Chapter 19
Farrow
“Where the fuck is all the food?” My brother opened and closed the fridge and then did the same for the pantry. I hadn’t seen him yesterday, but I was sure he must have done the same thing.
I lay on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, looking at apartment listings while listening to music with one headphone in. “I’m guessing it all got eaten…perhaps you should buy some.”
He spun and glared at me. “I gave you some food money.”
“That was three months ago. It’s your turn to buy for the next three.” He wouldn’t. He hated grocery shopping.
He continued to glare at me. “You can’t do this. What are you going to eat?”
I stopped the music and checked the time. I needed to get ready for work soon, anyway. “I’ll grab something on my way to work. The same as I’ve been doing all week.”
“I can’t afford groceries.”
“I can’t afford to keep feeding you. We both work, and since you can’t be trusted to contribute to the groceries, I will not be buying for you.
” I sat up in case he arced up and got physical.
“If you shop and show me the bill, I will gladly pay half.” Which is more than what he’d done.
All I’d gotten were promises from him and excuses about how he needed a bit more time to grow up from our parents.
Well, his plates had finished growing and hardening. He was an adult with a job and needed to act like one. Sure, it was common for siblings to live together until one married, but this situation was not working for me.
“Why are you being so hardheaded?”
“Because I will not eat into my savings so you can party every night.”
“It’s not every night,” he snapped.
It was most nights, even if it wasn’t until late. I liked that he went out, as it gave me the space and time to edit the videos and reply to comments. The amount of money in my savings account now looked a lot like freedom, but it was too soon to jump.
Not only that, but I hadn’t found the right apartment. Or was I being too fussy because I needed an excuse, because I feared the money drying up?
“If you don’t know how to budget, take a class, because I won’t be living here forever. Then you’ll need a roommate.”
His antennae twitched. “But you’re not getting married.”
“Savings.” I smiled, all sharp teeth and lies. I hadn’t earned that money on my own, but I had no way of giving anything to Timothy. Not in cash anyway.
“When are you doing laundry?”
I shrugged as I got up. “No idea. Feel free to wear your own clothes.”
“But everyone has already seen me in them. I can’t repeat stuff.”
“Ah…” That explained a lot. He was running with the rich crowd and needed to keep up appearances to remain with them. “Perhaps you need to find friends who don’t judge on appearances.”
“You wouldn’t understand; you work for Bridges.”
I scowled. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“So do they.”
I grimaced, not sure of the point he was attempting to make, though knowing him, there may not be one beyond him wailing about life being unfair and how he deserved everything he wanted without lifting a finger. It didn’t help that he was the youngest, and our parents had enabled him. “And?”
“And they have Scream and Steam accounts. They have heaps of money. I wanted to work at Bridges. Then I’d have a channel and be like them.”
Once again, he wanted the glory without the work. “You bombed out of Bridges.” Three times. “How did you even meet them?”
He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Through another friend who’s a subscriber to one of their channels.”
“You’ll go broke running with those people.”
“But it’s fun, and they’re cool. You should create a channel, then—”
“I am not funding your lifestyle choice.” I crossed my arms. “What was wrong with your old friends?”
“They’re boring. I want excitement. I could manage your account. All you’d need to do is—”
“Do you know how dangerous filming for Scream and Steam is?” Timothy seemed anything but dangerous, but it was in his blood…
and I’d stuck my cock in his mouth for him to suck like I wanted him to turn me into a straw.
It was impossible for me to edit a video without getting hard and jerking off at least once.
“But the money,” my brother whined.
“No. I am not working with you because I’d end up doing all the work, the same as I do now. As soon as I’ve saved up enough, I’m moving out.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I do. You want to use me so you can fit in with your new, rich friends. Tell your sob story to our parents. Maybe they’ll understand and loan you some money until you come to your senses.”
“All you do is work and play on your tablet.”
“Yes, because I’m saving up to get the fuck out of here. Santa! Listen to yourself.” I shook my head. “If you want more money, find a better job, or pick up a second one.”
“I want to be a streamer.”
“Then offer to manage one of their accounts.” This wasn’t my problem.
The sooner he wasn’t my problem, the better.
But I’d talk to our parents on the way to work because I was tired of them listening to him and expecting me to solve his problems. I refused to bankroll his lifestyle or let him anywhere near my Scream and Steam account.