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“Shannon,” I demanded when she finally answered. “What’s going on? Are you okay? Did something happen at school?”
The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach assured me it had. My blood pressure was rising at a rapid pace, and I had to take a second before I could speak again.
“If one of those posh fuckers did something to you, I will—”
“I’m fine. I’m okay. Calm down. I missed my bus and the next one’s not until quarter to ten tonight,” she explained down the line, sounding eerily calm for someone who had blown up my phone.
Was she hurt?
She didn’t sound it.
Was she lying?
It was close to impossible to tell.
“It’s already dark and I don’t want to walk in case.…” She paused, and the sound of rustling filled my ears before she spoke again. “Are you with Aoife? Can you guys come pick me up? I’m really stuck, Joe. I wouldn’t ask you if I wasn’t desperate.”
“I’m working until nine,” I heard myself say, pressing the heel of my hand to my forehead. “And Aoife works until half ten on Tuesdays.” Not that I was about to ask the girl who asked me for space to collect my sister. “Did you try Mam?”
“She’s working the late shift, and I’m not calling Dad.”
“No, Jesus, don’t call him,” I agreed, shaking my head. “Look, hang up and give me a few minutes. I’ll call around to a few of the lads and see if anyone can pick you up.” Surely Podge or Alec would drop her home for me. “I’ll call you back in a few.”
“No, don’t do that,” she was quick to say. “The school stays open late. I can wait here until my bus comes— Oh no, no, no, that’s okay.”
I frowned. “Huh?”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said, obviously not speaking to me.
“Do what?” Curiosity piqued, I eyed Tony, who wasn’t even pretending to not listen to the conversation. In fact, he had stepped closer. “Shan, what’s going on? Who are you talking to?”
“Oh, ah, just this guy from school.”
“Guy?” Tony’s brows shot up at the same time as mine. “What guy?”
“Just a guy I know,” she replied, all coy and shit. “Honestly, it’s fine. You don’t have to drive me home.”
“Drive her home?” Tony mouthed, pointing at the phone. “She’s a baby.”
“I know,” I mouthed before turning my attention back to my sister. “Hold up, who’s driving you home, Shannon? Why are you talking to guys old enough to drive you home?”
“Tell her she’s fifteen,” Tony mouthed with a thumbs-up.
“You’re fifteen,” I heard myself say, feeling like a fucking hypocrite. If he knew the half of what I’d wanted to do to his daughter when she was fifteen, he would be shitting rocks.
“I know what age I am, Joey,” Shannon snapped and I cocked a brow, hearing the rare spark of fire in her voice. “Look, relax. I’ll wait here until my bus comes.”
Like fuck she would.
I wasn’t born yesterday.
And if she’s anything like you, it won’t be the front seat she’ll be climbing into.
Jesus.
“Put him on the phone,” I ordered, shuddering.
“What?” Shannon asked. “Who?”
