AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not now.” The relief that sweeps over me is embarrassing. “I’d like to know what a Zugzwang fellow is, though.”
Walked right into that one. “It’s a . . . a job. I am being paid to learn about chess. For one year.”
“And the senior center?” Her eyes widen. “And thepigeons?”
“There are no— well, therearepigeons, plenty, more than we need. But no senior center.”
“Do Mom and Sabrina know? Did you lie just to me?”
“No.” I shake my head energetically. “No one knows.”
She seems relieved. For a split second. “So you’re playing chess for money?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that like gambling?”
“What?”
“And isn’t gambling illegal?”
“I— ”
“Is that why you’re lying? Because you’re working for the gambling mob?”
“It’snotgambling, Darcy. It’s a sport.” I notice her raised eyebrow. She knows my athletic prowess. “Kind of.”
“Why don’t you want us to know, then?”
“There are . . . things you might not remember, because you were very young when they happened, but— ”
“Because Dad used to play chess.”
I sigh. “Yes. Partially. I just want to protect you guys from something that could hurt you.”
“I’m not fragile or— ”
“But I am. And so is Sabrina— even though she’s in her rebellious phase and would deny it. And Mom . . . Many painful things happened, Darcy. But we’re happy now.”
“Sabrina’s mostly just sullen.”
I chuckle. “True. I just want to take care of all of you.”
“And yet, you brought the Kingkiller into our house.”
“How do you even know about— ”
“The Wikipedia entry was very thorough. Did you know thathe once played Jeff Bezos for charity? He beat him in twenty seconds, then asked if the water bottle next to the chessboard was for peeing.”
“A true hero of the working class. Darcy— ”
“Also, there’s tons of fanfiction on AO3, mostly of him making out with some Emil Kareem guy, but— ”
“What? How do you know what fanfiction is?”
“I read it all the time.”
“Excuse me?”
