Free Bet Me (Finding My Way) by R.S Burnett

lips twitch with amusement.
    “Who’s here to see me?” I ask impatiently.
    He steps aside to reveal Phin. He has a cut above his eye brow; it’s not fresh but clearly only a day or two old. I take a step back shaking my head and feel Tuckers hands on my shoulders stopping me from backing away from him any further.
    “Who are you here with?” I ask Phin quietly.
    He shifts from foot to foot for a while before meeting my eyes “I’m alone” he confirms.
    “Why are you here?” I ask confused, this night can’t get any stranger.
    “I needed to get away … like you did” he says quietly.
    “How did you find me?” I ask worried now that they all know where I am.
    “I followed you earlier and when you met your boyfriend for lunch. I heard you tell him where you were going so I got on a train”
    “Boyfriend?” Matt and Tucker ask at the same time.
    “It was Luke,” I say dismissively. “Did you tell anyone where you were going?” I ask turning my attention back to Phin.
    He shakes his head at me.
    “Okay, let me think a minute” I say to no one in particular and take a seat at the desk.
    “You went back there?” Matt asks referring to the town we all went to university to.
    “Yeah” I answer not paying too much attention.
    “Why?” Tucker asks just as confused.
    “Twelve years today” I answer.
    “I’m lost” Matt says making me roll my eyes.
    “Twelve years ago today my dad died” I explain as I try to think of a way how to sort out the Phin situation. I can’t take him back because I’m not going anywhere near their house. I can’t have them going to my house. I’ll have to get them to come to the club.
    “You know a lot about tonight makes sense now” Matt says sounding relieved.
    “Give me your phone” I say to Phin holding out my hand as he comes towards me cautiously.
    I dial the number and close my eyes as I prepare myself to speak to the people that ruined my life. Please don’t be him I chant to myself as the dial tone changes to ringing. I have no such luck.
    “Hello?” he answers finally.
    “Hi” Is all I say knowing that’s all it will take for him to recognize my voice.
    “What do you want?” he snarls in my ear
    “You need to come and pick up your son” I say not giving into the shiver that threatens to rock my whole body at the thought of him coming here.
    “What do you mean? Where is he?” he shouts making me wince.
    “He’s just turned up at my work”
    “Fine give me the address I’ll leave now”
    I tell him the address and to meet me by the bar.
    “Can’t wait to see you again” he says sarcastically into the phone before hanging up.
    “Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick,” I say to the phone as I hand it back to Phin “He’ll be here in three hours, you can stay in here and I’ll come get you when he gets here” I tell him.
    “Can’t I live with you? I hate it there. I hate them” he whines.
    “I wish I could help you, but I can’t. Sorry kiddo, you got two choices. You either phone the police and or social services if he’s hitting you or you stick it out till your old enough to move out” I say sympathetically “If you phone Social Services, give me a call and I’ll see if I can get them to let you live with me”
    “Wait you mean that was just ...” Matt asks.
    “Yeap that was my step dad” I finish for him.
    “Which means you’re …” Tucker says staring at Phin. Then I remember our argument before I left was over him.
    “This is Phin, my brother from another daddy” I emphasize the word brother and he visibly cringes shooting me an apologetic look.
    “Come on, we better get back out there,” I say to Matt and Tucker as I start making my way to the door “Il send in a drink for you Phin, stay put. No trying to escape. Don’t make me chase you around please.” I call over my shoulder.
    Lucy and Sophie watch us as we return to the bar and they also do a double take when they notice Tucker with us. Honestly how did