Maybe This Time (Maybe #1)(8)

I glance down and look at the newspaper once more, hoping I missed something. There are hardly any jobs available for an unskilled worker like me. I was hoping for a waitressing job or something like that, any place that would take me on.

Giving up on the job ads, I decide to fill out my application for the course I want to do. After changing my mind several times, I’ve settled on nursing. I’ve heard it’s a very competitive course to get into, but I have good high school grades, so hopefully it will be enough for me to gain entry to the Tafe course. After that I can continue on to University, which is my plan.

“What are you doing?” Xander asks as he walks in, shirtless and sweaty. He went for a run about an hour ago. That must have been one long ass run.

“I was looking for a job, but nothing. So now I’m filling out the Tafe forms,” I tell him, looking back down at the application.

“Why don’t you ask Reid or Ryan for a job?” he says, shrugging like it’s no big deal.

“Why would I ask them?”

“They own a bar. You could work there whenever you wanted, it'd be flexible for you with school, and there'd be people there to keep an eye on you,” he says, lifting a brow.

“I didn’t know they owned a bar,” I grumble, not wanting to ask Reid for anything. “And why do I need someone to keep an eye on me?”

Xander shrugs. “Dad has a motorcycle shop you could work in, too. I work there a few days a week. And because you’re beautiful, and new to town.”

My eyes widen. That I did not know. Why did he seem so evasive about it before? “I’m sure I’ll find something, and I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Stubborn.” He chuckles. “The Kanes are all stubborn.”

“Apparently.”

“Yep, it’s a fact,” he says, smiling.

“I’m sure the Kanes are a lot of things,” I say with a smirk.

“Yeah, all good things, of course.”

I roll my eyes at him.

A knock on the door disturbs our banter, and Xander goes to answer it. As soon as he says the words ‘hey, mum’ I freeze. I don’t want to meet his mother. I quickly stand and head towards my room. I’m halfway there, almost safe, when Xander calls out my name.

“Summer, come meet my mum,” he says. I close my eyes for a second, before turning around. I try to smile but I think it comes out more like a grimace.

“Mum, this is Summer. Summer, this is my mum, Daria,” he introduces. She is pretty, with mousy brown hair and clear blue eyes. She’s a little on the thin side, and looks to be in her late forties or early fifties.

“Nice to meet you,” I say, hoping they'll start to talk so I can sneak away. All I can think is, this is the woman my dad cheated with when he was married to my mother. I don’t know how to feel. Daria’s eyes seem kind as she watches me, before she finally speaks.

"Nice to meet you too, Summer, I’ve heard so much about you over the years.”

“Really?” I manage to say, feeling surprised. I wouldn’t have thought they would have discussed me at all. My eyes dart to my brother. He must see the look on my face because he frowns, and then starts to take Daria into the kitchen, offering her some coffee.

He glances back at me, so I attempt another smile before walking back into my room and quietly closing the door. She might have heard about me, but I’ve heard nothing about her except that she’s a home wrecker.

Xander walks into my room an hour later without knocking. “What was that?” he asks, sounding confused, and a little angry.

“What was what?” I ask, closing my laptop.

“You looked at my mum like she was the devil,” he says dryly.

“I don’t know, I just don’t know her,” I lie.

“Summer, she’s a nice person. She'll take care of you if you let her,” he says, his voice gentling.

I can just imagine my mother turning in her grave right now.

“I don’t need a replacement mother,” I snap, losing my patience with the topic.

“Fuck, I know. I didn’t mean that. You just looked upset, and…” he trails off, a look of realisation taking over his expression. “You’re holding a grudge over something that happened what, nineteen years ago?”

“If dad didn’t cheat with her, maybe I would have actually had a father growing up,” I tell him, deciding to be honest. I know my feelings aren’t fair. But that doesn't change the fact that I have them.

“So, you'd rather I wasn’t born at all,” he snaps back at me, making me wince. I didn’t even think of that. In fact, I was just thinking of myself, no one else.

“Of course not, Xander,” I say, rubbing my palm on my forehead.

He doesn’t say anything, so I try again.

“I’ll try next time, okay. I can’t help how I feel, Xander, but I’ll try,” I promise him.

“Okay,” he says, seemingly satisfied. We hear a knock on the door and Xander leaves to answer it.

I prop the pillows up, and lay back on them so I’m in a sitting position. Opening my laptop, I start to check my emails when Reid walks in. The door was left open, so he clearly didn’t feel the need to knock. He’s wearing basketball shorts, a tight white V neck T-shirt and sneakers.