7
“You brought raisin whirls?” Gianna snatched the paper bag from Benito’s outstretched hand. “Yes! You’re the best, Beni.”
Benito smiled and leaned against the car, tired. He’d only managed a half hour nap before it had been time to meet Gianna by the bus stop, but moments like these made life worthwhile. And he hadn’t even given her the iPad yet.After school. Perhaps by then he’d have caught up on his sleep enough that she wouldn’t keep offering to walk to McDonalds and get him a coffee. “What lessons do you have today?”
Gianna stilled her excited dance and stuck her hand in the bakery bag. “I don’t know. The usual. Why are you asking me that?”
“Because I’m your big brother and I want to make sure you don’t end up a bum like me.”
“You’re not a bum. It’s not your fault you lost your job.”
“I know.” The lie choked Benito. He took the pastry Gianna held out and bit into it. “But it was a shit job anyway. And now I drive a fucking taxi. You can do better than that, G. Better thanme.”
Gianna scowled over the bottle of orange juice Benito had brought her. “You always say that, but do you know how many of my friends have big brothers who bring them breakfast and meet them from school every day? Fucking zero.”
“Don’t swear.”
“Why not? You do.”
“Yeah, and I just told you to be a better human.”
“It’s just a word.”
“Nothing is just a word. It’s about respect and understanding context. If you say that to a teacher, you’ll get in trouble.”
Gianna twisted the cap back on her bottle and shoved it in the pocket of the Superdry coat Benito had bought her last month. “I wouldn’t say it to a teacher. I’m not stupid.”
“That’s what we all think. Then you normalise shit and it bleeds out of you before you can stop it.”
“Don’t swear.”
“Very funny. Look, I’m trying to be responsible. Don’t give me a hard time.”
Gianna’s expression softened. Her gaze drifted to the block and the windows of the flat she shared with their mother.
Benito didn’t follow. He’d given up wondering if their mum had eyes on him. If she watched the daily exchanges between her children and gave a flying fuck that thanks to her, it was all they had.I hate her.
He didn’t. But some days he wanted to.
“Beni.”
“Hmm?” Benito returned to earth with a dull thud. Despite his best efforts, his gaze had drifted to the block. He brought it back to Gianna and braced himself for her sharp tongue. “Sorry. I was thinking about something else.”
Gianna bit her lip and turned her head, hiding half her face in the long dark hair she’d straightened since Benito had laid eyes on her the night before, a classic tell that she was nervous.
Benito frowned and gripped her chin with gentle fingers. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar. Tell me. Are you in trouble at school?”
“You’re obsessed with school.”
“G.”
“Okay, okay.” Gianna shrugged free of Benito’s hand. “I was just wondering if you were going to go and see Mum today, that’s all. It’s been ages and I hate that you two never talk.”
“We talk,” Benito lied. Again. “She knows how to reach me if you need anything.”