All Chapters of Claimed by My Sister's Fiancé : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“What did you just say?”“I said it’s nice to meet you,” he repeated, but I could’ve sworn I’d heard ‘finally’ the first time.I stared at him, trying to figure out whether I’d imagined it or if he was messing with me.“Yeah… nice to meet you too… uhm…” I searched my memory for his name again.“Maurice,” he supplied.I nodded quickly. “Maurice.”An awkward silence settled between us. He wasn’t leaving. Neither was I.“I’m heading outside. Do you want to come?” Maurice asked.My lips parted. I glanced toward the study door, then back at him.I was actively trying to avoid Darnell, and now his best friend wanted to befriend me.“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he added.I studied him carefully, trying to read past the easy smile and see if there was some hidden motive behind the friendliness.Maurice seemed… nice.Which only confused me more.What I couldn’t understand was how someone like him could be best friends with someone like Darnell when they seemed like complete opposi

The sun burned hotter than I remembered. I adjusted the strap of my bikini top and stared out at the water I hadn't seen in years. It had been a long time since I'd tanned, or been to the beach at all. I'd been too busy with school, projects… and dreaming about my sister's fiancé. Apparently, that took up a surprising amount of time. I sat beneath an umbrella, sipping Coke and listening to the wind while the sea rolled with the current. The waves were slow today, peaceful, and envied that. Since it was a private beach, I was the only soul around.Just how I wanted it. I needed to clear my head after yesterday. Just breathe and just exist. I was stupid to think Maurice didn't know about me and Darnell. He clearly knew everything and had only been fishing for my reaction. The moment I figured it out, I left and locked myself in my room for the rest of the night. So much for thinking I'd finally found one normal person in Darnell's orbit. I sighed and took another sip of my drink. The

I tried as much as possible to keep Liam in my past. I convinced myself I’d forgotten him. That I’d moved on. But all it took was the slightest mention of his name, and suddenly my eyes were burning with tears. I had told Vanessa about Liam and our breakup, but she was always too tangled up in her own world to listen, let alone care about anyone else’s. “Who wants to go jet skiing?” I lifted my book higher over my face, and just when I thought this little hangout couldn’t get any worse, Maurice popped out of nowhere like a bad omen. He wore swim shorts and a loose linen shirt. “Maurice, I thought you weren’t feeling well,” Darnell said. I turned to him. His eyes were locked on Maurice, sharp enough to drill holes through him. “You should go back.” Maurice stopped in front of us with an easy grin. “I think I’m good now. Thought I’d surprise you guys.” I was the only person on this beach twenty minutes ago. Now there were four of us. I should’ve stayed my ass at home. “So,” Mauri

The shower rained over me as I braced one hand against the wall, eyes screwed shut.Water ran down my face, but it wasn’t enough.“Jamie, baby… just go…”My jaw locked.“Mom, I can help you. Hold my hand.”Smoke filled my lungs.Suddenly, I was fifteen again.The hallway was black with it. Flames licked up the walls, swallowing the curtains whole.“Jamie, please…” her voice broke behind the fire. “Go find your dad.”I dragged a hand over my face, breathing harder.“Mom, I’m not leaving you!”My younger voice echoed inside my skull.I turned the shower hotter.Still, I could smell the fire.The water burned my skin, and I forced my eyes open, dragging in a sharp breath.It came out ragged and uneven.I shoved the memory back where I’d buried it all these years.I couldn’t understand why it was clawing its way back now.I turned off the shower and stepped out. Grabbing a towel, I wrapped it around my waist before walking into the room.“For a gentleman, you spend a ridiculous amount of

I didn’t know what to get Vanessa for her birthday. She literally had everything.When we were kids, I used to make her bracelets from seashells we drilled holes into and for my birthday, she’d give me those shiny rocks she found on the beach.As we grew older, and drifted apart, we just gave each other expensive stuff and cleared each other's wish list. This year, I wanted something different.I wanted to take us back to ten years ago—when the gifts actually came from the heart.I knocked lightly on her bedroom door, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, clutching the gift wrapped in purple paper tightly in my hands.“Come in,” Vanessa called from inside.I pushed the door open slowly.Her room was filled with soft light and scattered gift bags, designer boxes, ribbons, everything expensive and impersonal.She was sitting on the edge of her bed, her hair falling over one shoulder as she looked up at me.“Hey,” I said quietly, stepping closer.“Is that for me?” she asked, he