“She talks a lot,” I say playfully.
“You’re a good listener,” she says and smiles. “So how come you two are hanging out today?”
“Cree wants to lighten up,” I say, and he scowls at me. “I’m the happiest person he knows,” I add proudly. “So, he begged me to hang out and show him how to be bright and colourful.”
“It’s not what I said,” he grumbles, and I laugh again.
“Take him around the area,” suggests Mum. “You could show him where you had your first kiss with . . . what’s his name again?” She thinks for a second before continuing. “Oh, I remember—Tommy. Oh, and go to the community centre. Introduce him to the kids there.” I’m already shaking my head. “Yes, he’ll love it there,” she insists.
“Mum, he doesn’t wanna meet the kids.” She really doesn’t know him well despite staying at the clubhouse for those few weeks.
“I wanna meet the kids,” Cree says, his eyes sparkling. So, after lunch, that’s where we head—to the community centre where I volunteer.
Cree
Eva is swept up in hugs. A few teenage girls are delighted at her arrival, and I watch on from beside her. A teenage boy, probably around twelve, heads over and fist bumps Eva. A well-built man steps from an office, then smiles wide when he spots her and heads our way. His dark skin is littered with tattoos and his dreadlocks swing idly as he shakes hands with us both.
“Marcus, this is Cree,” she introduces me.
“I know him,” says Marcus. “I know the club at least,” he corrects. “Riggs puts money into this place. I wasn’t expecting you today, Eva.”
“I’m just showing Cree around.” She shrugs. “I’ll be in after work tomorrow as normal. Everyone okay?”
He nods and looks around the room at the groups of teenagers. “Emily is a little quiet. Not sure what’s going on, but she won’t talk to me.” That name is known to me, and as I look around, my eyes connect to the dull grey eyes of the only Emily I know. She sees me and runs over excitedly. She throws herself into my arms and I feel the eyes of Marcus and Eva burning into me with questions of how I know this girl. Emily remembers that I don’t like physical contact and quickly untangles herself from me, apologising.
“This is him, Eva. How did you know?” asks Emily as Eva stares at her blankly. “The guy I told you about—Eli. He helped me.”
Eva’s mouth opens and closes, and then she croaks out a sound similar to a frog. “Oh.”
“I’m so happy to see you. I tried to call, but my phone got cut off and—” Emily is blabbering as she points to a table. “Coffee?” she asks and I nod, following her. I haven’t seen Emily for a couple of weeks. I never told the police about her, well, not her identity because she didn’t want anyone knowing. But since we met, I’ve grown to like the kid.
“My dad was so grateful for the money,” she says, and I glance around the place. Eva is talking with Marcus and I’m relieved because everything coming out of Emily’s mouth sounds dodgy.
“How have you been?” I ask.
“Good. Really good,” she says with a smile. “Thanks to you.”
“Happy to help,” I mutter. We drink our coffee and she tells me what she’s been up to. Eventually, Eva heads over.
“Ready?” Eva asks. I nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Emily.”
“Will you come back, Eli?” she asks hopefully.
“That’s not a good idea, Emily,” says Eva. She looks pissed. I give Emily a small smile and follow Eva out.
We head back to Eva’s house in silence. When we get inside, she throws her keys on the table. “Emily is fifteen,” she mutters.
“Sixteen,” I correct her. “Just.”
Her eyes widen. “It’s not okay, Cree. I don’t know what kind of fucked up shit you’re—” I move so fast towards her that she clamps her mouth shut.
“I’m not a fuckin’ nonce,” I growl. “I helped her.” She remains quiet. “I helped her,” I repeat in a calmer voice. “I caught a guy trying to take her. I’d been following him. He tried to drag her into his car.”
“Why didn’t you call the cops?”
“Because she asked me not to. I beat the guy and I got arrested. It’s why I have to see the shrink.” I sigh. Suddenly, I feel tired.
“I mean, when you saw him try to take her, why didn’t you call the cops instead of beating him?”
I scowl at her. “Because by the time the cops came, she would have been gone. He was part of a ring. A paedophile ring.”
Eva takes a seat on the couch. “Oh, I thought . . . ”
“I know what you thought,” I mutter. I sit down and lay my head back, suddenly unable to keep my eyes open from the sting of tiredness. It’s finally catching up with me. “I’m not a bad guy, Eva. I wear a patch, but it doesn’t mean I’m a bad guy.” My eyes close and I take a few deep breaths. “People like you . . . ” I sigh, my eyes fluttering closed. “They don’t even give kids like me a chance.”
When I open my eyes, it’s dark outside and Eva is lying on the couch, also asleep. I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to bed. She doesn’t stir as I tuck her under the covers. I place a gentle kiss on her head and go back downstairs. I settle back into the chair and let myself drift off again, which for once, is not a problem.
The following day, I wake up with a start and glance around. The drapes are open and sunshine beams through the windows. The smell of bacon fills the air and I can hear the radio humming low in Eva’s kitchen. I follow the smell and find Eva dancing around the kitchen
