Page 38
“Why are all your clothes in there? Are you leaving? I’m gonna tell Mum and Brian when they come back.”
He launched himself at me, fists flying, tears streaming down his face.
“Hey, hey. Stop it. I never said I was leaving.” I tried to keep him at arm’s length, but as a seven-year-old on the warpath, he was surprisingly strong.
“You can’t go. You can’t. Don’t leave me, Frankie.” His blows lessened, the fight finally leaching from him. I gathered him into my arms and sat with him on the bed.
“I’m going to leave at some point. I can’t stay here forever. I have a life of my own to lead.” The next words I uttered almost stuck in my throat, but he needed to know he’d be safe here. “Mum and Brian love you very much. You’ll be fine here without me.”
He sniffed and wiped his nose on the back of his hand, reminding me of when we were at the hospital, the place we’d first met Mac.
“But…but… I don’t want to live here on my own.” He looked up at me, his eyes full of unshed tears, a streak of dirt on his cheek.
At times like this, I loved him. He was a kid, not the anti-Christ, although he acted that way sometimes. “You gotta let me go, Logan. I have a life outside this house.”
Except right then, I didn’t. I had no plans, no place to stay, no job. But I knew I couldn’t stay there any longer; it was time for me to move on and get on with my life.
Meeting Mac, seeing what he was doing, I wanted to be like him at his age, not still living with Mum and Brian, relying on them for anything and everything.
Mum was right in a way. It was time for me to stop acting like a child and behave like an adult, and if that meant moving out, then that was what I’d do.
The front door opening startled us both. It was too early for Mum. It could only mean one thing. Brian was back.
Logan bit his lip. “Do you think he’s in a mood?”
I had no answer for him, but there was only one way to find out.
“Come on. Let’s go downstairs, and maybe if he’s in a good mood, he’ll get you some chicken nuggets.” My earlier breakfast had filled me up. I probably wouldn’t want anything for the rest of the day. I didn’t have a huge appetite, unlike someone I knew.
He gripped my hand, and together, we entered the lion’s den.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MAC
Some days, I loved my job, but other days, like today, I hated it. Case after case came through the doors, giving us little to no respite.
It was one of those days, and when I looked over at Sal, he shook his head. What was it with people today? We weren’t usually this busy, but the full moon had definitely brought them out tonight. I checked my phone. Thank God my shift was almost over.
I had a few more patients to see, and then I was heading home. This was my last shift of four, and all I wanted was to go home and go to bed. Tomorrow, I had plans to meet up with Frankie, and I was definitely looking forward to it.
We’d texted on and off all week. He seemed subdued, but when I quizzed him, he said nothing was wrong, and that he was looking forward to seeing me again.
I’d laughed at the amount of emojis he used: smiles, hearts, and finally, a peach. I had to ask Sal what that meant and blushed to the tips of my ears when he told me.
Clearly, I wasn’t down with the kids, even though I was only twenty-five. Good job I hadn’t asked Tilly or Freya. Now, that would have been embarrassing.
“What’s the plan for the next few days?” Sal asked as we walked to our cars later that day.
“Sleep tonight, and tomorrow, I’m meeting up with Frankie. We’re going to the cinema and then out for dinner.”
“Oh, a date. What are you going to see? I really want to go see the new Marvel movie.”
“I’m not sure what it is. I’m not really a movie-goer, but Frankie is, so I thought, why not do something he likes? We’re giving the dating thing a go. What about you?”
“I’m happy for you. Really.” He stretched and yawned. “I’m not off for a couple of days, so I’ll be back here tomorrow. I can’t believe what we’ve had to deal with today, but I guess it’s the full moon and all the crazies come out then.”
“I’ll see you in a few days, then. Hope it calms down.”
