Chapter 004

ELIANA

Standing by the window in my room, I’m watching while Jackson is training. He’s standing on a white, large shooting pad laid out on the driveway under the bright security lights. He has a heavy-duty regulation metal goal net, a bucket full of pucks, and his stick tightly clutched in his hands.

He’s shooting pucks over and over again. Slapshots, wristers, backhands and he looks so focused and determined to get it right, each hit harder than the previous. And each time the puck hits the metal goal, his lips move to spit a curse and he repeats.

He's wearing black shorts, his strong masculine legs a proof of not missing leg days. The white polo shirt is hugging his muscles and I’m damn sure that he's doing it intentionally to show everyone that he doesn't miss the arm day either. His upper body is moving in sync each time he twists his hips and hits the puck, his core doing the heavy work.

Jackson is taking turns shooting the puck at the goalie from different angles, both the right and left side. Even though I don't want to admit it out loud, he's quite good and skillful. However, as I continue to watch a minute longer, I notice a tiny weakness which I almost missed. He has a weakness on his left side while the right side is strong.

The corner of my lips curved into a smile, making a mental note of it.

As if he senses someone's staring from the shadows, he stops mid action, the stick hanging in the air and turns to look at my room’s big window which faces direct to the driveway but I’m quick to hide behind the curtains, my breath in my throat and my heart pumping wildly against my ribcage.

Jax stares at the window for a while then turns his attention to the puck on the shooting pad and slap shoots it to the goalie. From the window, I can see the big smile on his face and I can tell that he was enjoying it a little too much.

I can't help but smile too…

“It reminds me of how you used to watch your uncle train when you were little.” I almost jump out of the window when my mom's voice comes from behind me.

“Mom? Don't you know how to knock?” I complain, releasing a deep breath and she smiles.

“I knocked thrice but there was no response so, I invited myself in. I thought maybe you were already asleep or something. But now I understand why you didn't hear me knock.” I swallow when I hear her words, feeling embarrassed because she caught me watching my Stepbrother training.

It's true I used to watch my uncle train and I used to love it so much. Sometimes he would teach me a few things, show me how to hold the hockey stick and hit the puck into the goalie. He’s the reason why I love hockey and know a lot of things about the sport.

“I just came to check up on you and say goodnight.” She says, her face soft and eyes gentle.

I smile, “Actually, I was about to go to bed. I-I was fixing the curtains. I don't like too much lights, you know.” I try to come up with a believable explanation so that I don't sound like a creepy step-sister who is stalking her Stepbrother.

I pull the curtains together, blocking all the security lights from penetrating through the curtains into my room. The smile on my mother's face broadens, falling for my lie because she knows for a fact that I don't like too much light while sleeping.

“I’m happy that you're getting along with your stepbrother well. I knew that the two of you would be fine once you get to know each other.” I take a sharp breath upon hearing my mother's words. However, I manage a smile.

I pull my hair into a messy ponytail then sit on the edge of the bed and my mother joins me.

I turn to look at her, “You don't need to worry that much about me, mother. I’m fine. Jackson…” I hesitate, the words stuck in my throat. My mom looks eager to hear what I have to say, a smile on her face.

‘Annoying, troublemaker, playboy,” I scream in my head.

“He's good.” The smile on my mom's face broadens when she hears my words, “That's true. He's a sweet boy. He might look a little tough on the outside but he has a good heart.” I can feel the admiration my mother has for Jackson in her voice.

I’m not surprised because the two get along well. I have seen them talking and laughing freely a few times for the past three days.

I’m tempted to tell my mother the damn truth but I bite my tongue, recalling the promise that I made to her. Instead, I nod in support of her words and maintain the smile.

“You remember how you used to tell me you would like to have a little brother to play with? Feeling jealous whenever you see girls in the neighborhood playing with their brothers?” My mother reminds me and I can't help but laugh.

“Of course I would never forget about it.” The memories of my childhood flashes in my head.

“I have found you one! Don't you see mommy is good?” She jokes and I roll my eyes.

