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"'M not sucking your dick and calling youDaddyor some shit just for… for helping me out," Alex snapped, spinning to shove a finger into Jakob's chest; practically knocking him back from the shock of it, if not the actual force.
"Uh, fine?" Jakob replied, floored and trying to recover from the sheer shock of the kid's words.
His ratherloudwords. Words that had carried far enough to catch the attention of a neon-clad trio of nearby mall joggers, all of whom were now staring at Jakob in intense disapproval as they swept by on their lap.
Jakob cleared his throat as he glanced away, too embarrassed to meet their accusing glares. "Cause, uh — No thank you? You're practically my daughter's age. That would be…No. Just — justno," he repeated, shaking his head; vaguely horrified as he absently rubbed at the now sore spot Alex had poked into him.
Alex scowled, his rather mulish expression reminding Jakob acutely of a surly colt. With a snort, the kid spun on his heel, stalking stiffly off in the direction of the mall's phone kiosk.
Still rather stunned by the whole situation, Jakob watched him go.
Teenagers.He shook his head.As if the one wasn’t enough.
But before Alex had gotten halfway to his goal, he turned back; crossing his arms as he waited for Jakob to slowly catch up.
Well. It was progress, at least.
"How'd you get the limp?" Alex asked as they headed towards the clothing store, the plastic bag holding his new phone already squirreled away in the backpack he had brought with him.
"Rich asshole scared the horse I was riding. How'd you get the attitude?" Jakob shot back, knowing this was just Alex testing boundaries while he had a clear field to run.
With the whole mall at his disposal, he had the distinct advantage. No way Jakob could catch up to him here if he decided to bolt — not with all these people, not with his limp. Here was safe for Alex, the territory in his favor. Jakob's place was an Unknown — and such unknowns were dangerous.
It was thinking Jakob understood all too well, especially after a life as checkered as his. But it was like he had told Ethan; this wasn't Jakob's first time in this sort of situation, not by a long shot. It wasn’t even when it was him lending a hand to someone else who needed it. Just look at Nash, or Shane, or a half dozen others in Jakob's life. A fair few of Cassie's friends, too.
At least they came by it honestly. They might not have a drop of genes from Jakob's adoptive father, but they had sure inherited Frank's habit of collecting strays.
Alex snorted in reply, though; proof enough for Jakob that his gamble had paid off as he watched the corner of the kid's mouth try to twitch up out of his oh-so-serious scowl.
"Alright," Jakob said as they dodged around an inconveniently placed holiday display. "It's not much of a birthday present, but go on and grab some shirts, pants, socks; whatever will get you through a day or two until we can see about getting you sorted out properly."
Briefly, Jakob tried to remember what other things a teenage boy might require. "Cassie and her friends will be able to help organize anything else you need when we get back to the house. They've got — I don't know, some sort of sharing or upcycling system. A few shops they like to go to. I'm sure she can fill you in. Just try not to break the bank on me here, please?"
Jakob had budgeted for the ride-out and breakfast. He hadn't planned for a teenager's shopping spree.
Alex just shrugged as he started drifting off towards the racks of shirts.
Tipping his head back, Jakob mentally recalculated his month's budget; taking out his phone to adjust his grocery list for the addition of a second teenage appetite. His eyes flicked over to where Alex was desultorily picking through the rows of clothing; abruptly remembering Ethan telling him that the kid didn’t just play sports, but was joining a university’s athletics program next fall.
Jakob doubled the figure, remembering how much he and Ethan could put away at that age. Between the food and the clothes, probably a razor and other toiletries, and — Aw fuck, the kid wasn’t wearing a coat, was he? Just a thin navy hoodie, with a hole in the left elbow all tattered and worn. And from the slack in his backpack, there was no way he had one fit for winter on the island stashed in there…
Alex had obviously been too distracted to grab more than the basics when he'd fled from his house. Skinny as he was? Even in San Morado he'd want something to blunt the worst of the winter wind. And out on the island, the wind off the ocean cut a lot sharper this time of year than it did on the mainland. Kid didn't need a parka or anything, but certainly something with a shell layer to blunt the worst of the weather; especially if this turned out to be one of the one-in-a-dozen years they got snow.
But what fleeing teenager is thinking about appropriate winter gear in his kind of situation?
There goes that new pair of work boots, Jakob thought with a sigh as he added a few more lines to the budget.
Ah well — his current set might be scruffy, but he hadn't completely worn through the soles yet. They would last another month or two, hopefully. He would just have to make it work.
Chapter 9
Jakob checked the time on his phone absently — his eyes tracking Alex's progress through the store as he shopped.
The kid had a couple of shirts picked out already and what looked like a pair of jeans bundled under his arm, so hopefully they wouldn't be too much longer.
Jakob needed to get back before the feed delivery came. The hands never could seem to stack the feedbags right unless someone was practically breathing down their necks, watching ‘em.
Last delivery, a couple of the bags had shifted; ripping open when they had fallen and spilling the sticky sweetgrain all over the floor of the feed room. The resulting mess had undoubtedly made the resident mouse population happy — and the barn cats even happier — but it was something Jakob would rather avoid this time around.
