Shadow of the Day (Wolf Moon Sequel)

Chapter 56: Miscalculated

Lila POV

When my dad got home from work, he wasn't alone. The extra voice had me pausing on the steps, suspicious as I listened. He didn't bring coworkers or friends by the house without mentioning it first, so I didn't trust this at all. 

Even less so when I made out the other voice. 

"You didn't have to return this so quickly, I'm sure you have plenty to do," Dad said. 

"I wanted to thank you for the meal," Devin said, gruff but grateful. I raced down the steps to find Devin at my front door with my dad who was holding a tupperware container, both of them taking off their coats and boots. 

Why was Devin taking off his coat? He could not be staying. No way in hell.

"Hello, Lila," he said, a slow grin stretching across his face where he stood behind my dad. 

"Dad?" I questioned, ignoring him entirely. 

"Joe was just returning this," Dad said, waving the tupperware. "I gave Ivy some pasta to take home the other day."

"It was delicious. I'm not much of a cook so a home made meal was a nice change of pace," Devin grunted in Joe's grudgingly rough manner. 

"It tastes better when it's fresh, but I'm glad you enjoyed it," Dad said, inviting him fully into our home. When Dad caught my eye, he gave me the trademark 'be polite, we have company' wide eyed signal, one I wished I could return with a 'what the hell do you think you're doing? kick him out right now!' signal only I didn't have one and I wasn't so sure he would listen to it anyway.

"So what brings you by? Where's Ivy?" I asked, forcing myself into some semblance of polite host even though I wanted to drag Devin outside by his throat. His threat about going after my dad was too fresh in my mind to be comfortable having him here in my house. Already he could easily go after my dad while I was in class or busy with Ivy or running, and coming here was a violation as well as a big 'screw you' to me to prove he was making good on his threat, even better yet because he got himself invited in instead of having to break in like some common criminal.

"Studying. Big exam coming up," Joe said as we all trooped into the kitchen. 

"That's good, I'm glad she's still keeping up with her homework," Dad said, storing the tupperware away in the cupboard. "I don't know if she mentioned it to you, but it'd be nice to have you both over for dinner soon."

"Sounds great." Devin was probably more enthusiastic about this invitation than any of us, no doubt already trying to decided the different types of chaos he could wreak by having us all sitting together for a meal. "I'd like to speak with you if possible, just the two of us."

"Sure," Dad said, turning his attention to me. "Give us a minute? I'll get dinner started, okay?"

"Yeah, no problem," I said, giving Devin the side eye. No way was I going far and leaving them alone together. He winked at me and I wanted to punch him in the eye, but I settled for stomping up the stairs, making a ton of noise and closing my bedroom door extra loud, straining to hear what was going on downstairs. 

"Is something wrong?" Dad asked. "Ivy's alright, isn't she?"

"'Course she is. Just wanted to talk to the man who raised my daughter," Devin said. 

Sure he did. I crept down the hall and the steps, sticking close to the wall to avoid the creakiest parts of the stairs until I was nearly at the bottom and could hear better and be close enough to stop Devin if he tried anything. Lucky for me, the living room TV was reflecting enough of the kitchen that I could keep an eye on them without peeking around the corner and getting caught. No details, just vague shapes, but it was better than nothing.