Chapter 15

“New school can wait until we get there, school year will be nearly done anyhow,” Dad continued blithely, the sound of the boot brush on leather harsh and rasping. It was usually a soothing, calm sort of noise, but now Shane watched the brush hypnotically and wished violence on it. “And, uh…”

Dad glanced aside; Chloe paused in the chopping, and shook her head without turning around, her blonde hair swishing around her jaw.

“Right,” Shane said. “So…Chloe gets to know before I do, and more than I do?”

“Can it, Shane,” Dad said sharply.

“Steve,” Chloe admonished, and gave Shane an apologetic look over her shoulder. “I am sorry about that, sweetie. We both are. I…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Shane snapped, tuning her out.

“Shane,” Dad said warningly.

“No, it doesn’t,” Shane said. “It’s cool. It’s not like it’s something I would have wanted to know, or something I even cared about happening.”

“Less of the attitude, boy.”

“Less of the patronisation, Dad,” Shane snarled.