Thief(7)

“Hey,” I say, putting all the bags down on the coffee table in front of him, and I notice he’s put on a blue t-shirt. “Go and take a break. I’ve got this.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, looking uncertain. “Jasmine and Sierra will be home soon, after their dance class. They can—”

“Dash,” I say, grabbing his burger and fries and giving them to him. “Eat and study. Go.”

He looks in the bag then back at me, an odd expression on his face. I ignore him and pull out the two bowls of soup with two plastic spoons then set the candy and medicine out on the table. Dash takes the hint and leaves the room, while I get the girls to finish their soup, take the medicine, and then, last of all, eat their candy as a reward.

“I like the name Viola,” Savannah tells me. “It’s pretty.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “You all have beautiful names too. Are you feeling any better now?”

“A little,” Mari yawns. “I feel sleepy.”

They both end up falling asleep on the couch. I tidy up the living room, knowing I’m surely crossing boundaries but being unable to help myself, and then I go and find Dash, who is doing his work in the kitchen.

“Hey,” I say, approaching him. “The girls are fast asleep, so I’m going to head home.”

He looks tired. I have to wonder where their father is, and why it seems like Dash is the father figure of the house.

“Wait, I want to give you some money for all the stuff you got.”

He stands up, but I wave him off. “Don’t bother. If you need anything else, give me a call. Do you have my number?”

He shakes his head. I hold out my hand, and he places his phone in my palm, our fingers briefly touching. I save my number is his phone under ‘Vi’, flash him a small smile, and then leave his house.

And when I go home, I thank my mum and dad for all they do for me.

*****

Friday morning, I open my locker to find a note and a red rose. I open the note, and two words are scribbled in the middle.

Thank you.

I smile and lift the rose to my nose, smelling the sweet scent. I then put it back in my locker, close it, and walk to my first class, an extra spring in my step.





Chapter Five


I sit down on Max’s couch, eating a popsicle, when I hear him mutter a curse. “What’s wrong?”

“Dash has to bring his sisters to the game today again, which means he’ll be distracted. He has to check on them, of course, so he’s always looking at them instead of focusing.”

I suck on the popsicle then say, “I can look after them. I’m not doing anything.”

Max’s head snaps to me. “Really? You’d do that?”

I nod. “Sure, why not? I can hang out with them at the game, or I can go to his house, or whatever is easiest.”

“I’ll message him and see what he says,” Max tells me, texting furiously. “You’re a lifesaver, Vi.”

“Well I can’t have my best friend lose his game, now can I?”

Max grins and lies back on me, resting his head on my stomach. “Yeah, you’re the one who would have to hear me complain about it for the next month.”

“Don’t I know it,” I grumble. “Also, Dash should be able to enjoy a little without always having to worry about his sisters.”

“Agree completely,” Max says, lifting his phone when it beeps. “Dash said he would owe you one if you wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on them while he plays.”

“Tell him it’s no problem. You’ve been trying to get me at a game for ages now anyway.”

Max chuckles as he texts Dash back. “Yeah, because you’re good luck. I’ve never lost a game when you’re there.”

“Well, if you lose tomorrow, don’t try and bring me into it,” I say, gently tugging on his hair. “Blame your team.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles, putting his phone down. “We won’t lose. Not with Dash being focused and you there as my good luck charm.”

“If Dash ever needs me to look after the twins, tell him to just message me, all right?” I tell Max. “I don’t mind amusing them for every game you guys have to play. Just remember me when you’re playing for the NBA.”

“Remember you? You’ll be right by my side, Vi,” Max says softly, closing his eyes. “I’ll buy you a house right next to mine. A huge one. You won’t have to work or anything.”

“I want to work,” I tell him, smiling at his kindness. “But I won’t say no to living next to you, growing old together. My kids playing with yours.”

“Your son better keep his hands off my daughter,” he jokes, making me laugh.

“Your son is going to be a player, just like his dad.”

Max scoffs and lifts his head back to look at me, eyes opening. “I’m not a player. In fact, I’ve been extremely good this year.”

“It’s the start of the year, Max,” I point out, smirking. “Like, the very start.”

“And this is why you’re single, Vi. All you do is nag.”

I pinch his arm and he laughs.

We watch TV like that, him lying on me, until it’s time for us to go to basketball. Dash and his sisters are waiting for us when we get there, and Dash comes up to me straight away and pulls me into his arms. “I seriously don’t know how I can thank you enough.”