CHAPTER ONE

ELLIOT

The first time I saw Asher Brooks, I knew he was going to be trouble.

I knew it from the way he stepped into my house with his mother, like they owned the place.

Well, in fairness, that was because they now did.

Unfortunately, my father had decided that Asher’s mother was the new love of his life and decided to get married to her.

Like anyone was going to replace my mother.

I wish I could say I instantly hated Asher because of that. That I hated him because of what he and his mother’s presence entailed— my family slowly being replaced.

That was part of the reason, yes, but it wasn’t the major one.

I could not pinpoint exactly why he rubbed me off the wrong way.

Maybe it was the way his dark, wavy hair touched his forehead so artfully. It was longish, curling above his collarbones slightly and it should’ve looked messy. Shouldn’t have looked charming. But it did. A feat my messy blonde hair could only dream of. 

Maybe it was his intense green eyes that stared at me like he could see the deepest, innermost parts of me that I wasn’t even aware of.

Or maybe it was his tall, athletic build that triggered every one of my insecurities. 

And don’t even get me started on his lips. Or his sharp jawline that could cut glass. Or his cheekbones. Or his…

Damn.

I absolutely hated Asher.

Because he stirred things in me that I didn’t want.

Things I didn’t want to feel towards him, in particular.

“... and I hope you get along with him,” Dad was saying to me.

No. That was never going to happen.

“Asher Brooks. Nice to finally meet you,” he said, his deep voice irritating me. Of course, he had a perfect voice too.

Asher extended his hand toward me in a handshake, the smile on his face making me feel things. Things I had no business feeling.

Correction, it wasn’t a smile. It was a smirk. A knowing one, too, like he could read all of my thoughts. Like he knew all of my secrets.

I absolutely hated him.

“Elliot,” Dad called out, his voice going deeper in warning when I continued to stare at Asher without taking his hand.

I could hear his voice now in my head, you better take his hand or else…

Asher raised an eyebrow, his stare challenging, as if daring me to… to do something.

Whatever it was, it was more than just shaking his hand.

Fuck him.

Fuck him a thousand times.

Who did he think he was? Coming into my house, acting all damn cocky like he had a right to be here. Like he belonged here.

His mother wasn’t any better. She was clinging on to my dad, their hands intertwined, a stupid, cheesy grin on her face.

That smile felt mocking. Almost like she was saying, “I’m the new woman of the house, Elliot, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

No. Over my dead body will I let that happen.

It was time to put an end to this.

Enough was enough.

“No,” I shook my head, feeding into the anger that was starting to erupt in me. It was better than the other emotions Asher threatened to make me feel.

“No,” I said again. “I’m not going to be a part of… whatever this is.” I turned to my dad. “You’re trying to replace my mother and my brother with these supermarket versions of them and it’s never going to work. You hear me? Never.”

Asher’s mother gasped in shock. Or hurt. Whatever it was, I didn’t care.

My father trembled in anger, his brown eyes dark. If we were alone, he surely would’ve punched me. Or worse. If looks could kill…

And Asher… he still had that stupid knowing smile on his face, as if my emotions were a joke to him.

Somehow, that infuriated me more than this entire fiasco.

“You will not say that to me or your stepmother,” Dad was saying, his shoulders shaking. “You’ll apologize–”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t wait for him to finish speaking. I turned and stormed out of the living room.

Behind me, I could hear Asher’s mother’s sobs and my father comforting her.

I didn’t know what he was trying to do.

My mother and brother might be dead but no one could replace them.

No one.

Especially not Asher Brooks.

No matter how perfect he was.