"But...my mom." He shifted a little, almost facing her, but with his head down, not quite looking at her. Eye contact was dangerous. It made him feel vulnerable and exposed. He was getting better, he thought, at least back home, where he knew the people he was supposed to be looking at.
"I have...have to go home. To my mom." And the Murphys. Really, he was more concerned about the Murphys right now. They needed him. They were always there for him, unlike his mom. They didn't expect him to order his own dinner when they knew that was hard for him, if not impossible. Mrs Murphy cooked and encouraged him to eat as much as he wanted.
His mom would hardly notice if he wasn't there. She was never around, anyway. He didn't feel like he had to go home to her, but he knew that sounded better than wanting to go home to Connor Murphy's family.