Rolling onto my drive, he stops pacing and walks towards the house in full uniform. Handcuffs hang from his belt, causing a flutter in my core. The sun sets in the distance, giving him a red glow like a fiery dragon with smoke billowing from his nostrils.
Plastering on a smile, I swing the door open with a trembling hand and step outside, ready to face him.
“Hey, trouble.” He flicks ash on my driveway.
I frown. “You know those things will kill you.”
He huffs. “Lung cancer’s the least of my worries right now.” He stubs the cigarette out on my brick wall, then lifts the lid to my bin and tosses it inside.
“Well, at least you’re not littering the place up with fag ends.” I slide the key into the front door and turn. “Is everything all right?”
He trails behind me, following like a shadow as if he wants to come in. “I was just passing on my way home from work. Thought I’d check in,” he says it so nonchalantly, but his stiff posture tells a different story.
Opening my front door, I toss the keys onto the metal dish on the cabinet in the hall. “Everything all right at work,” I ask, wondering why he’s so agitated. It’s not unusual for him to showup here. Since I stopped sleeping with Kane, or rather since Kane’s preoccupied, Shane’s been calling round more, checking in and making sure I’m okay. I guess he never had to look out for me while Kane was always around to do that.
“Fine. Everything all right at your work?” he says, entering my home.
“Same as usual.” I take my coat off and hang it on the hook, manoeuvring around Shane in my small hallway. “Do you want a drink?”
“Sure.” He stops behind me as I slip off my shoes and wiggle my toes. “Long shift?”
“Yes, these twelve-hour days are killers.” I bend over to lift my shoes onto the shoe rack. My breath halts as large hands hold my hips, warmth seeping through my tunic, lighting a fire in my centre.
“I’ll put the kettle on. You put your feet up.” Shane squeezes past me in the tiny hallway.
I rise from my bent position, relaxing with an exhale as he makes his way into my kitchen. “Milky coffee for me, please.”
“I know.” He opens a cupboard like he lives here. I guess he’s been here enough times to know his way around. He even helped Kane fit my kitchen units a few years back. One thing I miss about Kane is how handy he was at DIY. Even if he was emotionally unavailable.
“I’m going to the Black Crow tonight,” he says, filling the kettle.
“Oh?” I wish I could go, but since I’m gaining subscribers, I need to do my live tonight.
“Haven’t seen you down there for a while. Why don’t you come?” He looks back over his shoulder with piercing dark brown eyes.
“Er.” My chest bursts with excitement like a party popper exploding in my lungs because he’s noticed my absence. “I’vebeen working. I’m going to take a bath and get an early night.” As much as I’d love to hang out with him at the bar tonight, I have other commitments.
He flicks the switch on the kettle and turns around to face me. Leaning back against the worktop, he stuffs his hands in his black trouser pockets. “Are you sure everything’s all right with you?” His eyes bore into me as if he’s trying to extract the answer telepathically.
I give him my brightest smile. It’s not hard as I’m still giddy from the burst of happiness that he’s missing me. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You’ve been working a lot lately. Are you in trouble?” He lifts his hands from his pocket and places them on the worktop behind him. “I mean, do you have money?”
All the excitement drains from me like streamers from the popper falling to the floor. “Why, do you need some?” I deflect. He doesn’t need to know how much debt I’m in. Or how I’m getting it under control.
“Of course not. I just want to make sure you’re all right.” Shane turns his back to me, pouring the water into the mugs. “Just because I’m not with your sister anymore doesn’t mean I can’t bail you out of trouble.”
“Always the hero. But I’m not a kid anymore.” Shane’s protective side is one thing I love about him, but not when he makes me feel like I’m fifteen again. “I can take care of myself. And I’ve been doing just that since Mum went into the home.”
“I know. It’s just…”
I shuffle on my feet, biting into my bottom lip as I wait for him to finish. The sound of the spoon tinkling against the ceramic mug cuts through the tension stretching between us.
He hands me my milky coffee with an exhale, his brows pulled together. “I worry about you sometimes. You’re alwaysthere for everyone else. I just want to let you know that I’m here for you. If you need anything.”
“Thank you.” I blow on my hot drink, curling both hands around the mug, warming my palms. It’s nice to know he cares enough to check in on me. Since Fern became a single parent, she’s barely getting by herself. And now I've my brother relying on me for help, but I can’t tell Shane that. They hate each other.
“You can tell me anything, you know.” He lifts his mug to his lips and takes a gulp. “Just because we’re no longer family doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. And if you’re struggling, running yourself ragged, studying and working extra shifts, I want to know.”
