Page 17 of Fallout
“Sorry you’re stuck babysitting me,” I tell him.
He shrugs. “Eh, you’re not so bad. Besides, I’d much rather be here than at home.”
I frown, remembering the night I heard his parents fighting. It was pretty intense—yelling and throwing things. I get the feeling that night wasn’t as bad as it gets sometimes.
“What are you working on?” Blaine shuts off the gaming system and turns to me.
“A sweater.” I hold it up for him. “I just split for the sleeves.”
“Huh.” He studies my sweater. “Is it going to fit you?”
I laugh. “Yes. It’s not done yet. I’ve got to finish the body and do the sleeves.”
“What else have you knit?” he asks.
I put my sweater to the side and sit up straighter. “Do you want to see all my socks?”
One corner of his lips turns up. “Wow. You look really excited about the idea of showing me socks.”
“Come on.” I push myself up, motioning for him to follow me.
We head upstairs, to my bedroom. He stands in the doorway, not fully coming in. I open my chest and pull out a huge box of socks.
“I have more in storage,” I tell him.
He comes closer, looking inside. “Wow. You really didn’t have friends before you came here.”
I put the socks back in the chest and roll my eyes at him. “You’re just jealous because I made a pair for Parker and I didn’t make any for you.”
He chuckles. “Why am I not surprised?”
I hear my dad’s bedroom door open. He walks past my room and backs up when he notices Blaine and I are inside.
Dad furrows his brows. “Uh, hi, Blaine.”
“Hey, Mr. Stone.” Blaine lifts his hand and waves at my dad.
“I was going to lecture you about having boys in your room, but I wasn’t expecting Blaine to be here.” Dad looks curiously between Blaine and me like he’s not sure how to proceed with his lecture.
“Parker is busy with alpha duties, so he asked me to come over.” Blaine stuffs his hands into the front pocket of his jeans.
Dad nods.
“I was showing him my socks.” I walk closer to the door. “We were just heading back to the living room. He’s staying here until Parker is done doing whatever he’s doing.”
“Okay. Well, I’m heading out,” Dad says, his voice sounding… off.
I look curiously at him, just now noticing that he’s not dressed in his work clothes. Instead, he has on a nice pair of jeans and a button up shirt.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
He clears his throat. “Out. Remember the rules—no boys alone in your room while I’m gone.” He starts to turn, then pauses. “Oh, and Parker isn’t allowed in the house at all while I’m gone, even downstairs.”
“Okay, Dad.”
After that, he turns and leaves my room. I hear him whistling as he heads down the stairs.
I glance at Blaine. “Okay, he was acting really strange.”