Chapter 4
our new family
MIA
October
“Yes!” I squeal, throwing my hand in the air, still holding tight to the controller. “Kitana wins” is displayed on the huge TV in the living room.
Chiara falls back onto the couch, groaning. “I hate being your punching bag.”
“Stop sulking. It’s only the second time I’ve won—today.” I side-eye my best friend.
She gives me the middle finger and focuses on the screen, Mortal Kombat pulled up. I keep smiling, determined to hold on to my good mood no matter what. But instead of selecting a player, Chia puts the controller on the coffee table and turns to me.
“There’s no way your mom won’t let you celebrate your birthday.”
“I can celebrate it.” I set the controller aside. “But I’m not allowed to throw a party or invite anyone over. It’ll probably just be a family day…without one big, important part of my family.”
“Your dad won’t be here?”
“He can’t get out of having dinner with the Dean on Friday. He’s flying home on Saturday morning, when—”
“It will already be Halloween,” she finishes for me. “Damn, Mia, I’m so sorry! I really thought your mom would ease up on the punishment for your birthday.”
I shrug. “I barely even see her. She’s always either busy with her shop or with Allan. It’s kind of gross how lovey-dovey they are, so I do my best to avoid them.”
She grins. “They are so cute together.”
I glare at her.
“I know you’re doing your best,” she says, “but you’re still way too judgy of them. It doesn’t suit you.”
Loud laughter comes through the open door of the living room, saving me from saying something I might regret. As the voices get closer, I tense, willing myself to keep my eyes on my best friend. But, of course, the moment a shadow darkens the doorway, I whip my head around to take a look.
Matt and Dominic pause at the threshold, taking up every inch of space with their six-foot-plus frames. While my brother arches a brow, like he’s curious about what we’re up to, his best friend leans against the doorjamb, wearing a vacant expression.
“What are you doing here?” Matt asks, heading toward the couch.
I choose to focus on him. “What does it look like?”
“We came to play too,” Dominic says as he straightens and steps fully into the room.
“Sorry, but we were here first.” I return my attention to the TV, ignoring the tingles spreading down my spine that zip through me every time he’s close.
Since we moved into this house six weeks ago, things have gotten exponentially worse, at least when it comes to my crush on Dominic, the guy who has been referred to more than once as my—ugh—stepbrother.
The number of times I’ve caught myself ogling him or daydreaming about our future is mortifying.
Matt plops down on the couch between Chiara and me and drapes his arm over my shoulder, tugging me closer. “How about a knockout game? Dom and I will play against you two, and whoever wins stays. Losers find somewhere else to hang out.”
I scoff. He thinks we don’t stand a chance against them. Screw him.
“Deal.” I nudge him with my shoulder, eager to erase the smug look from his face.
Dominic sits on my other side, sandwiching me between him and my brother. When his thigh presses against mine, my cheeks go hot. Dammit. They’re trying to intimidate me, but they have no idea how Dom’s closeness really affects me. My heart is ready to jump out of my chest.
“Nervous?” He tilts closer, his mouth at my ear.
“You wish.” I wiggle forward and stand. “Your tactics won’t work on me.”
When I get a look at Chiara, I stifle a groan. Clearly, the tactics are working on her. She’s staring at my brother with stars in her eyes.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting on the couch stewing. I beat Matt, but Chiara lost to Dominic. Now, as Matt kicks her butt on screen, I tap my foot. I don’t want to go back to my room. I want to stay and play, damn them!
“Which character are you going to be?” Dom asks. He pulls his phone out of his pocket, the screen lighting up with a text notification. From here, all I can make out is the first letter of the sender’s name: R. With barely a glance, he locks the device and tosses it onto the coffee table.
I turn away. “Kitana.”
He snickers. “You’re so predictable.”
“Look who’s talking.” I point at the TV. “Scorpion? Again?”
The first round begins, and I press what feels like all the buttons at once. Miraculously, I win. Afterward, Dominic turns his glare on me. All I can think about as he scowls is how handsome he is, even when he’s pissed.
It isn’t until the third round is over that I realize he lost on purpose.
When I lose again, Matt snatches the controller out of my hand. “You had your ass handed to you, little one.”
Chiara leans into me. “Should we go to your room?”
I sit, my shoulders tense, my focus trained on the TV. I don’t want to leave this room. This is the first time since we moved in that my mom has allowed me to have anyone over.
Matt rounds the couch and zeroes in on me, his brow furrowed.
“What’s wrong?” His voice is soft.
“I—”
“You aren’t going to cry, are you?” Dominic asks, his voice too loud, too harsh. “I hate when girls cry for no reason.”
Matt gives him that seriously? look, urging him to shut up.
But it’s too late.
I stand, causing Matt to take a step back. Holding my head high, I take my time exiting the room. It’s the best I can do while holding back the tsunami of emotions roiling in my chest.
“Mia, you can stay if you want,” Matt calls out to me.
“Thanks, but no. I hate when guys act like dicks for no reason.”
With that, I climb the stairs to my bedroom. Chiara follows me, laughing quietly under her breath.
Mia: 1.
Condescending asshole: 0.
For what feels like an eternity, I wait for Mom to get home from work. I make myself dinner, figuring she’ll be back by the time I eat. Yet, when I put my plate in the dishwasher and heat up a mug of hot chocolate, she’s still not home.
Finally, the front door closes, and her voice echoes down the hall. “This trip is very important for your dad. If he signs this contract…”
“I know,” Dominic says.
