(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 298

Chapter 298: No one escapes family dinner

"Uh, do we...need a crowd?" Kellen finally asked, glancing between his parents. "Um, we were planning to invite you to dinner, as long as Taylor says that you can move." Kellen said and Taylor stared at him in surprise. So did Kellen’s Dad and Mom.

"Why didn’t you mention this earlier?" Taylor asked, tsking. Rhys was the one who took over in the face of Taylor’s displeasure.

"Because you look like the walking dead, Green. We’re both worried, but also know you aren’t going to take a break any time soon. Kellen and I just didn’t want to worry you, and we didn’t think moving up to ou-Kellen’s apartment would be too far of a stretch." Kellen gave Rhys a strange look. He wasn’t normally one to mess up his words.

Kellen’s Mom’s lip twitched, while Taylor looked disgusted again.

"Huh. Sure. Well, let me have a closer look, and I’ll decide if that’s okay, alright? He’s mostly in to monitor and make sure he doesn’t strain the new skin on his neck, so I don’t think moving that much should be a problem. I just want to be sure." Taylor said, and Kellen was grateful. Somehow he’d managed to diffuse his parents’ anger, if only temporary, for the moment.

Charlie glanced around, a little nervous.

"I should...go get dinner then, shouldn’t I?" He asked and Kellen glanced at him. Kellen’s Dad was staring at the boy fondly.

"You’re coming to dinner too, Charlie, and so is Taylor." Taylor flinched.

"No, I couldn’t-"

"Taylor Green." Kellen’s Dad’s voice was firm and Taylor froze. "If you do not come to dinner with us, I will not only inform your parents what you are doing to your body, but I will put you in a time out. Rhys will not be able to stop me from doing so." He warned. Kellen had to hide his smile, glee filling him as he wasn’t the only one getting scolded.

Taylor looked lost.

"But I...I have so many things to do." Taylor said and Kellen’s Dad’s expression chilled.

"Are they more important than eating a good meal with me?" He demanded and Taylor’s jaw dropped.

"W-Well, it’s work for the Guild..." She mumbled and he narrowed his gaze.

"Not good enough. I will ask someone to restrain you if you fight anymore. That also means you don’t need to go through the tedious process of checking me again. Ellie, help me up out of the bed." Kellen’s Dad stuck his hand out and his Mom raced over.

Taylor, flustered at his behaviour, rushed to unplug him from the several machines he was hooked up to while Kellen and Rhys shifted slightly to the side of the door.

"Is this...normal?" Rhys asked and Kellen shook his head.

"No. Dad is usually the calmer of the two. He doesn’t normally boss others around this obviously. He must be getting tired of being cooped up." Kellen whispered back and Rhys nodded, rubbing his fingers against Kellen’s hand that he held.

"Huh. A good thing is that we offered dinner in compensation then, hmm?" Kellen nodded in agreement as they watched his Mom fuss over her husband, and Taylor try to weasel her way out of it. It was kind of funny to watch, honestly.

Charlie sided up to them during that time, appearing nervous and hesitant.

"Is it really okay for me to come? Isn’t it...time for you to be close as a family?" Charlie asked carefully. Kellen stared at the younger man. He wasn’t short by any means, but he did hunch himself over, curling in on himself over until he was smaller. Kellen wondered if that was a self defense method, or a lack of confidence thing.

It could have been both, honestly. Charlie was just...so small and young that Kellen hated that he already had these behaviours.

His amber eyes were a little brighter then he’d last seen them, and his cheeks were plumper. The dye line in his hair was becoming more obvious, and Kellen was slightly curious about the colour coming in. It looked...dirty, but Kellen felt that was just because so little of his true hair colour was showing that it just appeared that way.