Page 62 of Baiting Kong

“But what?” Creature asked.

If Scout hadn’t already figured out that none of the people in the room were going to let him get away with censoring himself or his feelings, Creature proved it again with that fierce, pointed glare of his. Scout swore it was going to cause him to shrivel up and die one of these days; it was that intense.

“Just isn’t as much fun being down there by myself,” Scout admitted. “And I, umm, it’s kinda rougher than the waters I’m used to and a bit on the scary side.”

Scout saw Creature pause at that, eyes widening a fraction before he inclined his head and looked thoughtful.

“There’s some truth to that,” Mark said before Creature could say anything.

Mark stroked his chin, a faraway look in his eyes as they drifted towards the window and the ocean in the distance.

“Here’s some more truth,” Ms. Kat said, staring across the room at her husband now. “He isn’t the only one who needs a break, especially with everything that’s taken place lately. You’ve been snappier than usual, sweetheart, and we both know thatthere are only two things that take the bite out of your attitude, and one of them hasn’t been all the way working.”

Mark nodded at that, while Scout needed a moment to work out the meaning behind the words.

Oh.

Ohhhh.

He didn’t even try to deny it, just nodded again, contemplating her statement.

“It wouldn’t kill me to spend a week out back rather than inside,” Mark finally admitted. “Maybe we even get him up on a proper board instead of one of those boogie board things.”

“Then it’s settled,” Kat said.

“Speaking of settled, I’d like to get one more thing worked out while we’re here,” Creature said, his eyes firmly fixed on Mark.

“Shoot,” Mark replied.

“Was wondering if you’d rescinded the order about him needing to keep an eye on Teddy during his downtime,” Creature posed. “It’s gonna be next to impossible for him to do that if he takes me and Axel up on our offer to have him move in with us.”

“The hell?”

The unexpected voice, gruff and pissed the hell off, crackled with an undertone of violence as Kong stepped through the doorway.

“Ever hear of knocking?” Mark asked, crossing the room to get in his face. “Or waiting to see if a visit from you would be welcome?”

“Didn’t think I needed one.”

“You thought wrong,” Creature said, standing now too.

His Pops just placed a hand on his arm and gave Scout a look he knew meant that Pops wanted to know what the fuck was going on. Scout didn’t exactly have an answer for him, since Kong was the last person he’d ever expected a visit from.

“Scout?” Kong asked, eyeing Scout from where they had him hemmed up in the doorway. “You want me gone?”

“Isn’t getting gone what you’re good at?” Scout blurted, only half regretting it the moment the words left his lips.

The other part was pleased about the way he was standing up for himself. Kong showing up now felt like he was offering a crumb when everyone else was offering toffee-drenched dreams, sticky and wonderful, like the pudding Axel and Creature had brought back for him from the dessert case in the cafeteria.

“I messed up,” Kong said, trying to take a step forward only to do an awkward shuffle when Mark didn’t back off and give him space. “I was pissed about you getting caught up in the same porn scheme Lucky had, and instead of telling you that, I stormed off like a hothead. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you on the sidewalk like that.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” Scout said. “Now you can give me some space to figure out if I want to forgive you for that shit or not. It sucked, it didn’t feel good, and it left me in a really sucky spot when I could have used some help.”

“I know, I…”

“Will give him the space he asked for,” Ms. Kat said, silencing Kong’s words. “And wait for him to come to you, if he chooses to. Now isn’t there something you’re supposed to be doing?”

“Yeah, but I um….”

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