Chapter 9 - Avery
“You can sit back up, sweetheart,” my obstetrician told me after she’d pulled the cold speculum out.
I wiggled my ass back up onto the table and tucked the sheet back around my legs like she hadn’t just peered into the most intimate part of me.
“Was this your first time having sex?” she asked as she removed her gloves and washed her hands.
“Uh, yeah,” I responded quietly, wishing I was anywhere else.
She turned back around with a sympathetic smile. “Unfortunately, it’s pretty common to tear, especially the first time, if there wasn’t enough lubricant. I am sure that’s all it is.”
“Is that bad?” It felt like there was a severe wound inside me. The pain forced me to walk slowly, and I struggled to get out of bed. Even going to the bathroom was a fucking nightmare.
“Not at all; it's not the worst news. It should heal on its own, but until then, I’d recommend taking pain medicine if it ever bothers you.” There was a knock at the door, and she opened it slightly, pulling a stack of papers into the room.
“I’ve printed off a little bit of information about vaginal tears.
You can take it home and read over it if you’d like.
If you’re not feeling better by the end of the week, though, go ahead and schedule another appointment, and we can check it out again. ”
“Thanks.” I took the papers she gave me, heat rising to my cheeks when I spotted the large ‘Vaginal Tears’ title on top of the paper I’d have to hide when I left.
“Do you need a doctor’s note for anything?
” I shook my head, and she logged off the computer.
“Well, you go home and try to get some rest. Nothing strenuous for a few more days, okay?” She reached for the door.
“I’d also recommend staying away from sex until you're healed, and when you try again, you may need to use some lube to help avoid future tears or make sure you spend time getting yourself properly prepared. Once you’re dressed, you can go ahead and leave. Take as much time as you need.”
The moment she was gone, I got dressed and hustled out of the office, still feeling the pain deep between my legs.
Of course, the first time I had sex, I’d end up with a fucking tear.
I knew I would be sore right after—I mean, he was huge, and he drove into me like my vagina was a wide-open canyon. There was no way his size was normal or healthy for any woman to have inside her.
What I hadn’t expected was days of being in so much pain, I didn’t want to leave my bed.
Unfortunately, even with the tear and the uncomfortable ache that came with it, I didn’t regret it. To be honest, I wanted to do it again.
Just have to find another guy to chase me through the woods and fuck me thoroughly, I guess.
I sat in my car for a moment after getting into the driveway. My mom’s car was in the driveway, which was a little strange, considering she didn’t get off work until later.
“Mom?” I asked as I walked in, turning to close the door behind me and kick my shoes off.
A startled screech left my lips when I turned back around.
Him.
The person who’d single-handedly ruined my entire life from the second he entered it.
Rowen Blake Thompson.
My stepbrother from hell.
I met him on the day of my tenth birthday party. I could tell something was up when my mom announced to everyone at the party, even all the parents, that she had big, exciting news.
I thought I was getting a huge, incredible present.
Not a new brother.
“I’d like to introduce Tom, my fiancé, and his son Rowen!” she shouted excitedly as a man and boy walked out into the backyard, flashing her ring for everyone to see.
I didn’t get any presents from my mom that year.
The chances of my mom and dad getting back together were slim—I knew that. It had been four years since we’d even seen him at that point, but the moment Tom and Rowen walked into our lives, the chance dwindled to zero, as did my mother’s attention.
Instant hate was natural, but it was fueled by everyone’s obsession with Rowen, even my friends. Suddenly, the only reason they wanted to come around was to see my ‘hot older brother’.
According to everyone around me, boys included, Rowen was drop-dead sexy and could get in anyone’s pants. I couldn’t tell you how often I witnessed my friends swoon over his ‘panty-melting smile’.
They gushed about his perfect green eyes, lean muscles, sharp cheekbones, and dark tousled hair. He didn’t even try most of the time; he just rolled out of bed and showed up, and they drank it up like they’d just been through a drought.
It only got worse when he got tattoos and started wearing his signature leather jacket and boots.
He relished in the attention, even egging them on with winking and comments like ‘if only they were older’. He was only a couple of years older than us, and that made him forbidden, the ‘bad boy’. They were all obsessed with him.
Everyone forgot about me.
I was alone.
And it was all Rowen’s fault.
When I was fifteen, Rowen moved out, and we hardly saw him after that except for holidays—and I did my best to avoid him at all costs during those ridiculously long days.
But it wasn’t a holiday, and yet, he was standing in the hall, staring at me with a stupid, sly grin and twinkling eyes like he was delighted about something.
Something awful, knowing him.
“Rowen,” I snarled, my chest already burning from his presence.
His brown hair was in the same fake-casual style as always, like he thought the carefully ruined hair made him edgy when really all it did was make me want to punch his stupid face.
His scruffy, neatly trimmed beard sharpened his jawline, making him look more mature than he really was.
It wasn’t rugged—it was controlled, smug, just like him.
He wore a dark green T-shirt and jeans that fit snugly around his thighs. His arms were full of ink, all sorts of stuff, like skulls and snakes. I didn’t have much time to document them all by the time he spoke.
“Avery…” he dragged out in a deep, annoying tone before swiping his tongue across his lips.
I didn’t like how he said my name, and I really didn’t like how he watched me, like he was interested in me.
The last thing I wanted was to be interesting to him.
“You’re home.” My mom poked her head out of the kitchen, wiping her hands with a towel. “I made lunch if you want some.”
She didn’t even care to tell me the leech was back to suck the life out of us.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” I asked, pointing at the waste of space.
He chuckled like I’d just told a funny joke, his eyes still glued to me.
Her lips pressed together, and she gave me a stern look. “Be nice, Avery. Your brother’s apartment building is being remodeled, so he’s staying here until it’s finished. He’ll be sleeping in the guest room.”
The guest room? Fuck me. Of course, we’d have to share a wall when he came back. His old room, the one on the other side of our parents', was being used as an office, leaving the guest room as the only option.
“Brother?” I asked, my lips curling like the word was disgusting.
Mom’s eyes held defeat as she looked at me. “Avery. Please. Can we not do this right now? I have to finish some work. I’ll order pizza for dinner if that’s alright with everyone. Lunch is on the stove. Grab a plate if you want some.”
She disappeared without waiting for our response, leaving us alone again.
I narrowed my eyes on my stepbrother. “You don’t belong here.”
“Yet, here I am.” He spread his arms out like he was the hottest shit in the room.
“You’re not my brother,” I reiterated, in case my mom’s comment put anything in his head.
“I had no idea,” he said sarcastically, looking too amused. “Glad we cleared that up, sis.”
I rolled my eyes and walked toward the hall, which unfortunately meant toward Rowen.
“You alright there?” he asked curiously. “You look like you’re limping a bit.”
My cheeks grew hot, hating that he noticed I was hurt, especially since the reason was so personal.
“I’m fine.” I shoved past him, not daring to turn around and engage further.
But even after slamming my bedroom door behind me, I still felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Fuck you, Rowen.