When she saw the three of them wearing the same expression, Natasha knitted her brows. “What's wrong? Is there a problem?”
Anthony was the first to shake his head. “No, not at all. Your sudden appearance just gave us a scare. That's all.”
Benjamin nodded to second his brother's words.
Natasha swept a suspicious gaze across the three of them. “You wouldn't be on your toes if your conscience was clear.”
Anthony eked out an awkward smile.
“Spit it out. What are you hiding from me?” Natasha refused to let the matter go.
The sudden question caused the three of them to exchange panicking glances.
Having little patience, Natasha turned her attention to Kenneth. “You tell me.”
The question stunned Kenneth. “Me?”
Natasha nodded at him.
Anthony and Benjamin shifted their gaze to Kenneth, grinning in schadenfreude.
Kenneth cleared his throat as he walked up to her and wrapped his hand around her slender waist. “Well, the boys asked me not to tell you, so...” Kenneth put on a conflicted expression.
His sons were immediately dumbfounded.
Daddy, how could you do this to us?
The boys stared at their father in disbelief.
What was I supposed to say? It's not like I have a better choice.
He cleared his throat again and averted his gaze.
Whatever.
It was then that Natasha's gaze fell upon her sons. From the look in her eyes, she had clearly run out of patience.
Benjamin decided to take control of the situation. “Fine. I'll come clean, Nat. We met this girl called Alexia, and it was she who sent us home. After that, Daddy reminded us not to tell you about it.”
What the...
This time, it was Kenneth who gave his son a stunned look, and he wasn't alone in doing so.
Anthony was equally shocked, for Benjamin had blurted out those words while he was still racking his brains about what to say.
He tilted his head and gave his brother a look of surprise.
Since when did he become so sharp in his speech? I have to admit, it's a really good alibi. Even I didn't think of it.
Ignoring his father's shocked look, Anthony nodded in agreement. “That's right.”
Natasha turned to look at Kenneth, who shook his head in denial, again.
Unexpectedly, Natasha didn't seem quite bothered at all. Instead, she asked calmly, “Did you manage to find Thalia?”
Anthony shook his head. “No.”
“So why were you out for so long?” Natasha probed.
“We ran into Alexia halfway, which took up some of our time,” Benjamin said in an innocent tone.
Kenneth was flummoxed.
This isn't the story we agreed to.
This time, it was Benjamin who repeated Kenneth's reaction by averting his gaze with an oblivious expression.
Upon hearing their words, Natasha nodded slightly. “All right, I understand.”
“So...”
“Why don't you boys go back to your room? I'll call you if I need you,” Natasha said.
Anthony and Benjamin nodded in unison. “All right.”
“Go on now.”
With that, the boys turned and left.
While walking, both of them whispered to each other, “Benjamin, what has gotten into you today?”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: You're Out, Daddy novel (Natasha and Kenneth)