With a sigh, I push from the car with my purchase burning a hole in my pocket. I’m more than ready to kick back and make the most of the queen-size bed instead of the twin I’m used to.
The house is in blissful silence as I make my way via the kitchen to grab some food and up the stairs to the room Dad directed me to after picking me up from the airport earlier.
I couldn’t help smiling when I discovered that he’d put me right next to his precious Ruby. I’d spent the entire house tour having happy, smiling photos of the three of them shoved in my face. Anyone who wasn’t aware would think they’re the perfect little family. Fuck our parents’ previous lives, those who were left behind. They had been forgotten long ago and this was all they cared about.
Pushing through into my temporary room, I kick the door shut before toeing off my shoes, opening my window and diving onto the bed.
I pull the baggie of weed, my lighter, and cell from my pocket and get comfortable.
After restarting my music, I set about rolling my first blunt.
My mouth waters for a taste, for something that’s going to make this hellhole that much more bearable.
The first drag hits exactly where I needed it to. I suck it deep and hold the smoke in my lungs until it begins to burn.
Fucking yes!
Slipping down the bed a little, I take hit after hit, not giving two fucks about this being his house. He didn’t give any ground rules, so I take that as there not being any.
I’m just about to push from the bed in my need to find where that motherfucker’s liquor cabinet is when my bedroom door flies open.
It seems tonight might have just got interesting.
4
Ruby
I’m still fuming from our earlier interaction and the fact he stole my fucking car as I lie on my bed hours later, AirPods in and my music attempting to get me out of my own head as I try to focus on what I should be doing. Sadly, the only thing I’m actually doing is replaying our short interaction from earlier.
He shouldn’t intrigue me like he does. Especially after the way he spoke to me, the way he acted. The way he totally invaded my privacy by riffling through my purse like he owned the fucking thing.
Stephen has had nothing but good things to say about his ex-wife, so I find it hard to believe she’s brought him up to be such an arrogant, selfish prick.
My fingers tighten on the pencil I’m holding until I’m worried it’s about to snap in half.
It’s just a few days. Just a few days.
No wonder he’s been suspended from school if he acts like that on a normal day. I wonder what he did.
My inappropriate thoughts about the boy occupying the next room are thwarted when the vibration of the front door slamming hits me.
I sit up straight, pulling one of my AirPods from my ear to listen to what he might be doing.
After a few minutes, the sound of his footsteps pounding up the stairs has my heart beating faster than it should.
I shouldn’t care that he’s home. I should just be glad he made it back with my car hopefully in one piece.
Thankfully, he doesn’t make it down to my door, assuming he knows which room is mine, of course. Instead, another door slams as he locks himself away in his room.
Good. And I hope you damn well stay in there. I sure have every intention of hiding in here until I absolutely have to leave.
Unfortunately, his god-awful music almost immediately starts, sending my irritation levels sky-high.
Thoughts of packing a bag and moving in with Harley for a few days flit through my mind. Her mom wouldn’t care, that’s if she’s even there. I could make up some story about Harley needing company, Mom wouldn’t even bat an eyelid.
It’s a solid idea. It would get me away from this house, and more importantly, him. So why is it that I make no move to pack a bag and leave as fast as I can?
It seems I’m a glutton for punishment because there’s a huge part of me that wants to find out more about my angry stepbrother. I want to know why he was the way he was earlier. I find it hard to believe it’s because he’s here. Stephen said he agreed happily after the suggestion was made.
I think about that for a moment. That can’t be right. He refused every other time Stephen has tried to get him to visit. Why is he here now? And why was he apparently so happy to come?
My thoughts are halted when a familiar smell hits my nose.
Who the hell is smoking a joint outside my house? If Harley and Poppy have turned up to have an impromptu party, I’m going to be less than impressed after I specifically told them I was coming home to catch up on homework.
Pushing from the bed, I walk over to my window and look down. I expect to find the girls sneaking around the back of the house, trying not to get caught and stifling laughs. Only, that’s not at all what I find because there’s no one to be seen.
My fists curl as realization hits me.
Without thinking, I storm from my bedroom and toward his closed door. There’s no way he can know I’m coming with the volume of his music. Half the freaking street probably can’t hear themselves think over it.
Swinging
