In Our Heads

Chapter 55

*****

"Hey, Dad, cool if I hang out with Lance and the others for a while? We're doing an extra run-through before the game," Cassian spoke as he leaned into his father's study.

He straightened up when his father looked up from the books scattered across the desk, slightly narrowing his eyes at the door.

"'Cool'?"

"I-I mean, is it alright?" he corrected.

"Just Lance? What will Theodore be doing?"

"Working," Cassian replied.

It was what Theodore did every Saturday morning. Usually, he stayed a few extra hours to make more money, but that day he would be ending his shift on time so they could go on their date in the afternoon.

"I am. Zion's spending the day with his friend Corbin's family, so you can kind of... have a day off."

Cassian looked at Theodore who had just joined them in the office.

"Who's Corbin? Do you know his parents?"

He smiled seeing his father frown slightly.

His parents had grown attached to Zion fast and were quite protective. It reminded him of things he had forgotten, like how his mother was equally as obsessed with his safety when he was little as she currently was with Zion's, constantly checking up on him when she was home.

Though, he figured Theodore's over-concern about Zion was rubbing off on them, their reaction to Zion was also impacted by Theodore's parents and everything the two boys had been through.

"I do. They're very kind and he's been there before, they'll take care of him."

"Can we meet these people?"

"Um... I'm sure it's okay, they'll be dropping Zion off this afternoon when I've returned from work."

"Oh. I'll probably be out by then, but Mom should be home. Pity. I wanted to meet them."

Cassian chuckled seeing Theodore give an awkward smile and nod as if he didn't know how to answer, he didn't have to though because they both heard Zion call his name from the top of the stairs.

"Well, we'll see you later. Meet you outside, Cassian." Theodore grinned before heading upstairs.

Once they were alone again, Cassian looked back at his father who had seemingly resumed his work and was writing something down.

"Dad, you didn't say if I could head out?"

"Don't you have to see Henrick in an hour?" Henrick was the man who usually conducted Cassian's management training sessions.

"I re-scheduled it to earlier this morning, he agreed to do it online today. That's why I was in the library at six."

Cassian's father nodded, glancing over him.

"What's the bag for?"

"Change of clothes. We might be swimming or something, just in case."

Derek tilted his head with a sigh.

"Why do I feel like you're up to something? Why does this seem so suspicious?"

"I don't know," Cassian laughed, although feeling his heartbeat irregularly at the thought of his father figuring out his plans for the afternoon.

"Alright, drive carefully."

"I will, Dad."

He backed out of the office before releasing a quiet, but heavy sigh once in the hallway and heading to the garage door.