Page 85 of Employing Patience

That afternoon, when I stop to fill my car up, he’s already at the gas pump as I pull in. He flicks me a wave before he leaves.

He picks up extra shifts that week, so his name is all over my schedule and his image is all over my CCTV; he’s at Freddy’s when I get there with the niblings to pick out their treat. Sure, maybe I’m earlier than usual, and he’s not finished yet, but even when I ask him what he’s still doing working here, he just says he likes it before disappearing out back.

I’m grinding my teeth as I watch him walk away before I catch on to what I’m doing.

“I want a piggyback ride!” Gus all but yells.

And even though I’m irritated with Joey, I dig deep for my most patient uncle voice. “I can’t give you one and not your sister, so no piggyback rides today.”

“I don’t want one from you.” And before I can stop him, Gus runs off.

Fuck.

Alice shakes her head. “He’s out of control.”

“Stop being judgy,” I throw her way before heading to the end of the aisle where her brother disappeared. Before I can get panicky about losing sight of him though, Joey walks out of the back room with Gus on his back.

“Ready to go?” he asks.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Walking with us, are you?”

“Can’t deny Gus his piggyback ride.”

While last time, I didn’t want Joey anywhere near me or my niblings, this time, I have to fake exasperation before heading to the checkout to pay.

Alice climbs onto my back as soon as we’re outside, and we head for the school. Something warm and unstable is rocketing through my gut, giving a leap each time our arms bump together or Joey points out something to Gus.

“Birdies!” Gus shrieks, and Joey takes off running after them.

“Your friend is being weird,” Alice says.

“Why?”

“He’s not talking to you. Aren’t you friends anymore?”

Jesus. When even an eight-year-old can pick up on the tension, at least I know it’s not all in my mind. “We were never friends,” I say.

“Didn’t look that way to meee.”

“Are you being nosy again?”

“Asking questions isn’t nosy. Mamã says it’s how we learn.”

“Well, there’s nothing you need to learn about when it comes to Joey.” I glare after him as he jogs down the street, Gus bouncing on his back. That unsettled itching is coming back, making me want to run after them.

Why am I fighting this?

The question hits me so fast and hard I actually stop walking for a second.

“Alice?” I ask.

“Yeah?”

I can’t believe I’m about to ask the advice of a child. “What do you do when you get a crush on someone in your class?”

She squeaks into my shoulder, reminding me of the kid she was before she started doing all this growing up. “I don’t like anyone.”

“But if you did?”

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