"Stop this. Or I'll tell Mom."
Avalon's expression hardened. If he had to be honest, that was the last thing he expected Atticus to say.
And somehow… it was the best weakness Atticus could have exploited.
"…Atticus."
Avalon gave him a small smile, but to Atticus, it wasn't a smile at all.
His father's emotions came crashing onto him, and the most overwhelming of them was shame.
That smile held only one thing: sadness.
Avalon looked at him, his eyes pleading.
"Please… just drop it."
But Atticus shook his head. "No. It's not right. If it were up to me, I might've let you be. But it's not. Mom's already worried. If she finds out what you're doing… it'll break her heart."
Avalon's fist clenched tighter. "Which is why you shouldn't tell her."
"I'm not doing that to her," Atticus replied instantly. "I won't."
Avalon's voice dropped, turning bitter. "Why are you making it sound like you don't keep secrets? We all know you do. Why can't you just keep mine?"
Atticus fell silent.
