Down London Road

until I can find another job. If you could get me an application form, I’d appreciate it.’
    Why I decided to be helpful considering I didn’t very much like him, or his attitude, remained a mystery as I replied, ‘I’ll do one better. I’ll speak to my manager and I’ll give her your number.’
    He stared at me a moment and I couldn’t for the life of me work out what was going on behind his eyes. Finally, he nodded slowly. ‘Okay, thanks. My number is –’
    At that moment my phone vibrated in my hands and I lifted it to stare at the screen.
    I’m home from Jamie’s house. Stop panicking. Cole.
    The tension melted from my body and I sighed, quickly texting him back.
    ‘Jo?’
    I glanced up and noted Malcolm’s raised eyebrows.
    Damn. Cam’s number. I flushed, realizing I’d completely blanked on him when I got Cole’s message. I sent him a sheepish smile of apology, one that ricocheted off his steely countenance. ‘Sorry. Your number?’
    Unamused, he rattled it off for me and I typed it into my phone.
    ‘I’ll give this to her tomorrow.’
    ‘Yeah, sure,’ he responded in a bored tone, suggestinghe didn’t think I had the brain cells to remember to do that.
    His attitude towards me pricked, but I decided not to let it bother me, snuggling more happily into Malcolm’s side now that I knew Cole was tucked in safe in our flat on London Road.



2
    While Becca no doubt tried to talk Malcolm into extending the lease on the gallery, I wandered off towards the coat rail, my back to the room as I called Cole.
    ‘What?’
    I made a face at the way my little brother had taken to answering the phone lately. Apparently, becoming a teenage boy meant that the carefully seeded manners I’d tried to plant in him were no longer applicable. ‘Cole, you answer the phone like that to me again and I’m selling the PS3 on eBay.’ I’d dipped into our savings to buy him the video console for Christmas. It had been worth it at the time. Apparently becoming a teenager meant Cole no longer had the ability to show excitement. I tried to make Christmas as thrilling as possible for Cole when he was a kid, and I got all juiced up on how crazy happy he got when Santa was coming. Those days had disappeared somewhere, and I missed them. However, the sight of Cole’s shy grin when he opened his PS3 had given me that feeling back for a moment. He’d even patted me on the shoulder and told me I’d done good.
Condescending little shit
, I thought affectionately.
    Cole sighed. ‘Sorry. I told you I was home. I got a lift off Jamie’s dad.’
    I breathed an inward sigh of relief. ‘Have you done your homework?’
    ‘I’m trying to do it just now but someone keeps interrupting me with paranoid texts and phone calls.’
    ‘Well, if you contact me at the time you say you will I won’t bug you so much.’
    He just grunted. This was a response I was becoming familiar with.
    I nibbled on my lip, feeling my stomach flip unpleasantly. ‘How’s Mum?’
    ‘Out for the count.’
    ‘You had dinner?’
    ‘Pizza at Jamie’s.’
    ‘I left you a Pop-Tart if you’re still hungry.’
    ‘Cheers.’
    ‘You going to bed soon?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Promise?’
    Another big sigh. ‘Promise.’
    I nodded, trusting him. He had a small group of friends he played video games with and didn’t get into trouble with; he was studious, and helpful around the house on occasion. As a little boy he’d been the sweetest thing to ever come into my life. He’d been my shadow. As a teenager things like being openly affectionate with your big sister were uncool. I was learning to adjust to the transition. I refused, however, to ever let a day pass without him knowing how loved he was. Growing up, I’d never had that in my life and I was going to make damn sure that Cole did. No matter how goofy he thought I was. ‘I love you, baby boy. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
    I hung up before he could grunt at me again and spun around, only to inhale sharply.
    Cam stood before me. He looked at me as he pulled Becca’s phone out of her coat, which was hanging on the rail. His gaze skimmed down my figure again before coming to rest on the floor as he said, ‘You don’t have to ask about the job for me.’
    I narrowed my eyes at him, my hackles rising. What was with this guy? What was with my reaction to him? Like I gave a crap what he thought about me. ‘You need the job, right?’
    Those deep blue eyes of his met mine again. I watched the muscle