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Days off and demon brothers
Sha
"I think you need to buy that girl a ring, Joe," I a
"Yeah," Joey muttered, scratching his jaw. "She must really love me."
"Uh, you think?" I rolled my eyes. "She adores you."
"But I don’t get why she would do this for me."
"Me either," I teased. "Especially when you look so much like Shrek."
"Cheeky fucker," he chuckled, play-shoving me. "Give me a look at that note again."
I held it out for him – the same note he had already read at least a dozen times – and then padded over to the kitchen table with my mug of tea.
Taking a seat, I watched my brother read the note again, brows scrunched in confusion.
"Why did she do this, Shan?" Shaking his head, he walked from cupboard door to cupboard door, opening and closing them. "She must've gotten up at the crack of dawn to do this." He opened the fridge, revealing a heaving stack of groceries slotted inside. "It must've cost her a fortune."
Joey was right.
Aoife had to have gotten up early to do this, considering it was only eleven o clock.
He was also right about it costing her a fortune.
I had found the shopping receipt in the bin for €143.67.
"Says here, she'll be back around one o clock with the boys," he added, re-reading the note he'd been brooding over since he woke up. "They're going to the playground first, and then the pitch for a kick about after that."
"Did you see this?" I asked as I thumbed through seven neatly stacked envelopes, labeled by day of the week.
Shaking one of the little brown envelope's in my hand, I smiled when I heard the sound of coins clanging.
"Your girlfriend allotted your money into daily budget packets."
Joey gaped at me. "What?"
"Yep," I giggled, placing Tuesday's envelope back down on the pile.
"No fucking way," he muttered as he stalked over to where I was and picked up a handful of the tiny, rectangular envelopes.
"And she put little hearts on them for you," I snickered. "It's so cute."
"Is it normal to be mad at a person because they love you?" my brother asked, eyeing the envelopes with confusion. He turned his green eyes on me and asked, "Is this normal?"
"Why are you asking me?" I shrugged uncomfortably. "I have no experience with this sort of thing."
"Oh, would you look at this," he said with a sigh, pointing to the €20 note lodged beneath Aoife's car keys and the sticky note alongside it saying: Joey and Sha In capital letters beneath that were the words: Feed your sister, babe. She's too ski "My girlfriend left me pocket money." Joey's tone was laced with sarcasm. "Jesus Christ, Shan." "Don’t be mad at her," I told him. "She's trying to help us." "I know." He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled heavily. "And I'm not mad. I just don’t know how to handle it." "Maybe just by saying thank you?" I offered. "And I love you, too? Or flowers? Those are good too." Joey smirked. "You're full of ideas, aren’t you?" I smiled back at him and then sighed, forcing myself to address the elephant in the room – or the lack of. "Do you think Mam will be home soon?" The light in my brother's eyes dimmed out. "I really don’t give a fuck what she does, Shan," he replied tightly. "So long as that prick stays away from this house." He will come back, Joey. You know this. Stop lying to yourself. "Yeah." I chewed on my nail, contemplating his reply for a moment before saying, "What are we going to do if Mam doesn’t come back, Joe?" That was where my worries rested. With my mother. Because she had never left us overnight like this before. "We'll manage, Shan," Joey replied, Adam's apple bobbing. "Like we always do." "And school?" I whispered. "Na "I was supposed to go on the school trip after Easter, but if she's not home I'll cancel –" "No," he barked. "You won't." "Joey." I sighed. "If Mam isn’t back by then, you can't take care of the boys on your own." "I won't be," he countered. "I've already told you Na "Are you sure?" I squeezed out. He nodded. Inhaling a steadying breath, I said, "I know I don’t say this often, but I want you to know that I love you and I'm so bloody grateful that you're my big brother." Joey pulled a face. "Are you going soft on me, baby sister?" "No." I blushed. "I just want you to know that you're important to us. And we appreciate everything you do for us." Don’t leave us. Please don’t ever leave me. "Well, right back atcha, kid," he replied, looking a little awkward. "You'll make a great dad someday," I decided to tease and make him even more uncomfortable. Joey snorted. "Yeah, that's never fucking happening." I winked. "Never say never, Joe." "Believe me, I've had more than enough of playing daddy to another man's kids to last me a lifetime," he shot back. "Now, go upstairs and throw some clothes on and we'll hit up the Deli for a chicken fillet roll." "The fridge is full now," I informed him. "Yeah." He gri I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday and my stomach growled in anticipation. "Hash browns," I practically purred as I thought about what I was going to have. "And some jellies and a can of coke." Springing off the chair, I hurried for the staircase with food on my mind. "Hold on, Shan. I almost forgot–" Breaking off mid-sentence, Joey padded into kitchen, returning a few moments later with a small, gift wrapped parcel in his hands. Joey handed me the gift and then ruffled my hair. "Happy sweet sixteenth, Shan." "Thanks Joey." I beamed, clutching what I already knew was a CD beneath the pink wrapping paper. "I'd get you more if I could," he told me with an embarrassed shrug. "And I forgot to get a card –" "Stop," I told him as I sank down on the step of the stairs and ripped at the paper only to sequel with excitement. "McFly's album!" Eyes wide with excitement, I stared down at the CD in my hand and smiled. "I really wanted this." "I know," he snorted. "You're such a girl." Slipping his hand into his jeans pocket, he tossed another box on my lap. "This one's from Aoife," he explained. Thrilled at the prospect of getting two presents, I tore at the polka dot wrapping paper and gasped when I saw what was inside. "Whoa," I breathed, gaping at the designer bottle of perfume in my hands. "This must have cost her a fortune." "She must love you, too," Joey teased. I rolled my eyes. "Uh-huh." "Hurry up and get changed," he ordered, moving for the front door. "I'll be in the car."