Page 14 of The Thief

I stayed rooted to the spot, breathing as low and quietly as I could so I could watch and listen.

She took a step forward onto the path of the little terraced house and turned around to close the gate behind her.

“Your mum’s rose bush looks like it’s on its way out,” I heard a gruff voice reply, and then a huff as Alfie pushed himself off the floor to stand, removed his gardening gloves and wiped his sweaty brow. “I’m trying to inject some life back into them.”

“You don’t need to be on your hands and knees pulling up every single weed to do that,” she replied, folding her arms over her chest and popping her hip. She’d been sassy with me, but now, that sass was laced with concern... and love. “You could just water the rose bush. Or better yet, wait for me to get home and I’ll do it.”

“It’s fine.” Alfie gave her a kind smile. “I’m sure you have better things to do, like homework, or chatting on the phone to your friends for hours.” He shook his head. “I still have no idea what you find to talk about after spending all day together at school.”

She took a few more steps up the path as she said, “There’s always so much we have to debrief after a day at that school. But nothing really happened today. I think I’ll just read in my room.”

Nothing had happened.

Who was she trying to kid?

“You should try spending a day at my school.” Alfie chuckled to himself.

“I think I’ll pass,” she muttered, walking up to the front door of the house. Then she turned to ask her dad, “Is Mum home yet?”

“Not yet, sweetheart. I think she’s working late tonight.”

“Okay. I’ll make a start on dinner,” she stated, and Alfie beamed at her.

“You’re an angel, you know that? What would I do without you?”

“Live on crisp sandwiches and toast.” She laughed back.

“I love you, sweet pea,” he called into the house as she disappeared inside.

“Love you too. And no more weeding. Come inside and have a rest.”

I saw him nod to himself, then pull his gardening gloves back on and kneel down to carry on with his work. And in that moment, I felt like an idiot.

What the fuck was I doing?

I’d followed the girl home, argued in the street with her, and now, I was hiding in the fucking bushes, watching her talk to her dad.

It was blatantly obvious she didn’t give a shit about what I thought. She’d moved on. And here I was, still lurking like a loser, as if she’d walk right back out again and give me the benefit of the doubt.

I’d told her I didn’t care, and I needed to start acting like it.

But then, who was I kidding?

I did care.

I’d always been a failure as far as teachers and my dad were concerned. But after today, after having a fresh start in the unit, I didn’t want to be that guy anymore. I wasn’t willing to brush it off. I wanted to do better.

I heard her voice again and saw her emerge from the house with a hot mug of tea or coffee and hand it to her dad, and I felt like shit.

What was I still doing here?

She was a good girl. A nice girl with a decent family. The last thing she needed was someone like me stalking her and giving her grief. I’d fucked up today. I’d taken her dad’s wallet, and she’d caught me. I was the guilty one, not her.

Adam’s words rang in my ears as I hung my head.

“Do you think, of all the people you could’ve chosen, he was the one who deserved to be robbed today?”

No.