Page 25 of Easy Steal

Sammy

Ipulled up in front of Livie’s apartment building at seven o’clock. I craned my neck, rolling it backwards and forwards as I leaned against Jolene. When I looked down again, Livie was walking out of her building, the backpack that she always carried was slung over her shoulder. But my eyes wandered downwards.

Her usually tied up purple hair was let loose, it nearly reached her hips. She wore frayed jeans with a short white top and a thick gold chain around her neck. I pursed my lips as she approached.

“What?” she snapped.

“Nothing,” I cleared my throat, “you look beautiful.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head and ignored me as she went around to the passenger side and let herself in. She threw the backpack onto the back seat and fastened her seat belt.

“Do you take that backpack with you everywhere?” I asked, frowning at it.

“Yes,” was all she offered.

“What’s in it?” I reached back and fiddled with the zipper, before she slapped my hand away.

“My laptop, plus a bottle of wine.”

“Why wine?” I asked, turning the car on.

“Because I have a feeling I’m gonna need it tonight.”

“I had the same feeling,” I said as I pulled out my own six pack from the back.

I didn’t spend a lot of time with my family, aside from Toni when it was necessary. My mother and I especially had always had a tense relationship.

It wasn’t hostile, like the one she had with my sister Valerie, which involved a lot of screaming and yelling type of dramatics. It was one of mutual understanding that I should just stay out of the way.

And I was fine with it.

We arrived at Rome and Antoni’s house soon after, and the driveway was already littered with cars. I pulled up and turned off Jolene, but didn’t get out straight away.

Livie looked at me, waiting.

I knew that they called it a ‘family barbeque’, but I knew what it really was - what every event was, a business meeting.

I plastered on a half-hearted smile, “let’s do this.”

Livie laughed and hopped out, and I noticed that she left the backpack in the car. I reached around and grabbed the six pack, setting it on the hood of the car as I cracked it open.

“Want one?” I asked, as Livie crossed her arms over herself, looking at the house and the sheer amount of cars.

She nodded quickly, taking the one I had just opened from my hands. I opened another one and chuckled, and we both began to skull. I noticed a playful glimmer in her eyes as we watched each other, and she tipped hers back further.

It was a competition she wanted.

I did the same and we both threw back the drinks as fast as we could.

She slammed hers down first, hard on the hood of my car, and I did the same a split second later.

“Ahh,” we groaned in unison.

“Right,” she said, holding her arm out for me to link mine through hers, “showtime.”

I did as instructed and led her through to the back of the house.

We walked slowly, both of us trying to put it off for as long as possible.

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