It's true I always wanted to have a brother and when my mom told me that I was going to have a stepbrother, I was so excited to meet him. However, I never imagined that Jackson Harrison would turn out to be my Stepbrother. Not even in my wildest dreams.

I swallow when I give it a thought, hiding the disappointment behind the smile and pretend that I’m happy to have him as my Stepbrother.

“All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy, mother.” A big smile takes over her features.

“Thank you for supporting my marriage with Robert, Eli. You have no idea how much your support meant to me.” Her voice is full of emotions. I recalled the day she informed me and she looked so nervous.

Not that she needed my approval. She thought that including me was a good idea. She always includes me in important decisions which involve me.

“If he makes you happy.” I respond with a shrug, proving to her that I didn't care about anything else. Her happiness was the only thing that I cared about.

I’m not surprised how my mother and Robert knew each other because I know it's from those boring parents gathering at school.

If I have to tolerate my annoying Stepbrother. I will do it. For her!

______

“How was your first day of senior year?” My mother asks in concern.

I heaved a deep sigh, “A little exhausting, but good. Though I can't say that much because it's too early.” I joke.

My mother is quiet for a while, then releases a deep breath as though she's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She reaches for my hands holding them gently.

“I’m so proud of you, Eli.” She says, giving my hands a small squeeze and a subtle smile takes over her features.

I squeeze back her hand.

“My wish is for you to get good grades so that you can join your dream university like you said this morning. Something that…I failed to do. I don't want you to be a failure like me.” Her voice trails off when she says the last statement, looking away in shame.

I can feel the broken dreams in her voice and regrets, my heart aching inside my chest. I guess her parents' cruel words have been stuck in her head and have been weighing her down for years.

She got pregnant with me in her senior year and her parents kicked her out. Even though she had good grades, she couldn't further her education because she had to take care of me. My chest tightens when I think about the hardship that my mother went through to care for me.

I swallow the lump down my throat, “You're not a failure, mother.” My voice is a little shaky because it hurts me so much to see my mother heartbroken.

“You have proven it a thousand times. You always make sure that I get the best. I have never slept hungry and I always had a roof over my head.You’ll always be the best mother in the world to me.” I give her hand a tight squeeze.

“I have never regretted having you because you're the best thing that ever happened to me.” She says with a big smile, tears glistening in her eyes and I can feel the affection.

She opens her arms wide for me and we hug tightly.

“I promise you that I will try my best in my studies. I want to make you and uncle James proud.” I assure my mother as we pull off from the tight embrace.

“I believe in you.” She says in confidence, wiping away a teardrop using the back of her hand.

“However, I don't believe in that young man. I know he's a good boy and all but you need to be careful Eli. I know that I can't control your life because you're an adult now.” She's silent for a while then heaves a deep sigh.

“However, I told you that whenever the two of you get intimate, don't ever forget to use protection.”

“Mom….” I stress her name, my cheeks burning from embarrassment.

“What? Just reminding you because I don't want you to end up like me. I’m your mother, Eli. It's my responsibility to guide you.”

God, I want to hide my face. My mother has always been open to me about sex. I know she's doing it to protect me so that I don't end up like her but each time she brings up the subject, I always feel embarrassed.

“Ethan and I haven't…you know. We just kiss and hug. We agreed that we’ll do it when we're done with high school.” My mother gives me one of those doubtful looks when she hears my words.

“I didn't say the two of you did anything. Just reminding you so that you can be cautious.” She defends herself and I can't help but shake my head in disbelief. “Okay…I will be careful.” I grumble and she smiles in satisfaction. I guess I will never run away from my mother's teaching about sex life.

My mother and I talked a little more. I inquired about how her flower shop is doing because it has been a few days since I visited, and I’m happy that everything is well…

I release a deep breath, staring at the ceiling as I lay on the bed, the conversation that I shared with my mother not long ago still fresh in my mind.

My phone on the side bed table dings, pulling my mind back to the present. I reach for the phone, my lips twitching into a smile.

I light up the screen to check the text notification. However, I crease my eyebrows when I realise the text message isn't from the person that I’m expecting. It's a new number.

“Goodnight,dear sis.” I take a sharp breath when I read the message.

Only one person can send me that kind of message...