“Let’s get in the shower, Sport.” Coach says to me while his phone is recording us.
“Okay.” I take off my uniform and grab my towel.
“I’ll take you for some pizza after,” he grins as his fat cheeks puff out and turn redder. “To celebrate that home run.”
“Yay!” I always like pizza with Coach because we ride in his big truck and listen to music really loud.
1
Coach Halbert’s house burned down two days ago and the fire department says he was inside. Cause of fire? Falling asleep with a lit cigarette. Real cause of fire? My best friend and pseudo-sister Ember. I don’t have any confirmation of that because her and my brother Vin are in Spain right now chasing after a corrupt government official named Jennifer Talia and trying to bust her illegal adoption ring. It just feels like an Ember job. Long story, if you get it, you get it.
I received a text from Ember two nights ago, it was short and to the point. We need to talk. That talk won’t be happening any time soon because she will be gone for the next two weeks and I am here babysitting her twin brother Emmett. Speaking of, said brother comes into the kitchen wearing only a pair of boxers that are hanging dangerously low. A centimeter more and I’m getting a cock full… eyeful! Shit.
“What’s the plan?” He croaks out, still half asleep, “how am I coming out?”
“Pardon?” I blink at him, what the fuck is he asking me right now? It’s too early for this shit.
“An explanation of how I came to be here in Whitsborough?” He lifts an eyebrow at me, “what were you thinking?”
“Nothing.” I turn away and sip on the coffee I poured myself, “I thought we would stick to the story Ember said. You came here looking for your birth mother and found Ember instead. You decided to stay and that’s it.”
“Will it be enough?” He goes and pours himself a coffee too, “I want to be able to leave this house.”
“Who cares?” I shrug, “tell people to fuck off if they ask for more.”
“Oh yeah?” He grins, “and what if your mother asks for more?”
“Especially tell her to fuck off.” I turn my back and head back up to the spare bedroom Ember put me in. Right across from her annoying ass twin.
Today I need to get over to my house and check on my mother. She could have killed and buried Sonja in the three days I’ve been gone. Plus, I’m running out of clothing here since I only packed a knapsack full. I’m still not completely sold on living here and living off someone else. I want my own place, with a dog and a fridge continuously stocked in beer.
I open my laptop and check my emails. Lately the board of directors at my father’s company has been up my ass. They want me to come to intern straight after high school, skip university and basically fill my father’s shoes as a ruthless piece of shit. It’s not something I particularly want to do, he was never a happy man and I can only imagine his business reflects that. My father’s right hand in the company is named Gerald and he has been pretty good at keeping me up to date with the inner workings of the board, their secret meetings and especially all their plans to overthrow me.
The deep thumping bass of some hip hop song makes its way across the hall and into my room. For the last three days, he has played his music all hours of the day and at varying degrees of loudness. I get up and pull off my shirt and start to untie my sweatpants. I’m going to take a shower and get my ass out of this house for a bit.
“Uh… sorry… I knocked.” I look up and see Emmett standing in my open doorway, watching me as I undress.
“Guess I couldn’t hear it over the music.”
“Oh… if it bothers you I can turn it down.”
“It doesn’t matter, I’m heading out for a few hours, play it as much as you like.” I walk to my bathroom and look over my shoulder at him. “Did you need something?”
“Oh! Yeah…” He scrubs his hand down over his face, “I wanted to know if you heard from your brother? Ember didn’t check in with me last night.”
“No I haven’t. I will call him after I shower.” I head into the shower and look back at him as I shut the door. He’s still standing in my doorway watching me with a scowl.
I step out of my room and Emmett is leaning against the wall by my door. He’s dressed in a fitted white tee and a pair of skater looking jeans with the chain hanging from the pockets. He has a baseball hat low on his face. “Can I come with you?”
“No.” I start to walk towards the stairs.
“It’s just to your house and you told me I could tell your mother to fuck off.” He grins at me. Fuck, his face is a duplicate of Ember’s, especially that grin. It’s so fucking freaky.
“It’s not a good idea…”
“People need to start learning about me soon.” He cuts me off, “I start school next week.”
He’s right, I know he’s right and I hate the fact that I was left to be the one to deal with this. “Fine, let’s get it done.” I grab my car keys, “stay in the car when we get there.”
He nods and follows me outside to the driveway. As soon as we step out he takes an exaggerated intake of air and throws his arms open wide, “I’m free.” I roll my eyes and unlock
