––––––––

Goddamned Thor. She wanted to watch Thor. I know I liked the male body and Chris had one to simply die for, Thor was a very decent specimen, but it was Marvel. It’s not like he took his clothes off in a family orientated movie. I preferred to see it, not imagine it.

That was what Sophie wanted, so that was what Sophie would get. Shaun had sneaked from the Loft before anyone woke up, not wanting to cause any waves or answer a million questions. He’d also admitted he didn’t know how he was feeling over Jake, so it was best for him to leave when he did, before anyone realised he’d been there.

“Two tickets for Thor, please?”

The cinema guy was courteous when he slapped the tickets on the counter and grinned at me. “Enjoy!”

I handed Sophie her ticket, then steered her toward the snack bar. I needed some unhealthy shit if I was going to sit through a film I didn’t care for. “What do you want?”

She took an inordinate amount of time before settling on hotdogs and popcorn - like two hotdogs and a jumbo bucket of buttered popcorn. Crisps and a Pepsi Max for me, about as unhealthy as I got.

Armed with snacks and tickets we made our way to the screening, dodging others laden down as much as us.

“Well, hey there, Sophie.”

The voice came from behind and stopped my friend in her tracks. I turned, coming face to face with a stunning looking woman with pin straight, jet black hair that almost reached her waist. The ring in her lip stood out and betrayed the soft look she had about her. Ogling me up and down, I was instantly uncomfortable. Felt like lunch - her lunch. Like she’d eat me alive given half the chance then belch and take a toothpick to her teeth when she was finished. The thought was ugly, and I cringed, wanting away from the woman. Predatory women scared the shit out of me, reminded me of my mother. And she was positively eyeing me up with ulterior motives flashing like signal warnings behind her eyes.

“Hey, Chrissie,” Sophie said tersely, looking as uncomfortable as I felt.

“Who’s your friend?” The woman placed her hand at her hip and looked shrewdly at Sophie.

“No one you know.”

The woman beamed, accentuating her beautiful face more. I considered beauty was only skin deep where she was concerned. “Exactly why I’m asking, doll. You not going to introduce us?”

Who the fuck called someone doll?

Sophie glared then turned and walked away, I did the same, not wanting to make insincere apologies and not having a jot of guilt for doing so.

“Your brother know you got yourself a fella?” Again, Sophie halted.

“What do you want, Chrissie?”

She’d caught up to us and leaned into my friend. “Nothing. Just trying to figure out what a stunner like him is doing with a peasant like you.”

“Oh, fuck off!”

This was escalating fast. I didn’t want Sophie upset by this woman, so I took over. “Look, we’re late for the movie. Was nice meeting you, another time maybe?” It took all my strength to be polite while Sophie stood beside me clearly upset.

“You her boyfriend?”

“What’s it to you?” My hackles had gone up about two minutes before, and I was in no mood to be polite any longer. “It’s none of your business. Bye.” I nudged Sophie to move and she did. Chrissie, or whatever the fuck her name was, continued to shout as we quickly made our way into the theatre.

“You tell your brother I’ll be around to see him later, get a real woman to look after him instead of him looking after his skinny arsed sister!”

The woman was vile. I dragged a tense and upset Sophie into the screening and steered her to the seats at the back. I imagined her interest in Thor had waned and she’d want to vent. Plus, curiosity about this woman and who she was to Shaun won out, I wasn’t sitting for two hours and saying nothing.

“She’s nobody. Just a skank my brother shags now and again,” she said when I asked. Did he do that a lot, shagged around with no commitment? How many others would I encounter the deeper I sunk into Shaun’s world?

My stomach soured, and I questioned exactly what Shaun was doing with me. Was I just another notch on his endless bed post? Anybody could make words and speak them aloud, be convincing even. Was that all it was - words? I shook off the doubt as quick as it came - I’d question it later.

“Not a girlfriend?”

“Oh God, no. She wishes. She’s a total bitch, would love nothing more than to sink her claws into Shaun.”

“He’s not interested then, I take it?”

“No. He doesn’t do that kind of thing. Always no strings.”

“Not ever?”

“Nope. Nuh uh, not that I’ve ever known anyway.”

It was pointless asking about a boyfriend, if he didn’t do strings, then that meant with blokes too. God, it was getting harder to push those doubts to the back of my head. “Why’s she like that with you?”

“She doesn’t get his time, blames me. You know - being the clingy sister and all.” I detected a hint of sarcasm and chuckled at her. Sophie was not a clinger, not by any means, and certainly not with her brother.

“Does he know she treats you like that?” Shaun didn’t appear to be the kind of guy who would let anyone get away with what Chrissie had just done to his sister. He wouldn’t stand for it.

“Nah. There’s no point. He’s got enough going on without me tittle tattling.”

I didn’t push it but was damned well sure if it happened again in front of me, she wasn’t getting away with it and busy or not, Shaun would be getting the lowdown on the not so pleasant piece of skirt he shagged. My mother had taught me well when it came to putting people in their place and cutting them down to size. I’d seen it enough, often without justification.

“Why did he sneak out this morning?”

“Who?” My smirk toward her was genuine. Some nights Sophie slept light, coupled with getting up to go to the toilet.  “How’d you know?”

“His aftershave, his shoes...” she thumped her head down on my shoulder and among a giggle she quoted; “God, Ayden. Don’t stop,” in as deep a voice as she could.

I cracked up laughing, not even a bit embarrassed. Fuck, I’d come so hard and had my dick inside him, I wasn’t going to be ashamed, even in front of his sister. Hell, no.

A couple a few seats down turned and hissed at us to be quiet, I clasped my hand over Sophie’s mouth and wide eyed her, trying desperately to control my own noise. It was useless. The movie was a lost cause, having missed the beginning while whispering in the back seats, I decided then was as good a time as any to push for her to go down to my dad’s with Jake and me.

“You wanna get away for a while?”

“What you got in mind?”

“Fancy my dad’s? I could do with a time out, Uni really kicked my arse this term. I need to relax and have some peace and quiet for a few weeks.”

“That sounds great! I love your dad’s place. He’s okay with it?”

“I’ll phone Laura later. Lady Boss, you know?” I said.

My dad adored his woman, he was such a different person these days, the happiest I’d ever seen him, and she was just as taken with him. I loved Laura too, and I’d often wished they’d met sooner. If I’d been a young boy I could have called her mum and felt like I had one. She pampered me like she probably would have her own. Laura would love to have us all down, always made sure I was welcome, did the same when Jake and Sophie were towed along.

“You think we could go see Emily?”

Shocked at her unexpected question, but making no remark about it, I simply said ‘sure,’ and crossed my fingers Sophie was mellowing to the fact she’d be a mother before long. Spending time with Emily would do nothing but melt her heart and make her think twice about the choices she was yet to make. Yeah, taking Sophie down to Beaufort was a great idea, I mentally patted myself on the back for a job well done.

“All right, we’ll get our arses in gear and head down the next couple of days.”

“What about Jake?”

“You’re okay with him coming? He doesn’t come every time, but he will over the summer.” I eyed her making sure she caught my drift. “He’s never not welcome, Sophie.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s cool, Ayden. We have to get on with it, sort something out between us.”

She was right, they did and sooner rather than later would be better for them both. At least Sophie had perked up, the thought of a few weeks away, agreeing with her.

But me - I was still stuck in my head, thoughts of her brother rattling around. Where Chrissie fit into his life. How many more like her did he have? Was I just something to pass the time with?

Maybe I needed the answers to those questions before we went any further.