The Fallout | ✓

18 - favorite girl

Q U I N C E Y

"I'll just head inside. Mom in there?"

"Still at her book club. I'll join you in a few to round the cookie dough," Dad ruffles my hair earning a glare.

"I'll leave you two to it," I head inside, sparing one last glance at Maddox who's already in his element, sitting in the old car and examining every little detail it has to offer.

Maddox had been car-obsessed before he could learn how to pronounce words. His mom used to be a racer and she taught him everything she knew about her career. He'd been a mama boy through and through and he had every reason for it. I've had the pleasure of meeting Cali Broski and if the term 'cool mom' suits anyone, it definitely suits no one better than her.

I enter the kitchen and get to work, preparing the appetizers Mom always assigns me to make since I'm not that great in the kitchen. It's been that way forever. Knox and I had always depended on our parents cooking and we never really got into it and barely learned the basis. I wonder how he's surviving in college.

That thought sends sourful feelings through me. I'd always envied Knox for having the opportunity to go to college. Getting a scholarship had been the dream that kept me breathing and thriving in life. Until it wasn't. But I guess we can't all have what we want. Some people were destined to do great things and others... not so much.

A few minutes later, Dad joins me and starts rounding the dough he'd already prepared long before we came. He takes out a smaller tray and makes a patch for Kenz before moving the trays into the oven. He's staring at me and I'm avoiding his gaze. The questions it probably holds. My parents mastered the art of investigation and it was their favorite past time hobby. Mom could stay on the phone for hours interrogating Knox about every little detail in his life, from girls to the very type of detergent he uses to wash his stinky hockey socks.

"Are you and Max a thing now?"

I splutter, the knife in my hand barely missing my fingers, "Dad!"

"I just meant it in a platonic way!" He raises his hands in surrender but the lift in the side of his lips says completely otherwise.

"Your tone suggested otherwise," I flush busying myself with the task at hand. Talking to Mom about things like this is embarrassing, but crossing the line with Dad? Yeah, that's a new level of mortifying. "We're just friends," Who kissed and felt each other up, "It'll stay that way."

"Good," His voice no longer holds playfulness, "I don't want my daughter to get hurt again. I'm not gonna allow it if I can," He wraps his gigantic arm around my neck and hugs me from the back.

"You're going to kill me," I say but inside, I'm feeling warmth spread over the discomfort in the truth in his words. A hot tear slides down my cheek and I quickly wipe it before he can notice.

"I'm just hugging my favorite girl," He says before drawing back and squeezing my shoulder in comfort like he knows all the thoughts occupying my brain.

"You're favorite girl, hm? Hello, where am I in this equation?!" Mom enters the kitchen, a frown between her eyebrows and I smile as Dad tries to gloss over his words to satisfy her.

Maddox enters after her, recycled grocery bags in his hands, and when his eyes lock with mine and he sees the smile in them, he smiles back at me and I almost chop one of my fingers then and there.

"Stop trying to charm my daughter Broski. I'm not paying for a lawyer if something happens to you."

"I-I wasn't trying to do anything," A blush coats his face as he sets the bags on the counter island, and when my mom notices how flustered he is she coos.

"Stop being mean to Maxi boy Derik."

"You're just jealous Quinn is my favorite."

She glowers, "Are you sure you want to have this conversation right now? I can make you real sorry for it."

"No, no— ʼcourse not."

She smiles, opening one of the drawers and pulling out her favorite knife.

Maddox's face pales and I have to hold my laugh in as Mom grins at him while tying on her apron, the sun reflecting against the shiny knife and making its presence known.

* * *

"How's Hasiley doing?" Mom asked after we'd beasted the creamy Tuscan chicken she'd made.

"She's sick of being sick all the time," Maddox set his fork on his cleanly scraped plate and let his back lean against the chair. "And she has a reason to excuse her annoying nature."

He brushed back his hair and his eyes moved back to mine before they found Mom's again, "I should probably head back now but thank you for having me. Best food I've had in forever."

Mom rolled her eyes, "Stop acting like a guest Max. You know you're family and family is always welcome here. Come back anytime."

"You guys need help with the dishes?" I asked as I started stacking the plates.

Maddox made a move to walk forward to help, but Mom dragged him back, "We've got it don't worry."

His brows furrowed, "Are you sure? I don't mind Lou."

"Yup. Now you two get out of here."

"Mom," I sighed as I put down the plates into the sink, "Can you say it any nicer than that?"

"Nope."

Maddox's chuckle did weird things to my belly.

"Okay, let's get out since we're not welcome here anyway." I headed toward the door while Maddox kissed Mom's cheek and that little gentle action coming from the beefy man warmed my heart more than it should.

"The cookies! Don't forget the cookies!!" Dad yelled before the front door could shut behind us.

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I have a chem exam tomorrow and something about ignoring my studies sometimes inspires anxiety writing so.. Here you go, another chapter I've cooked.

I appreciate you and I hope all of you are doing well<3

lots of love and confetti,
—faith

WED - 7:26PM
Oc18, 2023