One Tent My Forbidden Stepbrother novel · Chapter 8 of 24
Chapter 8: The Dry Goods Tent
The postdoc's hand was warm on Perry's arm, and Perry looked at it until it went away.
"The loggers are on the next bend," he said. "I'll show you. But I have to say something first."
"Oh no."
"I'm with someone."
The postdoc held up both hands, grinning, not remotely offended. "The complicated one."
"Yes," Perry said.
"Do I know him?"
"You had dinner across from him."
"The big silent one who hates beans." The postdoc laughed. "Well. Lucky man. I hope he's worth it."
"So do I," Perry said.
He meant it as a joke, and it came out sounding true.
The postdoc nodded, shouldered his pack and went back up the path, whistling.
Perry stood on the rock with his arms folded.
The creek ran black and fast.
Far off, over the western ridge, a long slow roll of thunder went through the evening.
"You can come out, Blaine," he said to the dark. "You've been loud since the dinner."
Nothing moved.
Then the brush broke, and Blaine climbed out of it with leaves in his hair and a long red scratch down one forearm.
He stood at the edge of the rock and did not come closer.
"How long were you in there?" Perry asked.
"Long enough," Blaine said.
"I asked you one thing at that table."
"I know."
"No, you don't know. I was asked in front of twenty people whether I was with someone, and I looked at you, and you looked at your plate." Perry's voice was steady, which surprised him. "I said you don't lie to me, and you didn't. You just weren't there."
"Dad was thirty feet away."
"I know where Dad was!"
Blaine flinched.
"Then say it now," Perry said. "Nobody's here. Say it with your mouth."
"What do you want me to say?"
"Whose am I?"
The thunder came again, closer.
Blaine's jaw tightened and loosened.
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