Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry I made you feel that way lil sis I don’t feel that way at all I promise.”
“Then what is it Matt why won’t you tell us?” She looked so sad as she asked me that and I knew if I made her cry my brother would take a swing at me.
“Because I don’t really know, I don’t know what I should be doing next. It’s like I woke up out of a coma or some shit and forgot how to do everything. All the plans I had went up in smoke now I have to start all over again, only I don’t know where to start.” Jeez Steele, can you sound like anymore of a douche? I think I lost my balls or some shit, maybe I should go check, make sure they were still hanging.
“Do you miss her?” She was watching me like she had all the answers, like if I said yes I miss the witch that had almost cost her her life she would be ready with the solution.
“That’s just it lil sis, I don’t. Whatever I felt for her died when she fucked with my brother, and that’s what’s so confusing. I think I’m more pissed at the lost time than anything else. What did I miss you know? My whole high school experience pretty much revolved around us, now I feel like a fucking idiot. How can I trust anything anymore if I let someone like that get so close to my family?”
“You Steele boys really need to lighten up. You act like old men who’ve seen and done it all. We’re teenagers Matt, we’re supposed to mess up. You have your whole life ahead of you there’s no reason to let this thing destroy your happiness any longer. Besides it’s messing with crazy boy and I don’t like it so cut it out.” They’re a pair, he threatens for her and she threatens for him. I found my first smile in weeks as I squeezed her before letting go.
“I don’t want you two worrying about me, I just need some time to get my head straight and then I’ll deal. Thanks for taking care of the whole university thing I almost forgot.”
“So you’re going?” She clapped her hands as though she was really excited to have me tag along behind them. How could she just let that shit go so easily? She almost died that night. I’ll never forget the terror in my brother’s eyes, the fear that we might be too late to save her. And then finding her in that filthy hut with that monster, and my girl had been behind it all. It made no difference that she had no idea this guy was a monster, or that he wasn’t the one that she’d contracted to do her dirty work. The reality of what she’d set out to do was bad enough.
“Yeah I’m going but I don’t know about the living arrangements, I still say you two need your own space.”
“Kill it brother we’re sticking together the same way we always do.”
“You know what’s going to be the best part of getting my shit together?”
“What’s that?” Josh grinned at me the little shit.
“Kicking your ass, I think you forget who’s the oldest here little brother. You’ve been bossing my ass around for weeks.”
“That’s because you’ve been acting like a little bitch, somebody had to take the reins. The ‘rents were worried about you so I had to step up.”
“Well they don’t have to worry anymore.” I stretched my arms over my head and worked the kinks out of my neck. I did feel a lot better after that little talk. Like something heavy had fallen off of my shoulders. They didn’t blame me for what Patti had done after all and maybe with a little time I might stop blaming myself as well. I won’t say I was a hundred percent but that sick, dark feeling was starting to ease a little. “Do you know what I feel like doing little brother?” I grinned over at both of them as they sat cuddled together. I tested my feelings as I watched them; no there was no envy, no bitterness. Just joy that my brother was so fucking happy it was coming out his pores. Thank fuck for that.
Chapter 3
“What do you feel like doing bro?” I turned to Josh who had been listening quietly from the sidelines and for the first time in a long while I found a genuine smile.
“Waffle sundaes at the diner.”
“Dammit, fine, looks like we have to get dressed Lamb, where’s Nessa and the douche?”
“You called?” Andrew and Nessa came out on the patio all smiles, it’s like everyone else had gotten into the happy punch except me. “What the fuck douche were you eaves dropping or some shit, where the hell did you come from?”