Trip? Curiosity piqued, I straighten.
“So you don’t mind if we throw a party?” Matt says.
I frown, confused. What party? Is it for my birthday? A surprise party for me? That thought makes my pulse tick up a little.
My mom sighs. “Allan and I talked, and we decided we trust you not to turn the whole house upside down. So, the answer is yes.”
“You’re the best, Mom,” Matt says, his voice a little too loud.
“Yeah, Monica, thank you so much.”
The three of them step into the kitchen, and when they notice me, they halt in their tracks.
“Hi.” I wave clumsily. How should I play this? Should I pretend like I didn’t hear their conversation?
“Hi, sweetie.” Mom shuffles over and kisses my cheek. “Did you have dinner already?”
“Yup.”
The room falls into awkward silence. The only noise is the rustling of paper bags as the boys unload the groceries.
My palms start to sweat. I take a sip of my hot chocolate, but it does nothing to ease the tightness in my throat.
“Mom, can I ask you something?”
Eyebrow raised, she peers at me.
“Would it be okay if Chiara comes to my birthday dinner tomorrow and then stays the night?”
She pulls her phone out of her pocket, checks the time, and then focuses on me. “Sweetheart, um, the thing is…Allan and I are flying to Vegas tomorrow. He has a meeting with one of his customers, and if the deal works out, it’ll bring in a lot of money.”
My body goes cold, and a heaviness invades my limbs and lungs. I thin my lips.
“When will you be back?”
“On Sunday.”
Wow. My chest pangs, the sensation sharp enough to make me rub at the spot.
“So, no birthday party, no birthday dinner…noted.” I stand and pick up my half-full mug.
Matt and Dom keep quiet, but I feel their eyes on me. Unwilling to let them see how upset I am, I straighten my shoulders and skirt Mom on my way to the sink. As I focus on keeping my breathing even, I pour the rest of my hot chocolate into the sink and stick the mug in the dishwasher.
“Mia, please,” Mom says. “Don’t be angry. This trip came up last minute, and unfortunately, we can’t reschedule. It’s very important for Allan’s business, for our family. It’ll help pay for college for the boys next year. Plus, it’ll allow us to save up for your college too.”
“No worries, Mom. Whatever you need.” I keep my back to her as I load the dishes from the sink as well.
“We’ll celebrate your birthday once we’re back. Then, your dad can be there too. It’ll be amazing,” Mom coos. “And of course, Chiara can come. It’s not even a question.”
I nod, drying my hands.
She steps up beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder, trying to catch my gaze. “And you won’t be alone tomorrow; the boys are throwing a party for the team. I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Oh.
My heart sinks.
That’s what they were talking about. Of course, they wouldn’t plan a surprise party for me.
“Sounds great.” I force a smile.
She’s delusional if she thinks only the guys from the football team will show up tomorrow.
“Ugh.” She drops her hand. “You have every right to be upset. Just…it really is for our future. For our family.”
Our new family, I want to correct her. Instead, I force another smile.
“Don’t you worry, Mom. I understand.” I take a step back. “I better go. I want to get to bed early.”
Her lips turn down. “It’s just eight.”
“And I’m just tired.” With that, I spin and hurry out of the kitchen. Their hushed voices follow me all the way up to my room. Once I’m inside, I throw myself onto my bed, hide my face in my pillow, and cry.
I hate this.
“Mia? Can I come in?” Matt asks from the other side of the closed door.
“Sure.”
I sit on my bed, sketching a scene from Alice in Wonderland, this one of the March Hare and Alice. It’s been almost an hour since I came upstairs. I figured they’d all leave me alone for the rest of the night. Apparently not.
My brother steps inside, assessing me as he closes the door. I have no doubt my eyes are puffy and my face is still blotchy from crying, but I don’t have it in me to hide.
A long sigh escapes him. “I’m sorry, little one.” He sits in my desk chair, facing me.
A pulse of pain hits me, making my eyes water, but I inhale to keep the tears at bay. “It’s not your fault.”
“It feels like it is. I should’ve talked to her, tried to make her stay. Allan could go alone—”
“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, Matthew, but she goes everywhere with her new husband.”
Hands laced on the top of his head, he groans. “Please, don’t start.”
I look up from my sketch. “I’m not starting anything. I’m just stating facts.”
“About the party…” He drops his hands. “Dom and I came up with an idea for you.”
My heart skips. “For me?”
“Yeah. We know Mom said no parties for your birthday, but we’re throwing one. It’s not technically for you…but that doesn’t mean you can’t invite your own guests.”
Snorting, I set my pencil on the comforter and straighten. “Right. And what time does this party start?”
“Eight.”
I fold my arms across my chest. “I’ll be fourteen tomorrow, not twenty-four. None of my friends’ parents will let them come to a party, without adults, that starts at eight o’clock. Do you really think they’d be okay leaving their little girls with a bunch of football players?”
His shoulders slump a little. “There will be other people there too.”
“And alcohol,” I fire back.
Sheepish, he smiles at me. “Maybe.”
“Impossible, but thanks anyway.” I pick up my pencil again. “Now please, leave me alone. I want to finish this sketch and go to bed.”
“At least ask Chiara to stay the night, okay?” He stands and shuffles to my door.
“Goodnight, Matthew.”
After he’s shut the door behind him, I sit, unmoving. Then, I reach for my phone and type out a quick message.
I think I’ve made my decision.