Bastard (16 page)

“Yeah. I’m sorry about … you know … what happened to your wife,” I say.

“Thank you.” The sadness I see in his eyes makes me feel bad for him. I’ve never been in love so I can only imagine how he feels, but I can tell that he is far from over her death. “If her passing has taught me anything, it’s to live life to the fullest. You never know what’s around the corner.” He exhales then shakes his head.

“I’m sure it hasn’t been easy for you.”

“It’s been tough, but having Indi has helped. She’s so much like her mother.” I smile when I see his face light up. I’d never admit it, but she has the same effect on me. “Do I need to warn you not to hurt her? To always treat her with respect? She’s all I have and she means the world to me, Carter.”

What? That’s the last thing I expected him to say. “No, Sir,” I answer before clearing my throat. Shit. Is that the right answer, or was that a trick question?

“Good,” he says gripping my shoulder. “I like you, son, but if you hurt or disrespect her in any way, I won’t hesitate to kick your arse. You understand?” When he smiles at me, I feel the corners of my lips turn up. This is not how I envisioned this conversation going. Indi and I will never be more than what we are, but it’s nice to know that her father isn’t repulsed by the idea of his daughter being with someone like me.

“Yes, Sir.” He nods and taps my shoulder like he’s pleased with my response.

“I called past the wreckers this morning and collected your personal belongings from your car,” he says passing me the plastic bag he’s holding. “I threw out the cancer sticks I found in the glove compartment. Don’t let me catch you smoking again, you hear.”

“Yes, Sir,” I answer dropping my head. I feel like a child being scolded, but on the other hand, I like the fact that he seems to care.

“I also found this.” He pulls a crumpled piece of paper out of his pocket. Without even opening it I know what it is. The sketch I did of Indiana. Fuck. Why did I leave that on the floor of my car? I should’ve thrown it in the trash, but for some reason I couldn’t bring myself to do that. “Did you draw this?”

“Yes,” I answer reaching for it. He pulls his hand back.

“It’s good. Do you mind if I keep it?” Christ. This conversation is getting more awkward by the minute.

“Sure,” I tell him. I’m sure I could draw another one if I wanted, which I don’t. We’re friends. Nothing more. “You’re not going to show her are you?”

“The picture?” he asks, a small smile playing on is lips.

“Yes,” I answer shyly. I don’t want her to think I’m obsessing over her or anything, because I’m not.

“Not if you don’t want me to,” he says, his lips turning up further. I have no idea why he’s smiling. I divert my eyes. The way he’s looking at me is the same way Indi does. Like he can see straight through me. He clears his throat. “Why didn’t you have full insurance on your car?” he asks changing the subject. I’m grateful for that.

“I couldn’t afford it.”

“Fair enough. The guy at the wreckers owes me a few favours, so I’ve asked him to get started on the repairs to the body. You can sue Cartwright for the damages. His parents can afford it. I’m going to talk to his father about it. He’ll probably agree to pay for the repairs before it comes to that. He won’t want this going public.”

“Thank you,” I say extending my hand out to him. Even though I’m still pissed about my car and the fact it’s going to take weeks, possibly longer before I get her back, I couldn’t ask for a better outcome.

••••

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.

“That’s a little dramatic don’t you think?”

“Ha ha. I think this is a little different, Carter. It’s dark, it’s late and I’m a girl.”

“All the more reason you need to tell me what the hell you’re doing out here,” I snap. She better not try and lie to me either. I’m ready to lose my shit with her. I’ll haul her arse over my shoulder and deposit her back inside her room if I have to.

“None of your business,” she replies, quickly moving one of her hands behind her back. Yeah I don’t think so
kid
. I’m not sure what she’s trying to hide, but I intend to find out. Reaching towards her, I grab hold of her arm.

“What do you have behind your back?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she says trying to step away from me. Nice try. I’m way too strong for her and easily manage to snatch the bag out of her hand.

“Give me that,” I say taking it from her.

“No. Be careful with that!” she cries out trying to reach for it, but I hold my hand high in the air. She’s a shrimp so there’s no way she can reach it. When she jumps up to try and grab it, it only makes me laugh.

Stepping back, I lower my arm and look inside. Opening the bag instantly has me gagging. The smell alone should’ve been enough to warn me of the bag’s contents. What the hell? I quickly drop the bag to the ground.

“Fucking shit. What are you doing with a bag full of shit?” She throws her head back and laughs.

“It’s Lassie’s. That’ll teach you for snooping.” She bends down and picks up the bag off the ground before turning and walking away.

“Where are you going?”

“To right a wrong,” is all she says. I have no idea what she’s up to, but if she thinks I’m letting her go out on her own in the dark, she’s mistaken. I go to follow, but when she stops next to the driver’s side door of my stepfather’s car, I’m stopped in my tracks.

My mouth turns up into a smile when I see what she’s doing. She opens the bag and tips the contents out right next to the driver’s side door. It’s still dark when he leaves for work in the mornings so I know he’s going to step straight in it. Fucking brilliant.

When she’s done, she walks straight past me with a cute little smug look on her face. “Night, arsehole.”

“Night,
kid
,” I chuckle. “And thank you.” I can’t believe she’d do something like this for me. I’m not used to people having my back. She’s taking a big risk as well, especially after the way he carried on when Larry shit on his lawn a few years back.

“You’re welcome,” is all she says as she climbs through her bedroom window. I stand there and watch in awe. For an annoying little shrimp, she’s one kick-arse fucking chick.

••••