Like a sister.

Sally’s POV.

I spun around.

Cole's arms were folded across his chest.

“Ah! I see you've found it." He took a step forward and ripped the paper from Justin's fingers. “I could have sworn I dropped this somewhere?”

Justin arched a brow. His jaw tightening, "So, why does it have my name over it?”

Cole shook his head and placed an arm on Justine's shoulder. "Oh, stepbrother, I know so many Justins."

He flickered his mouth at the paper. “This isn't yours."

Justin’s eyes rolled. “Whatever, man. Why are you here?"

The edge in Justin's voice made me flinch.

"Relax," Cole said, taking a step back. “I am only here to hand Sally her glasses."

My eyes widened. My glasses?

Realization slipped in. Yeah, I wasn't with my glasses. I must have been so preoccupied with Justin's game I didn't think of them.

Christ.

I slammed my hand over my mouth.

“Oh yes, thank you so much, Cole."

I flashed a fake smile. Justine's eyes never left Cole's.

Cole tilted his head, a lazy smile spreading across his face.

“Careful with those,” he said, handing the glasses to me. “You seemed pretty distracted last night without them.”

Heat rushed to my face.

Ugh. What's wrong with him?

Justin’s eyes snapped toward me.

My lips parted to speak. To tell Justin it wasn't what he was thinking.

But instead Cole gave Justin a quick nod and winked at me. "See you tomorrow, Sal.”

I said nothing, watching him stride out with his long legs and lean stature.

He looked good from the back, I must admit.

Justin cleared his throat behind me.

“What was that about?”

My lips curved. “Oh, nothing, Justin. I just switched my major, and it happens to be the same course Cole's in. We were just discussing school.”

I lied. I wasn't going to tell him that I was on a mission to win his heart. Never. That would be the most embarrassing thing ever.

He gazed at me for a second too long. Before squaring his shoulders and side-stepping me. “Okay. Let's go.”

I exhaled deeply.

I thought he was going to pry some more.

I followed Justin to the parking lot, and we got into his black Porsche 911. A car he had gotten from his father for his eighteenth birthday.

Justin had always been wealthy; I couldn't remember him ever not being wealthy. I was always comfortable with being the best friend of the coolest guy in school. But sometimes my emotions got the better of me.

I shut the passenger door, and Justin started the engine, pulling out of the driveway. He was taking me home. As usual.

His jaw was tight. He was pissed. I could tell. But why?

We sat in silence for the most part of the drive.

“You never talk about your stepbrother."

He said nothing.

“Why is that?” I asked.

“There is nothing to tell. Cole always thinks he’s better than everybody else. He is always in everybody's business. You should stay away from him.”

“Why?”

His fingers tightened on the wheel.

“Because Cole never does anything without a reason.”

My brows furrowed. "O…kay."

I had never heard Justin talk about anyone that way. Most especially his stepbrother.

I turned my face and gazed out the window. Watching the trees pass by.

Justin was acting rather strange today.

I remember when he had broken the news that his father was getting married again. Justin had never met his mum, or he couldn't remember her. She left with some dude even before he turned five.

Justin wasn't happy about the news, but I for one was elated. I thought they deserved to be a real family.

The wedding had been a small wedding.

I had thought Cole was the meanest little boy ever because he kept sticking out his tongue at me while I sat beside Justin.

“Just ignore him," Justin said.

But now, I couldn't match the faces of then to the ones now. A lot had changed.

A few years down the line their mother was diagnosed with cancer, and everybody stepped on eggshells around their family.

Until the day she died.

I shuddered at the memory. I really didn't want to think about that.

I took out my phone and texted Cole.

“Thank you for today. Really?"

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately making my heart skip in a way I couldn't quite grasps.

He sent a smirk emoji and said it.

“You owe me.”

I shook my head and smiled, replacing my phone in my bag.

I wondered what I owed the almighty Cole Ravenscott.

The car fell into an uncomfortable silence again.

“Did you see the school vlog?” I muttered.

“The vlog?” he laughed. "Oh yeah, that was hilarious."

My head snapped to him. “You think that was hilarious?”

He nodded. Biting back a grin, "Of course. Why would they even say a thing like that? That you might have a crush on me? Please! We are like siblings. I just really thought the edited video was really funny.”

Heat crawled up my face. A wave of anger hit me. "It's funny to you because you aren't the one people make fun of!”

Justin’s smile faded slightly.

“Relax,” he said, glancing at me. “It was just a little joke.”

I frowned harder, my arms folding across my chest as I turned toward the window.

“A joke,” I repeated quietly.

The car slowed slightly.

Justin’s grip shifted on the steering wheel.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said after a moment. “Sally, come on.”

I didn’t answer.

The silence stretched between us again. Cars breezed by.

Justin exhaled.

“Okay,” he said finally. “I’m sorry.”

I stared ahead at the road.

My throat felt tight.

“You can drop me here,” I said suddenly.

Justin blinked. “What?”

“Here is fine.”

He frowned, glancing around the street.

“Sally… you’re not even home yet.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “I just remembered I have to pick something up. The person I’m meeting lives around here.”

Justin studied my face for a moment, clearly unconvinced.

Then he sighed and slowed the car, pulling over to the side of the road.

The engine idled quietly.

“I really am sorry,” he said again, softer this time. “I didn’t think it would upset you that much.”

I nodded without looking at him.

“It’s fine.”

I opened the door.

The cool air hit my face as I stepped out of the car.

Justin leaned slightly toward the window.

“You’re going to be okay?”

I nodded again.

“Yeah.”

I closed the door before he could say anything else and started walking down the sidewalk without looking back.