Page 37 of Stoney Gazes for Helpful Gorgons

"If I was kissing you, the last thing I'd be thinking about is your snakes." He seems to realise what he's said, because he pauses and seems to be thinking. "What I mean is...no, I think what I mean is what I said."

"I..."

"Jack! Come see this!" Eddy calls.

I groan. That's bad timing.

"One second," Jack calls back. He reaches out and takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. "This conversation isn't over, Rhea."

"That sounds like a threat."

He chuckles. "More like a promise. My grandparents are coming tomorrow, but Monday?"

I nod. "Okay." I think I know what he's going to say, but I want to be sure before I find myself getting too attached to the idea of anything.

He flashes me a smile and hurries over to find out what his brother wants.

I let out a loud sigh. I guess things just got more complicated. Or less complicated, it's hard to put my finger on which it might be. But after everything we've already been through, I guess I'm feeling like it's all going to be fine and slot into place just the way it should.

Chapter 16

JACK

I pace back and forth in the shared kitchen, wishing that I could be anywhere but here. Eddy sits in the corner making himself small and playing on his phone. I try my best to get a hold of the anger within me, knowing that feeling like this isn't going to do anything to stop Dad from being an idiot.

I just have to hope that involving our grandparents in the situation is actually going to work and won't end up backfiring on us. At the end of the day, Dad is still our guardian and they can't do anything about it.

The doorbell rings and I hurry to answer it, knowing that it's better if Rupert doesn't venture out of his room to do the honours. Not when it's my grandparents and it's something as important as this. I don't know exactly how the conversation is going to go, but I can't imagine they're going to be very pleased with my dad by the end of it.

"Jack," Grandma says as she enters the hall. "You're looking well." She pulls me into a tight hug.

Grandad does the same as he comes in.

"Do you want a drink?" I ask. "I don't have anything fancy, but I can boil the kettle."

"Oh, a cup of tea would be lovely, dear."

I nod and direct them into the kitchen, trying not to feel too self-conscious about the state it's in. Living with eight other teenagers doesn't exactly bode well for keeping a kitchen clean.

I go to make drinks while they say hello to Eddy, thankfully not jumping into any questions about what he's doing here or why I've asked them to come. We're lucky that they live close enough to make the trip on short notice. And even luckier that Eddy's school is just down the road so he could come here when Dad didn't pick him up.

A quick search through my cupboards reveals an unopened packet of digestive biscuits, which is better than serving tea without anything to go with it to my grandparents. I should have thought to pick up something better, but my head's been so full of what was going to happen when we had this conversation that I didn't think of that.

I set all the mugs down on the table, along with the biscuits and sit down next to Eddy.

"Is everything all right?" Grandma asks, her concern written all over her face. I suppose we don't need to actually say anything for her to know there's a problem. Just the fact we've asked them to come here on such short notice reveals that much.

My voice catches in my throat and I find myself wishing I had an older sibling who could do this for me. But right now, I have to be the older sibling. Eddy needs me and I owe it to him to do my best.

"We need to talk to you about Dad," I say.

"It's bad," Eddy blurts out.

A worried expression crosses Grandma's face. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine. It's just, he's been away this weekend with his girlfriend."

"His girlfriend?" Grandad's shock is visible on his face. "He never told us he was seeing anyone. Why wouldn't he tell us?"