Chapter 17: The Naughtier Chronicles

The Naughtier Chronicles

Part 17

by

R.L. Mathewson

(To Read Previous Chapters, Click Here)

“Start talking,” Haley said as they pulled into their driveway.

“Do you think this is something that I’m proud of?” Jason asked, releasing a shuddering sigh as he reluctantly threw the car in park as she thought it over.

“Yes,” she said, knowing her husband well enough to know that he’d probably enjoyed every minute of making his father’s life a living hell and had most likely relished the memories with a fond sigh over the years.

She watched as his lips twitched while he tried to shrug it off. “He had it coming.”

“And why is that exactly?” Haley asked, noting that all of the windows were dark except for the living room before shifting her attention back to her husband to find Jason scanning their front yard, most likely looking for his father, who they hadn’t heard from since he’d told her what Jason did when he was fourteen to pass the time.

“Do I really need a reason to screw with my father’s head?” Jason asked, turning off the car as he settled back against his seat.

“You do when it means that you ruined the first night out we’ve had in months with your paranoia,” Haley said, pushing her glasses back up her nose only to frown when something caught her attention and…she was just seeing things, she realized as she focused back on Jason.

“First off,” Jason said, “I’m not paranoid. That bastard is out to get me. Secondly, no one forced you to leave the hotel early.”

“You threw me over your shoulder and slapped my ass anytime that I made a sound above a whisper, you demented bastard,” she pointed out, wondering why she was wasting her time with this when she could be inside curled up in her own bed, pretending that this night from hell never happened.

“And if you had been able to run faster, we would still be there enjoying a lovely evening to ourselves,” Jason said with a pitying look that was going to get his shin kicked, violently.

“You tackled me on the bed and told me that if I wanted to make it out of there alive that I better keep my adorable mouth shut,” Haley reminded him as she folded her arms over her chest so that she could properly glare at him.

“And yet, you didn’t listen,” Jason said, shaking his head with a heartfelt sigh.

“Because I told the lovely couple that you scared to death in the elevator that you forgot your medication?”

Shrugging, Jason said, “I was actually fine with that.”

“Then what?” she asked, starting to feel a headache coming on.

“Because you let him know that he won,” he bit out, making her frown.

“How did I do that exactly?”

“Besides sending him a text and letting him know that he was getting to me? You yelled ‘Stranger danger’ as I carried you through the hotel lobby, making it impossible for us to get out of there without him knowing.”

“And you think he was hiding in the hotel lobby somewhere waiting for us?” Haley asked as she once again found herself looking over at the corner of the house, wondering if she was imagining things.

“I know he was,” Jason bit out evenly.

“If he was at the hotel waiting for us, then who’s that?” Haley asked, pointing towards the house.

Jason followed her gaze only to frown in confusion seconds before his lips pulled up into a shit-eating grin. A minute later, he was reaching for the door, looking happier than she’d ever seen him as he absently murmured, “Stay here.” She watched as he quickly headed to the other side of the house only to disappear around the corner, making her wonder why he kept giving into the voices in his head.

Deciding that there was no point in sitting here any longer, Haley climbed out of the car and made her way to the front door, deciding to leave Jason to whatever was going on when movement to her right caught her attention and she found herself wondering why her son was sneaking out of the house again.

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