2

CHAPTER TWO

JULIA

“Welcome home.” Steve smiles.

I step out of the car, gazing at the house. It is beautiful. It gives old money vibe. I walk towards us. The steep gabled rooflines create a dramatic silhouette, which makes the house feel grand and established. The windows are arched, and the entryway seems warm and very elegant. The house’s colour is like taupe, or warm beige, something like that, with charcoal trim, and it makes it timeless.

“Do you like it?” Mom asks, but I’m too busy looking at the landscaping,g which seems intentional with manicured hedges, sculpted shrubs, and symmetrical planters. This house is so expensive. The driveway is curved and trimed, which means the neighborhood is upscale.

“Why don’t we go in?” Steve suggests, and I nod.

He walks ahead and opens the door.

Mom and I walk in, only to be hit by a vaguely familiar scent. I frown, trying to remember it, but it keeps escaping my reach.

The foyer is grand, it has a high ceiling and a chandelier. A chandelier.

Mom laughs at my gobsmacked expression.

The hardwood floors are polished, and there’s an arched doorway leading deeper into the house.

“You like it, eh?” Steve grins, proud of himself. “Wait till you see the rest of the house.”

I no, and follow him to the living room. There are large windows, a fireplace, and nice furniture. The kitchen is open-plan, with marble countertops, custom cabinetry, black hardware and a long island. My heart skips in delight.

“Your mom tells me you love to cook. Does this meet your standards?” He smiles.

“This is perfect. Thank you, Steve.” I whisper, and he nods.

He shows me the rest of the house, from the dining hall to the bedrooms, and the backyard. I feel so pleased. All my worries have faded away. I love this place, and I cannot wait to turn it into a home.

“So, what do you think, Diana? Julia obviously loves it.” He is proud of himself.

“Yes, she does. Thank you, Steve.” Mom kisses his cheeks, and he melts against her.

“Our bedroom will be downstairs. You can take one of the bedrooms upstairs. The twins have the ones on the left. Or you can make your pick, there’s an empty bedroom downstairs and two upstairs.” He explains, and I nod, thinking about it.

“Can you give us a second, Steve?” Mom asks softly.

“Alright, baby.” He nods and walks away, giving us privacy.

Mom looks at me for a moment before asking, “What do you think? What do you really think? The naked truth.”

I exhale deeply, “I wonder if the twins will like me. I don’t know. I just hope they do. I’m a bit bummed that I have to start again, start making friends, and all that.”

“Or, you can look at it from a different perspective? You get to make new friends. There’s an endless possibility of what you can do. It’s exciting. We get to experience a different life, a different culture, a different world. In a year, you’ll be in college, so why don’t we make the best of this? I know I will miss you. I will miss you so much.” She holds on to my shoulder.

I nod, because she’s right. I can make the best of this.

“I think I’ll take the bedroom on the other end, keep a bedroom between the twins and me.” I decid,e and she nods.

“Alright, let’s unpack and settle you in.” She grins.

I frown and propose, “No, let’s not do that yet. Help me bring my bags upstairs, then go to Steve. I’m sure he misses you. I’ll be fine. All I have to do is settle in.”

She frowns, “Are you sure? I can help you. Steve can wait.”

“I’m nineteen, Mom, so I’m sure. Don’t help me. I’ll settle in and come to you.”

“Alright. I’ll order Pizza or something.” She kisses my cheeks, then leaves.

Steve helps me with my bags, then he leaves too. I am alone.

I don’t panic or worry. Instead, I make the bed, then try to set up my library. However, I encountered some problems with it, so I left it and got to other things. I work on my closet, arranging my clothes on the hanger, then my shoes. I hang up the curtains and let sunlight seep in, bathing the room in a warm glow.

Satisfied, I turn back to my Library, but I still can’t fix it. Something with the wedges and hinges.

Frustrated, I walk out of the room. I need to find Steve.

I walk down the hall, then stop when I hear a sound. Laughter. A woman’s laughter.

What?

My mom and I are the only women in this house.

Curious, I walk towards the bedroom. One of the twin’s bedroom. The door is ajar, and laughter flows through, as well as a deep voice. Goosebumps break over my skin immediately.

I should turn away and leave, but I can’t.

So, stupidly, I walk forward, and peek through the ajar door.

My mouth falls open in shock as I see a young woman on the bed, wearing only a bralette, and … and a man, one of the twins, kneeling between her legs, with his head buried in her … oh, God!

I squeak in shock.

My eyes widens as the woman glances at me.

Blood rushes to my head, and I turn around to run, only to bump into another man.

One of the twins.

Oh God. This is not how we were supposed to meet.

I try to slip away from him, but he grabs my wrist and pin me to the wall.

My heart is pounding.

His eyes are so blue. His hair is blonde, and he has a smirk on his lips.

The door opens. His brother and the woman walks out.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in.” He smirks, digging his fingers into my wrist.