lying across my body as I retold my history with Jessica.

"I'm guessing she was beautiful since she was young?" Nefera squirms a little in my arms. Reaching under her shirt, I trace the raised skin of her tattoo. She's trying not to seem insecure but failing miserably. 

"More because of her brains. She's genius-level smart. The kid, your parents, compare you to."

"Did yours?" she relaxed against my touch again, watching my every move.

"No, my mom always said there was something strange about her." I shrug, thinking back to when she'd interacted with my family. "Mom always has a sense for people."

"Why didn't she like her?" That makes me chuckle since I hear the worry in her question. She was thinking about meeting my mom.