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29 || Bring it on
I snatch the cards from Amelia when Calum leaves. What could be on it? Amelia is also waiting for me to open it but I don’t. I want to do it in private.
“What was that all about?” Amelia asks. She drives us to school without getting a single word out of me. I shove the cards into my bag once she’s parked. Amelia adjusts, pushing one leg over her seat. “I thought you two were now getting along.”
“We were.” I flex my fingers in front of me. Calum’s mood switches are unpredictable. Amelia is still waiting for an answer. I sigh again and rest my head on the window. “He was teaching me how to drive and he refused to put on his seatbelt.”
“Oh,” is all she says.
“Yeah.” Silence wraps us in a chokehold. Tears cling to my lashes. I hate talking about it. It makes me sound like a brat. Still seated, I open my door and inhale feverishly. I feel my bag fo
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 31 || People die
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 32 || Babe
Amelia is skipping school today. Again. For the third time this year. I dump my phone on the vanity after her call and massage my forehead.It’s becoming a norm and it’s worrisome.I open my WattsApp group to see Amelia hasn’t informed them of her absence. She told me first because she’s my ride to school. I skim through the other messages. Taylor thinks having Boys Code is not a bad idea. Rose will make the logo and get back to us with an update. I shove the phone into my purse and continue fixing my face. If Amelia will not be in school today, then I’m stuck with Dad. I haven’t seen Calum yet and I’m not sure I want to ask him for a ride. I don’t want to push him. I’d rather we take things slow and steady.The voice behind my door grabs my attention. I drop my comb on the dresser. Another knock pushes my feet towards the door and I yank it open. Calum lowers his hand raised to knock.
To Tempt My Stepbrother 33 || Is he your boyfriend?
In Jackson’s dictionary, later must mean the end of school because he’s waiting for me at the door of my last class. One look at him through the glass and I’m tempted to stay back in the class.The last student leaves. I follow suit. Jackson beams as he collects my backpack. It’s a sweet gesture that doesn’t feel so sweet right now.“Are you going for rehearsals?” he asks.We start down the noisy hallway with his hand hanging loosely around my waist. Every time I push his hand, he brings it back. Doesn’t he get it? Where’s Rose? I need her to get me out of here.“Yes, I am.”“Good. I’ll walk you.”I stop walking. “You don’t have to.”Jackson blinks down at me in shock. I seize the chance to grab my bag from him. Hurt registers on his face and I almost feel bad for him. But I already told him,
To Tempt My Stepbrother 34 || Friendships
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 35 || Sinful glance
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 36 || Undefined but better
“Do you want me to set up your account now?” I ask Calum from the door. I’m bored out of my mind. Dani and Dad went to God-knows-where. Those two are acting like newlyweds. In all fairness, they are newlyweds but it’s not their first marriage.“Right now?” Calum jumps off his bed. I enter his room and shut the door. His main question should be: why not now? I can set up his account with my eyes closed. He pulls on a shirt first before giving me his phone. “Alright then, Cathy. Have fun.”Standing in the middle of his room, I’m torn between sitting on the bed or chair by the study table. He makes the decision for me by patting the bed and I sink into the space beside him.“I need to see what you’re doing,” he says. But I tell myself he wants to be close to me. And that is okay because I also want to be close to him.The distance between us is small. At one point
To Tempt My Stepbrother 37 || B
Awkward is not enough to describe the days that follow after that ‘mistake’. Three days later and Calum is still leaving for school earlier than he usually does. At home, our conversations are a lull; polite and tentative. During rehearsals, he hardly glances my way and it’s infuriating.The past days have been a rinse and repeat for me. Since Amelia is out of her slump, she’s back to being my driver. Whatever happened in her room stays between us. After practice, I would hitch a ride with Rose and listen to her repeat the same question: Is everything okay with your stepbro? He didn’t say a word to you during rehearsal.And I would roll my eyes and say yes.For now, I need to focus on my chemistry class. On what Mr Andy is saying. I haven’t been able to pay attention since he walked in with a pile of sheets. Last week, we had a quiz. There was not enough time for me to prepare but I think I might come close t
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