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Fifteen minutes later, we were pulling up at the end of his road. He reached across the centre console and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

“See you soon. Text me?” He opened the door and stepped out onto the footpath.

“You know I will.” I said, and as I watched him walk away, I couldn’t help but think I was letting him back into the lion’s den.

CHAPTER TWELVE

FRANKIE

“And just where the hell have you been? I called round at Gran’s and you weren’t there. You were out all night! You’re never around when I fucking need you, Frankie.”

I rolled my eyes and walked upstairs, ignoring her. I owed her nothing, least of all an explanation about where I’d been. Logan lay on his bed, a handheld device in his hand. When did he get one of those?

“What you got there, bud?” I sat next to him and peered over the top of it.

“Mum got it for me yesterday. Said I deserved a treat before I went back to school. It’s a Switch thingy.”

Fuck. She could afford to buy him one of those, but she couldn’t afford fucking childcare? I wouldn’t mind, but she never paid me or bought me anything decent. I was lucky if I got anything at Christmas, but if Logan wanted something, he got it.

“What game you playing?”

I’d never been a fan of computer games or anything like that, but I’d never had an Xbox or PlayStation to play them on. At school, I was singled out because I couldn’t join in with online games.

Good job I preferred my piano.

“I’m playing Pokémon. Mum said she’d get me a couple more games if I behave at school and don’t get into any trouble.”

Ah, blackmail. Worked every time, until it didn’t. I’d seen this before with Logan, but not with something so expensive.

All right for some, I guess.

“You don’t want to go to the park, then.” He’d be glued to it now, no doubt.

“Nah, I’m good. I’ve got this to play on. Could you get me some food, though? I’ve not been down for breakfast yet.”

“You want food, you go downstairs and get it. I’m not your slave.” I stood and knocked the device from his hand onto the bed. Childish, I know, but I couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Muuum,” he yelled. “Frankie broke my Switch.”

“You little shit. It’s not broken, and stop being a little snitch.” But I knew how this would go.

“Frankie! You better not have. I only got it yesterday.” I heard her foot hit the first step.

“It’s fine, Mum. Logan was just telling tales. There’s nothing wrong with it,” I told her as she got to the top of the stairs.

“Why would he say that? I swear to God, Frankie, I don’t know why we let you stay here.”

Well, that was fucking rich. I spent the night away and she was onto me to come back. Now, she’s telling me she’s ‘letting’ me stay here.

“He’s fine. The Switch is fine. You always take his side over mine. I might as well not live here for all the notice you take of me.”

“Stop being so jealous. He’s a child; you’re an adult. Act like one.”

Oh, I could do that, all right, and instead of going to my room and settling in for the day, I walked back downstairs to the kitchen.

“I’m going out. See you later.” I smirked, knowing full well she needed me today, but if that was how she wanted to play it, well, two could play at that game.

“Don’t you dare leave this house. I have to go to work in five minutes. Brian still isn’t home, and I have no one to watch your brother. You can’t leave.”