Page 39 of Kicks

“Yum.”

She went off to the poultry section. Billy took a moment and watched her fulfilling her mission.

She’s almost grown.

That thought filled him with pride and fear in equal parts. Everyone went on about how he saved Crystal after their mother died. Corny as it might be, but she’d saved him right back.

“So do you?” Crystal asked when she returned.

“Do I what?”

“Fancy him.”

He considered it for a second. Why was he lying? Had he become so uptight he couldn’t bring himself to admit a feeling?

“Yeah,” he said. “I think I do.”

“Ooh!”

“Shut up.”

Maybe she’s not that grown yet.

The woman from the cream aisle was coming the other way. She had clearly tried to dodge them and completely mistimed her move.

“Seriously. That’s cool with me,” Crystal said with a wicked expression on her face. “Bet you haven’t had in any in ages.”

The poor woman hurried past them.

“Jesus Christ,” Billy said.

“You’re going to have to chill out if you’re going to flog half the shit they sell.”

“Is it okay if I don’t discuss it with my fifteen-year-old sister in the middle of Sainsburys?”

Crystal shrugged.

They carried on walking.

“Her face though,” Crystal said.

They both burst into fits of laughter.

NINE

EDDIE

Eddie walked down the little cobbles towards the Websters’ souvenir shop. He hadn’t paid a lot of attention last time. He’d been too focused on landing the deal. Now he had come for a second visit, he noticed the paint peeling off the doorframe and windows. Come to think of it, the whole place would benefit from a spruce-up.

He’d suggest they kept the name. Treasure Hove was clever. Brighton and Hove had once been two distinct towns. Expansion over the years had forced them to operate as a single entity.

The customers will be searching for different treasure soon.

Eddie took in the little cafés and other shops that formed the rest of the beachfront community. A middle-aged couple were painting the woodwork on one.

“Gorgeous day,” Eddie said as he approached. “You look busy.”

The man stood up and arched his back. He winced. “Bloody back-breaking but hopefully will be worth it.”