••••

The rest of the week goes by without incident. On the days my mum needs her car, she drops Indi and I at school. The other times she lets me take it.

Ross talked with Cartwright’s father. He was right. He didn’t hesitate to agree to pay for any repairs needed for the car—in exchange for our silence, of course. Fat lot of good that’s going to do. This is a small town. Shit’s already spreading like wild fire.

Late Friday afternoon, Ross comes knocking on my door. “Got a spare half hour?” he asks. “I need your help with something.”

“Sure. Just let me tell my mum I’m going out.” I have no idea what this is about, but I go along with it. Once I’m seated in the passenger seat of his car, he informs me why I’m needed.

“It’s Indiana’s birthday on Sunday, so I’ve decided to buy her a small car. That’s where you come in. I’m working all day tomorrow, so if I’m going to have it here for Sunday, I need to pick it up today. You’re going to need to drive it home from the car yard.”

“Are you giving it to her today?” I ask.

“No. Frank across the road is letting me hide it in his garage until Sunday morning. I’m taking that day off to spend it with her.”

“Okay. Cool. Does she have her driver’s licence?” She’s lucky her father can afford to buy her a car. I know if my mum had ever been in that position she would’ve done the same for me. She always let me borrow hers though, until I could afford to buy my own.

“Yes. Only her provisional licence,” he answers.

••••

It’s getting dark when we arrive back at the house. Ross got me to park down the road for five minutes so he could go in the house and distract Indi. Frank was already waiting out front with his garage door open when I pulled into his driveway.

I had no idea it was her birthday this weekend. It has me thinking, should I get her something? We’re kind of friends. Friends do shit like that I guess. Christ. I don’t want her getting the wrong idea about us.

••••

Saturday, Indi’s dad invites me to come over Sunday night for a birthday dinner. I guess that means I have to get her something now. I’ll admit I did lay awake half the night wondering what sort of gift she’d like before he even asked me. I suppose my mind was already made up.

“Mum, can I borrow your car?” I ask walking into the kitchen.

“No,” Fuckwit says cutting in on the conversation.

“John. That’s not nice,” my mum replies. “Why can’t he borrow my car?” He clears his throat and squirms in his seat. As much as I hate him, I almost want to laugh. He’s usually very calculated with his attacks against me. Guess he’s slipping.

“If he can’t look after his own car, why should we reward him by letting him use ours? How is he ever going to learn his lesson?”

“That’s a little unreasonable,” my mum says holding her hand against her chest like she’s hurt or shocked by his words. If only she knew, ‘unreasonable’ is his middle name. “Carter had no control over what happened to his car. Why should he be punished for that?”

“You’re right, Elizabeth,” he says in his fake-arse full of shit voice. Placing the paper he was reading on the table, he rises from his chair, making his way towards her. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he adds sliding his arms around her waist. My mum smiles up at him. Fuck, he has her hook, line and sinker. Of course he doesn’t apologise to me. Arsehole.

“My keys are in my handbag, sweetie,” she says smiling at me. I shift my gaze and hold it on Fuckwit.

“Thanks, Mum.”

“You can wash your mother’s car when you get home to thank her for her generosity,” Fuckwit grunts. Christ I’d love to smack that smug look right off his face.

“He doesn’t need to do that,” my mum says frowning.

“It’s okay, Mum. I don’t mind washing your car for you.” I walk out of the room before either one of them have a chance to say anything else. Or more importantly, before I say something that may upset her.

••••

After two hours of walking around the damn shops, I finally find the perfect gift for Indiana. I’m not used to doing shit like this. I hate shopping. I hate buying fucking gifts, period. It’s something I’ve never done before. With my mum, I always gave her money. I’m sure there were a lot of things she went without, but she needed money more than anything.

I’m grateful the lady at the jewellery store offers to gift-wrap it for me otherwise she’d be just getting it how it is. I have one more thing to get before I get the hell out of here.

When I arrive back home, I stash my purchases in my room and head outside to wash my mum’s car. I don’t mind doing things for her, but I hate that he has asked me to do it. Just another thing that cocksucker can gloat over.

An hour later I’m done. I empty the bucket, wash the sponge and start to roll up the hose when Fuckwit decides to come around the side of the house. “Before you put all that away, you can wash my car as well,” he snaps.

“What?”

“You deaf as well as dumb?”

“Neither,” I reply through gritted teeth. I’d love to knock this prick out. If it wasn’t for my mother, I wouldn’t hesitate. “I didn’t borrow your car, so why should I wash it?”

“Because you live in my house, eat my food and use my electricity, that’s why, smartarse. You’re nothing to me and you’re not a damn charity case, so if you want to continue to live under my roof, you’ll do as you’re bloody told.” I exhale an exasperated breath while counting to ten in my head. The longer I stay in this house with him, the harder I’m finding it to keep my cool. “Get it done,” he adds before walking back towards the house. “You better do a good job as well or I’ll make you redo it.” I hate him with a fiery passion. What I’d really like to do is ram this damn sponge down his fucking throat.

Snatching the bucket off the ground and heading towards the tap, my gaze moves towards Indi’s room. Great. She’s fucking standing at the window looking at me with a sympathetic smile on her face. I don’t want or need her damn sympathy. I hate that she just witnessed that cocksucker handing me my balls.

Once the bucket is full and I add the detergent, I slap the sponge onto the hood of his car. “Hey. You want a hand?” Indi asks from behind me, making me jump.

“What are you trying to do, give me a damn heart attack?” I grumble.

“That’s a little dramatic don’t you think?” she says sarcastically, placing her hands on her hips. I love her attitude. “I was only trying to be nice.”

“Well don’t.” She narrows her eyes at me and I try hard to suppress my smile. Is it wrong that I like getting under her skin?

“You shouldn’t let him treat you like that?” she says as I turn back to the job at hand.

“When I want your opinion, kid, I’ll ask for it.”

“You don’t need to be such an arse,” she says, pursing her lips.

“And you don’t need to be such a busy body,” I retort.

“Fuck you, Carter.”

“Oh I know you’d like that, but sorry. Like I said before, I can’t do that.” She growls at me and turns in a huff, making me chuckle. I think I’ve had enough fun with her for now. “Hey,” I call out as she storms off towards her house.

“What?” She stops walking but doesn’t turn around.

“Thanks for the offer.” When she flips me off over her shoulder I throw my head back and laugh. I’d also like to thank her for lifting my mood, but of course I don’t.

••••

Later that night I’m sitting in my room, sketching, when I hear the side gate next door creak open. Jumping up I take a look. Indiana. Where in the hell does she think she’s sneaking off to this time of night?

Opening my window, I jump out in a flash. “Hey. Where do you think you’re going?” I ask when I move up behind her.

“What the hell, Carter?” she angrily whispers while clutching her chest. “Are you trying to scare me to death?” Smiling, I decide to throw her words from earlier today, back at her.