Page 9 of Tough Love

He eyes my obsessive sorting of insignificant objects, and sighs. “Guess I’ll give you both a lift then.”

As handy as that would be, the thought of sitting in such close proximity to this ridiculously chivalrous man has me breaking out in a sweat. “It’s okay. We can take a cab.” I’ve barely managed to hold it together at arm’s length. No telling what I’d do in the confines of a car.

“Know where you’re going?”

Right. I haven’t got a clue if Kath’s still in the same suburb, let alone house. “Fine. You win.”

His lips tug up in a smirk, and as naturally as though Briar were his own child, he extends one hand to my nephew while gathering his coat and belt with the other. Briar threads his tiny fingers through Evan’s giant paw, and walks by his side toward the exit.

I hang back, taking in the sight as I will my racing heart to ease.You can do this.Evan will be on his way within the hour, and I’ll have only Briar to focus on for a day or two at most, surely. He’s a kid. Feed him, clothe him, wash him. Simple. Right?

Aw, hell.Who the fuck am I kidding?

FOUR

“What kind of phone is it?”

“Pardon?” I glance up from checking Briar’s lap belt for the hundredth time and meet Evan’s eyes in the rear-view. He’s got us both in the back of his patrol car like common criminals. Guess I kind of feel like one, given how neglectful I am of my own flesh and blood.

I’m taking the nephew I’ve never met back to my sister’s house. The sister I couldn’t bring myself to see, even when she’s laid out in critical condition.

My hand drifts to my chest to check I actually have a heart.Yep, still beating.

“Your phone,” Evan clarifies. “It was dead? If it’s an iPhone, I have a charger in the glove compartment.”

“You do?” Is there anything he doesn’t have an answer for? Oh yeah, that’s right—sixteen-year-old me.

He nods in answer to my question, a small frown visible in the mirror. “Yeah. It got left behind after I picked up a drunk and disorderly a few weeks back. Found it under the seat when I cleared the car that night and just threw it in there.”

“That would be great. I really need to leave my parents a message.” My words fade as I settle my gaze on the boy who’s currently staring right back at me. “But I can do it when we get back to Kath’s place.”

Briar doesn’t need to hear the details. He might not know how bad she is, but kids are damn perceptive—he’ll know enough.

“Pass it over and I’ll charge it anyway.”

We set off minutes later to an address different to the last one I knew, the blue light on the USB adapter mesmerising me as we travel. I should say something to Briar, make small talk, but what the hell do I ask a six-year-old when I don’t even have the foggiest what they watch on TV these days? Does Kath even let him watch TV, or is she one of these new-age parents who’s so tuned in to their kid’s learning that they have nightly sessions with flash cards to teach him a second language?

I’m so out of my depth.

“So,” Evan pipes up, breaking our awkward silence. “What’s your favourite thing for dinner, Briar?”

Damn it. He needs feeding. Why didn’t I think of that?

“Macaroni cheese,” Briar answers, his back straightening as he perks up beside me.

I look over and smile, my fingers worrying the thread on my jeans once more. “Think you could help me out when we get to your place, and show me where things are in your kitchen?”

He turns his smiling face up to mine, and the quirk of his lips quickly fades. “Yeah.”

He’s worried about me. He doesn’t trust me.Damn it.I need Mum here. Mum always knows what to do.

Evan turns into a narrow street, identical duplexes lining either side, and ducks his head to peer out the windshield as we cruise. Kids in the street stop their game of kickball and eye the cop car suspiciously as we come to a stop outside a tidy, well-presented property.

“Home sweet home, buddy.”

I stay in place, swallowing back my anxieties as Evan exits the car and opens our locked doors in turn. With a spin of his wrist and a lazy smile he, coaxes me out.

“M’lady.”

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