“Yes, I’m coming home now. I’ll stop at the corner shop. As soon as I saw them, I wanted to leave.”
There’s a pause. “Vi.”
“Yes.”
“Good girl.”
19
KANE
“Hey, while you’re here, give us a lift with those.” I wave my hand towards the two bookcases in the workshop.
Shane only called for some wood and a saw. “Are they going in your van?”
I scratch the back of my neck. “Vi’s room.”
“You made her some furniture? I take it she’s staying then?”
“For now. I mean, she can stay here for as long as she needs to.”
He lifts one side of the heavy oak bookcase, stained a dark brown. I thought about painting it purple to match her hair, but she would probably say ‘I’m not twelve’. Her favourite phrase. As if I can’t see she’s a woman already with her big tits and those fucking curves.
I grab the other end, and we walk out of the workshop together, towards the house. “What do you need some wood and a saw for, anyway?”
His face twists, but it’s not from the strain of the bookcase. Shane and I have been mates since school. I can tell when something’s on his mind. “Lilly asked me to fix some stuff at her place.”
The bookcase slips from my hands, and I rest it on the step to the house. “Why didn’t she just ask me?” I haven’t seen Lilly for a while, but we’ve been friends long enough. She should know I’d help fix whatever she needs, just like I have many times before.
“I don’t know, man. You’ve been distracted lately.” He nudges the bookcase and I lift it again, carrying it over the threshold.
“Are you two an item now?”
“No, besides, she might still be holding out for you.” His dark eyebrows pull inwards. He knows as well as I do that I don’t deserve Lilly.
“If she is, I’ll cut the string, pal. I can’t offer any woman anything but misery.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Violet’s looking pretty happy. You two seem to rub each other the right way.”
I almost drop the bookcase again. If only he knew. Guilt eats a hole in my gut. “It’s…” If he knew how much of that statement is true, what would he think of me? “It’s nice having her around.”
“Just nice?” He raises an eyebrow.
“She’s not a kid, you know.” I don’t know why I said that, but I need him to know that I don’t see her as a kid. She’s a woman in every physical way and more mature and streetwise than her mother was at her age.
“I never said she was.” His lips lift in the corner. He knows me better than anyone, but does he know how much I want her?
“Look, man. You don’t go making furniture for just anyone. I’ve seen the way you look at her. The same way you looked at Ali. Nobody’s gonna judge you. Although you might wanna get that birth certificate changed.” He chuckles.
“Damn. I forgot about that.”
I walk backwards up the stairs, carrying the bookcase. “So what is it that Lilly needs fixing? You sure you can handle it, or do you need an expert?” I tease.
“Her bed.” His eyes shoot to mine.
The oak slips from my fingers, onto the top step. I let it rest to gather my thoughts.
“A couple of the slats broke—”
