“Oomph.” The tingle flared to a searing pain, folding me forward. “I—” Gritting my teeth, I pushed my plea out. “I really think you should stay over.”
Please, please, please.
“I’ll see you Monday.” She disappeared into the car.
The snap of the door shutting was the final crushing stomp. I let out a cry of despair. “I hope so.”
Shuffling over to Mum’s car, I threw my bag in the back seat before tossing myself in the front.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
Shaking my head, I had to bite my lip as tears swelled in my eyes.
“What happened? Are you hurt?”
I shook my head faster.
“What’s going on, sweetheart?”
My hands flailed as I fought to open the glove box and pull out a tissue. I sucked in a breath before blowing it out in a gush. “I’ve got a bad feeling about Jess. Her mum is dating a sleaze who thinks Jess’s hair is pretty.”
“I met him last week at the butcher. He seems like a nice guy. Leona is happy with him.”
I raised my brows. “Mum! I have a bad feeling.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
She frowned and started the car before backing out. “What did Jess say? Has he done anything?”
“He’s just making creepy comments and watching her with his slimy eyes.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, honey. We can’t steal her away. Unless there’s proof that she’s in danger, we don’t have a reason to act.”
“That’s bullshit.”
Her eyes shot to mine before fixing back on the road. “I know.” We stopped at a red light. “I could broach the subject with Leona, but I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“Ask her if Jess likes him. If she says yes, she’s lying.”
“Let’s give Jess a call tomorrow after our outing. Maybe she’d like to sleep over.”
“I tried to get her to stay tonight, but she couldn’t.”
“We’ll ask tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
I only hoped tomorrow wouldn’t be too late.
Andrea
Rockhampton, Australia
24th June, 2006, 8:37 a.m.
I couldn’t stop staring. Kelly with the legs and the WAG ambitions had draped herself across Ben’s bare torso as they lay on a picnic rug. She’d brought her friends along, the same ones who had been hanging around the tables at Macca’s. A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead. What a neat combo. Kelly was the blonde. At least now I knew he liked blondes. Way to think of the positives. Go me!
“Did you know they were coming?” I asked Letitia.
“Yes. The boys organised this whole thing because they wanted them to come.”
Of course they did.
“Why are we here?”
“Ben’s mum insisted it be a family day out.”
Just as I’d thought.
The brunette gave Spew the eye like she had a twitch or something. Poor Lee was attempting to start a conversation with the redhead, but she was watching Ben and Kelly with a green tinge behind her gaze.
I probably looked the same.
Forcing my head to turn away, mist cooled my face as the boat zoomed past, the tube carrying Adam, Will, and a trail of screams dragging in its wake. Behind them, the Fitzroy River Barrage divided the waterway into salty and fresh, all eighteen of its gates raised. Mount Archer hefted and warped the horizon in the distance.
I caught a glimpse of Mr Hooper behind the wheel. Ben’s stepdad had the widest grin plastered on his face.
Not all stepdads are horrible. Sheree didn’t have to worry about any daughters, but sons were just as vulnerable. Ben was way bigger than his stepdad now, but back when he’d come on the scene, Ben would’ve only been seven. A year younger than Will and Adam.
God, I hope Jess is okay.
I was having fun. I honestly was. But I could not shake the sick feeling in my gut and the scratching at the back of my neck.
“Can we go next?” Bree skipped over to me, taking a seat on my towel.
“I don’t know. It’s up to Mr Hooper.”
“Who are you riding with?” I asked Letitia.
“Lee told me he’d go with me.” She hugged her knees, rocking back to balance her weight on her tailbone.
That boy had a heart of solid gold. The redhead was stupid for not seeing how great he was. She obviously had no sense of humour. Letitia was lucky to have him as a big brother.
Spewart flirted with the brunette. Whatever he was saying, she thought it was so hilarious she had to fall back on the rug in fits of laughter. I needed to give Spewart more credit based on his choice of friends alone. Maybe I wasn’t seeing something in my brother that they did. He genuinely didn’t mean any harm. But why did he have to be such a dick towards me?
“What’s it like, having an older brother who actually cares about you?”
Tish placed her feet back on the towel before crossing her legs. “What do you mean? You have Stewart.”
Bree snorted. “Exactly.”
Tish looked at her, puzzled. “Lee said Stewart ripped into a couple of year-nine idiots who were saying stuff about you.”
“Who? And what did they say?”
“One’s name started with a T. Maybe Troy?”
“Terry and Dean.” It had to be those tools.
“Yeah, that’s them.”
I lifted a brow. “What were they saying?” I could only imagine.
“Lee didn’t tell me. I guess he didn’t want to repeat it.”
“Is one of them really tall with black hair?” Bree added.
“Yeah, that’s Dean.” How did Bree know anything about this?
She wiggled her toes. “I went out to pick up a pizza with Dad and Stewart a couple of months ago, and Stew went to talk to a couple of kids who were hanging around. It got
