Chapter 9
she’s your stepsister
DOMINIC
August
Though the AC in the taxi is doing its job, I’m still sweating, and on top of it, I’m on the verge of hurling.
My head is fucking killing me, and Matt’s rambling doesn’t help.
He spent the whole flight going on about Mia’s return, and it carried over to the ride home.
He won’t shut up about the party he’s throwing to celebrate, and don’t get me started on all the “tips and tricks” he wants to share with her on how to survive college.
I need a fucking break.
“Matt?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut the fuck up, will ya? I don’t need all this information.”
He grunts, whipping his head around to glare at me. “Uh, yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t,” I grit out.
He huffs. “You do. Because I’ll need your help.”
Annoyance threads through me. Eyes closed, I tip my head back against the seat. “With what?”
“With everything, but especially the party!”
I crack one eye open and assess him. “Do I look like an event planner?”
Instead of answering, he flips me off.
“Seriously,” I ask, sitting up straighter. “How do you expect me to help you? I haven’t seen Mia since the day she left; I know nothing about her life now.”
“Exactly. You barely know her anymore. That’s why you should be involved.”
Groaning, I rough a hand down my face. The driver snorts. The asshole is laughing at my misery.
“Mom talked her into living at home because she hopes to reconnect with her. That means she’ll be around a lot. This party will give you the chance to get to know her again.”
“You know I won’t be around much longer. As soon as I have enough saved for a security deposit, I’m out.” I lower my hand from my face and peer at Matt. “I don’t need to get to know your sister.”
“She’s also your stepsister.”
I can’t talk to him. He’s as stubborn as a mule. Or maybe he’s just dense. I’m still not sure.
As we drag ourselves up to the front door of the house, all I want is to pop a couple of Advil and take a hot shower. Dad and Monica won’t be back until Wednesday—unless, of course, Mia’s sudden arrival changes their plans.
I secretly hope it won’t. I could use a little break from Dad.
Before the door is even open, my eardrums are assaulted. “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar with SZA gets even louder as I throw the door open. What the hell? I love this song, but not at that volume, especially when my head is already about to fucking explode.
Matt pushes past me and steps into the foyer. He tosses his backpack onto the floor and tilts his head, like he’s trying to pinpoint where the sound is coming from.
“She must be in the kitchen,” I mutter as I close the door and set my backpack on the floor too.
“Let’s go say hi.”
With a sigh, I follow him to the kitchen. The closer we get, the louder the music becomes and the harder my pulse pounds in my temples.
“Matt!” a girl squeals. The song abruptly stops.
A flash of a person launches herself at him, and he stumbles back, catching her and stomping on my foot.
Fucking lovely. I move aside, noticing then that Chiara is here too.
She tucks her long curly hair behind her ear and nods, and I greet her in return, rounding the Ashton siblings on my way to the cupboard for a glass.
“What’s up?” I ask her, ignoring the commotion behind me.
No matter what Matt thinks, I couldn’t care less about having a good relationship with Mia.
Yeah, our parents are married, but we’re grown now, starting our own lives.
Before she left, I was used to having her around, but we haven’t seen or spoken to each other in five years. She’s a stranger to me.
Chiara clears her throat. “Not much. I worked all summer, but I’m taking the next two weeks off so I can relax before the semester starts.”
“Time off sounds great. You’ll need it before college starts.”
“Yeah.” Her cheeks pinken a little. “How are you? I heard you’re working for your dad.”
“I’m good,” I say, keeping my tone neutral even as bitterness works its way through me. “And yup, I’m an auto mechanic in my dad’s shop.” My greatest ambition.
Internally, I shake off the frustration. My dad doesn’t deserve my ire. I’m the only one to blame for the car accident that tore my shoulder apart and killed my dreams.
For a while, I distracted myself from the pain, regret, and anger with weed and pills, but I’ve been clean for six months. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I’m over the disappointment.
But I have a new dream, and that keeps me pushing forward, keeps me from falling back into old habits.
