Page 436 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Oh shut up,” I snap. “You know meat makes me salivate.”
“Ours does,” Slate jokes with a wink. Won’t deny it, so I laugh instead.
“Room for one more?” A familiar voice asks. I choke and begin to cough until tears are streaming down my face and Sawyer has to gently pat my back. Which does fuck all by the way. Slate just pisses himself laughing.
I turn around, a red faced mess, to stare at my uncle Dirk.
“How long were you standing there?” Sawyer asks, bemused, while I try to catch my breath.
“I just arrived, why? I'm so sorry, Amelie. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Startle me? He scared the living bejesus out of me. I thought my uncle was asking to join in on the dick salivating contest. Gag.
I still have no words so I wave a dismissive hand in an ‘it’s fine’ gesture until I'm able to gasp out an apology.
“So, is it okay that I came? I wanted to catch you at graduation but my overseas business had me held up, and then with everything that happened…”
“Of course it’s okay that you came,” I eventually say. “I'm glad you weren’t at graduation.” Slate sniggers as my faux pas. “What I meant was, with everything that happened, I'm glad no one else was there to get hurt. It’s good to see you.”
“Thank you, dear. May I speak to you in private for a moment? I have a matter I wish to discuss with you.”
“Absolutely.”
I leave Sawyer and Slate to finish grilling the…um, food, and follow Dirk across the garden and into Monty’s kitchen. It’s empty, and Dirk pulls the doors closed behind us.
“So, is everything okay? Is it an Order matter?” I ask, instantly anxious.
“No, no, nothing like that. This is a much more…personal matter.”
“Oh. Um. Right.” I wait.
“I didn’t expect to feel this nervous. It’s not your position that unnerves me, it’s being faced with an opportunity I don’t want to mess up.” He sighs, shakes his head and begins again. “It means the world to me to finally have family. I would very much like to get to know you and build a relationship with you, regardless of what happens with Debbie.”
“We’re in an okay place. It will take time but I’m not slamming the door in her face,” I explain.
“I’m really glad to hear that. I was wondering if you might extend me?—”
“Of course.”
“Really?”
“Really. If I’m willing to build bridges with my…biological mother, and my grandmother, then why not? The more the merrier, as they say.”
He gives me a warm and genuine smile, which I return. Monty was right, he does seem like a nice guy, and I should definitely give him a chance. I mean, it almost makes me want to give him a hug, but we’re definitely not there yet. It would be too weird.
“Can I get you a drink?” I offer awkwardly instead.
“No thank you. I have a graduation gift for you, if it’s okay.” I mean, what do you say to that? Yes please and hold my hand out? I blush. “I…well…here you go.”
He tosses something in my direction and I only just manage to catch it against my chest in time.
“What is it?”
“Have a look.”
I do and notice I’m clutching a key. A modern sort of house key I guess.
“What is this?”
