Chapter 17 - Avery
Iintentionally woke up before sunrise to enjoy the quiet.
Alone.
But then, I saw him. The fucking bane of my existence.
I hated the way Rowen’s eyes roamed over me with concern, like he was checking on me, even though there was no way he actually cared. It had to be another way for him to get under my skin.
Regardless, it wasn’t like I was going to tell him a masked man crawled through my window last night, split me open, and made me come so hard as he fucked my ass that I cried and released all my pent-up emotions.
It probably scared Michael off. No way he wanted a woman who cried herself to sleep after having sex. He probably thought I was a lunatic now.
Rowen walked over to where I was, pinning me against the counter, reaching for a mug from the cabinet above my head.
“Why the fuck are you up so early?” I spat.
He stopped his motion, eyes flicking to mine, and smirked. “Good morning to you too.”
His cheery, sarcastic tone was like nails on a chalkboard. His arrogant attitude made me want to punch his stupid face.
I hated how comfortable he seemed around me, in my house, like we were actually family, a close sibling duo.
“You know the worst part about living in this house right now?”
He was still close to me, too close. I tried to slide sideways, away from him, but he put his arm down on the edge of the counter, trapping me.
“Let me guess. Me?”
Smug fucker.
I fought the urge to put my hands on his chest and shove him, but I remained stoic, unbothered.
“Realizing I have to breathe the same air as you,” I bit back at him.
His amused smirk widened. “You could always hold your breath when I walk into the room if I disgust you that much.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I just wish you’d stop coming back here. Then, I wouldn’t even have to bother hating you.”
His eyes, his smirk, the smugness, it all flickered for a split second before slipping back into place, and it stunned me.
“You don’t mean that, sis.” He finally grabbed his mug and backed away, allowing me to slide to the side.
“I’m tired of you using my bathroom, stealing my snacks, and acting like you belong here, so let’s put it this way, bro. If you were on fire, I’d roast marshmallows.”
He chose a coffee pod and started the machine. “Sounds like a good time.”
I rolled my eyes, annoyed with how easily everything rolled off him.
“And I’d bring gasoline to move things along, for my sake.”
He turned to look at me, his smile still in place. “I’ll bring hot dogs. Wouldn’t want to skip right to dessert, would we?”
I stuck my tongue out at him, not caring about how juvenile my response was. “Do you ever get tired of being this annoying?”
“Not really,” he responded as he grabbed his mug and walked past me. “I live to annoy my little sister. Isn’t that what big brothers are for?”
His arm brushed against the front of me, leaving goosebumps in its wake. I was too flustered to find something to say back, so I watched him go, angry he’d gotten the last word but satisfied he was leaving the room.
Then, he turned around. His smile sent chills down my spine before he even opened his mouth.
“‘Make me yours, Michael’,” he mocked, his eyes darkening with amusement.
My stomach flipped, and suddenly, the room was really fucking hot—and spinning.
“When did you hear that?” My jaw was tight, flexing as I waited to his answer.
Had he been listening in? Ear to the wall, hearing me get pounded into the damn sheets as I let a masked man fuck my ass?
“You should really keep it down when you’re sneaking someone in late at night.” He shrugged. “You wouldn’t want Mom and Dad knowing what happens after they go to bed.” He raised an eyebrow, and I immediately felt like a cornered animal.
“You wouldn’t.”
“It’s all up to you.” He winked at me, and the urge to smack him returned. “Might want to get used to sharing your snacks, sis. I have my eyes on those peanut butter cups.”
“Touch my food again, and I’ll break your arms,” I threatened.
He chuckled as though I’d just said the funniest thing ever.
“I’m not kidding, Rowen,” I said with warning. “I’m not a fucking kid anymore. Don’t mess with me. I won’t put up with your shit like I used to.”
He paused, his brows knitting together. Then, his lips parted like he was going to say something. I even held my breath, waiting. Instead, he turned and left, leaving me to my once-peaceful silence.
Now, it was too damn loud.
***
“Please tell me you're joking,” I deadpanned to my mother.
She shook her head and headed for my bedroom door.
“Tom and I want to get away, and we both have some vacation days we need to use.” She smiled at me, her hand on the doorframe.
“Who knows, maybe you and Rowen can find some common ground while we’re gone.
Find a movie to watch or invite some friends over for a movie night.
Actually make an effort to get to know each other. ”
I scoffed, offended she’d suggest I spend time with him at all. “All the money in the world isn’t enough to make me spend time with that parasite.”
“You two are more alike than you’d think, sweetheart.”
“Don’t make me barf, Mom.”
She laughed. “I’m serious, Avery. You never gave him a chance. You might want to before it’s too late and you miss out.”