I get up every day and work my ass off to gain experience and earn money so I can eventually open a custom bike shop with my buddy Miles.
Dad respects that, and he kind of even showed interest when I explained the idea.
Talk to me when you have a business plan, he said when I mentioned the concept of staying tied to his auto shop but branching out.
“That’s great. Even when you were in high school, you were my papa’s favorite mechanic.”
I laugh. “Matteo is too kind. Tell him I’m always happy to take care of his car.”
“Thanks.”
With a nod, I pour myself a glass of water.
Only once it’s full and I’ve turned the tap off do I turn to the Ashtons.
I’ve just taken a sip when the sight of them registers.
Suddenly, my throat spasms strangely, and I choke.
My eyes water, and it’s difficult to suck in air.
I’m still hacking when Chiara hops off the stool and slaps me hard on the back.
“Better?” she asks when I’ve finally caught my breath.
I nod hastily, embarrassment rushing over me. Every eye in the room is fixed on me. Setting the glass on the countertop, I inhale deeply then slowly let it out. Eventually, I compose myself, but only on the surface. Inside? It’s a fucking hurricane.
Because damn.
Jet-black hair in a high ponytail. Sharp cheekbones.
A pert nose. Deep blue eyes that glimmer brightly in the sunshine filtering in through the windows of the breakfast nook—it all practically bowls me over.
Her full lips are slightly parted as she watches me.
I literally force myself to hold her gaze to keep from checking her out…
because the pjs she’s wearing leave very little to my imagination.
There’s no fucking way the girl standing beside Matt is Mia.
It can’t be.
I’ve seen pictures, for fuck’s sake, and she did not look like this.
“Hi, Dom,” she says, her voice sending a shiver down my spine. “It’s nice to see you. It’s been a while.”
“Hey. You too. You look great.” I clear my throat, instantly wishing I could rewind time and keep that comment to myself. Dammit. “I mean, you’ve grown so much.”
Kill me.
“Thanks.” She chuckles, eyeing Chiara. “We just finished breakfast and are headed back upstairs, but if you want to eat”—she juts her thumb to her left—“I made extra pancakes.”
“You cooked?” Matt asks.
“Of course. You know how much I like to.”
“Yeah…I still remember your lasagna.” The words leave my mouth before I can even consider what I’m saying.
She frowns, a deep wrinkle forming between her eyebrows.
“It was delicious,” I add, as if that will make things better.
“Didn’t think you’d remember…but again, thank you.” She looks at Matt and then at Chiara. “Chia, you ready?”
“Sure. We have a lot to unpack,” Chiara murmurs.
“You’ve been home for almost twenty-four hours, and you haven’t unpacked?” Matt asks. “That’s not like you at all, Mia.”
Chiara chuckles. “That’s not what I mean.”
I watch them hurry out of the room, knowing they’re going to be talking about me and what I said. Fuck, what the hell is wrong with me? Once I hear a door close upstairs, I pick up my glass and head out too, Matt close on my heels.
“What the hell, man? Why did you say she looks good?”
“Because she does,” I say, keeping my tone even. “And because the last time I saw her, she was fourteen.”
He bristles. “She’s my little sister.”
There’s nothing little about her, but I keep that thought to myself. He’s already huffing like a fucking rhino behind my back.
“She’s your stepsister,” he insists.
Teeth gritted, I turn to face him. “What do you want?”
“Keep your compliments to yourself.” He folds his arms over his chest. “I want her to be comfortable here. She’s important to me, and I don’t want her to leave again.”
“I know how much she means to you, so trust me, I don’t want her to leave either. She’s like a little sister to me too. I was surprised by how much she’s changed, that’s all. I meant it as a compliment.”
He deflates right in front of me. “Okay. Maybe I’m being overprotective.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “But with her living in Phoenix, I haven’t had the chance to do the big-brother thing much. Now that she’s back, I want to show her I care.”
