Read Online Steal My Sunshine by Emily Gale - Free Book Online Page A

bedroom.’
    Sam leaned back in his chair and stuck his thumb up. ‘Sausage roll. With sauce.’ Then his fore­finger. ‘And a Coke.’
    It took all my willpower not to bend his finger back like we used to do to each other when we were kids, but then I’d only be in more trouble with Mum. Even if I wasn’t needed here, there was someone else who trusted me. I remembered what Essie had asked me to do and I had a hunch I’d find it in Mum’s room.
    Behind the wardrobe were some of Dad’s maps that he’d never got around to hanging up. There were two in large frames, but when I flipped them forward, I found a canvas. I listened out for Mum and Sam before I eased the canvas out. Despite the film of dust over it, I knew it was the one Essie had asked for: a girl, a baby and a bridge.
    It could live under my bed for now.
    Â 
    On my way back from the shops I got a message from Chloe and I couldn’t help breaking into a goofy smile. U know I luv u right? U will be fine. p.s. Maybe Ev does think ur hot. Who knows?? xx
    The sun was low down now, a warm orangey lamp tucked neatly behind the city, and the cicadas were clicking like mad. I stopped at our gate and texted Chloe back. My thoughts about her lately had been mean and snide but it was only because she always seemed so far ahead of me. It was easier to drag my heels and sulk than to try to keep up with her.
    She was difficult as hell but no one made me laugh like she did. No one amazed me more. That seemed like a stupid thing to forget.
    I scrolled past Dad’s number and bit my lip, clicked on Evan and spent the next five minutes writing and rewriting a message.
    Thx 4 ur msg. Things r a bit mad right now. See u soon?
    With my eyes squeezed shut, I pressed send before I could change my mind again.
    The evening had the kind of glow that made summer worth all the hassle over sunscreen and mozzie bites. If Dad were here he’d be saying we should eat outside. He’d hand Mum a drink and they’d clink glasses even if they were hardly talking, which was most of the time. Dad always seemed hopeful, no matter what. As I took a deep breath to go back in the house, I realised what he’d taken with him. But maybe I was the only one who couldn’t live without it.
    â€˜Sshh, Mum’s asleep,’ Sam said the second I got in. As he closed her bedroom door, I fought the urge to ask if he’d read her a bedtime story and tucked her in. He grabbed at the plastic bag.
    â€˜Wait a minute!’
    â€˜Come on, I haven’t eaten all day.’
    â€˜You had sausages, remember?’
    He swiped at the bag again but I was faster. ‘They were good too. What did you go to school for?’
    I held the bag up high and walked backwards down the hall. ‘What was I meant to do, stick around here and get ignored?’
    â€˜You really are a baby.’
    â€˜And you’re a moron.’ I took my chips out of the bag and dropped the rest right where I was standing, forgetting about the can that was in there, which thudded on the wooden floor. We both looked at Mum’s room.
    â€˜Idiot,’ he whispered, and picked the bag up off the floor.
    I trailed after him and shot tiny arrows in his back that would never stick because I was from Lilliput and Sam was giant Gulliver. He settled on the sofa with his feet on the table. No Dad to tell him to get his shoes off the furniture now. He put the sports channel on.
    There was nothing I could do. Every time I was near Mum or Sam the feeling I got when Dad had left would hit me again, just as strong as the moment it had happened. And I was too scared to call Dad in case I told him how bad it was and he didn’t do a thing about it.
    An hour later, in my bedroom, I heard the doorbell and thought it might be him. I raced to get there, colliding with Sam in the hallway but he’d beaten me to it. Over his shoulder I could see Mum’s hippy friend, Margot.