Chapter 73
"Hang on, didn't Naboo say that you were going to be moving in with us?"
"Yes. I needed somewhere to live."
"But you're my little sister, and you're eighteen, and you slapped me!"
"And I'm moving in with you."
"But you can't!"
"It's not up to you, Vince."
"I'm sure it will be lovely." Howard interrupts. "Vince, why don't you go and do some stocktaking?" He says, but it's not a question. I trudge through to the back of the shop. When I get there, I sit down on a box. My thoughts are racing.
What if everything goes wrong? What if she ends up hurt? What if I hurt her? I can't do this. "I can't do this." I repeat.
"You can."
"But, Howard, I-"
"Will do brilliantly. She needs you, and you need her, even if neither of you will admit it."
"But what if I hurt her?"
"You won't."
"But what if I do?"
"You won't, I promise."
"How can you know?"
"I just do. She knows it, too."
"Will you two hurry up and get back to work?" Noelle shouts from the shop.
"Nothing's ever going to be the same, is it?"
"Nope."
"Is she as stubborn as you?"
"At least. She can't half slap you, either."
"I'll slap you again if you aren't out here in the next thirty seconds!"
"Duty calls."