Down London Road

on?” ’
    Traitor
. I sighed, looking away from Cam. So it had got to the point where Cole was now going to our neighbour for help, even when it concerned me. Was I to have no secrets?
    ‘Well?’
    I shrugged. ‘Every now and then it helps me relax.’ I tried to placate him with a smile. ‘Cam, you of all people know my life is stressful. I just do this to relieve it.’
    Seeming to have mercy on me, Cam gave me a slow nod. ‘Right.’ He looked at the floor now, his eyes running along it to the paintwork on the skirting board. Without saying a word he disappeared and turned towards the kitchen. I heard him in the kitchen and then watched him appear, passing the doorway to head along to the bedrooms and bathroom. I heard three doors open. Bathroom, Cole’s room and my room.
    Cam returned to the living room to encounter my ‘look’, featuring raised eyebrows and arms crossed over my chest. His lips twitched at it. Mine did not. ‘Are you done, you nosy bugger?’
    He grinned. ‘You have a lot of books.’
    I harrumphed.
    ‘Explains the vocab.’
    ‘Excuse me?’
    ‘You’re very articulate. Well read.’
    Why did Cam’s compliments always have to be the best? It was very irritating to someone who was trying to get him out from under her skin.
    ‘You’re also talented.’
    Astonishment jolted through my body. ‘Me? Talented?’ Was he high?
    His arm swept around the room. ‘Jo, you should be doing this for a living.’
    ‘Um, doing what?’
    ‘Painting and decorating.’
    I laughed at the absurdity of it. ‘Oh, okay. Who in their right mind would hire a high school dropout with no experience to be a painter and decorator? Let’s face facts. I’m useless, Cam.’
    His eyes instantly hardened, narrowing on me and pinning me in place. ‘You are not useless. Don’t talk about yourself like that in front of me. It pisses me off.’ It was lucky he had no intention of waiting for me to speak, since I didn’t know how to reply or react to the warm fuzzies in my chest. ‘You’re good at this. Really good. I think Nate knows someone with his own company. I could see about getting you an apprenticeship.’
    ‘No. I’m twenty-four. No one hires a twenty-four-year-old apprentice.’
    ‘They do if it’s a favour for a friend.’
    ‘Cam, no.’
    ‘Jo, come on, at least think about it. You enjoy it and you’re good at it. It’s better than working two jobs and dating –’ He stopped himself, blanching when he realized he’d almost crossed the line.
    Well, not really ‘almost’. He had crossed it. I clenched my jaw, forcing back the sting of tears in my eyes as I realized he still saw me that way – the bimbo after the rich guy’s wallet. I wiped the paste off the folding table, deciding to ignore him.
    ‘Jo, think about it. Please.’
    ‘I said no, thanks.’ I couldn’t imagine anyone wouldever want to hire me, and the humiliation of rejection didn’t sound like a lot of fun.
    ‘Jo –’
    ‘Cam, why are you here?’ I cut him off sharply. I immediately regretted my tone, but there was no taking it back.
    He blew out the air between his lips, his eyes searching mine, and as if he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he took a step back. ‘No reason. I better go. I’ve –’
    ‘Jo!’ My mum’s voice cut him off this time, her shrill shriek making us wince.
    It was the first time she’d called for my help since the incident. I sighed heavily and dumped the paste brush back in the bucket. ‘Cam, stay. I’ll see to Mum, you make yourself a coffee. Maybe get me a tea while you’re at it.’
    ‘Jo!’
    ‘I’m coming!’ I shouted and Cam seemed taken aback. ‘What?’ I asked as I moved to pass him.
    He smirked. ‘Never heard you raise your voice.’
    ‘You’ve obviously never seen me approached by a spider.’
    Laughing, Cam waved towards the door. ‘I’ll get the coffee.’
    Feeling relieved that he’d decided to stay I hurried to get whatever Mum needed over and done with.
    To my surprise she was lying in her bed, not seeming to be in any kind of ‘situation’ after all. Oh, God, I hoped she hadn’t lost control of her bladder. That had happened before. ‘What?’ I asked, hovering in the doorway.
    ‘Who is that?’ she asked loudly, nodding her head to indicate behind me. ‘I’ve heard his voice lately. Who is it?’
    It was the first time Mum had really ever taken an interestin anything outside of her gin-soaked, wasted existence and I couldn’t help