"Don't press your luck, Rex. It means you can buy cigarettes and porn." He grinned, shaking his head. Jamie was well on his way to be a master manipulator, if he truly tried, and wiped the cheeky grin off of his face, there wasn't much that he'd be denied. Albert shook his head in disbelief, before barking out a quick laugh. "Unbelievable. Maybe an hour lopped off of your curfew. That sounds like plenty of leeway to me."
Things settled, and eventually laughter faded with the heavy reality of what he'd witnessed, and how far he and Jamie had slipped away from each other. This... this was good.
"You're welcome." Albert stuffed his hands into his pockets, and was surprised when he did. He hadn't done so since he was a teenager, and the gesture was one comprised entirely of nervous energy. His father used to say that someone who covered their hands was dishonest- was it a guilt thing? "He's not, but the beauty of it, is that I can try, but I don't have to get along with him. Just like he doesn't have to like me."
Albert looked quickly over his shoulder, unsure when Laura would be home. "If you want to call Sam, he's likely home by now. After you're done, we could watch a movie, or I could help you with some homework." He tried to keep his voice casual, not wanting to pressure Jamie into spending time with him, and certainly carefully wording the last half of the offer. He was always willing to help Jamie, but he never outright offered for fear of insulting the boy.