“I’m going to take a quick shower before we go to your parents’,” she said, and I really didn’t need the image of Shannon in the shower with how I was feeling.
“Take your time,” I said, forcing myself not to follow as she left.
***
“It’s an interesting idea,” my dad said later while ponderously rubbing his chin.
We’d finished eating dinner, and Mam had taken Zara out back to her workshop to show her some of the new scarves she’d been designing. She loved checking out all the colourful fabrics.
“Bloody hell, am I the only one who thinks it’s crazy?” I argued. “We can’t just go around creating sites on the dark web, especially not ones that purport to offer services that definitely aren’t legal.”
“But we wouldn’t actually be providing the services,” Shannon countered. “It’s just a way of getting Samuel’s attention. I could easily build a site, make it look legit, and we could leave breadcrumbs on the forums Margie said he uses. Post as people recommending the site. It might take time, but once he visits, I’ll be able to track his exact location.”
I was shaking my head, while Dad stared at Shannon, a big smile on his face. This kind of skullduggery was right up hisalley. Seriously, I couldn’t believe I was saying this sincehewas supposed to be the parent here, but he was a bad influence.
“Look, as Shannon pointed out, this will take time,” Dad said. “Think on it. We don’t need to commit to anything just yet.”
Even as he said it, I could already see the wheels turning in his head, plans formulating. Before I could say more, Mam returned with Zara, who wore a pretty new scarf in her favourite colours, purple and green.
“Look what Granny made for me,” she exclaimed, running to Shannon to show her.
“Wow, it’s gorgeous. Thank you so much, Matilda.”
“It was my pleasure. Anyone for tea?”
“Sure, I just need to use the bathroom first,” Shannon said, rising from her seat.
“Use the one upstairs,” Mam told her. “The one down here is on the fritz. We’ve a plumber coming in the morning.”
Shannon nodded, and I watched her go, just like I always did. If she was in the room, my eyes were sure to follow her. Once she was gone, I shot my dad a firm glare. “Whatever you want to do, you have my full permission, but don’t involve Shannon. You can have someone else build the website.”
“All right, but she seems determined to help.”
“Just do it without her. I won’t risk her getting in trouble.” Dad nodded, eyeing me in an uncomfortably focused way. I let out a grunt of annoyance. “Will you please quit doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Reading me. I can always tell when you’re trying to figure out my thoughts, and to be perfectly honest, it’s intrusive.”
Dad let out a soft, affectionate chuckle. “I don’t need to figure out your thoughts, son. They’re plain as day on your face.”
“Oh, for crying out loud. Just stop.”
“What’s going on with you and Shannon?”
“Enough.”
“Something’s changed between you. The dynamic is—”
“None of your business. Will you ever learn to stay out of my personal life?”
Dad didn’t respond, only arched a single, sardonic eyebrow.
“Oh, leave him alone, Jay. You know good and well what’s happening,” Mam said, sidling over to the table and lowering her voice so Zara couldn’t hear. “They’re falling back in love.”
I wasn’t fallingbackin love. I’d never stopped.
“If that’s true, I hope you don’t plan on letting her down like you did last time,” Dad said. “Because I don’t think I could forgive you if you broke that girl’s heart again.”
