"Can't, I've got some homework to do before bed," Liam said.
"What, why didn't you do it at the gym?" Erin asked, flashing me a look of death. She was his mother hen, protected that kid like he was her own. Truth be told, I was beginning to feel the same way about him. Liam had a lot of fire in him just like Erin. He was willing to work hard and earn his keep to the best of his ability. But where Erin was guarded, Liam struggled with genuine insecurity. I was hoping to change that through teaching him to box. If I could make a champion out of my scrappy teenage self, I could whip skinny Liam into shape, too.
"It got busy but don't worry, there isn't much tonight."
Erin was wiping her hands on a tea towel and suddenly marched after Liam as soon as he passed her.
“Not so fast, young man!” She put an arm on his shoulder and spun him around. Liam was stiff as a board, leaning his face with the ice compress away from her like he could hide it someway.
I winced along with him as he pulled the compress down and examined his swollen eye. She threw me another death glare over her shoulder and I hung my head and shifted my weight waiting for the hot headed lecture I had heard from her smart mouth before. I thought it was sexy as hell when she got mad, but I’d never say that out loud.
“What do I have to do to get it into your thick skulls that Liam is in high school for God’s sake and cannot be throwing punches in the ring on school nights?!”
“He wasn’t sparing with a person, if that gets us out of the red. The kid took a fall back with a heavy bag and his face hit the bench.” The smile could be heard in my voice no matter how hard I tried to squelch it. “But the good news is, A stór, is that his hook is lookin’ strong.”
Erin was going to kill me. Liam looked like he might cry. “Aw come on, love! Let the boy have a go at it. It helps with his confidence.”
“I’ll discuss this with you later,” Erin huffed. She smeared antibiotic ointment on her young brother before returning to the living area where I stood like the scolded pet.
As soon as the bedroom door closed shut behind Liam, Erin turned to me with a vicious glare. "You said that schoolwork would be the priority. He can't flunk out of school! What if he shows up with another black eye and someone calls social services on me?” She was distraught and I felt terrible for making her worry.
“Erin, they know he works at McCarthy’s. No kid that ever worked in a boxing gym just scrubbed floors and didn’t want a turn in the ring. I keep him safe. But I let out the leash a little so he can learn to believe in himself. Liam is strong. You baby him.”
She turned from me, defeated, wandering into the kitchen, and slapped the rag she was holding onto the small countertop. She brought her hands to her face and I wasn’t sure if she was crying or fuming. I walked over to her and put my arms around her from behind, and slowly turned her to me.
“You are amazing. He turned out great. Liam is going to be okay and so are you. You both are stuck with me now for the long haul.”
I bent my head down and stopped at the hollow of her neck, and placed a kiss there before trailing more to the shell of her ear.
"Hello to you, sweetheart I missed you today."
"Sorry," she whispered, kissing me quickly on the lips.
I wanted to bend her back and kiss her until she was breathless, blooming in color before me. But Erin was agitated and she didn’t like to get heavy in front of her brother.
"I worry about him so much, Aiden."
"He's a good lad, Erin. He's been focused, and he's working toward goals at the gym. I know it seems chaotic, but there is a method to the madness. It’s a real sport. You get too distracted by the violence."
"Black and blue eyes are not a future I imagined for Liam." She pulled away, her voice full of tension. Her pretty eyes were intoxicating on any day and mesmerizing when she was fired up and passionate.
"He’s looking into law! I told you, he’s never idle. Took an interest in these lawyers that come in and take the kids cases pro bono. Liam got inspired and started talking to them.” It was true. Liam had a fast jab, but he was quick witted too. He had goals for his future, not just moping and hitting speed bags all the way through to retirement.