Page 21 of Silver Tears

I glance up at Mills and she sighs, shaking her head. “Don’t ask.”

“I do. They’re called tattoos.”

“Show me some,” he orders eagerly, sitting up on his heels. I roll up the sleeve of my T-shirt. “Woah! Is that a wolf?”

I nod my head and watch him lean in closer to study it. “It is. I had a thing about wolves when I was a kid. And this one is a raven that is in memory of my grandad.”

“Cool! Can I have tattoos when I’m older?” he asks his sister excitedly.

“Maybe, when you're much, much older,” Mills replies, smiling affectionately at him. “I tell you what. I bet they sell some temporary tattoos at the shop next door. We’ll go look when we’ve finished here.”

“Can you come and help us pick?” Charlie asks me, nodding his head as if encouraging me to say yes.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I can’t. I have to go meet my sister soon.” I watch his little smile drop. “But get Mills to take some photos of your new tattoos and she can send them to me, okay?”

Charlie smiles again and asks Milly if she’ll send me the photos, to which she begrudgingly agrees. “Well, this morning has been very enlightening. It’s been great to meet you, Charlie.”

“You too.” He offers me his hand, and grinning, I shake it. The kid sure is cute. “Mills, I’ll be in touch.”

“Can’t wait,” she deadpans, her eyes narrowing at me. “Goodbye, Sebastian.”

I smirk at her using my full name. Only my parents address me by my full name, but her doing it sounds hot. I wink at her and wiggle my fingers at Charlie before rising from my seat, leaving them in peace. When I head outside, I glance back and study them through the window. No wonder she looked tired the other day at school. She’s balancing looking after her brother, a job, volunteering, and school. When does this girl ever get to have some fun and enjoy life?

I stroll back to the car park, my head spinning with thoughts. I should have assured her I wouldn’t say anything, but I’m not wired that way because of the ruthless world I grew up in. I can hear my dad saying to me, ‘see everything as an opportunity, son.’

“You look a million miles away,” Vee says. I’ve been so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t noticed her waiting by the car. “Has Tam been mithering again?”

I scoff and glance at my watch. “Not yet, but it's only early, so there’s time.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy getting her to back off. She has her sights firmly set on pinning you down.”

She’s right. Tam sure is persistent. If I can find a reason to get her expelled, it would rid me of the problem. “You think me having a girlfriend would get her to back off?”

Vee shrugs as she buckles into her seat. “It’s worth a try.”

* * *

We arrive home and I head straight for my room. I’m heading over to Archer’s soon to hang out with my chosen family. It’s strange seeing Archer and Eliza living together, but the girl is good for my brother. He’s been different since he met her. I open my bedroom door and place my phone down on the drawers by the door. Bending down to pull my trainers off, I see movement from the bed out of the corner of my eye.

“What the fuck?!”

“Hey, gorgeous. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Tam is sitting naked in my bed, her top half exposed, showing off those fake titties her daddy paid for.

“What are you doing? Why the fuck are you naked in my bed?”

She laughs, licking at her lower lip and looking at me like I’m her next snack. “I would have thought that was obvious. Why don’t you take off those clothes and get in with me? I’m sure I can put that smile back on your face, baby.”

“No.” I growl. “Enough is enough. You need to get dressed and leave, now!” I order her. I collect her clothes and throw them at her. She doesn’t budge. She smiles at me as she moves her hand down her chest and plays with her breasts. “Come and play, Seb.”

“You need to leave. My girlfriend is coming over soon and you can’t be here.”

Her brown eyes snap up to mine. “What girlfriend?”

“It doesn’t matter who she is. The fact is, I’m in a relationship and I don’t want anyone but her. This,” I say, wagging a finger between me and her, “this will not happen. You need to move on and find someone else.”

Her bottom lip wobbles. Oh, please. I can’t cope with crying girls. I don’t know how to handle them when they cry. “Clothes on. Now.”

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