Chapter Three
KAYDEN
I blinked several times, hoping I could go back before this moment, of me walking into a literal shit show.
In all my years of knowing Lexi, I have never seen her as pissed off as this, and who could blame her? Our parents? I wanted to fucking puke.
I didn’t know what to say to them; I couldn’t figure out the words to tell them how pissed off I was. They’ve known each other for years. Gross! How did they think this would be a good idea?
“Why?” That’s all I could come up with. Their gazes left the door and looked at me.
“You can’t help who you fall in love with...” Lexi’s mom answered, but I wanted to scream. Jake was my best friend; how could they do this to us? It’s fucking wrong!
Dad put his hands on his hips, a big sigh leaving his body. “I know this is a lot, and I know it’s going to take time. But I need you to go check on her, please. It’s getting late, and she doesn’t need to be walking around in the dark.”
My hands clenched at my sides. No. She left; she can find her own goddamn way home. “She’ll be fine. How long?”
They both froze, as if they were afraid to give me the truth. How long has this been going on? Did she take any time to fucking grieve? Did she just hop on the next dick she could find?
“A few months,” Dad said. I narrowed my eyes; something wasn’t right. He was lying to me.
He looked at his “girlfriend” for a minute and then to me. “Can you leave us alone for a minute, Nora?”
Her blue eyes widened a fraction, but she nodded and left the room. He placed a hand behind his neck, running it through his brown strands.
“Look, Son,” he started, but I didn’t let him finish.
“Seriously? Do you not remember having her son over here all the time? Do you not remember us growing up at all? Were you not friends with her DEAD husband? As Lexi put it so bluntly, what the actual fuck, Dad?”
“I know it’s not ideal...”
I scoffed. “Not ideal? She lost her husband and son only a year ago. That’s not something anyone can recover from that fast. You expect Lexi and me to play brother and sister? Do you not realize how fucking twisted and sick that is?”
“I need you to calm down. I can’t even talk to you when you’re this angry and pissed off.”
“Well no fucking shit, I’m pissed off. You and her basically trampled all over their fucking graves and said, 'Hey, here’s a new husband and brother. Let’s forget you were ever alive’.”
His gaze darkened. “You’re testing my patience. I know you’re pissed, but we need to fucking talk about this.”
I shook my head, “I can forgive a lot of shit Dad, but this...I don’t think I can ever forgive you for this.”
I walked out the door and slammed it behind me. Lexi was a grown ass woman, she could find her own way back to campus. I got into my Subaru and revved the engine. There was no fucking way I was going to be her stepbrother.
She was right; our parents had lost their fucking minds. Coming home was a complete waste of time, and I didn’t care if Dad was pissed at how we reacted. He should’ve known better. Hell, she should’ve known better. Considering Jake and I were inseparable when he was alive...
Damn.
Every time I thought about my best friend, the pain came back full speed ahead. It was all her fucking fault...
I backed up and sped down the hill until I saw a little figure bobbing around, heading towards town.
The tires screeched as I pulled over and got out of the car.
Her body stiffened, knowing exactly who was standing behind her.
The backpack was on her shoulders, her brown locks were up in a messy bun, and as she turned around, there were dark circles under her eyes.
I didn’t feel sorry for her.
“You need to get your mom to pack her shit and move out of our fucking house.”
Her brows rose, “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Get your mom to move out of our house. We don’t need her, and we certainly don’t need you.”
Her hazel eyes narrowed. “Why is it my responsibility to break them up? I don’t care what she does; she’s not my fucking problem.”
I took a step closer to her, invading her space. She froze, as if she were trying her best not to breathe around me. Good.
“If you don’t convince her to move, then I will make your life a living hell.” I seethed, hoping to get my point across.
Having her as my stepsister would ruin every fucking thing I had planned.
Her gaze narrowed, “You’ve already made my life miserable; what’s the difference?”
Ah, so the feisty cat was coming out of her shell. She was better off as a mouse, hiding in plain sight, waiting for the panther to attack.
I leaned in, my breath fanning over her face, “I can make it worse.” I leaned back and circled her. “I know you’ve been at the rink every day, sitting in the stands dreaming of your glory days. You think you belong on the ice, but you don’t. Maybe I haven’t made that clear enough for you...”
She huffed, her gaze turning to slits. “You’re a real asshole, you know that? What did I ever do to make you hate me so much?”
You fucking exist.
She crossed her arms over her chest, “I’m not breaking them up by myself. If you want them apart so bad, then you have to help me.”
I stopped my predatory circle and thought about it.
Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea...this way, I could keep an eye on her. She’d been avoiding me like the plague since her brother died, and I knew why.
It was the reason I hated her, the reason I wished she would fucking disappear.
Go to another town, another school, hell, even another state.
I want her fucking gone.
“Fine. You want my help, we play by my rules. You don’t get a say. Deal?”
“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “Can I go now, Your Majesty?” She threw in a bow, and a part of me wanted to laugh. That’s right bitch, you better bow.
“Run along, Little Mouse, wouldn’t want to be caught by the big, bad wolf.”
She rolled her eyes and went back on her walk.
I didn’t offer her a ride. I leaned against my car and watched her.
Observing.
Waiting until I could make my move.
When the time came, I would destroy her.