Page 61 of Sweeper
When I’ve finally finished attacking her, she walks over to Zander and holds her hand out.
“Nice playing.” He slaps it in a high five.
“Don’t you owe me money?” She tilts her head with an adorable furrow to her brow.
“Do I?” Zander asks, glancing at me. “What for exactly?”
“For listening to my performance, of course. Paper only, please. No coins.” Marisa holds her chubby hand out to Zander again, and he looks so shook, I bark out an incredulous laugh.
“Okay then.” Zander digs into his pocket and pulls out a twenty-pound note. “I don’t suppose you have change?”
Marisa sighs heavily. “If you’re really a footballer, you can afford it.”
A voice clears in the doorway, and I glance over to see my brother Theo. “Oi, where did you get that?” He points at the note in his daughter’s hand.
“From this man who claims he’s a footballer.” Marisa points a finger at Zander. “Daddy, isn’t he a bit small to be a footballer?”
“I’m not small!” Zander whines and stands up to prove it. Marisa looks unimpressed at Zander’s six-foot-plus stature, and I have to clap my hand over my mouth to conceal my laughter.
Finally, I pull myself together and walk over to my brother. “Theo, this is my neighbor, Zander.”
“Ah yes, the new defender from America.” Theo adjusts his glasses and walks over to shake Zander’s hand. “Sorry about my daughter. She has no filter just like her mother.”
“And possibly her aunt,” Zander adds with a wink to me.
“Marisa is lucky to have Leslie and me as star influencers in her life. It means she knows her own mind, doesn’t it, Mar?”
“Yes, it does,” Marisa insists, crossing her arms and giving Zander a punishing glower that positively tickles me.
My eyes connect with Zander’s, and there’s a certain twinkle in his gaze that wasn’t there earlier. It’s causing a bit of a carnal reaction in me, which is a bit awkward to be happening in front of my niece and my brother.
I look up and notice that Theo’s brows are furrowed as he registers the flirtatious exchange. He clears his throat. “Right, well, we’ve got to run. Footy practice starts in thirty. I’ll Venmo you, Daphney.”
“No rush,” I reply and reach down to hug Marisa. “I’ll see you later, okay? Don’t forget to practice this week.”
“With my granny hands,” Marisa says as she runs over to grab her lesson book off the keyboard.
I smile fondly as I watch Theo take Marisa’s hand and hurry out. Once they’re gone, I turn to Zander and rub his arm. “Are you okay? Do you need a bit of a cuddle after getting so properly schooled by a seven-year-old?”
“I might,” Zander responds, his face crestfallen. “She’s a savage little thing.”
“She really does take after me.” I stick my tongue out and walk over to my wardrobe to grab my coat. “And you deserved it for showing up early. I told you 4:05 and not a minute sooner.”
“Who chooses time increments of five minutes?” Zander scoffs.
I prop my hands on my hips. “Your alarm clock, apparently.”
Zander shoots me a sheepish smile. “Well, you didn’t mention you taught piano to your niece.”
“Why would I?” I volley back. He shrugs and hits me with a curious expression I still can’t quite read.
He clears his throat. “So, are you still game for the bus tour? If you’re tired from working, I understand.”
“I’m actually looking forward to this. I’ve never done a proper bus tour. Well, not as an adult at least.”
“Then how are you such a British expert?” he mocks.
I level him with a glare. “Don’t be cheeky.”
