Against All Odds

Chapter 26

Lucas

"Why are we doing this again?" Harvey frowns as he helps me pull the heavy keyboard towards our friends house.
"Don't you know what doing something nice is?" I ask him with slight amusement. "Benji wants to learn how to play and I saw this in a charity shop and thought I'd get it for the little kid."
"Well ain't you kind." Harvey smirks and I roll my eyes just as the door to Eve's house opens as Max puts his head around the door.
"You guys need any help with that?" He gestures towards the keyboard which Harvey and I are carrying.
"That would be ace man, I got it for Benji actually." I tell him as he steps forward and admires the instrument with surprise.
"So you're the one who's got my little brother obsessed with learning the piano?" Max raises his eyebrows and offers me a hand, taking the keyboard off us and lifting it into the house effortlessly.
"Okay that makes us look hella weak." Harvey cringes as we follow Eve's older brother into the house.
Since I've found out about this families past I've felt extreme respect for this young man in front of me. He kept his family together against all odds. When Eve told me what happened to her parents I realised that all my first assumptions of her were wrong. She's not had a perfect life. She's not little miss innocent. She's just Eve. A girl who's faced shit and kept walking.
"You're Lucas right? The guy who punched Eve's ex?" Max questions after he'd set the keyboard down against the wall.
"That's me." I nod and shake his outstretched hand firmly. "When that storm happened Benji heard me playing the piano and asked for lessons. I saw this in a charity shop and thought of him."
Max nods and heads towards the stairs, telling me to wait a second.
"Lucas..." Harvey fist bumps my shoulder and my attention turns to him. "You're being overly kind to this family. Any particular reason?"
"What do you mean? Can't I just be nice?" I challenge him and he gives me a knowing look.
"Overly kind and defensive about it." He seems amused. "This can only mean one thing."
"What are you on man?" I frown.
"Someone has a little crush on Eve." Harvey half jokes and half seems genuinely curious. My frown deepens at this. "Don't even deny it man."
"She's just...I like her okay? I want to make her happy and I thought by making her brother happy it would cheer her up and maybe..."
"Dude, you're rambling." Harvey cuts me off and I feel my cheeks redden slightly. "You're so smitten."
"Fuck off I'm not!" I raise my voice slightly.
"Lucas said a bad word!" A shocked voice comes from behind me and I spin round, feeling like an idiot when I see Benji looking at me wide eyed and Max seeming almost amused.
"That's because Lucas is a big boy and he chooses to use such bad language." Max puts his back gently and turns his attention to the keyboard I'd just brought over. "Lucas got this for you little man."
"It's like a mini piano!" Benji laughs with delight as his brother shows him the keyboard. "Thanks Lucas."
He's beaming as he admires his new instrument, making me feel very pleased with myself although when I catch Max's eye I briefly mouth an apology. He waves me off with a smile on his lips.
"Where's Eve?" Harvey puts in.
"She's on a shift at the moment, think she finishes at three today." Max sighs and I notice a brief flash of guilt cross his face. "She does too many shifts."
Harvey hums his agreement.
"How about I take Benji to lunch there?" I suggest, hoping Max wouldn't find it too forward. Truth told I don't know this guy as much as I know his other siblings.
"Well he has been going bored out of his mind stuck at home." Max ruffles his brothers hair affectionately. "What do you think little man? Want to go to lunch with Lucas and Harvey?"
Benji tears his eyes away from the keyboard and his smile increases even further as he nods his head up and down vigorously.
"Take that as a yes then." Max chuckles and Benji woops out loud, running to the door. "Woah slow it down Benji, don't forget your coat."

Ten minutes later and the three of us bustle into Eve's café which is pretty full due to it being lunch time.
When she sees us her eyes light up and she finishes clearing a table before greeting each of us with a hug.
"Hey guys what are you doing here?" She smiles and Benji informs her we came here for lunch.
"Thought we'd keep you company." I scan the café briefly, subconsciously wondering whether Stan's here today. I can't see him so I hope he's been leaving Eve alone.
Eve shows us over to a table in the corner near the window.
"What would you like then?" Eve retrieves her note pad from her apron and prepares to take our order.
I'm about to reply when an annoyed voice cuts in.
"Excuse me but these people have just got here and you're already taking their order?" A stoutly man taps her on the shoulder, making her jump. "My wife and I were here before them."
"Oh...I'm so sorry, where are you sat?" Eve switches on her polite working face but I can't help but feel pissed towards this impatient guy.
"Over there." He points to the other side of the café where his wife is staring at Eve expectantly.
"Oh right." Eve relaxes a little. "Well that's my colleges side to serve, I'll just see where she's got too."
The man appears like he's going to protest but then Benji stands up, glaring up at the massive man.
"Stop being mean to my sister." He says in the fiercest voice he could.
Harvey and I link eyes and we both try not to laugh at how adorable this little kid looks.
The man frowns in response but retreats back to his own table.
"Some people." Harvey rolls his eyes and I murmur my agreement. "Well done Benny boy you scare him off."
Benji sits down looking rather smug and pleased with himself.
"Thank you." Eve leans in and gives her brother a quick kiss to which Benji replies with an URGH and rubs his cheek roughly with his hand. "I'll be right back."
And then Eve's off, probably finding out where her colleges disappeared too.