Against All Odds

Chapter 44

Eve

"Excuse me miss, can you help me a second?" An elderly customer asks me and I nod politely, quiring how I could help her. "I need a present for my grandson. He's fifteen but I've got no clue what kids your age are into. Can you suggest anything?"
I ponder her request, wondering what her grandson might like.
"Does he play video games?" I wonder and her eyes light up in recognition.
"Yes he does I believe." The sweet old lady nods her head and I offer to take her to the video games section of the department store.
"Oh don't you worry yourself dear, I can find it I'm sure." She chuckles gratefully, thanking me as she wonders in the direction I pointed.

Moments like that make me smile. Complete strangers can do small, insignificant things which seriously lighten up your day.

I'd had this job for a few weeks now and I'm enjoying it so far. The other employees are easy going and I seem to fit in well.

The end of my shift comes after I've dealt with a few more customers and I happily leave the department store, heading in the direction of home.

Lucas has spent the day with Harvey doing whatever guys do but he promised me this evening would be just me and him. I've been looking forward to it all day seeing as since we got back from his Grans life's been kind of busy.
What with Luc dealing with his financial situation and me spending the majority of my time with Benji or working, we haven't managed to have much one to one time since we got together.
I smile softly at the memory of our kiss, just before we admitted our feelings. His kiss set something off inside of me. Something that I'd never experienced ever before.
Call me a hopeless romantic but I really believe Lucas could be my future.
When I get home I kick my shoes off and totter into the sitting room where Benji and Max are sat, playing a game of snap.
"Evie!" My little brother squeals happily and I smile, leaning down and kissing his cheek in greeting.
"Hey little man." I stroke his hair, brushing his scruffy fringe out of his face. "You're going to need a hair cut soon."
Benji wriggles away from my touch and I chuckle at his reaction.
"Good shift?" Max questions, placing his cards on the table and turning his attention to me.
"Yeah not too bad." I nod with a small smile. "All good here?"
Max replies with a nod but his eyes flicker to our little brother and I get the sense he's not being totally honest.
"Do you want to watch something while I chat adult stuff with your sister?" He asks Benji who shrugs his little shoulders as though he's not bothered.
Max turns the TV on and hands Benji the remote, turning his wheelchair so he's directly looking at the TV.
He then leaves the sitting room and I follow, nervous about what he's going to say. Ever since Benji had been discharged from the hospital we've been taking it in turns to care for him. It's a full time job. We tried keeping his bedroom upstairs but carrying him up there every night was unpractical so we ended up turning the sitting room into his temporary bedroom. It's tiring and I honestly have no idea how we'll cope when the summers over and I have to go back to school.
"Tea?" Max asks and I nod, slipping onto the chair and waiting as he makes us a cuppa each. He sits down opposite me when he's finished and I sip the tea he places in front of me. "I've been asked to work tonight."

"What? But Lucas and I..." I protest but Max holds his hand up to stop me.

"I know you had plans but I haven't got a choice, we need the money." He says and I can't help but agree. "I've been thinking about how we'll manage when you're back at sixth form."

"I've been thinking about that too." I admit softly.

"I hate to say this," Max friend as he continues. "but we need to find him a carer."

I bit my lip subconsciously and Max taps the table with his fingers.

"I'll admit I'm not too happy about the prospect of leaving him in the hands of a stranger and he'll probably hate us for it to begin with but..."

"We don't have a choice." I finish off for him, watching my big brother run a stressed hand through his hair. "I understand. It's something we'll all benefit from in the long run."

Max smiles, glad I'm not going to fight him on this.

"Benji deserves the best though, so this carer better be good." I warn him in a jokey tone yet he could tell I was serious.

~~~

When Lucas gets to my house Max had left for work and Benji was in a mood. In fact he'd been driving me crazy all evening.

Most of the time he was cheery about his injuries and paralysed state but this evening he was having none of it.

First he'd tried to get himself a drink and started shouting because he couldn't reach the sink. And then he'd dropped the remote and couldn't pick it up so he took his frustration out on the only other person there; me. As understanding as I tried to be it's difficult, especially when seeing him so wound up effected me too.
So when Lucas knocks on the door, expecting me to be all dolled up and ready for a date I greet him with a mess. My hair is shoved into a messy bun, face makeup less and I realise the jumper I'm wearing has numerous stains decorating the old fabric.
Lucas' smile falters as he sees the flushed state I'm in.
"Did I get the wrong evening? We are supposed to be going out tonight right?" Lucas double checks, seemingly worried.
"Yeah we were but Max had to work so I have to look after Benji." I sigh, taking a second to check out the hot lad standing in my doorway. Correction, my hot lad. He's dressed in a smart yet casual blue shirt, plain black jacket and grey skin tight jeans. "We can do it another night?"
The suggestion leaves a sour taste in my mouth; I'd been really looking forward to his company.

"No way, this is our evening." Lucas shakes his head. "How about we take Benji with us?"

My mood lightens considerably at that idea.

"That would be perfect, Benji really needs to get out of the house." I stand back and let Lucas in, blushing as he kisses my cheek softly after I shut the door.

"You're cute when you blush."

"You're calling me cute when I'm the splitting image of a mad woman?" I scoff, gesturing at my crazed state.

"When I look at you I always see beauty, no matter what you're wearing." Lucas smiles, tenderly fiddling with a loose strand of my hair that hadn't quite made the messy bun.

"Enough with the soppy shit." I brush off his comments as though they meant nothing when in reality they meant the world. "Can you watch Benji while I change? Just a warning, he's being a bit of a nightmare."

~~~

The restaurant Lucas takes us to is clearly not a chain, with it's unique inside décor and sweet, friendly owner that welcomes us in. It's not too busy which is perfect for Benji. This is his first meal out since his injury.

Lucas requests us a table round the corner, separate to the rest of the restaurant, making me swoon at how considerate he is.

The cheery woman waves over a waiter, asking he shows us to our table. The waiter gestures us to follow him and I thank the lady with a smile, walking in front as Lucas pushes Benji's wheelchair.

"It smells good." Benji mentions from behind.

"It sure does little man, and you can have whatever you like to eat." I hear Lucas say, making me smile.

Truth be told if it was just Benji and I eating out I'd be worried about coping with him in a public place. But thanks to my chilled boyfriend I know we can both deal with him together and help him have a good night.

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