“When will you be back?”
I could see her contemplating challenging my sudden change in subject, but then she said, “Four or five days. I’ll text you and keep you updated.”
She started to leave my room, closing the door behind her.
“Have fun.”
“Thanks, honey. I’ll text you when we get there.”
My door clicked shut, and I threw myself back on the bed with a groan. Of course, they would decide to go on a little getaway while the spawn of Satan was staying with us. That’s probably why they wanted to get away. Not even Rowen’s dad wanted to put up with him.
“And now I’m fucking stuck with him,” I muttered to myself.
Ding!
I grabbed my phone.
Unknown: I can’t stop thinking about you.
What the…
Ding!
Unknown: I want to chase you in the woods again.
My heart was beating fast as I contemplated how to respond, wondering how Michael even got my number.
Ding!
Unknown: I bet your cunt is so wet for me.
He knew me too well for someone I’d met only a few weeks ago. My body was deeply affected by his vulgar messages. My thighs moved against one another, creating a friction that ignited fire in my belly.
I set my phone beside me and fondled my breasts through my shirt, closing my eyes to visualize the man I wished was here right now, wishing he’d climb through my window right then and claim me.
My hands moved down my body, past my hips—grinding against air—until I reached the heat building between my legs.
“Hey, what toppings—” The door cracked open.
I shrieked and looked up to see Rowen mid-sentence, staring wide-eyed, just as my hands were disappearing under the hem of my shorts.
“What the fuck!” I screamed, bolting from my bed, glaring at him.
His lips pressed together, cheeks blowing up with air before forcing it out, making a popping sound. “I just wanted to see what you wanted for dinner. They left money for pizza for tonight, said we should watch a—”
“I know what they said.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I want meat lovers.” I pretended to fold the laundry sitting on my dresser. “And no movie.”
I could feel him staring at me, watching, waiting for something.
Something that wasn’t coming.
“Okay then,” he said before leaving.
My lungs pushed out all my air once the door closed.
I didn’t think Rowen would take our parents’ suggestion to spend time together seriously. Was he honestly delusional enough to think we’d spend the time bonding, or was he just trying to bother me?
That ship had sailed back when we were kids. Our parents should have been happy we were able to coexist.
It made me wish I had close friends, but Rowen had ruined all those relationships. After he came around, I didn’t dare get close to anyone else, at least not close enough to spontaneously hang out. I refused to be the side character in a romcom where my best friend falls for my stepbrother.
I backed up until I could fall back onto my bed then rolled over to my stomach to grab my phone to see if—
Ding!
Unknown: I’m coming for you tonight. Midnight. You’ll be naked and kneeling at the window for me.
Did he want me to respond? I still hadn’t responded to his other texts. Would he be mad if I ignored him? What would I even say to him?
My fingers moved across the keyboard with their own thoughts.
Me: Yes, sir.
I threw my phone on the bed and stood, trying to catch my breath. What had started as an anonymous night was quickly becoming much more, and I wasn’t sure which of us was more obsessed with the other.
Midnight couldn’t come fast enough.
After a while, the doorbell rang, and my stomach immediately growled.
While I didn’t want to see Rowen’s face, I needed food, especially if I was going to be overexerting myself tonight.
I grabbed a thin robe from my closet and walked into the hall, already smelling the pizza.
“Pizza’s…” Rowen stood at the end of the hall, eyes on me, his pizza slice up and nearly to his mouth, dangling as he stared at me. “Here.”
“Get a fucking plate,” I retorted, watching grease drip off his piece onto the floor. “Men are disgusting.”
He snorted. “You really know how to make guests feel welcome.”
“You’re not a guest. You’re a mangy stray they keep taking in for some reason.” I squeezed past him and slipped into the kitchen, finding the pizza box on the island with packets of parmesan cheese next to it.
“At least I’m housebroken,” he replied before biting into his pizza.
“But you take up space and leave an overwhelming stench of disappointment. Not exactly the ideal pet.”
“Cute,” he snorted. He stepped toward me, setting his food down on the counter.
“Back up,” I said, my voice shaking. “We don’t have to interact at all while they’re gone. Leave me alone, and I’ll return the favor.”
He seemed to think that over for a moment. “Is that what you want?”
Confusion pinched my brows, his response carrying a bit of disappointment. Like the feelings I carried for Rowen weren’t what he carried for me, and for a moment, I thought maybe I’d taken things too far.
Then, I noticed the empty peanut butter cup wrappers on the counter—which I knew were from my stash of snacks—and decided I was petty enough to continue our war.
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I didn’t wait for him to say anything back. I walked around the opposite side of the island and beelined for my bedroom to eat my dinner in peace.