“You’re fine.” I spin on my heel and head to the foyer for my backpack. “Just try not to overdo it.” He’s still standing in the same place when I head for the stairs.
“Where are you going?” he asks with a frown.
“To my room. I’m going to take a couple of Advil and sleep. Why?”
“I thought maybe we could do something fun for Mia.”
The second I hit the top of the stairs, Mia’s laughter filters through the air. Goddamnit. She hasn’t been home in almost five years, but her laughter sounds so familiar, it’s like she never left.
I push my bedroom door open. “I’m headed to bed. Have fun. And,” I say, turning back to him, “no offense, but she’s eighteen. Maybe ask before you start making plans for her.”
He yawns. “Definitely gotta do that.”
“Good luck.”
With a single nod, I step into my room, my mind fixed solely on sleep.
Remi:
Are you back?
Remi:
I miss you
Remi:
How about a movie?
Me:
I’m home. Busy tonight
I lock my screen and toss my phone on my bed. Fuck, this girl is exhausting. We aren’t dating. She knows that. Yet she’s acting like we’re in some long-term, committed relationship when in reality, we broke up—for good—four months ago.
Tossing my towel to the floor, I pad to my closet. I put on black sweatpants and a white tee, needing comfort more than anything else. It’s almost nine p.m., and after napping for so long, I have a feeling I’ll be up half the night.
I step back into the bathroom to hang up my towel and brush my teeth.
As I step out into the hallway, the sound of voices downstairs catches my attention.
Matt, for sure. Chiara, maybe? Then, there’s another melodic laugh, the same laugh I heard before I passed out, and I’m once again struck by how familiar it sounds.
How is that possible? I haven’t said a fucking word to her since the day she left for Phoenix. Why is her laughter so familiar to me?
I shake my head to get rid of these ridiculous thoughts and jog down the stairs.
In the living room, Matt, Chiara, and Mia sit on the giant sectional, each nursing a bottle of beer.
I go to the kitchen and take a beer bottle from the fridge before returning to the living room.
I move closer, almost stumbling over myself when I realize the only available space is beside Mia.
“You’re finally up,” Matt says.
Nodding, I drop onto the couch.
“Did we wake you?” Chiara asks.
“No. I slept longer than I planned, so I needed to get up anyway.” I take a sip of my drink, enjoying the cool temperature of the glass under my palm. “What are you guys up to?”
Mia assesses me, her dark blue eyes like fathomless pools in the dim light of the room. “Just talking,” she replies with a subtle lift of her shoulder.
“Apparently, there’s a lot I don’t know about my little sister.” Matt barks out a laugh. “So it’s been entertaining and…traumatizing.”
Mia leans over and pats his knee. “Don’t worry, Matthew. I’m keeping all the juicy details to myself.”
He chokes on his drink, coughing loudly.
Frowning, Chiara moves to him, but he holds his hand up to stop her.
Me, though? I can’t take my fucking eyes off the girl beside me.
Her tee has ridden up, revealing her toned midriff, the tight fabric emphasizing her perfect tits.
She’s petite, but with what have to be D cups? It looks absolutely mind-blowing.
Fuck me. What the hell am I doing?
I rub a hand over my buzzed hair, focusing on the tickling sensation to force my thoughts away from Mia.
Because the heat that spreads across my skin and down to my dick makes me reconsider even being in the room with her.
This is fucking ridiculous.
“Dom?”
At the sound of my name, I lock eyes with her. It’s a mistake, because now, it feels like I’m drowning in the midnight depths of her irises.
I lick my lips. “What?”
“We’re going to play Never Have I Ever. You with us?”
The longer I sit here, the more curious I am about her.
She was feisty before; is she the same way now?
A little mayhem who always knows what to say?
Who knows how to stand up for herself? Is Alice in Wonderland still her favorite book?
Does she still love video games? Is Kitana still her go-to character in Mortal Kombat?
So many questions, and if I want answers, I know what I need to say.
“Sure. Why not?”