Page 57 of Finding Us
“Sometimes the same words have different meanings. You’ll learn all about that at school. How was your first day?”
“Good.”
“Do you like your teacher?”
Blake shrugs. “She’s okay, but you were wrong about her.”
“How so?”
“She’s not nicer than Jazzie.”
Of course, he’d tell his son that.
Mason clears his throat as I move back to work my own dough. “I was just trying to ease his worry about his teacher.”
Fold.
Turn.
Knead.
I continue, completely ignoring his rationalisation.
“The pizzas should be ready in half an hour,” I say after a brief period of awkward silence. “All the prep is done. Can Blake stay or do you have to leave?”
“I was going to duck upstairs and have a quick shower and change.” He clears his throat again. I’m not sure why I find that sexy. “You know, since I’m apparently overdressed for feeding the homeless.”
“Uh huh,” I say, biting on my bottom lip to suppress my grin.
“Can he stay down here while I do that?”
I keep on kneading. “Sure.”
Just as Mason turns to leave, Connor arrives. “What is going on here?”
Great.
“We’re making pizza, Uncle Connor,” Blake states, proudly.
My eyes dart to my brother, and his gaze moves from me to Mason. Mason holds his hands up defensively in front of him. “I just got here. Your sister picked Blake up from school.”
“So, you’re not only being mean to her, you’re now using her as a babysitter?”
“I offered,” I cut in.
“On that note I’m leaving.” Mason stalks out of the kitchen with Connor’s eyes fixed on him as he does.
“I’ll be keeping my eye on you, Bradley.”
“Good for you, Maloney.”
Shit.I need to find a way to de-escalate this and quick. “What is your problem?” I say to Connor when I hear the front door slam.
“My problem? I’m just sticking up for you.”
“Then don’t. I’m not sure what’s going on in that thick head of yours, but you need to apologise to your friend when he returns. You’re acting like a dick.”
Blake giggles. “Jazzie said dick.”
