My boyfriend is a nine-tailed fox

Chapter 12: Bringing Jace Home

Anita’s mind raced as she led Jace through the dim streets, the pendant still pulsing softly against her chest. She could sense the weight of his past, the burden of his centuries-old imprisonment, and now, she felt an overwhelming responsibility to help him adjust to this new world. But how was she supposed to help a mystical fox spirit who had just been freed from a temple—especially when her life was already a tangled mess?

“Just stay quiet when we get inside,” Anita said, glancing nervously at Jace. “Mom’s not exactly the type to welcome a stranger into the house—especially someone who looks like they stepped out of an ancient myth.”

Jace, still looking like a stranger in this world, gave a small, amused smile. "I’ll do my best to blend in, but no promises."

Anita unlocked the door to her apartment, pushing it open. The warmth of the living room greeted them, but Anita immediately felt a wave of nerves. She wasn’t sure how to explain Jace’s presence, let alone how to keep the secret from her mom. But she’d made the decision. For now, Jace needed a safe place.

Inside, she called out softly, “Mom? You home?” The apartment was quiet, the only sound being the hum of the refrigerator.

From the hallway, her mom’s voice called back, “In the kitchen, honey.”

Anita shot a quick glance at Jace. “Stay here for a second. I’ll try to keep this low-key.”

Jace nodded, giving her a reassuring glance, but Anita wasn’t sure who she was trying to reassure more: him, or herself.

She walked into the kitchen, where her mom, a woman in her early forties with a welcoming smile and a tendency to nag about “socializing more,” was sorting through some mail.

“Hey, Mom. I, uh… I have a friend with me. He needed a place to stay for a little while.”

Her mom raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “A friend? And what exactly is your ‘friend’ doing here?”

“Uh,” Anita stalled, quickly trying to come up with a reasonable explanation, “He’s kind of… in between places right now. Thought it’d be good to let him crash here for a bit.”

Her mom eyed her curiously but didn’t press further. “As long as he’s not a stranger or anything, I guess that’s fine. But you need to make sure you don’t overdo it. I’m still waiting on you to balance all these extracurriculars and your schoolwork, you know.”

Anita nodded, her mind racing. “Of course. Thanks, Mom.”

Relieved that her mom hadn’t asked more questions, she quickly excused herself and returned to Jace, who was quietly waiting by the door.

“You’re in luck,” Anita said with a small grin. “She doesn’t ask too many questions.”

Jace raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “I’ll be on my best behavior, then.”