Ada moved her breakfast around on her plate with her fork.
Brax opened the door and let Casey in ahead of him. "After you, mate. Home sweet home, eh?"
Ada scrambled to her feet. "Case?"
She ran towards him. He embraced her, lifting her up so high her feet came off the floor.
She sighed with relief. "You're back. You're alright?"
"Yeah." He replied. "I'm alright."
Brax slapped him on the back. "It's good to be home, eh?"
Casey smiled.
Marco tapped on the door. "So, the rumours are true."
Casey's smile turned to a grin. "Mate."
Marco stepped inside and hugged him, patting him hard on the back. "Good to see you."
"Hey," Brax said, "Why don't you boys grab a surf? Me and Ada have got stuff to chat about."
"Alright..." Case said suspiciously. He turned to Marco. "You keen?"
"Yeah, sure. Let's go."
The boys grabbed their boards and ran down the path.
Brax gestured to the kitchen table. Ada took a seat and shifted uncomfortably.
Brax perched on the edge of the sofa. "I paid Jaxson." He said.
"Brax." She sighed. "You didn't have to do that. I would have found a way."
"Nah. It's done now. All of it. It's over." He said sternly. "I know that you get angry and you lash out but it can't happen anymore."
She dodged his gaze. "Okay."
He leaned in. "I'm serious. You can't stuff up like that again. It's not always going to end like this."
"I know."
"If something is going on in your head you better figure it out and sort it because from now on you keep your nose clean. You fall in line. Do you understand me?"
She stayed silent and fiddled with her fingers.
"Eh?" He prompted.
Ada looked at him and swallowed. "Yes."
"Good." He stood to his feet and let out a long, painful sigh. "Ad, all this... I can't do this with you. You're not the boys, you're better than it."
She stared at the table and chewed the edge of her thumb.
Brax lifted his hands behind his head. He threw them back down by his sides. "Just don't do this to me again, alright?"
She gave him a nod.
He grabbed his keys and stalked out the door, slamming the door behind him.
Casey and Marco emerged from the water and waded to the shore. They threw their boards down and dried themselves off with their towels.
"How was that?" Marco grinned.
Casey scoffed. "Mate, you have no idea how much I've missed the water."
"Just another perk of being out of lock up, eh?"
Casey beamed. "Yeah. Hey? What was that all about at the house with Brax and Ad?"
"Ah." Marco threw his towel down and scratched his forehead. "Ad got arrested."
Casey gawked at him. "What?"
"Yeah, she trashed a place in Yabby Creek with Jaxson."
"Has she lost it?" He shouted.
"It's alright. They dropped the charges, but it could've been worse. She got involved on a job that turned sour too."
